Maryam binti Faruqi

The only name in my head was ‘Hawa’. I want my second daughter named as Hawa. Hawa is not just the name of my late mother, but also mother’s of mankind.

Until one day I watched a program on OASIS channel, Dr. MAZA showed up ‘tadabbur-ing’ surah Maryam, 19th chapter of al-Quran. The tadabbur was so captivating for the whole 15 minutes segment. He explained how a woman (Maryam) at that time being tested heavily while she is a good servant. I mean, a really good servant who always put her obedient as priority at all times. Not even that, she had a precocious girlhood and was born to the pious household of Ali-Imraan (family of Imraan).

…and (mention) when the angels said, “Oh Mary, indeed God has chosen you and purified you and chosen you above the women of the worlds. Oh Mary, be devoutly obedient to your Lord and prostrate and bow with those bow( in prayer). [3: 42-43]

Then, there are lines in surah Maryam recording her dialogue which implies her high dignity while a complete stranger approaching her:

…and mention, (Oh Muhammad), in the Book (the story of) Mary, when she withdrew from her family to a place toward the east. And she took, in seclusion from them, a screen. Then We sent to her Our angel (i.e: Gibriel), and he represented himself to her as a well-proportioned man. She said, “indeed, I seek refuge in The Most Merciful from you, (so leave me), if you should be fearing of God.” He said, “I am only the messenger of your Lord to give you (news of ) a pure boy (i.e: son)”. She said, “how can I have a boy while no man has touched me and I have not been unchaste? He said, “Thus,(it will be); your Lord says, “ It is easy for Me, and We will make him a sign to the people and a mercy from Us. And it is a matter (already) decreed”. So she conceived him, and she withdrew with him to a remote place. [19: 16-22]

Generation of today is generally lost this value. I am not the one who capable on controlling my decend generations (at least) to be isolated from the social damages. To find Maryam in current generation is merely impossible, I would say.

"The long December rain is falling now. Running down on street to nowhere...

I want my daughter to be Maryam not only by name, but essentially by act. Being inspired by the tadabbur, I changed Hawa to ‘MARYAM’.

Above all, the days will come (by Allah’s will) when they are big enough to know the meaning of upholding the Quran and sunnah while becoming the future CEO of some major international, multi-galactic corporation and caregiver of their tired and aged parents.

A New Direction

What’s Next?

Ever since becoming a father, I’ve been secretly worried that I’m doing it all wrong. I hope it was just a mutual feeling of fathers. Maryam is my second child and she is 1 year old, so you would think I’d have improved at this fathering thing by now.  I hope of the same. I’ve listened to few (if not a lot) of parenting lectures by well known educators, who are specialized in early education. But to put the knowledge into practices is another challenge, I would say.

Decision has been made. Farah discontinued her contract as a research assistant and willing to live her life as a full time mother of the kids. It started a year ago, 3 months after Maryam’s birth. Alhamdulillah, so we did successfully get her through the infant years. Yusra? She is a supper happy sister. She seems waiting the moment of Maryam walking without our hands so that she can play any toddler things together.

A year has passed and it was actually a life ‘simulation’ for it telling us what is next after being the only source of family’s income. Not bad! The only thing affecting us is the monthly saving. There were few events through the year which required us to use huge amount of money. Our little home renovation and my ACL surgery were ones of them. Its okay! No biggie since we really looked on the financial flow accordingly. But eventually, we think, things just not enough. Farah has tried to run an online business but seems flunk. I had a good increment but the liabilities grow exponentially. This is how life telling us to move in the other direction. Things managed and never bother us so much.

We lived our moderate life without telling people our activities in real time by Facebook or any other social media. Why should we? We are not the center of the society, by the way. In fact, I feel better living in Klang without Unifi and the congested data line here.. Haha! Anyway, soon, we need an MPV and Yusra will start her formal schooling. I need a new plan, new direction.

What would it be?

One Box Ticked!

The mood never came until its April 2016, end of April actually. So, here is an expired event post. Hahah!

I'm not type of person who is very specific on my career path. I am just whatever I can be. But of course I've targets for every single chapter in my life. The chapter called 'career', has its own targets. This is one of those.

Talking about the award for engineering team, I never expect they will engrave my name on it. The whole 2015 was just like the years before, full of challenges, meetings, conferences, complaints, compliments, and dramas. One thing remains, the commitments.

But really, we were not really competing for this. Its not a symbol of a winner anyway. It doesn't telling people who is good who is not. For me, it is just a thing given to a good team by assigning someone to receive. Anyway, another box ticked! :)