MUHAMMAD: LEGACY OF A PROPHET
The Life Story Of The Man Who Founded Islam And Changed The World
Premieres on PBS on Wednesday, December 18 at 9:00 PM

Innovative documentary interweaves 7th century biography
with the lives of 21st century American Muslims
inspired and guided by Muhammad's example

To order on video or DVD: call Astrolabe Islamic Media at
1-800-392-7876 or visit www.islamicmedia.com Get free shipping on orders placed before December 18, 2002,
only from Astrolabe Islamic Media.

His father died before he was born, and his mother died when he was only six. But sheltered by a powerful uncle, he made a good start in life, established himself in a profitable business and married well. And then, at the age of 40, he was transformed. A man who could not read or write, he announced that he was the prophet of God.

His name was Muhammad, and in the next 23 years he would bring peace to the warring pagan tribes of Arabia and establish the new religion of Islam, which today has 1.2 billion followers.

Three years in the making, Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet, which premieres Wednesday, December 18 at 9:00 p.m. on PBS (check local listings), travels in the footsteps of the prophet to the Arabian desert and the holy city of Mecca where much of Muhammad's story unfolded. "There are six to seven million Muslims here in America, where Islam is the country's fastest growing religion, but many Americans are completely unfamiliar with the life story of the remarkable man who founded this religion 1400 years ago," says producer/director Michael Schwarz.

This sweeping two-hour documentary goes well beyond the boundaries of the past. "Muhammad is 'history in the present tense,'" says co-creator/producer Michael Wolfe, a well-known Muslim author. "In it, we reflect on this 7th century story through the experiences of 21st century Americans who feel deeply connected to what Muhammad did, said and believed." A presentation of KQED/San Francisco, the documentary is produced by Kikim Media and Unity Productions Foundation. Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet was created and produced by Michael Wolfe and Alexander Kronemer, and produced and directed by Michael Schwarz. Noted actor Andre Braugher is the narrator.

With some of the world's greatest scholars on Islam providing historical context and critical perspective, Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet tells of intrigue and faith, revolutionary ideas and bitter persecution, brutal war and brilliant diplomacy in an arid desert where tribal allegiance was often the only protection. Muhammad was orphaned as a child, but he was fortunate to be born into the powerful tribe of the Quraysh in the city of Mecca, a regional pilgrimage site and commercial crossroads. He became a successful trader based in this cosmopolitan center and married a woman who was a wealthy merchant. Yet as Muhammad prospered with the city, he saw that the poor were increasingly neglected and hedonism dominated the culture.

One day in the desert, while meditating in a mountain cave, Muhammad was struck by a revelation that changed his life and the world. Terrified by the force of the experience, he began to recite words that came to him, words he said were from God. These messages would continue throughout the rest of his life. Unable to write them, he would repeat them to his growing band of followers until they became part of their collective memory. Slowly these revelations began to form the book we now know as the Qur'an (or Koran). While people were shocked by these claims, "they acquired credibility because of the very nature of the words spoken," says M. Cherif Bassiouni, professor of law at DePaul University. How could an illiterate man make up language of such poetry and wisdom?

The new faith and ideas that Muhammad proclaimed as the Word of God, were a threat to the Meccan establishment. Muhammad's pronouncement that there was only one God, particularly threatened the very livelihood of the rich Meccans who profited from Mecca's role as Arabia's most popular pilgrimage center. Through years of harrassment and deprivation, and trading sanctions imposed against his people, Muhammad continued to preach and share revelations with his followers, calling on them to worship one God, to destroy idols and to practice charity. As the community faced growing hostility, he began to encourage Muslims to move across the desert and settle in the oasis town of Yathrib, later called Medina. When word of an assassination plot reached him, Muhammad barely escaped death and managed to join the growing Islamic community in Medina.

"Unlike Jesus or the Buddha, who seem to have been purely spiritual leaders with no temporal responsibilities whatever, Muhammad found himself now head of state," author Karen Armstrong points out. "Having transferred the Muslim families from Mecca to Medina, he now had to make sure they could survive there." Muhammad proved to be a strategically gifted military leader and a creative diplomat in the turbulent period that followed. A series of bloody battles between the Meccans and Muhammad's followers almost destroyed the nascent faith, but then the tide turned. Ultimately Muhammad was able to lead 100,000 Muslims back to Mecca for the Hajj, a pilgrimage that remains a cornerstone of the spiritual life of Muslims.

