Thursday, December 21, 2006

Rahmat Allah - Alhamdullilah

Rezeki anakku murah sekali Amin. Semoga Allah sentiasa murahkan rezekinya hingga melimpah ruah sepanjang hayatnya serta berikan dia kesenangan di dunia dan di akhirat. Insyallah.


I got out of the cab. 5 minutes to spare before the shops reopen after the Magrib prayer. The little one was sleepy. It was rather nippy. This winter has been one of the worst.

I was wearing her in my sling. I peered into the glass display of a shop just to look at our reflection to adjust the fabric of my sling.

The lady approached me trying to say something. I didn't quite understand her as she was speaking Arabic.

"Brrrrr," she said.

"Ice."

Ah I understood she was telling me that my baby could be cold. She pointed out that the little one needed a hat. I tried to explain in my non existent Arabic that the little one hates hats and would take it off as soon as I put the hat on.

"Filipini?" she asked me. "Malaysia" I said.

Then she said, "Ta'ali" which I understood as come here.

I don't know what got into me but I followed her towards the corner store selling stockings, underwear, hats and mitts.

She is telling me that I should buy a hat for the little one. Ok. Ok I obliged. So I was trying to make my choice. And I could figure out that she was asking the prices of things to the shopkeeper. And she handed out a hat to me. I put it on the little one to humor her.

And as I was reaching out for my wallet she was telling me, "Hadiah, hadiah."

I was speechless. Flabbergasted. I didn't know what to say. I wanted to tell her no, no need but I didn't want to offend her by refusing and appearing to be ungrateful. I tried my best in my pidgin Arabic to say "Syukran." I wanted to say May Allah bless you with your kindness. But I was just so tongue tied by the generosity and the kindness of a stranger.

I really didn't know what to do. Not being used to such a situation.

May Allah grant the generous lady whose face I didn't see a lifetime of good blessings and may she be granted abundance always.

As for my little one, she still refuses to wear her hat but I do pray that Allah will continue her good fortune throughout her life.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

salam,
hmmm rezeki anak2 tu :) baiknya makcik Arab tu kan?

atenah said...

SF!! you are flabbergasted when ppl are generous to you!!? I have been in yr shoes many times and you have been in the mak cik Arab shoes many times, right? Well, in case if you dont know, I felt exactly like you did

Sunfloraa said...

alinlai

Selamat datang dan terima kasih kerana membaca blog saya. Tulah ni kali pertama saya jumpa makcik Alab baik.

Atenah

Well all I wanted (and still want) are some brownie points for the after life you. But yes now I know how it feels.

[I am excited for you!]

elisataufik said...

alhamdulillah!! :) :)
Belum lagi ada mak arab kasi hadiah to Izani (but one egyptian neighbour roasted a whole chicken when I was dalam pantang), tapi ramai yang datang cubit2 pipi ada lah.. :D