THE ACT OF KINDNESS

The year 2007 will be remembered as the most challenging year in my entire life. I've gone through ups and downs and failures before but this one hit me the hardest. As muslim, I believe that whatever happened to me this year is a test of taqwa to Allah and what matters most is how I reacted and composed myself in overcoming the obstacles.

It is easy to say than do. I cannot remember how much tears have been shed for the past 5 months and how much more for the months to go. I know by crying alone cannot solve anything that need to be solved. All I need to do is to remain calm, peace with myself and accept whatever circumstances that come my way. I am not able to explain what actually happened to me and our family this year, it will be a long and winding stories, suffice to say that without proper planning and strategy to cover the loss, the whole family will financially suffer for the next 5 - 10 years. URRRGHH this part hurts the most.

I tried to search for "hikmah" behind all these and did my own self reflection(muhasabah diri) on what I have done or could have done. The "rezeki" was almost at our doorstep but there were so many obstacles and hurdles that we have to finally let "it" go. "It" has caused so much pain to us and to other people that came into the picture. I believe the hurdles were reminders to us that "it" was not meant to be for us and worth letting go - even at our own expenses. It fit the saying " yang di kejar tak dapat, yang di kendong berciciran" . This is how it all started.

All these may be the result of our own wrongdoings..who knows. All I can think of is probably lack of "sadaqah/sedekah/sacrifice". Sadaqah/ zakat can clean our money/belongings. ALLAH promise that the more we give, the more we will receive. An Ustadz once told us that he can "visualise" all the financial failures in our lives and he recommended that we give a big sadaqah to the needy people - 2 camels, 2 muttons, 2 chickens and 2 eggs. The problem is , where to get money to sadaqah when we have used up most of it? Allah is Great and HIS work came in so many unexpected ways. Alhamdulillah we managed to raise enough money to at least start something.

We decided that the sacrifice need to be done immediately. It is the known fact that Cambodian muslim communities are facing extinction, people there are really dhoif and needy lots who deserved such big sadaqah. We managed to engage Ustadz Naasir from Kelantan to help us. He visited islamic villages in Cambodia on a regular basis. We listed out the task for the Ustadz to do including providing them with cooked food of 2 muttons, 20 chickens and 100 eggs. The cost for the whole thing was RM1,200. At this point in time we do not know how/where to get camels for that matter. I guess the camels will have to wait for the next turn.

Yesterday I received the pictures taken of the event that was held on Saturday, 2nd Jun 2007. I was deeply touched and in tears when I saw what poverty has done to them.
This is the "mosque" where the friday prayer took place. Ustaz Naasir's mission was to set up a mosque and islamic classes to educate the children and adults. The intention is very noble, i hope Allah will give me the opportunity to continuously help these needy people

These pictures speak a thousand words.....

These are some of the houses in the islamic community.

People from 2 villages, about >40 families were gathered. These people were only able to eat meat once a year that is during Eidul Adha due to poverty.

I had mix feeling when I saw these pictures. It is very sad to know there are still dhoif people out there striken by poverty. I feel thankful to Allah that has opened my eyes and make me realised that how hard I thought my problem was, it is still nothing compared to what these people are suffering. We only lost some savings but we still have all the luxury of a normal life ...look at them?....Look at the children...they do not have enough to even cover their bodies. Not to mention what they ate for a living, their education, their health and well being...This is really heart breaking.

It is a comfort to know that somebody like Ustaz Nasir who are concern about their aqidah more than anything else. I asked his doa for my rezeki so that I will continously contribute in my own small way. Insyallah, I planned to sacrifise 1 cow representing the whole family during the next coming Eidul Adha and some cash for the collection to build a proper madrasah at Kg Cham.

I will always support any act of kindness whenever I can because in doing so, soften my heart, make me compare what I have now to what these poor people are lacking. Then only I realised how thankful I am with the rezeki that ALLAH has given me no matter how big or small it may be.

To all my children, please do not have any slightest thought or doubt about ALLAH's promise. Never think that giving away sadaqah will make us poorer than what we are now. ALLAH will replace with more rezeki directly or indirectly, in an unexpected way. Sooner or later is only a matter of time. Please remember this test of taqwa as a lesson for us to become better people.

wassalam

mama