While recounting the story of Muhammad, a tale that was carefully passed down as oral history in the 7th century and subsequently recorded, the documentary also conveys what many American Muslims believe Islam teaches, and how their beliefs shape their lives. The documentary takes viewers into the homes, mosques and work places of some of America's Muslims to discover the many ways in which they follow Muhammad's example and interpret his life and his message today. Through these inter-linked narratives, the filmmakers connect past and present, prophet and follower, within an innovative film structure." Co-creator/producer Alex Kronemer says, "Many Muslims believe that if you want to understand who they are, the best place to start is with this story of Muhammad, because he established a model of behavior and values which Muslims strive to emulate today."

The American Muslims that the documentary introduces include recent immigrants, Muslims whose families have lived here for generations, and American converts like Kevin James, a Brooklyn fire marshal, who has a Jewish mother and a father who is Native American and African American.

"America is a racial nation," says James. "Either you're Black, you're White, you're Italian, you're Jewish, you're this, you're that. So coming from a mixed background, I've felt like, kind of in limbo." After a period of spiritual seeking, James discovered a kinship with Islam, in part because it shares religious roots with both Judaism and Christianity and in part because it preaches racial equity. His faith inspired his decision to become a firefighter he explains, "The Qur'an teaches you that the saving of one life is as if you've saved all of humanity."

A critical care nurse, Najah Bazzy is a second generation Muslim American who lives in Dearborn, Michigan. Her hometown has seen a massive influx of Muslim immigration as a result of the Gulf War. As she helps her colleagues understand and work effectively with their Muslim patients and her husband negotiate life with a teenage daughter, Bazzy says that Muhammad is her constant guide. "We live our lives through his examples, but he's not God," she explains. "Our reverence is to God. And our reference is to [Muhammad]. So how I walk, and how I speak, and how I carry myself, and how I treat my husband, and how I treat my mother and my father, and how I behave as a sister and a daughter and a nurse and a friend and a neighbor, that's all prophet Muhammad in action."

Although this documentary was well into production prior to 9/11, some of the American Muslim characters who help tell Muhammad's story were filmed after the attack. These sequences portray their reaction to this event, the aftermath they have experienced, and the controversial concept of jihad. Through a combination of commentary from Islamic experts and interviews with Muslim Americans, the program also addresses some of the difficult issues at the matrix of religious faith, cultural customs and Middle East politics, including women's rights and charges of anti-Semitism rooted in the historical conflicts of the 7th century.

Unity Productions Foundation (UPF) was founded by writers and producers Alexander Kronemer and Michael Wolfe. UPF is a nonprofit production company whose mission is to develop balanced, fair and accurate journalistic material concerning the world's cultural and spiritual traditions in order to help increase understanding and tolerance.

Astrolabe Islamic Media ( www.islamicmedia.com, Tel 800-392-7876 ext. 1)
is an authorized distributor of Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet.

The Window

A great note for all to read...

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same
hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his
bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the
fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only
window. The other man had to spend all his time
flat on his back.

The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of
their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their
involvement in the military service, where they had
been on vacation.

Every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window
could sit up, he would pass the time by describing
to his roommate all the things he could see outside
the window.

The man in the other bed began to live for those
one-hour periods where his world would be broadened
and enlivened by all the activity and color of the
world outside.

The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake.

Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed
their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm
amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of
the city skyline could be seen in the distance.

As the man by the window described all this in
exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the
room would close his eyes and imagine the
picturesque scene.

One warm afternoon the man by the window described
a parade passing by. Although the other man couldn't
hear the band - he could see it. In his mind's eye
as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with
descriptive words.

Days and weeks passed. One morning, the day nurse
arrived to bring water for their baths only to find
the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had
died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and
called the hospital attendants to take the body
away.

As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man
asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse
was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he
was comfortable, she left him alone.

Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one
elbow to take his first look at the real world outside.
He strained to slowly turn to look out the window
beside the bed. It faced a blank wall.

The man asked the nurse what could have compelled
his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful
things outside this window. The nurse responded
that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.

She said, "Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you."


