Saturday 4 April 2009

Goodbye to a very dear friend Faizal, Al Fatehah


He was usually among the first to arrive at the surau and help with arranging the prayer mats. Then he’d take his place at the right hand corner of the hall, his 12 year old son by his side when we recite the surrah Yassin and listen to Ustaz’s tazkirah.


But last Friday night, he wasn’t there. While the usual congregation started gathering at the surau, Faizal was in a small room at the mortuary in East London. The sad news that filtered through to the members of the congregation that evening took everyone by surprise.

I had decided to give the tahlil session a miss as I felt unusually sleepy and tired and could hardly open my eyes after a very tiring week. And as I sat on my prayer mat at home waiting for Maghrib, I received a message on my phone which made me call up another dear friend only to be informed of this sad news.

Everyone had the same reaction; Which Faizal? Nina’s Faizal? You mean OUR Faizal? Are you sure?

Apparently, Faizal had suffered a fit while taking his exams. He was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 4.18 London time.

It is safe to say, the close-knit Malaysian community in London was and is still in total shock. That night, we made our way silently to the London hospital in White Chapel. That night, the usual crowd at the Malaysia Hall surau recited the Yassin for our dear friend and brother Faizal Abdul Aziz, in a small room at the Pathology Department of the hospital. The crowd spilled out to the pavement outside the building, standing around silently in the warm summer evening. Faizal wasn’t alone. Nina and her children Norman and Farah were not alone as we were all there for them.

The nurse in charge voiced disbelief at the turn-out. She has never seen anything like it before.

The last time I saw Faizal was when he walked us to the car in front of his house, two weeks ago after his daughter’s fifth birthday party. His teasing and bantering with me continued even as we were about to drive away. He looked happy and cheerful. Just a few minutes earlier as was the norm with our regular gettogethers, we heard his favourite rendition of Madu Tiga, and his duet of Siapa Dia Sebelum Daku with his loving wife Nina. Then he sat on the sofa and gave an impromptu translation of my attempt to sing “Sometimes when we touched” – his version was "Kadang-kadang bila kita bersentuh” which brought all of us there, Tok Din, Midah, Kasubi, Zu ( almost half asleep on the sofa, Faridah and Jegan (also half asleep) roaring with laughter. Even my other half who is not into karaoke laughed and for once joined in a song.

That’s my memory of the Faizal who left us last Thursday. That summer night, when we left at nearly midnight – he stood in front of his house, a picture of happiness and contentment. He had everything to live for; a successful career as an accountant, a beautiful and loving wife Nina, a lawyer who adores him, two intelligent children, Norman and Farah.

We have cancelled our trip to Paris for the Paris Marathon. We have to be here for the family he left behind.

We have known Faizal and family since God knows when. He was part of our close extended family in this place that has become home to most of us.

Last night the crowd that turned up at his house for tahlil showed just how much a valued member of the community Faizal had been during his short life. He will be missed, a lot.

The burial will be on Monday 6th April, Insyaallah.

Farewell, my dear brother, Faizal. You will be greatly missed. Al Fatehah

Other tributes to Brother Faizal:
Farewell to a dear friend
Al Fatihah to Faizal Abdul Aziz

UPDATE:
Arwah Faizal Abdul Aziz telah selamat dikebumikan selepas solat Zuhur di tanah perkuburan Garden of Peace di Hainnault pada petang 7hb April 2009. Alhamdulillah. Semoga Allah menempatkannya bersama mereka yang beriman dan mencucuri rahmat ke atas rohnya.


58 comments:

MA said...

Innalillahiwainnailaihiroji'un.

May Allahyarham be placed amongst the chosen ones.

Anonymous said...

Dear Kak Teh,
It's always sad when someone passes on before his time. And it is especially hard when the person has not shown the slighest inkling that his time is at the door. May Allah bless his soul; and comfort the family that Faizal has left behind. Al Fatehah.

Memorable trails... said...

Al Fatehah buat Faizal...Hopefully the family will be strong enough to face the test from the Almighty esp when they re now in a far away land from home sweet home.

NanaDJ said...

Alfatihah, and my deepest condolence to his family. Semoga Allah mencucuri rahmat ke atas rohnya dan memberi kesabaran dan kekuatan kepada keluarga dan sahabat handainya. Amin.

Kak Elle said...

Al fathiha semoga roh nya di cucuri rahmat dan di tempatkan sgn orang2 yg beriman...amin

Fauziah Ismail said...

Salam Kak Teh
A Facebook contact posted this earlier. I am assuming its the same Faizal.

