Saturday, September 06, 2008

Farewell, Bapak..

Bapak has been laid to rest at the Bukit Kiara Muslim Cemetery.

Yesterday, the weather seemed inclement, threatening to rain. But it held up all day until long after the funeral. It only began to drizzle in the evening.

Bapak's body was taken to the UIA Mosque (Masjid Al-Malik Faisal) at about 11.35am for prayers to be performed . How blessed that it was a Friday when there would surely be a full congregation.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was at the mosque to join the congregation in performing the prayers.

After prayers, Bapak's body was taken to the cemetery.

It was very kind of Pak Lah to have his outriders accompany Bapak in his final journey to his resting place.

When we were making burial arrangements, we were hopeful that there was still space at the cemetery which is already almost full to the brim.

We were thankful when the cemetery managers said there were still "one or two" plots available.

It did not matter where the plot was because the other alternative would be in Kota Damansara or Puchong. Too far. Mak and Kak Piah are in Bukit Kiara.

We had no idea which spot had been given to Bapak. At least neither Lalin nor I did.

We (Lalin, our nieces, my daughter and I) arrived at the cemetery early and made our way to the burial plot. We followed some people ahead of us.

My friend, blogger Bernard Khoo (Zorro Unmasked) had already arrived and he walked along with us.

The route seemed to take us deep into the older part of the cemetery that made me think that we had made a mistake.

I saw Lalin waving at us, indicating that we were not mistaken, after all.

We made our way and found a crowd, including the media, had already gathered.
My step-mum, my sisters and their daughters as well as my good friend, Mia and her daughter, Liyana were already there.

As I stood there, I thought that Bapak's spot seemed to be near Mak's. I looked around at the gravestones to locate Mak's. It'd be good if they were near each other.

I looked down at the spot where Bapak's grave had been dug, shifted my eyes a little and Mashaaallah! I saw that it was just "above" Mak's, in the next row.

How amazing was that? So so close to each other. Almost touching each other.

Alhamdulillah!

Soon, Bapak's remains arrived, along with a group of men. The crowd then grew bigger. I spotted many familiar faces.

Bapak was then prepared for burial. I watched as they lowered his shrouded body into the ground.

My heart missed a beat. My eyes began to tear.

Thank God, I had my sun glasses on.

The funeral proceeded in fine weather -- warm and a little balmy, at times.

I could hear the rustling leaves, teased by a playful breeze. I could feel the coolness of the moment. I felt a depth of emotion.

After the funeral, we took turns to sprinkle rose petals, bunga rampai and water on Bapak's new home.

It was then time to leave our beloved Bapak to his eternal rest, promising him that we would return...often.

May Allah bless your soul, Bapak. Thank you for those wonderful years. We are eternally grateful to you and we love you forever.

Al-Fatihah.

Amin, Amin, Amin....

84 comments:

Tuan Senang Besar said...

Al-Fatihah.

Our deepest condolences to you and your family.

Dad and me wanted to be at the funeral but something came up.

Bapak was truly a remarkable intellectual man.

He will be dearly missed.

Anonymous said...

Alfatihah to Bapak.Semoga rohnya di cucuri rahmat Allah swt, sentiasa.

Wassalam
Azad Jasmi

Anonymous said...

Alhamdulillah, all went smoothly. I find it miraculous, to be reunited (the proximity of their graves) after decades of separation. I guess that what is called 'jodoh'.
Al fatihah to arwah

kimster said...

A Friday. In Ramadhan.
Al Fatihah.

Kak Teh said...

Al Fatehah, Ena, I am sorry I couldnt be there.

Anonymous said...

may Allah grant your dad jannah..

Anonymous said...

sis,

my deepest condolences. he was not only you bapak but also mine and the profession of journalism.

my apology, couldnt be there (tak sihat).

semoga Allah menempatkan beliau di kalangan penghuni syurgaNya... amin

Anonymous said...

May his soul rest in eternal peace.

