Blog Update - long overdue

It has been too long……. I have had many things to do and have not been able to update the blog for a long while. Ram and I had also been a little under the weather such that we had to rest whenever we get the opportunity. I have had cough, dry and deep in the throat, for about ten weeks now and flu had come and go several times. So also Ram. Sometimes we cough in unison as though it’s orchestrated, ha ha! We are still coughing now, despite all the medicines taken, the antibiotics, expectorant and what have you. We even try traditional and herbal concoctions for cough to no avail. We are getting much better though and coughing less frequently and with less intensity. We are not sure which medicine did the work or whether it was just a natural cycle for the cough to come and go but we are thankful that it is getting much less a bother. We get good, stretched sleep, at night compared to the nights when we were up every now and then due to the coughs.

Starting from early March I had been involved in getting ready for a gathering of Ulama’s or religious leaders, at the Madrasah or religious school where I regularly attend religious classes. The function was held for three days and nights 12th to 15th April 2007. There were altogether more than 60 Ulama’s from the region, i.e. Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Singapore, Brunei, Kampuchea, and also from Egypt and Lebanon. It was quite a job getting the preparations in place, the transportation required, the accommodation, food, receptions and all things necessary to make our guests as comfortable as possible during their stay. We also had to accommodate the expected attendance of local visitors and guests during the three days. Various papers were presented during the day and at night paryers were held interspersed with maulid for the Prophet to celebrate his birth as this month of RabiulAwal is the month when the Prophet pbh was born (although, as I understand it, it is not necessary to wait for this month to hold maulid since it can be held any time during the year). Other than that various ratibs were also held where we glorify the Almighty.

Various committees were formed to look into the details of the preparations and I was in the guest reception committee and also the F&B committee. Four meals were to be served daily for the main guests, ie the Ulamas and the religious leaders. Meetings were held almost twice weekly and preparations became intense in the beginning of April. That was the time when my cough started to increase in intensity as well. Anyway I survived, after taking all sorts of medicines and concoctions!!, and by the time the event started I was much better and could performed what was required and necessary of me for the function. I got the opportunity to meet up with most of the Ulama’s and it was most satisfying.

The opening ceremony for the event was held in the morning of 12th April by the honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dato Sri Syed Hamid Albar. There were several thousand people attending the ceremony and there were more visitors daily culminating in the grand finale in the evening of the 14th. where there were more than five thousand people in attendance. Prayers, zikrullah, ratibs and maulid were held that evening. Several of the Ulama’s delivered religious talks and tazkirah as well. Mutton briani was served for everybody at the end of the evening function.

Once the function was over, some of us in the committee sat and reflected on what took place the past few days and were satisfied that things went well without much hiccups. Some of the guests commented that we did a good job and they were treated very well. That was most satisfying and although we were tired, to know that we had satisfied our guests was most gratifying indeed. This was one voluntary work that I will gladly participate in, coughs and flu aside!! All praise to the Almighty for making the event a success and allowing me to survive despite my medical setbacks.

Now I am preparing for a thanksgiving and maulid function in my house scheduled for May 1st. I hope and pray and seek the grace of the Almighty that this time the function will go on well too.

MKI Ramblings Unlimited
Petaling Jaya