Alhamdulillah. Happy 7th Birthday Our Beloved Iman

BismilLaa HirRahmaa NirRahiim

Today, 7 years ago we became a proud parents of a beautiful little girl, the first born girl in our family and the second child after Muhammad Abdurrahman.  My dear wife gave her the beautiful name of Iman 'Aaliyah, from Arabic translated as "The Highest Most Exalted Faith". 

My late mother was so proud to have a granddaughter, for it was no secret that she needed more girls in the family (my youngest sister is her only daughter after three sons!).

Alhamdulillah, Iman has grown up well and healthy, and Alhamdulillah is also doing well academically. Iman loved challenges and will try her best to overcome whatever comes her way, be it puzzles, games or homework. That's why I was not the least surprised when she actually completed a full month of fasting in the recent holy month of Ramadhan. 

Iman, 

Babah and Mama is so proud and happy for you, and on this auspicious day, we wish you a very happy birthday, we pray for Allah's continuous blessing upon you every day and every moment, and may you grow up to the beautiful name that we have proudly given you. Always remember that we love you so much, Sayang.

Love, 

Babah, Mama, Abang Muhammad and Adik Aaeeshah.

This picture was taken few hours after you were born. 

Grandma Babu loved your lips :-)

This picture was taken when you just turned 1. 

You had Babah's cheeky smile (and chubbiness), and Mama's beautiful eyes.

This was taken when you were two. You've got that fashion sense,

got it from none other than Kaka Ateul.

Taken during your third birthday... no secret that you love pink...

... and also wanted to be princess. This was on your 4th birthday

This was taken when you were just 5. Short hair?

I still remember you begged Mama to have it cut at the saloon ;-)

Remember this? We celebrated your birthday on the first day of Hari Raya 2009....

And this last picture was taken just last week.

Happy birthday Sayang. We love you so much.

Wassalam,

Babah Gembo

What's your name?

Bismillaa Hirrahmaa Nirrahiim


So, what's your name, or rather what's behind your name? Do you know the history or background to how you got that name?


I grew up with my grandparents, and only saw my parents in the weekends as they had to work in the capital.  My Mama (grandmum) raised me and my brothers lovingly, and one thing I do remember about Mama was she loved to tell stories.


I still remember one story about my name... I was named Awangku Azmi Rizal by my parents. My grandad however wanted to name me 'Ulul 'Azmi, after an expression he found in the Al-Quran. If my parents were to have another boy (which they actually did) he would have suggested 'Ulul 'Amri for his name, but that is not the subject for this story now.


'Ulul 'Azmi literally means the chiefs, or people who have stout/strong hearts.  However, in Al-Quran this title is accorded to only five Rasuls (prophets) for their perseverance and unusually strong commitment to Allah in the face of great suffering: Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa, Isa and lastly, our beloved Rasul Muhammad Sallallahu 'Alaihi Wassalam.


My parents were worried that if I were to be named 'Ulul 'Azmi I would be subjected to sneers, as the word 'Ulul rhymes with tahlol or bahlol (stupid).  


So eventually it seemed my grandad and my dad had a compromise, as my grandad got to name me 'Azmi and my dad added Rizal at the end - why? His name is Abdul Razak, so he wanted to maintain the AR... both my brothers are AR too.


Anyway, 'Azmi on its own means Ambition and Rijal (from where Rizal is derived) is man... I concluded myself that my name 'Azmi Rizal mean a Man with Ambitions heheh.


Wassalam
Gembo @ 'Ulul Azmi

Indomie?

Bismillaa Hirrahmaa Nirrahiim

I publish this sequel to my last post due to special request heheh...

Still wondering why Indomie?  Well, Brunei is a small country, very small.  As fate has it, my best friend Aji Emran's elder brother is married to my wife's elder sister.

During Hari Raya in her first year 1996/97, R (my wife) went back to Brunei for Eid/Hari Raya. On her way back to UK, Aji's mom asked R to bring a box of Indomie for Aji (Indomie was so expensive in UK then).

Anyway, as fate has it again, Aji was on a rare visit to my place one weekend (our cities are 6 hours train ride apart, hence the rareness). It was during this visit that he got a call from R to say that she's got his Indomie.

Remember in my last post that R and I were good friends (oh, we still are).... so I thought why don't I tag along with Aji to pick up the Indomie, at least I get to see my good friend R whom I haven't met for a while, and furthermore, it was Hari Raya so more excuse for me to visit her.

I can still remember the tingling I felt in my chest, probably my heart was beating so hard when I first saw her again.

From then on, I took many excuses to visit her (even before I have the guts to express my true feelings for her). The Indomie episode was in February '97, and only expressed my true love to her in June '97.
Four months!

Anyway, as it was my final year and her 1st year, so we spent the next year on a long distance relationship.

Alhamdulillah, our patience and perseverance paid off, and in a couple of years after that I had to conjure all the strengths in the world again, to ask three ladies for me to tie the knot with R... my late Mama (grandmum), my late Babu (mum) and of course my dear R.

We're engaged on the 27.2.2000 and solemnised our marriage on 25.8.2000. Alhamdulillah.

Wassalam,
Gembo

Ten years. 25.8.2000

Bismilla Hirrahma Nirrahim

Alhamdulillah, Praise to Allah, Whom have granted us with health, wealth, patience and wisdom, that my wife (R) and I have today come to a milestone in our lives, celebrating our 10 years wedding anniversary.

We've come a long way. My wife and I were classmates in From 3 to From 5 (1988-90), we then went on to study at the Sixth Form College (1991-92), upon which we went separate ways - she went straight to work with Brunei Shell and I got a scholarship to UK.

I have been attracted to her since in Form 3, but never had the guts to pursue further. Even in Form 6. It goes without saying that we were good friends, we helped each other with studies but I never had the guts to express my feelings for her.

But Allah is Al-'Alim (The All Knowing), I met her again during my final year in the UK when she was sent by the company to further her studies.  Thanks also to my best friend Aji Emran and a box of Indomie.

And then as they say, it's history.  R and I tied the knot 3 years later, and we have since been blessed with a boy, Muhammad and two girls Iman and 'Aaeeshah. Alhamdulillah.

I continuously pray that Allah grants us patience and wisdom to see us through to eternity, till death do us part.

Wassalam,
Mr G