BIDDING FAREWELL TO SOMEONE WHO IS GOING FOR PILGRIMAGE

2ND MAY 2026 ~ I went to another feast held in Bandar Indahpura, Kulai, to bid farewell to Mr. Mohd Sidek Roslan who will be performing his Pilgrimage to Mecca soon. It is customary for Muslims here who are going to perform the fifth pillar of Islam to hold a gathering with friends and relatives. Some hold the feast after they return home from Mecca.

It was first time in Bandar Indahpura and was surprised with the number of roundabouts I had to drive around to get to designated venue.

I arrived at Mr. Mohd. Sidek's house at about 8:00 p.m. and they were many people there. I still, however, managed to secure a table just for myself. I could not find anyone that I could recognize so I just enjoyed the food but at a faster pace as there was no one I could talk to.

Guess I will be meeting Mr. Mohd. Sidek in any JKM activities after he has returned from Mecca after this. May Allah ease his journey to the holy land and his Pilgrimage be blessed.

BIDDING FAREWELL TO A FRIEND WHO WILL BE GOING FOR HER PILGRIMAGE

We were invited by Puan Ida Amiza to her house in Bandar Dato' Onn for a feast before she and her husband leave for their pilgrimage trip to Mekah. Puan Ida is an English teacher in SMK Md. Khalid and we use to meet for district/state level meetings. This gathering was some sort of a sending off event where one could wish the hosts all the best of luck as well as to seek for forgiveness for all the wrongdoings, and pray that we would meet again.

May Puan Ida Amiza and her husband have an easy journey in the holy land and hopefully we will see each other real soon.

ANOTHER FAREWELL GATHERING

Saturday, 7th September ~ This was neither an open house for Eid nor a wedding reception of an ex-student. I was invited to the house of Mr. Shaarin, the father of my ex-students, who would be leaving for his pilgrimage soon with his wife. This is another common practice in community for people to bid farewell to those who are going to perform their "haj" and at the same time to wish them well and ask for forgiveness (and to forgive in return).

There were the three siblings: Nisab, Husni and Asyraf, who accompanied me while I was enjoying my food under the tent, but they were either too shy or too full to eat again.

I couldn't stay that long - there were still many people arriving and at the same time, I had to go to another supposedly open house. Let's pray for a safe journey for both Mr. Shaarin and his wife to Mecca and back to Malaysia, and InsyaAllah (with God's will) we will see each other again later.