Surind said...

My condolences to you & your family.

Take care

Unknown said...

AlFatihah

So so sorry cant be there akak...am too weak to even walk outside my bedroom...

May his soul rest amongst the solihin. amiin.

zaitgha said...

Farewell Bapak...semoga Allah mencucuri rahmat...AlFatihah

take care Nuraina...

Anonymous said...

Ena, that was beautiful. SubhanAllaah.
.... Sesungguhnya Allah Maha berkuasa atas tiap-tiap sesuatu (Al Baqarah/20). Semoga roh arwah Pak Samad aman disana and may Allah's Blessings be with you all always, insyaAllah.

Apanama said...

Al-Fatihah

Anonymous said...

Al-Fatihah, tulisan ini mengingatkan kita betapa kehidupan ini adalah sesuatu yang singkat. Semoga Allah s.w.t. memberikan kita semua kebaikan dunia dan akhirat, Insya-Alah.

Saya... said...

Nuraina,

Sorry I couldn't make it to the cemetery.

I only learnt of what a great man your dad was and his struggles after he died.

He was quite a man.


Your description of the almost lovely day reminds me of when my dad died.

I wasnt there to be at his grave, and as I took a walk, I looked up at the sky and it was a beautiful blue winter sky.

I couldn't help feeling surreal, how could Eba have died and I am feeling the beauty of the day?

Being able to bury your loved one, see them lowered into the grave is really important. It is painful, you cry and grieve, but it brings a sense of finality and closure.

Mior Azhar said...

Kak Ena,

Al Fatihah. InsyaAllah roh nya dtempatkan bersama orang yang soleh. Amin

Anonymous said...

Salam Nuraina,
Al-Fatihah buat arwah Pak Samad & semoga Allah sentiasa merahmati rohnya dialam sana, amin!

burhanlong said...

Farewell Pak Samad, may you be with the saliheen.

Anonymous said...

Al Fatihah...

oyie

Unknown said...

Saya menangis membaca artikel puan.

So touching...

Anonymous said...

Al Fatihah. Now your readers will miss your Tuesday with Bapak.
www.xperienceoflife.blogspot.com

ms hart said...

Dear Kak Ena, your Bapak has left, but the prints he left in our hearts as Malaysians will live forever. I for one am very grateful to him for all the inspiration. He's a great man. You are so lucky that he's your Bapak. May he rest in peace, Kak Ena, together with the rest of ahlil Jannah. Amin. You keep well, ya.

Lee said...

Al-Fatihah,
Pak Samad had returned to Rahmatullah
..and " departing, leave behind footprints in the sand of time."
He will be remembered as an outstanding journalist, a nationalist and a patriot.

Anonymous said...

Nuraina and family,

My deepest condolences to you and family. You have a remarkable man as your father.

He will be sadly missed by many. Saya doakan moga moga rohnya dirahmati Allah.

Alfatihah...Amin.

RAMLI MOHD YUNUS
Alor Star, Kedah.

duagelasteh said...

Takziah, sis Nuraina, on the demise of your beloved Dad & our TS (bapak) Samad Ismail.

[I was off line since Wednesday (Sept 3) becoz my father-in-law left us on Tuesday night at the age of 78.]

Salam hormat.

Anonymous said...

Al-Fatihah to Bapak, Semoga rohnya dicucuri rahmat oleh Allah swt, sentiasa..Amin

Anonymous said...

Shukur Alhamdullillah everything went well. May Allah bless his soul with His bountiful blessings in this holy month of Ramadhan.

Take care Sister Nuraina

Anonymous said...

Salam Aleikum. Ingin saya mengambil kesempatan ini untuk merakam ucap takziah kepada seisi keluarga Kak Ena ke atas pemergian ke Rahmatullah Allahyarham Bapak.

Semoga ruhnya dicucuri rahmat, diampunkan sekalian dosanya, dijauhi azabul qabr dan ditempatkan bersama-sama dengan para solehin.

