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.