Epilogue:
There is tremendous happiness in making
others happy, despite our own situations.
Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness
when shared, is doubled.

If you want to feel rich, just count all the things
you have that money can't buy.


"Today is a gift, that's why it is called the present."


People will forget what you said...
People will forget what you did...
But people will never forget how you made them feel...

What is Thought vs. What Should be Thought

What is Taught: The first mention of man in flight was by Roger Bacon, who drew a flying apparatus. Leonardo da Vinci also conceived of airborne transport and drew
several prototypes.

What Should be Taught: Ibn Firnas of Islamic Spain invented, constructed and tested a flying machine in the 800's A.D. Roger Bacon learned of flying machines from Arabic references to Ibn Firnas' machine. The latter's invention antedates Bacon by 500 years and Da Vinci by some 700 years.

What is Taught: Glass mirrors were first produced in 1291 in Venice.

What Should be Taught: Glass mirrors were in use in Islamic Spain as early as the 11th century. The Venetians learned of the art of fine glass production from Syrian artisans during the 9th and 10th centuri! es.

What is Taught: Until the 14th century, the only type of clock available was the water clock. In 1335, a large mechanical clock was erected in Milan, Italy. This was possibly the first weight-driven clock.

What Should be Taught: A variety of mechanical clocks were produced by Spanish Muslim engineers, both large and small, and this knowledge was transmitted to Europe through Latin translations of Islamic books on mechanics. These clocks were weight-driven. Designs and illustrations of epi-cyclic and segmental gears were provided. One such clock included a mercury escapement. The latter type was directly copied by Europeans during the 15th century. In addition, during the 9th century, Ibn Firnas of Islamic Spain, according to Will Durant, invented a watch-like device which kept accurate time. The Muslims also constructed a variety of highly accurate astronomical clocks for u! se in their observatories.

What is Taught: In the 17th century, the pendulum was developed by Galileo during his teenage years. He noticed a chandelier swaying as it was being blown by the wind. As a result, he went home and invented the pendulum.

What Should be Taught: The pendulum was discovered by Ibn Yunus al-Masri during the 10th century, who was the first to study and document its oscillatory
motion. Its value for use in clocks was introduced by Muslim physicists during the 15th century.

What is Taught: Movable type and the printing press was invented in the West by Johannes Gutenberg of Germany during the 15th century.

What Should be Taught: In 1454, Gutenberg developed the most sophisticated printing press of the Middle Ages. However, movable brass type was in use inIslamic Spain 100 years prior, and that is where the West's first printing devices were made.

What is Taught: Isaac Newton's 17th century study of lenses, light and prisms forms the foundation of the modern science of optics.

What Should be Taught: In the 1lth century al-Haytham determined virtually everything that Newton advanced regarding optics centuries prior and is regarded by
numerous authorities as the "founder of optics. " There is little doubt that Newton was influenced by him. Al-Haytham was the most quoted physicist of the Middle Ages. His works were utilized and quoted by a greater number of European scholars during the 16th and 17th centuries than those of Newton and Galileo combined.

What is Taught: Isaac Newton, during the 17th century, discovered that white light consists of various rays of colored light.

What Sh! ould be Taught: This discovery was made in its entirety by al-Haytham (1lth century) and Kamal ad-Din (14th century). Newton did make original discoveries,
but this was not one of them.

What is Taught: The concept of the finite nature of matter was first introduced by Antione Lavoisier during the 18th century. He discovered that, although matter may change its form or shape, its mass always remains the same. Thus, for instance, if water is heated to steam, if salt is dissolved in water or if a piece of wood is burned to ashes, the total mass remains unchanged.

What Should be Taught: The principles of this discovery were elaborated centuries before by Islamic Persia's great scholar, al-Biruni (d. 1050). Lavoisier was a disciple of the Muslim chemists and physicists and referred to their books frequently.

What ! is Taught: The Greeks were the developers of trigonometry.

What Should be Taught: Trigonometry remained largely a theoretical science among the Greeks. It was developed to a level of modern perfection by Muslim scholars, although the weight of the credit must be given to al-Battani. The words describing the basic functions of this science, sine, cosine and tangent, are all derived from Arabic terms. Thus, original contributions by the Greeks in trigonometry were
minimal.

