Alhamdulillah, tahlil telah selamat diadakan pada hari Rabu, 15 November 2012 - malam maal hijrah 1434.
Yes, his remaining was not found. However, with guidance from Allah, the tahlil was held.
*I am writing this partly to express my gratitude for those who involved directly or indirectly during the 1 week search beside providing tale from my point of view to his mysterious disappearance and to remind myself on what happened and how it affected me, the family and people around us. Further, the occasion made me want to reflect our life together.*
Bagi mereka yang cukup lama mengenali saya, mereka akan tahu keadaan Kareem (I could not bring myself to say arwah even to this date. His body was not found! would it be right to regard him as arwah?), seorang insan yang istimewa. Bila sebut istimewa, perkara pertama terlintas di fikiran ialah tidak normal atau kelainan upaya. Yes he is that and more. Dia istimewa kerana dia '3suku' (mentally retarded) dan dia juga terlibat dalam dunia lain selain manusia.
As a child, his mental ability do not reach the level as it should. However Alhamdulillah, physically he became a well man. During his school years mainly primary school until he turned 14, his teacher found him as a boy who is easy to handle compared to his peers. He was appointed as prefect, a leader among those special children. Transition to secondary school was not an easy ride for him, mostly faced by them as at this point of life as this is the time they realize that they are indeed different than the others. He lasted at the secondary school only about a year or so.
His direct involvement with the other world started on his 16th birthday. It was the last day of Syaaban, the eve of Ramadhan. As we are all aware, during Ramadhan, we are not disturbed by the interference and temptaions of the devils and demons (iblis dan syaitan). However they may escape from the chain if they could find a 'master'. Human who would accept them. Kareem, being a special child who do not have iman as he do not perform prayer and his ability to see the unseen makes him the target to become their 'master' or 'home'. He would accept whatever laid upon him. That was the first time he went missing under this condition. He was found wandering around nearby neighbourhood by Maghrib.
Yep, he did went missing more than once in the past. He took a ride on a bus in the morning and was handed to the police station later that night. Another ride via bus and LRT, was sent to welfare deparment the following day after the police failed to trace his originality.
The eve of Ramadhan was the beginning of a new phase in his life and our family. We could hardly go out together as a whole family unless to a relative's place. My mother once joked that thanks to him, she managed to save more - lesser time spent on shopping malls on the weekends, limits spending. She decided to opt for early retirement to take care of him as she begins to learn about the other world and how to manage its effect on him.
Yep, he did went missing more than once in the past. He took a ride on a bus in the morning and was handed to the police station later that night. Another ride via bus and LRT, was sent to welfare deparment the following day after the police failed to trace his originality.
The eve of Ramadhan was the beginning of a new phase in his life and our family. We could hardly go out together as a whole family unless to a relative's place. My mother once joked that thanks to him, she managed to save more - lesser time spent on shopping malls on the weekends, limits spending. She decided to opt for early retirement to take care of him as she begins to learn about the other world and how to manage its effect on him.
In this so called modern era and living in the city, we could easily dismissed the other world paralleled to ours because we could not see it. Ignorance is bliss isn't it? Once my mother asked me where have I been that day, did I perform zohor and asar prayer? Of course I did during my time outside of the house and that day I went to a site visit. Mother told me that something followed me home and surprise, my brother saw it. Subhanallah.
Alhamdulillah the other world effect on him finally subsided, however he is no longer his old self. He was taken away that day and since then he has changed.
We take for granted our promise to Allah to be a good servant by performing our duties. The duties are demanded from us in order to protect us from being mislead during our journey from this world to the after life, the eternity.
