He was the fourth child in a family of twelve and the eldest out of three boys. A very responsible, trustworthy, faithful, good natured and always with an affable laughter. He saw only the goodness in people. He could be a bit authoritarian and disciplined. Smart and diligent. He was a bank branch manager, a businessman and entrepreneur until his health was taken away from him. His tests and trials by Allah were very challenging but he faced them with total acceptance, utmost patience and perseverance. There were times when he felt so low yet he just performed his prayers and talked to his Creator in his prostration.
He contracted tuberculosis (TB) during his tenure running a furniture factory back in the mid-nineties. He employed foreign workers to work in the factory. He was a smoker. He was always breathing in sawdust and mingled with his employees. His coughing got worse and he was treated for TB. One day he just collapsed outside his house. He managed to crawl out from his house. His wife and two kids were in school. Neighbours saw him and contacted his wife and the ambulance. He was in a coma for a fortnight and doctors had given up on him. One third of his lungs were badly affected and he had difficulty breathing. Allah was the Most Knowing. While my eldest half brother was busy arranging his funeral and burial, Hamid pulled out of coma and was graced with almost twenty long years with only a functioning two thirds of his lung. My eldest half brother passed away four years ago. Hamid even outlived him. Being a pious and faithful servant of Allah, Hamid knew he was given a second chance. He lived fully, took care of his family as best as his could, be the big brother we could all depend on, cheerful even when he was in pain, so accepting and became the best servant of Allah as he could. We nicknamed him "The Saint" in every sense of the word.
Hamid knew he could die at any time. He was well prepared for it spiritually and religiously. Yet, the way he was taken to return to his Creator, still gave us an unexpected shock that we kept calling each other for confirmation. He passed away peacefully in his sleep after two decades of suffering the difficulty of breathing and unable even to exert much energy physically since last year. A walk from the gate to the front door left him breathless. Climbing up the stairs no matter how short was torturous. Yet he was always grateful that he could still walk although he could no longer perform his jemaah prayers at the mosques in his last year of life. He could no longer catch up with the Imam.
He was my handsome, easy going, affable, easy temperament and the one sibling who was always calm and composed. When he came to my school to collect my report card, he was very popular among my girl friends. Some of them still remembered him. As Sue said when she heard the news - "Of course I remembered him. You always referred to him in everything. We heard a lot about him from you." He was Hamid whether in sickness or in health. He was always there. He was dependable to solve anything. To listen to anything. Even though he gave his views or opinion, he never tried to persuade you to accept it and respected whatever decision we made. He was never judgemental and thus he made friends easily. Friends who helped him out. Friends who took advantage too.
Hamid was ready to face his Creator. We were not ready to let him go. His wife was devastated and was in such shock that when she answered the phone, all she could say was "Hamid has gone," repeatedly. She was inconsolable until her family and we arrived to give her emotional and physical support. Mala and I had some quiet time together as we were quite close. Recalling the times we shared taking care of Hamid. Telling her to be grateful for the years being given to be together. Twenty years to watch his two kids grew up and the eldest had already started working. He left his wife with nothing to worry about his affairs.
Losing a sibling is like losing the final piece of a jigsaw puzzle. Incomplete and can never be completed. We will always have you in our prayers. Hopefully you will meet up with Mak and Bapak over there. Rest in peace Hamid. It is a much deserved and well earned rest from Allah. Semoga tenang dan damai di sana.
Al-fatihah. So early in the year. Is this an omen of sad tidings? Just last week we received news that amy partner's friend and best man during our wedding passed away in Kelantan. It's only January ... RIP Sharidan.
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