What Ruby Ahmad (? - 2010) Wrote to me

In response to the post "When someone close passes away, we reflect" the late Kak Ruby had left this comment in my Facebook.

We will remember to live, Kak Ruby. May Allah be merciful on your soul. Al-Fatihah.

~ start ~
Ruby Ahmad
at 11:02am on November 18th, 2008

Losing anyone close, any one we love, is painful, but no one word or any number of words, can describe the exact excruciating piercing pain! That bad. Really that bad!!

It will make anyone stop in their tracks & just lose motivation & this I would seriously say dangerous time for anyone. One can be easily de-motivated...

...whence, in truth, one should be motivated to continue life, for the love we have for our dearly departed. To continue doing good things, & to continue praying for our dearly departed.

I remember Red in 'Shawshank Redemption' said: 'Get busy living, or get busy dying'

Of course we must get busy living, & let knowledge of the inevitable (birth & death) only to spur us on even better.

To work hard, to slog hard, is not to be looked down at. Just be proud that given the circumstance of humongous traffic jams, looming depression coming our way (where it has hit many first worlds), stressful existence in a dog eat dog world, we have a job to do. We do it for our family/ourself.

Even if we did not have that moment to smell the roses, it's ok, as long as we know, we work with integrity, that we did not take what does not belong to us. We know, we work for people we love & they in turn, know it.

Some people I know, once adversity hits them, they lose their bearing, they become guilty & they do a 180 degree turn & change. But sudden change, will not do good to any individual. It will disorientate & create chaos in one's life. Just stay calm.

One should know, we are here only temporary. One should know death is inevitable. For, that, we continue slogging, as long as our integrity is intact.

There is no point, reaching a certain wealth status, when all one did was dipping into coffers that don't belong to you.

Better the sweat & toil, but, we did it with dignity. The ONE above is All Seeing.

So grieve. But don't regret the good that one is doing. Get busy living for the good of many. Don't with this grieve, make society lose you.

~ end ~

Thank You and Warmest Regards,
Nahar Razak

Al-Fatihah Buat Saudaraku Masruhen

Hari Isnin 15/3/2010, hanya dua hari lepas, Masruhen jadi rakan tasmi' saya di maahad. Mas memang terkenal dengan bacaan yang baik dan suara yang lunak. Saya memanggilnya dengan nama gelaran Mas Al-Qari.

Semalam, hari Selasa, selepas jamaah maghrib, kami sama-sama hafal ayat-ayat baru di surau. Saya di saf hadapan dan dia di saf paling belakang.

Pabila hampir waktu isyak, saya memasang amplifier dan menjemput Mas untuk laungkan azan kerana memang sudah lama saya teringin mendengar Mas azan. Mesti baik azannya sebab suaranya yang bagus.

Sebaik saja beliau mula azan, Ustaz Mansor Al-Hafiz, imam surau dan juga guru tahfiz kami terus berkata, "Bagus dia azan." Saya berdiri bersandar di tiang sambil menghayati alunan azannya.

Memang bagus dan saya amat berhajat untuk menjadikannya bilal surau. Hari ini memang saya bercadang untuk mengajarnya memasang amplifier.

Saya toleh kiri dan kanan saf tapi tidak nampak Mas ketika jamaah maghrib dan isyak tadi.

Jam 9.48 malam saya terima panggilan dari Ustaz Mansor dengan berita yang amat memilukan saya. Masruhen telah pulang ke rahmatullah kerana kemalangan di tempat kerja.

Saya sebak. Tapi Ustaz Mansor cakap, "Semalam baru dia azan. Tak apa, husnul khotimah dia." Saya saya lega sikit dan saya pun harap begitulah juga.

Kerap saya menerima berita kematian rakan-rakan kebelakangan ini tapi inilah rakan yang paling dekat. Baru semalam kami bersalaman dan bermesra.

Kematian itu pasti dan tersangatlah hampir. Seperti kata Allah dalam surah Al-Waqi'ah:85, "But We are nearer to him than you, but you see not." We merujuk kepasa malaikat2 yang ambil nyawa.

Ya Allah, Engkau ampunilah saudaraku Mas, sesengguhnya Engkau Maha Pengampun. Ya Allah, Engkau redhalah saudaraku Mas dan berilah keamanan kepadanya.
Al-Fatihah.

*Gambar ini diambil Isnin 22/2/2010 di maahad. Masruhen berbaju kuning dan tersenyum lebar di sebelah tabir.
Thank You and Warmest Regards,
Nahar Razak