What is Taught: The use of decimal fractions in mathematics was first developed by a Dutchman, Simon Stevin, in 1589. He helped advance the mathematical sciences by replacing the cumbersome fractions, for instance, 1/2, with decimal fractions, for example, 0.5.

What Should be Taught: Muslim mathematicians were the firs! t to utilize decimals instead of fractions on a large scale. Al-Kashi's book, Key to Arithmetic, was written at the beginning of the 15th century and was the stimulus for the systematic application of decimals to whole numbers and fractions thereof. It is highly probably that Stevin imported the idea to Europe from al-Kashi's work.

What is Taught: The first man to utilize algebraic symbols was the French mathematician, Francois Vieta. In 1591, he wrote an algebra book describing equations with letters such as the now familiar x and y's. Asimov says that this discovery had an impact similar to the progression from Roman numerals to Arabic
numbers.

What Should be Taught: Muslim mathematicians, the inventors of algebra, introduced the concept of using letters for unknown variables in equations as early as
the 9th century A.D. Through this system, they solved a variety of com! plex equations, including quadratic and cubic equations. They used symbols to develop and perfect the binomial theorem.

What is Taught: The difficult cubic equations (x to the third power) remained unsolved until the 16th century when Niccolo Tartaglia, an Italian mathematician, solved them.

What Should be Taught: Cubic equations as well as numerous equations of even higher degrees were solved with ease by Muslim mathematicians as early as the
10th century.

What is Taught: The concept that numbers could be less than zero, that is negative numbers, was unknown until 1545 when Geronimo Cardano introduced the idea.

What Should he Taught: Muslim mathematicians introduced negative numbers for use in a variety of arithmetic functions at least 400 years prior to Cardano.

W! hat is Taught: In 1614, John Napier invented logarithms and logarithmic tables.

What Should be Taught: Muslim mathematicians invented logarithms and produced logarithmic tables several centuries prior. Such tables were common in the
Islamic world as early as the 13th century.

What is Taught: During the 17th century Rene Descartes made the discovery that algebra could be used to solve geometrical problems. By this, he greatly advanced the science of geometry.

What Should be Taught: Mathematicians of the Islamic Empire accomplished precisely this as early as the 9th century A.D. Thabit bin Qurrah was the first to do so,
and he was followed by Abu'l Wafa, whose 10th century book utilized algebra to advance geometry into an exact and simplified science.

What is Taught: Isa! ac Newton, during the 17th century, developed the binomial theorem, which is a crucial component for the study of algebra.

What Should be Taught: Hundreds of Muslim mathematicians utilized and perfected the binomial theorem. They initiated its use for the systematic solution of algebraic problems during the 10th century (or prior).

What is Taught: No improvement had been made in the astronomy of the ancients during the Middle Ages regarding the motion of planets until the 13th century. Then Alphonso the Wise of Castile (Middle Spain) invented the Aphonsine Tables, which were more accurate than Ptolemy's.

What Should be Taught: Muslim astronomers made numerous improvements upon Ptolemy's findings as early as the 9th century. They were the first astronomers to
dispute his archaic ideas. In t! heir critic of the Greeks, they synthesized proof that the sun is the center of the solar system and that the orbits of the earth and other planets might be elliptical. They produced hundreds of highly accurate astronomical
tables and star charts. Many of their calculations are so precise that they are regarded as contemporary. The AlphonsineTables are little more than copies of works on astronomy transmitted to Europe via Islamic Spain, i.e. the Toledo Tables.

What is Taught: The English scholar Roger Bacon (d. 1292) first mentioned glass lenses for improving vision. At nearly the same time, eyeglasses could be found in use both in China and Europe.

What Should be Taught: Ibn Firnas of Islamic Spain invented eyeglasses during the 9th century, and they were manufactured and sold throughout Spain for over two centuries. Any mention of eyeglasses by Roger Bacon was simply a re! gurgitation of the work of al-Haytham (d. 1039), whose research Bacon frequently referred to.

What is Taught: Gunpowder was developed in the Western world as a result of Roger Bacon's work in 1242. The first usage of gunpowder in weapons was when the Chinese fired it from bamboo shoots in attempt to frighten Mongol conquerors. They produced it by adding sulfur and charcoal to saltpeter.

