Maybe he did (love what he did)

My late father spoke multiple languages: Malay, Arabic, Urdu, Javanese, and weak English. I would forgive on his poor English, because he speaks the 4 other languages WELL. And comparatively, I only speak 2 languages as of now, while struggling to learn conversational Chinese.

He wrote some articles too for the local government publication "Jabatan Agama Johor", as well as the local papers; he wrote well in Malay, and in Jawi. I obviously can't. My shot at it, is to probably write in Malay & use AI to somehow convert everything to Jawi.

He delivered engaging ceramahs (roughly translated: sermons; contextual translation: talks) on the radio and in masjids. I think he appeared on TV once or twice. If he had lived now, during social media times, he would be famous (he was quite famous then too). He and his friends started the Islamic/ spiritual healing movement that is now known as Darussyifa'. 

In totality, he was an achiever. When he died, a whole lot of people attended his funeral. The road leading up to the graveyard was jampacked with folks trying to pay him their last respects. He was loved and held in high regard. 

Before his death he ran for office: the Parliamentary seat of Parit Sulong. He lost the seat, and his job, and his reputation. I was about 17 then, when I realised how dirty politics can get. How a person like my father could be persuaded to throw accusations at another (I had read some of his written speeches, which I burned); and how the opponent participated in vote buying so that my father lost the election. There were other things that happened, but they will never be discussed publicly.

He passed away at the age of 46, leaving behind a 41 year old wife and 8 children aged between 8 months to 17 years old. We survived, and I might say that we thrived. He would be pleased to see all of us now, if he had been around. 

Now that I am 48, I look back and see how wonderfully great my late father was. He spoke up against authority (more than once). He had wanted to correct the wrongs, so he ran for office. Inasmuch as he is a father, he was a fantastic one. Somehow he had time for all of us; he taught us personally to read the Quran and to solat. This I could never do for my children, because of my multiple excuses (the main one: too busy with work). 

He had his aspirations, and I think he achieved most of his goals before he passed away. He had made a difference in many peoples' lives, and was taken too soon. Despite his small salary he collected quite a bit of property which tide us over through school and university. He took care of us well, even in death. Well my mom did a LOT of the work too, and she will be the central subject of another entry. Frankly if my mom had worked, I have no doubt that she would have been as successful. 

Greatness comes before us, and we reap the hard work they sow.