2-ArRaheem

            Amirah’s father Mr Adam was sick and has been hospitalised. He has brain cancer and spends every day, on the hospital bed. He has been staying in the hospital for a long time.  Amirah is terribly upset about it.

            Amirah cries every time she must go to school in the morning. She cries at the breakfast table. She cries on the school bus. She refuses to go to school because she wants to be with her father all the time. She wants her mother to bring her to visit her father every morning, but her mother Mdm. Nurul insists that she goes to school.

            Mdm. Nurul visits her husband every morning and afternoon. She brings him breakfast and afternoon snacks. “Mummy, mummy, are we going to the hospital today?” Amirah asks her mother once she reaches the front door one afternoon. “Sure, darling, of course we are going to visit daddy today. Why do you ask, Amirah?”

            “Nothing mummy, it’s just that I miss daddy so much. I miss daddy playing with me at home. Why is daddy always sleeping on the hospital bed?” Why is he not at home anymore? Amirah’s eyes started pouring with tears as she asks her mother these disheartening questions.

            Mdm Nurul just remains silent. She is terribly upset and she doesn’t know what to say to Amirah.  After a while, Mdm. Nurul sighs as she said, “Darling, daddy is sick. He is suffering from brain cancer. Because of that, he is always tired and weak. He doesn’t have energy to play with us anymore the way he used to during those happy old days. Take this as a test from Allah my dear girl. Allah is evaluating our patience and Allah surely evaluates those He loves,” Mdm. Nurul sobs as she explains the situation to Amirah. Amirah also cries on her mother’s lap.  They hug each other and cry.

            Suddenly the phone rings. Mdm Nurul answers the phone and without a word she pulls Amirah’s hand and leads her to her car and drives as fast as she can to the hospital. When they reach Mr Adam’s hospital bed, there are nurses surrounding the bed. There are doctors too. All of them are busy examining Mr Adam. Mdm Nurul and Amirah stand aside not knowing what to do.

            Suddenly, everybody stops whatever they are doing. Everybody walks away with their heads down except for Dr Elizabeth. She approaches Mdm Nurul and informs her that Mr Adam has passed away. He has lost the battle to fight his cancer. Mdm Nurul and Amirah shed tears upon hearing the sad news.

            “Now, who is going to take care of us? Who is going to love us? I love daddy so much mummy and I don’t want him to leave me,” cries Amirah as tears stream down her cheeks. “Amirah dear, I am still here and I will love you always. Inshallah I will always take safe care of you for as long as I live. If anything should happen to me, Allah is there for you. Allah loves you more than anyone in this world. Allah loves you more than daddy or mummy. Remember that Allah took care of you when you were frail and tiny in my womb. Allah kept you safe, sweetheart.”

“So, what should I do if I still love daddy and wish to see him?” Amirah asks. “You can pray to Allah to bless your daddy and keep him safe in the grave and you may ask to see him in your dreams,” Mdm Nurul replies. Amirah stops crying for a while.

            Composed, she raises both her hands and says a silent prayer in her heart. “Oh Allah, please bless my father and keep him safe. Please protect him from punishment in the grave. Please let me see him again in my dreams. Oh Allah, finally, please love me always when no one is there to love me. Amin.”