What Should be Taught: The Chinese developed saltpeter for use in fireworks and knew of no tactical military use for gunpowder, nor did they invent its formula. Research by Reinuad and Fave have clearly shown that gunpowder was formulated initially by Muslim chemists. Further, these historians claim that the Muslims developed the first fire-arms. Notably, Muslim armies used grenades and other weapons in their defence of Algericus against the Franks during the 14th century.
Jean Mathes indicat! es that the Muslim rulers had stock-piles of grenades, rifles, crude cannons, incendiary devices, sulfur bombs and pistols decades before such devices were used in Europe. The first mention of a cannon was in an Arabic text around 1300 A.D. Roger Bacon learned of the formula for gunpowder from Latin translations of Arabic books. He brought forth nothing original in this regard.

What is Taught: The compass was invented by the Chinese who may have been the first to use it for navigational purposes sometime between 1000 and 1100 A.D. The earliest reference to its use in navigation was by the Englishman, Alexander Neckam (1157-1217).

What Should be Taught: Muslim geographers and navigators learned of the magnetic needle, possibly from the Chinese, and were the first to use magnetic needles in navigation. They invented the compass and passed the knowledge of its use in navigation to! the West. European navigators relied on Muslim pilots and their instruments when exploring unknown territories. Gustav Le Bon claims that the magnetic needle and compass were entirely invented by the Muslims and that the Chinese had little to do with it. Neckam, as well as the Chinese, probably learned of it from Muslim traders. It is noteworthy that the Chinese improved their navigational expertise after they began interacting with the Muslims during the 8th century.

What is Taught: The first man to classify the races was the German Johann F. Blumenbach, who divided mankind into white, yellow, brown, black and red
peoples.

What Should be Taught: Muslim scholars of the 9th through 14th centuries invented the science of ethnography. A number of Muslim geographers classified the races, writing detailed explanations of their unique cultural habits and physical appearances. The! y wrote thousands of pages on this subject. Blumenbach's works were insignificant in comparison.

What is Taught: The science of geography was revived during the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries when the ancient works of Ptolemy were discovered. The Crusades
and the Portuguese/Spanish expeditions also contributed to this reawakening. The first scientifically-based treatise on geography were produced during this period by Europe's scholars.

What Should be Taught: Muslim geographers produced untold volumes of books on the geography of Africa, Asia, India, China and the Indies during the 8th through 15th centuries. These writings included the world's first geographical encyclopedias, almanacs and road maps. Ibn Battutah's 14th century masterpieces provide a detailed view of the geography of the ancient world. The Muslim geographers of the 10th
through 15th centuries far exceeded! the output by Europeans regarding the geography of these regions well into the 18th century. The Crusades led to the destruction of educational institutions, their scholars and books. They brought nothing substantive
regarding geography to the Western world.

What is Taught: Robert Boyle, in the 17th century, originated the science of chemistry.

What Should be Taught: A variety of Muslim chemists, including ar-Razi, al-Jabr, al-Biruni and al-Kindi, performed scientific experiments in chemistry some 700 years prior to Boyle. Durant writes that the Muslims introduced the experimental method to this science. Humboldt regards the Muslims as the founders of chemistry.

What is Taught: Leonardo da Vinci (16th century) fathered the science of geology when he noted that fossils found on mountains indicated a watery origin of the earth.

What! Should be Taught: Al-Biruni (1lth century) made precisely this observation and added much to it, including a huge book on geology, hundreds of years before Da Vinci was born. Ibn Sina noted this as well (see pages 100-101). it is probable that Da Vinci first learned of this concept from Latin translations of Islamic books. He added nothing original to their findings.

What is Taught: The first mention of the geological formation of valleys was in 1756, when Nicolas Desmarest proposed that they were formed over a long periods of time by streams.

What Should be Taught: Ibn Sina and al-Biruni made precisely this discovery during the 11th century, fully 700 years prior to Desmarest.

What is Taught: Galileo (17th century) was the world's first great experimenter.

What Should be Taugh! t: Al-Biruni (d. 1050) was the world's first great experimenter. He wrote over 200 books, many of which discuss his precise experiments. His literary output in the sciences amounts to some 13,000 pages, far exceeding that written by Galileo or, for that matter, Galileo and Newton combined.

