Remembering Arwah Adnan

The first time that I saw him was in a masjid in Hulu Langat, Selangor in 2002. He had joined us for khuruuj in the path of Allah for three days upon tasykil by Azizi, one of the karkuns in our mohalla (locality). That was the first time for him to join a mission of dakwah and tabligh. He was in his 50's, did not talk much but mixed well with us quickly and easily. On the second day, however, he told us that he had to leave for some personal matters. We urged him to complete the three days period as it would benefit him the best. I always remember an advice from our 'elders' that in the work of dakwah and tabligh, completion of the duration in developing our imaan is very important. It is just like a cake that needs to be baked in the oven for a specified time to get the best result. Even if all the ingredients are mixed correctly, it still needs to be baked in the oven for a specified time. Otherwise, the cake would be spoiled. Similarly, imaan is only acquired through patience and perseverance (mujahadah). However fully equipped a person with ilm or knowledge, he must combines his ilm with mujahadah in order to derive any benefit. All the time, to get the most precious thing that a man could wish for as imaan requires sacrifices. Sometimes one had to forego one's own comfort at home, sometimes it requires us to surrender our leisure time...the price of imaan is not cheap. Really, it depends on each individual in each different circumstances. Anyway, after much persuasion and exhortation, he finally agreed to complete the 3-days period required for the short khuruuj.

On the third day of that khuruuj, to our pleasant surprise, he agreed to my casual invitation for him to join me for 40 days khuruuj in the path of Allah in the following month. We had never expected him to easily agreed to such a long tasykil since through our experience, people (including me) would always give excuses for not spending a chillah or 40 days in the path of Allah or require more time before being able to do so.  For the sake of doing justice to this article, I have to disregard my shame and embarrassment by revealing that it had taken me three long years before I managed to ease myself from the burden that had been delaying me from going for long tasykil. In those days, my brother used to say to me that the Sahabah radiyalaahu anhum had endured 13 years of hardship in Makkah for the sake of imaan but it looked like I was going for the record of spending 3 days a month in the path of Allah for 13 years before going for my first chillah. Alhamdulillah, his 'sarcastic' tasykil had made me realised how unworthy I was for wasting my self, health and wealth for things that could not guarantee me salvation from Allah Most High in this world and the aakhirah. The only comforting thing is that, alhamdulillah, after 3 years of spending 3 days in the path of Allah every month, I had straightaway gone for 4 months khuruuj without having to spend 40 days first, as usually is the case.

A week after that 3 enlightening days in Hulu Langat, he called me saying that he had informed his family about his intention to go out in the path of Allah for 40 days the next weekend and guess what...? His family was fully supportive about his intention and even encourage him to do it. Another thing that I found very unique and peculiar about his case. Most of the time people encounter all sort of hindrances and unnecessary troubles from their own family members when they spoke of going out in the path of Allah in dakwah and tabligh mission. Husbands were being hassled by their wives, sons were being chided by their parents, fathers were being stopped by their children...all for reasons that would never surfaced if the journey is for worldly gains. Husbands would not be hassled by their wives even if they have to leave home for days or months for work or businesses. Sons would not be admonished by their parents to spend days for camping in unknown locations or years of studies in the countries that their parents call kuffar countries. Thus, I felt it was unique and believe it was a great blessing from Allah Most High for him to easily realize his intention without any hindrance from his family.

I remember meeting him again at Masjid Jame' Seri Petaling, the centre or markaz for dakwah and tabligh effort in Malaysia, where people with the same mind-set and the same heart-felt from all over the country gather to be organised in groups or jamaat to go out in the path of Allah for 40 days or 4 months or even for 1 year accordingly. We were gathered in the same jamaat together with 10 other persons of various age groups and backgrounds, destined for Sungai Petani in Kedah. While staying for a couple of days at the markaz, he happily told me that his wife and his two sons had accompanied him earlier to the markaz. He took them for a short tour of the adjoining Madrasah Miftahul Ulum that hosts hundreds of students learning to become huffaz and 'aalims. His face brightened up when he told me of his intention for both of his sons to become huffaz and aalims as well.

The first few days when we arrived in Sg. Petani, he was still wearing jeans and t-shirts. Most of the time he remained quiet, attentively observing the aamal and discourses of others. In those first few days he was even reluctant to give any suggestion or syor in daily mesyuarah (consultation). From time to time, I sat with him in private, sometimes responding to his questions on various matters and sometimes just engaging in casual chat with him. He was always in deep thought.

After about ten days, he appeared jovial, sometimes cracking jokes with the others. He developed a close friendship with an Indian mu'alaf from Klang in our jamaat. The two of them waked each other up for tahajjud (late night worshipping) every night. On the third week of our chillah, he again returned to the state of engrossing in deep thoughts as if he was overburdened with something. Then he started telling us bizzare things that he encountered. One night after tahajjud he saw our amir together with someone else from our jamaat wearing all white kurta and amamah guarding the main door of the masjid all night long when both of them were actually fast asleep. Another night after tahajjud he saw hundreds of people in all white jubah and amamah sitting in the masjid behind him. Though amazed and astonished with what he encountered , we cracked jokes about them. I remember telling him that perhaps the end of time for him in this world is near. He and the others were laughing about it.

On the nineteenth day of our chillah, he first acted as mutakallim (one who deliver a message of deen) during umumi ghast (house to house visitation). He was sweating profusely in those 45 minutes of visitation. The elders of dakwah and tabligh effort say that we could actually put into practical about 500 aayat of the Holy Quran during umumi ghast if it is done properly in accordance with its required manners. Dakwah is the backbone of deen whilst ghast is the backbone of dakwah. 

That day on the twentieth day of our chillah, at about 3.00 am I was awoke by a loud cry. Immediately the lights in the masjid were switched on and everybody in our jamaat gathered around him. He laid reclining against a person. Apparently after tahajjud, he began to lie down on the bedding again when suddenly he held his head with both of his hand and cried aloud "Allah! Allah! Allah!". Before I knew it, I was already in the backseat of a car with his head on my lap speeding off towards Sg. Petani Hospital. It was quite a long journey as we were at a surau in a remote large rubber plantation settlements.

Arwah Adnan was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital. 'Inna lillahi wa'inna ilayhi roji'un ("Surely we belong to Allah and to Him we shall return"). 

Upon request by his family, he was buried at Damansara. His funeral prayers were done both at Sg. Petani Hospital and at his house in Bangsar accompanied by a large gathering of people. We then continued our mission of dakwah and tabligh in Seremban area until completion of our chillah. 


May Allah Most High be pleased with him and have mercy on him. May Allah Most High be pleased with and have mercy on us and the entire ummah as well. Aamin.