Forties

Assalamualaikum dear readers,

How do you feel when sitting in any event, and everybody around you starts addressing you as 'KAKAK'? How do you feel?

10 years ago, I feel awkward to be called 'MAKCIK' by the little ones. But when the college students, the shop assisstant or cashier started to call you 'MAKCIK' how is that suppose to make you feel???? :-)

It's no other than the sign of aging has written on your face. I am not ashamed to tell everybody my age. What is there to hide? I am 43. Ooopppps ....... reaching 44 in 3 days time. Age should reflect in how wise you are in dealing things or situation. And some says that patience do relate with age. Do not just only relate age to your physical appearance. It should be how you have built your Intelligent Quotient (IQ), Emotional Quotient (EQ) and most importantly your Spiritual Quotient (SQ) along the way. As a muslim, I believe a balance in all the three quotients is a MUST. In order to achieve the balance does not necessarily require a certificate from any ESQ training. Whether we realize it or not, we have went through the training for all of the three aspects along our life. It is just how much we have gathered the knowledge which differentiate each of us. And as a Muslim, not only GATHERING matters, what matters most is PRACTICING what you have gathered.

40 is a big number. There's a saying that if you do not change to be a better person when you reach 40, you'll never change and become a loser in Allah's eye. Na'uzubillahi min zalik (I seek protection from Allah from the matter). Change may be done drastically or gradually, most importantly, you must set in your mind and determine to change for a better person. A better husband or wife, a better parent, a better son or daughter, a better neighbour, a better friend, a better employee, BETTER in all aspect of life as a muslim. It's BETTER not BITTER , ok.

40 is a significant age. Even in the al-Quran age 40 was mention in one of the verses of the Surah Al-Ahqaf, verse 15:

وَوَصَّيۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنَ بِوَٲلِدَيۡهِ إِحۡسَـٰنًا‌ۖ حَمَلَتۡهُ أُمُّهُ ۥ كُرۡهً۬ا وَوَضَعَتۡهُ كُرۡهً۬ا‌ۖ وَحَمۡلُهُ ۥ وَفِصَـٰلُهُ ۥ ثَلَـٰثُونَ شَہۡرًا‌ۚ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُ ۥ وَبَلَغَ أَرۡبَعِينَ سَنَةً۬ قَالَ رَبِّ أَوۡزِعۡنِىٓ أَنۡ أَشۡكُرَ نِعۡمَتَكَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَىَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَٲلِدَىَّ وَأَنۡ أَعۡمَلَ صَـٰلِحً۬ا تَرۡضَٮٰهُ وَأَصۡلِحۡ لِى فِى ذُرِّيَّتِىٓ‌ۖ إِنِّى تُبۡتُ إِلَيۡكَ وَإِنِّى مِنَ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِينَ (١٥)

Al-Ahqaf: 15

We have enjoined on man kindness to his parents. In pain did his mother bear him, and in pain did she give him birth. The carrying of child to his weaning is (a period of) thirthy months. At length , when he reaches the age of full strength and attains forty years, he says, "O Lord, grant me that I may be grateful for your favour which you have bestowed upon me, and upon both my parents, and that I may work righteousness such as You may approve; and be gracious to me in my issue. Truly have I turned to You and truly do I bow (to You) in Islam".

Dan kami wajibkan manusia berbuat baik kepada kedua ibubapanya; ibunya telanh mengandungkannya dengan menanngung susah payah dan telah melahirkannya dengan menanggung susah payah. Sedang tempoh mengandungkannya beserta dengan tempoh menceraikan susunya ialah dalam masa tiga puluh bulan. Setelah besar sampai ke peringkat dewasa yang sempurna kekuatannya dan sampai ke peringkat umur empat puluh tahun, berdoalah dia dengan berkata: Wahai Tuhanku, ilhamkanlah daku supaya tetap bersyukur akan nikmatmu yang engkau kurniakan kepadaku dan kedua ibubapaku dan supaya aku tetap mengerjakan amal soleh yang Engkau redhai; dan jadikanlah sifat-sifat kebaikan meresap masuk ke dalam jiwa zuriat keturunanku. Sesungguhnya aku bertaubat kepadaMu dan sesungguhnya aku dari orang-orang Islam (yang tunduk patuh kepadaMu).

Amin Ya Rabbul 'Al Amin

For those who are in the 40s or above, lets recite the dua' after out solat.

Wassalam

p.s. I dont mind the age, but i still dont like to be called MAKCIK .... ha ha