What is Taught: The Italian Giovanni Morgagni is regarded as the father of pathology because he was the first to correctly describe the nature of disease.

What Should be Taught: Islam's surgeons were the first pathologists. They fully realized the nature of disease and described a variety of diseases to modern detail. Ibn Zuhr correctly described the nature of pleurisy, tuberculosis and pericarditis. Az-Zahrawi accurately documented the pathology of hydrocephalus (water on the brain) and other congenital diseases. Ibn al-Quff and Ibn an! -Nafs gave perfect descriptions
of the diseases of circulation. Other Muslim surgeons gave the first accurate descriptions of certain malignancies, including cancer of the stomach, bowel
and esophagus. These surgeons were the originators of pathology, not Giovanni Morgagni.

What is Taught: Paul Ehrlich (19th century) is the originator of drug chemotherapy, that is the use of specific drugs to kill microbes.

What Should be Taught: Muslim physicians used a variety of specific substances to destroy microbes. They applied sulfur topically specifically to kill the scabies mite. Ar-Razi (10th century) used mercurial compounds as topical antiseptics.

What is Taught: Purified alcohol, made through distillation, was first produced by Arnau de Villanova, a Spanish alchemist, in 1300 A.D.

What Should be Taught: : Numerous Muslim chemists produced medicinal-grade alcohol through distillation as early as the 10th century and manufactured on a
large scale the first distillation devices for use in chemistry. They used alcohol as a solvent and antiseptic.

What is Taught: The first surgery performed under inhalation anesthesia was conducted by C.W. Long, an American, in 1845.

What Should be Taught: Six hundred years prior to Long, Islamic Spain's Az-Zahrawi and Ibn Zuhr, among other Muslim surgeons, performed hundreds of surgeries under inhalation anesthesia with the use of narcotic-soaked sponges which were placed over the face.

What is Taught: During the 16th century Paracelsus invented the use of opium extracts for anesthesia.

What Should be Taught: Muslim ! physicians introduced the anesthetic value of opium derivatives during the Middle Ages. Opium was originally used as an anesthetic agent by the Greeks. Paracelus was a student of Ibn Sina's works from which it is almost
assured that he derived this idea.

What is Taught: Modern anesthesia was invented in the 19th century by Humphrey Davy and Horace Wells.

What Should be Taught: Modern anesthesia was discovered, mastered and perfected by Muslim anesthetists 900 years before the advent of Davy and Wells. They utilized oral as well as inhalant anesthetics.

What is Taught: The concept of quarantine was first developed in 1403. In Venice, a law was passed preventing strangers from entering the city until a certain waiting period had passed. If, by then, no sign of illness could be found, they were allowed in.

What Should be Taught: The concept of quarantine was first introduced in the 7th century A.D. by the prophet Muhammad, who wisely warned against entering or leaving a region suffering from plague. As early as the 10th century, Muslim physicians innovated the use of isolation wards for individuals suffering with
communicable diseases.

What is Taught: The scientific use of antiseptics in surgery was discovered by the British surgeon Joseph Lister in 1865.

What Should be Taught: As early as the 10th century, Muslim physicians and surgeons were applying purified alcohol to wounds as an antiseptic agent. Surgeons in Islamic Spain utilized special methods for maintaining antisepsis prior to and during surgery. They also originated specific protocols for maintaining hygiene during the post-operative period. Their success rate was so high that dignitarie! s throughout Europe came to Cordova, Spain, to be treated at what was comparably the "Mayo Clinic" of the Middle Ages.

What is Taught: In 1545, the scientific use of surgery was advanced by the French surgeon Ambroise Pare. Prior to him, surgeons attempted to stop bleeding through the gruesome procedure of searing the wound with boiling oil. Pare stopped the use of boiling oils and began ligating arteries. He is considered the "father of rational surgery." Pare was also one of the first Europeans to condemn such grotesque "surgical" procedures as trepanning (see reference #6, pg. 110).

What Should be Taught: Islamic Spain's illustrious surgeon, az-Zahrawi (d. 1013), began ligating arteries with fine sutures over 500 years prior to Pare. He perfected the use of Catgut, that is suture made from animal intestines. Additionally, he instituted the use of cotton plus wax to plug blee! ding wounds. The full details of his works were made available to Europeans through Latin translations.