Alfatihah.

PS: FYI, I was at the UIA funeral prayers too. Something about the month of Ramadhan but the whole thing tugged at my heart strings. Your Bapak will be dearly missed.

Awang Maya said...

Great to know that he dies on Friday in the month of Ramadhan. (Thusday evening is considered almost to Friday in Islam calendar)Only selected people (Muslim) will die on the holy day dan month. No one will live forever. Al-Fatihah

-Awang Maya-

Salt N Turmeric said...

Kak Ena, sedih baca post ni. Im glad that they found a place for him close to your arwah mom's. Takiaih again Kak Ena.

Violet Ann said...

alfatihah

my deepest condolences to you and your family kak Ena.

Anonymous said...

aina dear, GODBLESS, amen !

jaflam said...

Salam Nurina,
Takziah puan dan keluarga serta Al Fatihah buat arwah.

Semoga perginya Pak Samad membawa seribu makna dan ingatan bagi kita yang hidup.

Dengan nama Allah yang Maha Pemurah lagi Maha penyayang.

Segal puji bagi Allah , Tuhan semesta alam.

Yang Maha Pemurah lagi Maha Penyayang

Yang menguasai hari pembalasan. ****
( Sesungguhnya dunia ini diserahkan kepada manusia untuk mentadbir dan berurusan di atas nya. Manakala akhirat itu adalah hari pembalasan bagi manusia atas segala yang mereka lakukan didunia . Segala amal baik akan dilipatgandakan pahalanya manakala dosa akan dibalas mengikut perbuatannya. Maka disitu tidak terdayalah akal dan muslihat manusia dalam mendustakan dan memperlekehkan suruhan Allah. Sesungguhnya kita dijadikan daripada tiada kepada ada, kemudian dimatikan dan seterusnya dihidupkan semula bagi meyempurnakan balasan Allah. Sesungguhnya Dialah yang berkuasa dihari pembalasan dan atas segala urusan )

Hanya kepada Engkaulah kami menyembah dan hanya kepada Engkau kami memohon pertolongan.

Tunjukanlah kami jalan yag lurus.

Jalan orang2 yang Engkau telah anugerahkan nikmat kepada mereka; bukan mereka yag dimurkai (Yahudi ) dan bukan mereka yang sesat ( Nasrani ).

Anonymous said...

Condolences kak Ena. Alfatihah for Pak Samad.

Jasmani, Singapura

the indie story said...

Takziah Sister Ena,

Bapak pergi dikala Rahmat sedang mencurah-curah turun dari langit. Roh bapak dirahmati Allah swt. Insya'allah.

Bapak yang pergi bukanlah bapak Sister Ena seorang, tapi BAPAK kepada RAKYAT MALAYSIA.

Saya sedih. Siter mungkin lebih sedih. Saya sedih tidak dapat menghadiri pegebumian BAPAK untuk memberi PENGHORMATAN kali terakhir kerana kebetulan ada urusan yang betul2 tidak dapat dielakkan.

Tapi saya tahu, dan benar2 pasti walau saya tidak dapat hadir buat kali terakhir, doa dan hadiah surah Al Fatehah saya tetap diterima tuhan. Insha'allah.

Pak Samad Ismail...meskipun aku tidak mengenali dirimu secara peribadi akan tetapi "TEMBOK TIDAK TINGGI" & "HUD" adalah karya journalis tulen yang pernah aku hadam beberapa kali sewaktu uisa remaja.

Sebuah buku terbitan DBP bertajuk A. SAMAD ISMAIL: KETOKOHAN & KEWARTAWAN tetap tersimpan elok diperpustakaan peribadai saya. Satu benda yang betul2 saya kesal adalah tidak dapat memiliki sign autograph BAPAK untuk buku ini...

Mungkin kerana aku terlalu segan untuk berjumpa dengan BAPAK.

Aku harap dapat bersua wajah dengan BAPAK sewaktu di Syurga Jannah kelak. Amin...

