Family Day (Part 1)

Bismillah..

Alhamdulillah, I've had a great week!

Themed events sure works for the kids, at least with my k3's.

There's supposed to be a family day theme for National Day in these two weeks. We're having our exams at the same time, so imagine the possible chaos that ensues. *laugh* Amazingly, the opposite seems to held effect.

This week's agenda:

Tuesday: Story-telling (Nabi Yusuf & Nabi Yakub)

Wednesday: Mother's Day (Hadith song & card)

Thursday: Father's Day (T-shirt card)

I didn't mean to start with anything that Tuesday. We were supposed to have a few recaps for exams when N suddenly tugs at my Jubah, asking for a story. Sometimes, in the morning I shared stories regarding the prophets (Nabi Muhammad SAW, Nabi Yunus a.s, etc), trying to relate the morals with them.

Unprepared, I thought about the longest story about prophet in the Qur'an, which is in the Surah Yusuf 

- about a boy who had a dream, in which the stars, moon and sun bows down to him. Of how excited as he is about that beautiful dream, his father warned him against his telling his brothers..which as naive as he is, he did. Consumed with jealousy, his brothers plotted to abandoned him in the wilderness, pleading with their father that they just want to take their little brother out for play. They came back with a bloody shirt (belonged to their little brother), saying under fake tears that he was eaten by the wolves. Overcome with grief, the father wept day and night until his eyes went blind. Long story short, when that little brother grew up and become a prominent figure, he was reunited with his brothers. Though his brothers didn't realized it was him, believing he was long dead. The little brother hid their belongings, made an agreement with them, to exchange Bunyamin (his best friend) with their freedom. The father overcome with giref a second time, devastated that he lost his favourite two sons. Somehow, it was agreed that he came to that country to 'reclaim' back Bunyamin. Unknown to them, upon entering the country's palace, the father was greeted by a voice. A voice, in which he wept day and night in longing for. It was his son! Reunited at last! The brothers bowed in shame and regret..and in that circle of family, the little brother suddenly remembered the dream he had as a child (about the stars, the moon and sun bowing to him). That dream realized on that day. 

That child was Nabi Yusuf a.s. and the father was Nabi Yakub a.s.

It wasn't until that night I realized how the story tells about a parents love for their child and vice versa. 

Set out with a plan, I remembered a novel that introduced me to the wonderful world of children: "Solat Hafalan Delisa"

I'm particularly touched by one scene.

The ustaz liked to tell stories like I just did with my kids. He said about being kind to parents and made a promise. If anyone can say to their mother "I love you because of Allah", he'd give them a chocolate. With the dark creamy treat on her mind, Delisa set off back home. After their maghrib prayer, she suddenly hugged her mother and whispered those words in her mother's ear, "Ummi, I love you because of Allah." That single line that Ustaz had taught her brought a profound effect. Her mother's tears trickled down. Thoroughly touched, Ummi whispered back, in ragged breath, "I love you because of Allah, too."

That time, Delisa was too young to understand those words, too young to understand her mother's tears. She was just pleased to do what Ustaz told her to do, that promise of chocolate infront of her eyes.

Then, Tsunami struck and she lost her mother. She cried day and night..hoping for a day she can say it sincerely to her mother, not because of that promised chocolate or gold necklace her mother had promised to buy for her if she can memorized her prayer.. but sincerely, to say and mean it,

"Ummi, I love you because of Allah."

So Yesterday, I told them about the hadith.

"O Messenger of God! Who among the people is the most worthy of my good companionship?" The Prophet said: "Your mother." The man said, "Then who?" The Prophet said: "Then your mother." The man further asked, ‘Then who?’ The Prophet said: "Then your mother." The man asked again, "Then who?" The Prophet said: "Then your father". 
(Bukhari, Muslim).

...of how the position of mothers are even higher than fathers.

Then I made the same promise as the Ustaz..of who could say those words to their mothers, I'd give them a present.

Afterwards, they made Mother's Day cards with 

"..........(their name) - heart-shape- ....... (ummi/mama/ mami/ ibu) kerana Allah swt"
inside it.

Today I asked them if they did what they were told. Alhamdulillah~ :") Half of them did it. I asked what's their mother reply. Some said "Terima kasih (Thank you)", some said "Sayang jua" and one *laugh* her mother just sleeps after that. Awww love~ *pity*my heart breaks for you.

Yet, Alhamdulillah..I hope this spreads the love among the mothers-daughters/sons. I've heard too much of abandoned/neglected children, misunderstood parents..it's more heart-breaking to hear a 4-year-old boy from a broken home, being asked whether he prefers to live with his mother or father, he chooses the latter..just because his father brings him for shopping alot, while his mother just stayed at home.

These kids..even me, once upon a time.. didn't realized the magnitude of our parents love. We only know the restrictions, the scoldings..

A's eyes rounded in wonder, in quiet contemplation when I explained about why mother's roles are higher than father. How strong (emotionally and phyically) mothers are compare to fathers (despite the muscles-bulk, etcetra)..about their mother's love that sometimes they can's see. Her mother just delivered her new baby sister last two months, so the memory are still fresh to him. 

You're a good son, A. 

Be good to your mum and give her that well-deserved hug, please. :)

- - -