DEAR SON

DEAR SON,

I walked with you when you carried your Spiderman bag to school with your sisters in that beloved country. But they won’t let you in ‘cos you’re too small. I knew how you felt, but what could I do except to buy you sweets and goodies at Tarmimi supermarket before we went home for breakfast with Mama.

When you reached the age when you could go to school there, we had to leave for home for Dad’s stint is over, in the darkening clouds of the world economy. Yes son, Spiderman don’t cry, as we walked round having last looks at the compound home you and your sisters grew to love so much.

When we reached home shores we immediately enrolled you at the local kindergarten with elder sis, Adila. You jumped into the school bus on the first day without a second look at mum and me; we were a trifle hurt, but more overcame with happiness for you.

You lost the race at the kindergarten school sports day when your friend ran the wrong way but who cares everyone had an enjoyable day.

In your primary schooldays, you tricked me into you having what I thought was a wee bit early circumcision for you ; all the while I thought it was because of peer pressure at Ugama school, till Mum whispered to me it was actually just the influence of TV’s Upin and Ipin!

Praise be to Allah, at secondary school, like your sisters you shined too, academically,  and you went on to become school vice captain to the beaming pride of Mum and me. 

You sought advice about girls which neither me nor your uncles could give cos they were never in our lives until a lot later than you! Heck, we didn’t even know what Coed means!

Now Alhamdulillah, you are a young man on the brink of University life. Like your sisters, you too was not allowed to study Economics like your dad, or Business like your mum; the University, yes the same Islamic one as your sisters, says you are more suitable for ICT/Engineering. 

Again another area I can’t help you with advice; to me, ICT is this laptop in front of me, and Engineering is about when the LRT to Giant Shah Alam is ever going to be ready?!

We know in sya Allah you will do well son, we saw how you were already much helping eldest Sis, Adlin with her private animation project. Not bad, we thought, for a fifth former waiting for SPM results.

I’m glad they didn’t let you study Economics son, for they have not corrected the subject, even as the world now knows, its teachings are blatantly wrong. 

I studied the wrong economics at a western univ; I worked briefly in the wrong banking; I was a pioneer in the right banking at home; I set up a Consultancy on the right finance which fed our family; I was an expert adviser in that beloved country we were in for 3 years; we came back and I enrolled for a postgraduate degree in the same University you are entering now, and also where mum was earlier in, she would remind.

I loved and lapped up the Usul Fiqh subjects the University taught. And now at the twilight of my life I am a Monetary Reformer, an Islamic Monetary Reformer with a burning passion to change the world. It is not a hobby; it is a religious duty I have to do.

But I’m not good at it, son. I have not achieved much. Maybe I speak too fast, the world does not understand me. 

I am fighting for you son; for you, your sisters, your friends and your generation so all of you will have a fairer deal in life. Not one which is a ghastly injustice to you and your generation now, as it has always been for past and present generations, and also for future generations, if not changed!

We blindly and unquestioningly accepted a legacy system from the West which is in direct contradiction to our religion. It seems my friends are saying it is only my responsibility to do the change; not theirs also 😊.  But I’m not good at it son ; as I said maybe I speak too fast.

Keep the books I authored son ; read it when you’re ready. I am in the twilight of my years. If what I hoped for is not implemented in my life time, I hope you will rekindle the fire and keep on the fight. Ask your sisters to help. We owe it to the Dhuafa son, we really do owe a duty of care to the Dhuafa in the world, remember that always.

Good luck in your university life Zahir; needless to say, like your sisters, all of you are permanently etched in your Mama’s and my loving hearts, and in our daily prayers always.

With much love,

Mama and Papa.

Sunday 30 July 2023