Anonymous said...

Dear Nuraina and all Tan Sri Samad's children and Puan Sri Habibah.
Yong Tuck, Mun Tuck and Aunty Lin send our deepest condolences to all of you. I am so sorry that I was unable to attend your Dad's funeral. We will miss him very much.
Bless him and all of you. Love, Aunty Lin.

Unknown said...

Takziah yang tidak terhingga sekali lagi!

Semoga Pak Samad pulang ke pangkuan Kekasihnya dengan segala keampunan-Nya. Memang itu harapan kita semua termasuk untuk kita pun..

Sorry sangat-sangat hantar SMS takziah tak diundang dan tanpa kebenaran!! i got your phone number from i cant remember who.

Takziah tidak terhingga sekali lagi. (Gambaq saya tidak mencerminkan perasaan. Gambaq tu hat elok sikit pun...)

Civilian said...

Salam takziah kepada Kak Ena dan keluarga.

Baktinya akan sentiasa dikenang.

Roy said...

Al Fatihah. Semoga roh-nya dicucuri rahmat.

Ramadan Al-Mubarak.

CINTA suci abadi said...

Al-Fatihah....Tahziah
Petikan terjemahan Kitab Al Hikam: ( Sebahagian dari Munajat ( doa doa) Ibnu Athaa’)


35) Tuhan Ku,, dekatkan lah aku kepada Mu dengan rahmat-Mu supaya segera aku sampai kepadaMu, dan tariklah aku dengan kurniaMu sehingga aku menghadap kepadaMu

( Memang tidak ada jalan bagi hamba untuk sampai kepada Tuhan kecuali dengan Rahmat Tuhan sendiri,demikian pula tidak mungkin menghadap kepada Tuhan kecuali dengan kurniaNya)

Anonymous said...

Alfatihah.

Deepest condolences to you and your family.

Take care.

Anonymous said...

Nuraina,

Our sincerest condolences to you and family. - semoga roh nya di rahmati allah.

Adli(x MAB) and Family

Azhar Hussin said...

Al-fatihah. Semoga Allah mencucuri rahmat ke atas roh nya.

Emak, abah dan saya sekeluarga.

Azhar Hussin

Rox said...

Goodbye Pak Samad, may you smoke in peace. I'm sorry I didn't know you personally, we could have exchanged some good expletives!

My heartfelt condolences to you and your family, Nuraina.

Unknown said...

Reading tributes to your late dad, I could see he truly was a thinker extraordinaire that our country lacked so much today, yes, people of great calibre.

I read the Ramon Magsaysay Award Citation. Here's an excerpt: He warns up-and-coming reporters about the blandishments of power and money and reminds them of their "moral obligation to the nation as citizens."

Only a truly great man would think up of such an advice.

My condolences to you & Family.

Al-Fatihah.

Anonymous said...

Alfatihah, salam takziah untuk saudari sekeluarga. Semuga ruh beliau di rahmati Allah swt.

gram.kong said...

My deepest condolences.May Allah bless his soul.

Anonymous said...

Al-Fatehah.

Takziah kak & keluarga.

DaripadaNya dia datang, kepadaNya dia kembali.

Anonymous said...

Saya mula mengenali Bapak pada usia8-9 tahun menerusi kolum beliau dalam majalah Gila-Gila. Semacam ada tarikan untuk terus membaca tulisan Bapak meskipun kadang-kadang saya tidak faham makna-makna yang tersirat.

Salam takziah dan Al-Fatihah untuk Allahyarham Bapak.

-azman/terengganu

Patrick Ling said...

Rest in Peace Pak Samad. You deserve all the rest you need after a lifetime of hardwork. You are a credit to our literary world. A towering giant. May God bless your soul and I salute you!

Anonymous said...

Samad has left us a legacy which will forever be imprinted in our minds. TO STRIVE, TO SEEK, AND NOT YIELD.