"URGENT..any MCKK old boys who knew Faizal Abdul Aziz, mother's name Zainon, please call Siti Suzannah at 019XXXXXXX. He passed away in London and they have no contact number for his parents. He used to stay in Kg.Tunku, same row as the post office. Anyone else who knew him and knows his parents, please call the number above."
Al Fatehah for Allahyarham. My condolences to the family.

mamasita said...

Al-Fatehah untuk Aruah Faisal Abdul Aziz.As usual we share your grief and sadness upon losing a wonderful friend.
Semoga rohnya dirahmati Allah dan tergolong antara mereka yang beriman dan soleh..Amin
How precious life is and how even more aware we become of our short fragile life.
Our deepest condolences to Nina and her children.

ray said...

I'm sorry to hear about Faizal's demise. Al-Fatihah.

mekyam said...

innalillahiwainnailaihirojiun!

al-fatihah to arwah faizal.

kt,

my deepest condolences to nina and her children.

nadya.s said...

al-fatehah.

my condolences to his family, kakteh.

Kak Ezza@makcik Blogger said...

salam kak teh
Al Fatihah buat Allahyarham dan takziah buat keluarga yang dia tinggal kan.Semoga roh nya di cucuri rahmat hendak nya...

Kak Teh sihat ke..lama tak update...

DrSam said...

DariNYA kita datang, kepadaNYA kita kembali. Al-Fatihah.

Unknown said...

Kak Teh,

My deepest condolences to the late Encik Faizal's family. Thanks for sharing this...

Life is indeed short. This week, I lost a girlfriend, another one discovered she has cancer and an uncle had his third heart attack..I also blogged about it in In Praise of Older Women and The Power of Appreciation.

I lost three loved ones(including my parents) in one year and I find it most difficult to cope with grief and death. *sigh*

We are all not getting younger and it is my prayer that you and yours including your readers and mine will be blessed with good health, love and happiness.

Take care.

ama said...

Al-Fatihah, semoga roh Allahyarham Faizal dicucuri rahmat Allah dan moga keluarganya tabah dan sabar dan redha akan kembalinya Allahyarham ke Rahmatullah.
Allahu Akbar, I hope and pray that his parents can be contacted.
Salam

Honeytar said...

Salam Kak Teh,

I got a call from a friend on Friday morning informing me about his demise. It's a shock to all of us here too who knew him very well during our St Thomas's Rd days. He's indeed one responsible man.

The last time I saw them was in Jan'97 when Norman was barely few weeks old but pls excuse me for the lack of memory.

Please also convey my condolence to Nina (she knew me by the name 'Kak Cuta'). May Allah give her strength to face this very trying moments.

Al-Fatihah...

Mak Teh said...

Al Fatehah untuk Allahyarham. Semoga Allah mencucuri rahmat ke atas rohnya.

Mulan said...

al-fatihah...

Fadhil said...

Kak Teh,

Semuga keluarga allahyarham bersabar menghadapi dugaan ini. Al-fatihah.

Hi&Lo said...

Kak Teh,

Your friend is also my friend. As such your sense of loss is as much as mine.

From your description of Faizal, he is humble in serving.

May the lives Faizal has touched be a torch that keeps burning. May God rewards him for his faithfulness.

My deepest and heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones.

tireless mom said...

Dear Kak Teh

Al Fatihah untuk your dear friend arwah Faizal. Semoga rohnya dicucuri rahmat and ditempatkan digolongan orang yang beriman. Hope the family banyak banyak bersabar.

Unknown said...

Condolesnces to Nina and children and Al-fatihah for Faizal.

Unknown said...

Hi K Teh,

Oh K Teh life is so fragile.

Al-Fatihah to aruah Faizal's family.

Salt N Turmeric said...

Al fatihah for arwah. Pls do convey my condolences to his family.

Naz in Norway said...

Kak Teh,
Al Fatehah.
Semoga rohnya ditempatkan bersama orang orang yang beriman.
Salam takziah buat keluarga Allahyarham.

D said...

Kak Teh, when you called me Monday morning, I felt like rushing down to London. I don't know Nina and her children; neither did I know the late Faizal. But as soon as I hung up the phone, tears wet my cheeks.

I will be glad to do whatever I can to help the grieving Nina. Please tell me how.

Alfatihah.

Theta said...

Al-Fatihah. Though not knowing them in person, please extend my deepest condolences to Faizal's family. May he rest among the righteous and the pious. Amin.

_deli said...

Salam,

Sesedia mana sekalipun kita untuk mehadapi kematian atau menerima berita kematian; tatkala tiba ketikanya akan tak sedia juga sudahnya. Apatah lagi kepergian yang mengejut.

Takziah buat KT atas kehilangan seorang teman dan bagi ahli keluarga Faizal yang akan terus-terusan merindui orang yang tersayang. KT tolong sampaikan ya.

