THE world is full of kind people. They are helpful, considerate, obliging and seldom turn down a plea for help from friends, relatives and associates. Even strangers, for that matter.
These angels can’t be described in words. I have ample evidence of such good people and I believe you have your own list of angels, too. Their help can be in many forms — physical, emotional and spiritual.
Helping people in need is second nature to many of these Good Samaritans.
A case I remember clearly is that of Bob, who received a distress call from an old friend in some difficulties. Bob was recovering from a surgery but this did not deter him from helping. The next day, he instructed his assistant to rush and help his friend in distress.
A considerable amount of money was needed to help ease his friend’s burden.
We hear many stories of people in dire need, some more troubled than others. Another person, Dan, who is now jobless and with children in college, did the same, too.
He stopped whatever he was doing and went to rescue his friend. Dan need not have to do that, but his obliging streak got the better of him.
People like Bob and Dan do exist in our midst and they make difficult life bearable for others.
There are also angels who get together and help a larger group of people in need.
Every night, they would gather in several parts of the federal capital and feed the homeless.
We all know that the homeless have their favourite haunts. Chow Kit is one of them. The Kotaraya complex is another one. The Masjid Jamek area is also crowded with the homeless.
Every night, there are groups handing out food and drinks to the homeless. These are groups comprising families or just office mates, who get together to do a good deed.
This is a basic character of Ramadan. Muslims believe that a good deed made during the fasting month will get them 10-fold more rewards in the hereafter.
When I asked them about this extra reward, Lina said: “Really? We are not thinking about that actually. We have been doing this every Ramadan. It’s nothing much really, just some basic stuff like nasi bungkus, a banana and a bottle of mineral water.”
But the world is also full of evil people. Yesterday, we read stories of a university student killed in the most cruel way. Investigations are ongoing, of course.
But one just cannot but feel outraged at the manner in which Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain was made to suffer before succumbing to his injuries.
Let the police conduct a thorough investigation into Zulfarhan’s death, so that his family can get the justice they deserve.
The 21-year old student of the National Defence University of Malaysia was said to be a soft-spoken and kind person. His death should not be in vain.
The relevant authorities must take strong action to stop these acts of cruelties. One more such mindless act would confirm the feeling that our society is indeed going to the dogs.
The mindless act of beating a person with a belt, rubber hose and a steam iron suggests a scene from a horror movie.
Where did these students learn such methods of causing grievous hurt to a fellow being?
His family is resolute in their moment of grief. They must know that they are not alone in their moment of such tragic loss.
Our deepest condolences to the family and al-fatihah for Zulfarhan.
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AL-FATIHAH FOR REHMAN RASHID
FOR many years Rehman Rashid ran his column “Scorpion’s Tales” in the New Straits Times. He had many followers who enjoyed his writing very much.
News of his death yesterday’ came as a blow to family, friends and colleagues.
He had been in a coma after a heart attack and was under the doctors’ care at Selayang Hospital.
The last remaining years of his life was spent in the quiet town of Kuala Kubu Baru, Selangor. If you are coming from Kuala Lumpur, it’s the last town before one goes up to Fraser’s Hill.
Rehman liked the quiet town, where he could think and write.
I’m not sure whether he was going to produce another book. But this marine biologist has left his own legacy in the printed word.
Many friends and ex-colleagues wrote about his demise on Facebook and took to Twitter to share their sadness.
Husband and wife journalists Wan Ahmad Hulaimi and Zaharah Othman, who are residing in London, with each having a strong friendship with Rehman, have penned separate eulogies in Facebook.
Wan Hulaimi aka Awang Goneng recalled that Rehman had said something prescient at their last meeting in Kuala Kubu Baru recently.
The two close friends said their goodbyes and hugged each other.
“I think this may be our last meeting,” Rehman said to Awang Goneng.
This line in the latter’s Facebook entry sounded poignant to me.
In Zaharah’s entry, she said: “I visited Rehman last week. We ‘talked’ and I am glad that we did... he responded when I mentioned my husband’s name and showed him the picture of both of them together.”
Zaharah wrote a lengthy piece on Rehman.
She said: “I want to remember the Rehman who teased me and made me blush the way that only Rehman could. But we had not spoken for years and I promised my husband that I would visit him on my short trip home.”
Zaharah’s last words on Rehman should end this column: ”May Allah place you amongst the blessed, Rehman. May Allah forgive you your sins and may Allah shower you with blessings as you go to Him in this blessed month of Ramadan.”
Al-fatihah for Rehman.
Ahmad A Talib is the chairman of Yayasan Salam Malaysia. He can be reached via: ahmadt51@gmail.com and Twitter: aat@pahitmanis