Anonymous said...

Takziah untuk Kak Ena sekeluarga.
Al-Fatihah utk allahyarham Pak Samad.
Sempurna sudah hidup dan mati arwah. Alhamdulillah dan bersyukur kerana semua menunjukkan petanda baik belaka. Lapang dada mendengarnya.
Hari baik, bulan baik, tempat pun baik. You couldn't ask for more.
Harap selepas ini Kak akan menulis more memories of him. Rasa mcm bapak sendiri bila baca tulisan2 kak. rasa sangat dekat di hati. Takziah sekali lagi.

Anonymous said...

Even Allah granted favour to your Bapak and chose his final resting place close to his first beloved.

Think of the odds, Nuraina, and have comfort in His grace and blessing.

May Bapak rest in peace embraced in His love forever. Al-Fatihah.

Anonymous said...

My deepest condolences to you and your family.

My Allah bless his soul..

TTS

Anonymous said...

My dearest Ena,

My condolences. We will miss Pak Samad. And Tuesdays with Bapak. Please have at least ONE final TWB. ANd then do the book, with lots of pictures plus selected comments from the comment box. That's the least you can do, Ena. Of course, the nation must do more for this great man for all his contributions towards nation building.

-- Don Racing --

tarings said...

Al-Fatihah and me deepest condolences. Touching write-ups from the day he was admitted until his burial. Appreciate them much.

Stay safe.

KADKAHWINKU DOT COM said...

Takziah buat seluruh keluarga Allahyarham Tan Sri A.Samad Ismail. Kami percaya Allah SWT sangat mengasihinya...perjuangannya memang luhur & akan abadi menjadi ingatan kami. Sekalung Al-Fatihah dan kami pasti mengingati tarikh ini (4 Ramadan 1429H) tiap kali puasa saban tahun, InsyaAllah...We will miss you PAK SAMAD From Team Kadkahwinku.com

zorro said...

Ena, your dad was what he was becasue he had kids like you, Maria, Bang Med and your other sisters. What parent could ask for more. I am assured that the values passed down to you from your Pak and Mak will be inherited by yours. Take care of each other....closely....more closely now that Pak is not around to bond with.

Anonymous said...

Aina dear, GODBLESS, amen !!

SyedK said...

Puan,

Salam,
You father was a mujahid..his jihad was in journalism..he fought for the truth against injustices..
Allah shall reward those that fight for the truth..The signs are already there..he passed away in the blessed month of Ramadan, buried after jumaat on Friday.

Send your doas for more light in his grave,as a solehah daughter...

Salam

Anonymous said...

Though he is gone but his spirit will always be with you and his love ones.

Anonymous said...

Salam Takziah to you and family. We are never truly prepared to say goodbye to our parents, to finally relinquish that last tie that binds us to the child within us. Nuraina, may Allah give you strength and comfort in knowing Bapak is with Allah and will be reunited with your beloved mother insyaAllah.

Live strong and carry on his legacy.

Alfatihah,
Tembam

.ain. said...

Al Fatihah..
My heartfelt condolences to you & ur family...
Ur late Bapak was one great man & in someway he inspired me too. I get to know him through his writings and yours help much too. Even though I've never met him, I knew that he'll be truly missed..
Take care.

Anonymous said...

aina dear, i'v just posted something in your darling angel's blog & hope she 'll pass the pesanan !
GODBLESS TO U BOTH, AMEN !

Anonymous said...

Doa and al fatihah for arwah Pak Samad.

I'm just remembering how good a person he was.For all the good things he has done and those that he had left behind.

You have been a good child to him and may all your doa be granted.

Take care.

Typhoon Sue said...

Al-Fatihah. Semoga rohnya dicucuri rahmat.

My deepest condolences to you and your family.

Unknown said...

Al Fatihah to a truly great man...!!

My condolences to the family and all who love him.

pakpayne

Liza Ramlee said...

Salam Takziah buat akak and family..

Anonymous said...