Despite this, barbers and herdsmen continued be the primary individuals practicing the "art" of surgery for nearly six centuries after az-Zahrawi's death. Pare himself was a barber, albeit more skilled and conscientious than the average ones.

Included in az-Zahrawi's legacy are dozens of books. His most famous work is a 30 volume treatise on medicine and surgery. His books contain sections on preventive medicine, nutrition, cosmetics, drug therapy, surgical technique, anesthesia, pre and
post-operative care as well as drawings of some 200 surgical devices, many of which he invented. The refined and scholarly az-Zahrawi must be regarded as the father and founder of rational surgery, not the uneducated Pare.

What is Taught: William Harvey, during the early 17th century, discovered that blood circulates. He was the first to correctly describe the ! function of the heart, arteries and veins. Rome's Galen had presented erroneous ideas regarding the circulatory system, and Harvey was the first to determine that blood is pumped
throughout the body via the action of the heart and the venous valves. Therefore, he is regarded as the founder of human physiology.

What Should be Taught: In the 10th century, Islam's ar-Razi wrote an in-depth treatise on the venous system, accurately describing the function of the veins and their valves. Ibn an-Nafs and Ibn al-Quff (13th century) provided full documentation that the blood circulates and correctly described the physiology of the heart and the function of its valves 300 years before Harvey. William Harvey was a graduate of Italy's famous Padua University at a time when the majority of its curriculum was based upon Ibn Sina's and ar-Razi's textbooks.

What is Taught: The first pharmac! opeia (book of medicines) was published by a German scholar in 1542. According to World Book Encyclopedia, the science of
pharmacology was begun in the 1900's as an off-shoot of chemistry due to the analysis of crude plant materials. Chemists, after isolating the active ingredients from plants, realized their medicinal value.

What Should be Taught: According to the eminent scholar of Arab history, Phillip Hitti, the Muslims, not the Greeks or Europeans, wrote the first "modern" pharmacopeia. The science of pharmacology was originated by Muslim physicians during the 9th century. They developed it into a highly refined and exact science. Muslim chemists, pharmacists and physicians produced thousands of drugs and/or crude herbal extracts one thousand years prior to the supposed birth of pharmacology. During the 14th century Ibn Baytar wrote a monumental pharmacopeia listing some 1400 differe! nt drugs. Hundreds of other pharmacopeias were published during the Islamic Era. It is likely that the German work is an offshoot of that by Ibn Baytar, which was widely circulated in Europe.

What is Taught: The discovery of the scientific use of drugs in the treatment of specific diseases was made by Paracelsus, the Swiss-born physician, during the 16th century. He is also credited with being the first to use practical experience as a determining factor in the treatment of patients rather than relying exclusively on the works of the ancients.

What Should be Taught: Ar-Razi, Ibn Sina, al-Kindi, Ibn Rushd, az-Zahrawi, Ibn Zuhr, Ibn Baytar, Ibn al-Jazzar, Ibn Juljul, Ibn al-Quff, Ibn an-Nafs, al-Biruni, Ibn Sahl and hundreds of other Muslim physicians mastered the science of drug therapy for the treatment of specific symptoms and diseases. In fact, this concept was entirely their! invention. The word "drug" is derived from Arabic. Their use of practical experience and careful observation was extensive.

Muslim physicians were the first to criticize ancient medical theories and practices. Ar-Razi devoted an entire book as a critique of Galen's anatomy. The works of Paracelsus are insignificant compared to the vast volumes of medical writings and original findings accomplished by the medical giants of Islam.

What is Taught: The first sound approach to the treatment of disease was made by a German, Johann Weger, in the 1500's.

What Should be Taught: Harvard's George Sarton says that modern medicine is entirely an Islamic development and that Setting the Record Straight the Muslim physicians of the 9th through 12th centuries were precise, scientific, rational and sound in their approach. Johann Weger was among thousands of Europeans physicians during ! the 15th through 17th centuries who were taught the medicine of ar-Razi and Ibn Sina. He contributed nothing original.

What is Taught: Medical treatment for the insane was modernized by Philippe Pinel when in 1793 he operated France's first insane asylum.

