Meeting Dato Ustaz Harun Din....

Yesterday, I had lunch with Nick at the Lamcy Plaza foodcourt. It was not meant to be an ordinary lunch. We spoke about 'buatan orang' or 'sihir' or black magic. Being both from Kelantan, we have been aware about 'sihir' from childhood. In Kelantan, the word 'kena buat' means 'have been charmed'. The most feared probably is Black magic from Thailand, thus the popular reference to "Bomoh Siam".

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When my late father vomitted blood during his sickness which led to his death, I was told he was charmed by 'bomoh siam'. At the age of ten I witnessed how an imam went searching for something under my house - until he came to one spot directly underneath my parent's sleeping place. "Dig!" he said and pointed to one spot. My uncle dug the place and yes, out came a bottle and inside were what appeared to be a long needle stuck to a cotton ball tied with yellow threads into a figure of a human.

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The above incident was my introduction to black magic. Of course at the age of ten, I vowed to revenge my father's death. I asked my sister if she knew who 'buat' our house. She told me to pray to God and ask for His protection instead of trying to find out who. I asked my late mother, "siapa yang buat tu mak?" And just like my sister, she told me to pray and doa to God - he said nothing and nobody has more power than God.

I grew to appreciate those early responces from both my sister and my mother - for I grew to be a forgiving man! And I never got to know who the culprit was and also lost interest to even care about him or her.

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Nick and I was talking about black magic, and he was sharing some of his own experiences when a text message came through my mobile phone. It was from Hasnol, "Ke Abu Dhabi - jumpa Harun Din - anak dia di serang sakit jantung di sana - mahu ikut?"

About the same time, Nick's phone buzzed with an incoming text message too. "My brother just told me about Harun Din's daughter in Abu Dhabi" Nick told me. Nick's brother lives in Bangi not far from Darul Shifa'. We looked at each other with disbelief at the coincidence....
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I hurried through lunch and a couple of phone calls later, I was on the way to Ibn Batuta to meet up with Hasnol, Affendy and Fudzail . We parked our cars there and hopped into Fudzail's 4x4 and he sped off to Hospital Mafraq in Abu Dhabi.

I was going to meet Dato Ustaz Harun Din for the first time, and I was quite nervous and apprehensive. But as soon as I saw him, all of my worries dissappeared. There standing with a white skull cap (ketayap) was a man with a very serene looking face, the light from which can light up any room. MasyAAllah !
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Ustaz Harun Din gave us a brief account of what had happened to his daughter Dr Huda during their flight from KL enroute to perform Umrah. She felt hot despite the plane airconditioning. Upon reaching Abu Dhabi she collapsed. She went through three heart attacks. We were taken to meet Dr Huda's husband in the ICU ward where Dr Huda was under respiratory support. More diagnosis were planned.

My prayers for Dr Huda's recovery and I pray for the best for Ustaz Dato' Harun Din and his family.....

A more detail capture of what happened from Hasnol HERE.

After having a meal at a nearby mamak restaurant, we sent Ustaz Harun Din to his hotel to rest. Dr Huda's husband returned to the hospital to camp out with his wife.

We made our way back to Dubai.....On the way back, I reflected how during the time we were with him - Ustaz Harun Din did not once uttered any words or showed signs of distress. It was apparent to me how Redha he was with what has happened. He was tired yes, but he was calm and I am sure in constant Zikir and Prayer - even when we were eating.

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I felt priviledged and honoured to have the opportunity sitting next to a man who has helped countless others and has tirelessly been spreading messages which glorify Allah, the Prophet and Islam.

This morning I woke up with something lingering on my mind. There is a question which is still left unanswered, from yesterday when I said goodbye to Nick at the Lamcy plaza!!