A great loss!

Unknown said...

Semuga rohnya dicucuri rahmat. Salam takziah buat semua ahli keluarga.

Ikhlas
Mazuki.

MHB said...

Kak Ena, it was rezeki your parents to be buried near each other. When my mom-in-law passed away last year, she got to be buried next to her husband who passed on 35 years before that!!

As for me, my hubby passed away last year and I see that there is simply no space available anywhere near his grave. But mana tau, rezeki I 20-30 years from now, the earth might move ke, apa ke...

Al-fatihah to your dad...

nina najwan said...

Alfatihah
A great man, and Alah chose to call him back on Friday and Ramadhan. Semoga dirahmati Allah.

*cosmic freak* said...

My deepest condolences to your family. May Allah bless his soul and put him among the righteous. Al-Fatihah.

Anonymous said...

"demi matahari dan sinarnya dipagi hari, demi bulan apabila ia mengiringi, demi siang apabila menampakkan diri, demi malam apabila meliputi, demi langit dan seluruh pembinaannya, demi bumi dan seluruh penghamparannya, demi jiwa dan seluruh penyempurnaannya, Allh menciptakan jiwa kefasikkan dan ketakwaan, beruntunglah yang mensucikannya, merugilah yang mengotorinya" - Asy-Syams

Al-Fatihah...Semoga rohnya ditempatkan bersama orang-orang yang mukmin...

Amin...

buat kak aina dan keluarga...semoga Allah memberikan kekuatan dan ketabahan didalam menempuhi ketentuanNya...

A. Rashid A. Jall

Anonymous said...

He was buried on a Friday, a good day, and during Ramadhan, a most blessed month.

Al Fatihah.

BUGINVILLA said...

Untuk Arwah Pak Samad,

Persemadian abadi
Kini menanti
Kepulangan

Peninggalan
Bakti
Itulah bekalan

Kita di sini
Doa dan harapan
Semoga kau bersama
Muslimin Sejati.

Amin.

hoqni said...

Takziah di atas kehilangan keluarga Puan, yang sama-sama kami rasai jua.

Anonymous said...

I pray to the Lord Almighty, may your late father Allahyarham Tan Sri A. Samad Ismail be blessed by Him and be given a most special heavenly paradise amongst the Most Blessed Souls, Amin Ya Rabbal Alamien. I may not know the Allahyarham personally but I have always keenly followed his great professional ethics and journey in life. My most sincere condolences (belated as this may be) to you and all your bereaved family members. The mere fact that your late father's passing away in the most blessed month of Ramadan on a noble Thursday and peaceful burial on a holy Friday is testament that the Allahyarham was of a great stature in the eyes of the Creator.

Anonymous said...

Semoga dicucuri rahmat keatas rohnya.Amin.
Buat keluarga arwah takziah diucapkan.Sesungguhnya kita kehilangan nama besar di Ramadhan kali ini.

Anonymous said...

sgt sedih baca post ni...airmata tiba2 bergenang..can't imagine when my time comes..u're really lucky dpt tgk semua ni..neway, semoga beliau ditempatkan dikalangan 0rg2 yg beriman..wat a great man he was!

Anonymous said...

Dear nuraina and famili

God is good
God loves us much
pak samad was a good man
his legend lives on via his children.

bless u.

suresh

malimputih said...

Kak Aina,

Alhamdullilah Pak Samad dijemputNYa pada hari mulia bulan mulia dan all of you get to take care of him at the hospital. I lost my mum on the 18.1.08 without any sign of she leaving us. So sudden. Until now we still miss her and we can't imagine for the coming Eid. We understand ur sorrow coz we have been there. But insyallah bekat doa, you can make it. After all, we will be also akan dijemput oleh NYA, eventually.

Iron Butterfly said...

MasyaAllah.. what a wonderful coincidence to have his plot very close to your mom.

Anonymous said...

Al-Fatihah,

You will always remember him

be a good girl.