Al-fathihah.

drzain said...

My name is Zain Azrai.I went to school with Faizal from Form 1 to Form 5.I am not his best friend but we shared many "nasi kawah",tears and laughter together as a group.

I still remember our days in class together in 1976 in class 1B.

He was not the most gifted academically or in sports.At the age of 13, we all missed home and Faizal was teased consistently by us although by years end we accepted each other as brothers ,warts and all..

However , he did not stop improving as a person and as a professional.Long after we have all settled and thrown out our books,he was still at it and by your blogs, till the last minute of his breath.

The last few times we got together I could see the respect everyone had for him ( not the kind that people give to power and money but the genuine type ).He has a quirky way of making us all communicate by posting controversial topics.

Before that we lost contact but he brought us brothers of MCKK 76-80,together.Insyaallah he will bring us together again this weekend for his tahlil.

I hope you will have a chance to tell his children so they will know
the great heart and the legacy their father left them.

Dr Zain Azrai
KL

Clarisse Teagen said...

My condolences.
He does sound like a brilliant man who has made an impact on the loved ones around him.

hoqni said...

Kak Teh,

There is an additional 2000 friends (in Malaysia) in shock and grief at his passing!

MrsNordin said...

Al-Fatihah for your dear friend..

An uncle also passed away last Friday. At the majlis tahlil, I met a lady named Noraini. She pulled me aside and said, "You must be MrsNordin!" I was puzzled, but she told me she's a friend of K.Teh. "K.Teh yang suruh I baca blog you.."

Hee... heee... thanks k.teh. I'm happy to make acquaintance this way!

as said...

Innalillahi wa'inna Ilaihirraji'un
Alfatihah to Arwah Faizal.
Dear Kak Teh, How can I get hold of Nina or Arwah's family?
Do you have their numbers/adds?

Anwar
KL
(me and arwah were together in Finsbury Park in the mid-1990s)

Kak Teh said...

Thank you all for your wishes, condolence to the family, your doas. I have conveyed them to Nina and she has expressed her appreciation as she tries to cope as best as she could in these trying times. May Allah give her strength.
Thank you also to those who have shared with us your memories of and with arwah Faizal.

as, can you please email me at zwan_uk@yahoo.co.uk. Please also let me have your phone number. Thanks.

red rooster said...

Innalillah...

Berita ini sgt mengejutkan saya. Kali terakhir bertemu Allahyarham di rumah Tok Din (June 08). Semoga rohnya dicucuri rahmat... my condolences to his family.

Kama At-Tarawis said...

Alfatihah.. semoga rohnya di cucuri rahmat dan ditempatkan bersama roh-roh mereka yang beriman oleh Allah swt. Amin.

WanLanun said...

Innalillahiwainnailaihiroji'un

I'll miss the guy... such a nice person. We were neighbours at Finsbury Park way back in the mid 90's from Ikhwan Al-Rashid, Feriz Omar and Tengku Azhan

KG said...

Kak Teh,

Innalillah, dari Allah kita datang, kepada Allah kita kembali....

Siti Khadijah said...

Dear Kak Teh,

Al Fatihah to arwah Faizal and please offer our condolences to Nina and the children. Please also tell Nina that the extended family members from Faizal side (from Pahang and we are a large family) are all in deep shock with the news and we are praying for arwah. Thanks for the news and thank you for standing by arwah's family.

TZM1939 said...

My condolences to Nina and her children..I know how it feels..was in the same position five years ago..Al Fatehah..

Dalam Dakapan Ibu said...

Innalillahiwainnailaihiroji'un.

Semoga rohnya dicucuri rahmat and ditempatkan di kalangan orang-orang yang beriman.

AlFatihah.

jaflam said...

Salam Kak Teh,
Al Fatehah untuk Allahyarham Faizal dan semoga Allah mencucuri rahmat ke atas rohnya. Takziah buat Nina semoga terus kuat dengan dugaan Allah. Saya dan isteri masih ingat kemeseraan Faizal & Nina semasa kami diLondon Xmas lalu.

IBU said...

Salam Kak Teh,

Innalillah... Allah lebih sayangkan dia. May his soul rest in peace bersama2 orang2 yg beriman.

Al-fatihah.

Ordinary Superhero said...

Inna lilLahi wa Innna ilaihi roji'un. May Allah showers his blessing to Almarhum.

Wan Ray said...

Kak Teh,
Thank you for the news and the nice words about Faizal. I knew arwah when he was staying in 90 St. Thomas's Rd back in early 90's. He stayed on the ground floor and I occupied the room above his.

I remember him as a generous and good hearted person, though sometimes he could be a little bit 'eccentric', but in a nice way. I can still remember having tea with him in his kitchen and talked about politics. We could go on until late at night.

Since I came back in early '95, we did not keep in touch. Last I heard of him was when he was getting married to Nina and later a friend informed me that he moved out of that house (St. Thomas's rd) - I guess he finally had enough with the landlord, Mr. Bulah.

May Allah rest his soul among the blessed ones. My condolences to Nina and her children. May Allah blessed her with strengths to face the days without him by her side.

Al-Fatihah.

Hazia said...

Al fatihah.
He was lucky to have lived a full life.

MHB said...

Salam Kak Teh,

My heart goes out to Nina and their children...

Semoga roh Alhmarhum Faizal ditempatkan dikalangan para Solihin. Ameen

maszuzu said...

salam takziah kak teh :( semoga roh arwah dicucuri rahmat...

Unknown said...

Dear Kak Teh

Thank you for the kind eulogy on our beloved brother in law. His passing was a great loss for us in the family not to mention Nina, Norman and Farah.

I am totally grateful to your family and other friends turning up without fail for tahlil. Our gratitude also goes to Tok Din & family, Kasubi and family, Ustaz Erfino/Sofiyan, Faridah & Jegan,Tuan Nazri & officials from MSD, the Malaysia Embassy (for their guidance and jenazah bathing materials). Not to forget those that I did not mention but close to our heart.

We thank the kind comments in this blog and from the kind words Faizal must have done a lot of kind deeds.

The funeral was sweet and simple. We heard comments it was the most beautiful funeral some would have ever been to. I have to thank Ustaz Erfino for the most informative sermon I've ever heard.

We know deep in our heart Faizal is resting in peace and are amongst us.

Finally from the bottom our heart thank you and jazakallah....

Salam from Nina,Akhmal, Akil, Hisham and whole family

Kak Teh said...

Salam to all, and once again, thank you for your doas and kind words for a friend who has left us.

Kak Teh said...

Salam akhmal, thank you for visiting. Words cannot express how we feel. His passing has brought all of us closer, Alhamdulillah. And for what we did, well, arwah Faizal would have done the same should it happen to anyone of us. Nina, Norman and Farah will not be alone.

yes, I agree about the burial - I left with ustaz's words ringing in my ears. I have tried to write about it, but I still cant. Insyaallah, when I can think straight, I will.

Salam to all and Insyaallah we will meet again.

baby? said...

kak za baru tau last nite faizal passed away kesian nina they in malaysia now or are they in london.

muzzie

Kak Teh said...

muzzie, nina and the children are still in London. I will let her know that you asked after her. Thanks.

MY CUPPIE CAKE said...

KAK ARA,

BARU BACA. TAKZIAH BUAT NINA DAN ANAK2 DRP KAMI - KARIM AND FAMILY
AL-FATIHAH

Kak Teh said...

Karim, kak zaharah ingat semua kawan-kawan di KL dah tau. Insyaallah kak zaharah akan sampaikan salam kepada nina bila jumpa dia esok. Masih ingat lagi kita beramai-ramai makan di chapel side. Take care.

MY CUPPIE CAKE said...

KAK ARA,
INGAT LAGI. MASA TU NORMAN MASIH BABY.

Mat Salo said...

Dear Kak Teh,

We met briefly during AG's book "soft launch" at KLCC.

Faisal, my namesake was more than a dear friend. He was my junior by a year and not only that - I was MC's club photo club president back then and I passed on the mantle to him after I left.

So after almost three decades (thirty years!) I found my self in London last Ramadahan '06 to attend an industry seminar in Grantham. I took an extra day on the way back to look Faizal up(THE ONLY person I looked up in London) where he an Nina was most gracious to take me into their home for buka puasa and to mull about old times. And what a meeting it was after almost thirty long years...

He took a photo album off his shelf, and there I was with him in a school magazine photo. Needless to say I was deeply touched.

When the news broke I believe I was one of the first persons to receive the message via the MCOB network, via sms, while I was on the rig in Indonesia. Took me a while to take it all in.

I have some of photos of us at his house over during Ramadhan '06 and I wanted to blog about it but I'm so glad that you and hubby beat me to the punch to this fitting tribute.

I left a similar note on AG's blog too.

Al-Fatihah. Goodbye my Faizal.

Kak Teh said...

Mat Salo, of course I remember you and appreciate your presence that afternoon.
re: Faizal, yes, we have lost a good friend. Al Fatehah. Nina is coping as best as she could. She is very very strong.

AzrulShahreen said...

Thank you Kak Teh... alhamdulillah for your praise and comment toward Arwah...