What Should be Taught: As early as the 1lth century, Islamic hospitals maintained special wards for the insane. They treated them kindly and presumed their disease was real at a time when the insane were routinely burned alive in Europe as witches and sorcerers. A curative approach was taken for mental illness and, for the first time in history, the mentally ill were treated with supportive care, drugs and psychotherapy. Every major Islamic city maintained an insane asylum where patients were treated at no charge. In fact, the Islamic system for the treatment of the insane excels in comparison to the current model, as it was m! ore humane and was highly effective as well.

What is Taught: Kerosine was first produced by an Englishman, Abraham Gesner, in 1853. He distilled it from asphalt.

What Should be Taught: Muslim chemists produced kerosine as a distillate from petroleum products over 1,000 years prior to Gesner (see Encyclopaedia Britannica under the heading, Petroleum).

Note: Maaf tiada sumber yang dapat dikepilan bersama.

CHOOSING THE DESIRED WIFE


All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, the Merciful, the Hearer of supplications, and peace and blessings upon our beloved and humble prophet Muhammad,and upon his family and companions.

When marriage is spoken of during these "modern" times, Muslims become horrified, conjuring images of an arranged marriage, trying to find that "perfect" companion, how much of a financial burden it will become, and so on. The reality is that Islam came to solve these problems, not exacerbate them, yet unfortunately we have integrated our local traditions and customs with Islam so that marriage has become a major concern for a man rather than a delightful experience.


When living in a free, perverted and corrupt Western society, the Muslim male youth finds many temptations and tests, as a result of mixing with females, which he must face and overcome. He must constantly resist these tempt! ations, which are thrown at him in the streets, on the Media, and at work. And so the wisdom of the Prophet (s.a.w) echoes on, when he said: "O young men, those among you who can support a wife should marry, for it restrains the eyes from casting (evil glances), and preserves one from immorality..."

When seriously considering marriage, you must pose the question to yourself as to just what kind of wife you want, what her qualities should be in order to establish an Islamic and peaceful household, and how you will know who she is.

As Muslims, we believe that Allah wants the best for us, and that His Prophet (s.a.w) illustrated this through his own life. So note that by following the advise of our own Creator, and that of His beloved servant, we can only be successful.

WHO TO MARRY

Islam is clear on the kind of wife you should be seeking. The Prophet (s.a.w) said: "A woman may be married for four reasons:! for her property, her status, her beauty, and her religion; so try to get one who is religious, may you be blessed." This specifically defines just what kind of a companion we are seeking, for if we marry her for anything other than her religious piety, our marriage is bound to fall into misery. True, beauty and charm is hard to resist, yet beauty does not last forever and does not guarantee you her obedience and religiousness. Financial status is dynamic, and so is worldly status, yet religion strongly establishes a household, and it may be that through your intention of marrying her for her religion, the rest is given to you anyway.

In another hadith, the Prophet (s.a.w) said: "The whole world is a provision, and the best object of benefit of the world is the pious woman." Imagine! Nothing in this world is as valuable as a pious woman! This point has been stressed many times by Rasulallah (s.a.w), who himself, when asked what three things he loved the most, ment! ioned a pious woman. Once the following ayah was revealed: "They who hoard up gold and silver and do not spend it in the way of Allah, unto them give tidings of a painful doom. On that day when it will (all) be heated in the fire of Jahannam,and their foreheads and flanks and their backs will be branded therewith (and it will be said to them): 'Here is what you hoarded for yourselves, now taste of what you used to hoard' "[al-Taubah: 34-35]. Umar (r.a.a) has been quoted to say that, when this ayah was revealed, he approached the Prophet (s.a.w), submitting that the ayah weighed heavily on the minds of the Sahaba. Rasulallah (s.a.w) replied that the best thing to be treasured is the devoted wife who causes pleasure when seen, obeys orders instantly and takes full care of herself and her husbands property when he is away. Abu Bakr once asked Rasulallah (s.a.w) what was the best thing to be treasured, and he (s.a.w) replied: "the tongue in remembrance of Allah, the heart filled! with thanks to Allah, and a pious wife who helps in virtuous deeds". Look at how valuable such a woman is in the sight of Allah! How can a man live unhappily with such a person.

QUALITIES OF THE PIOUS WOMAN

Alright, you say, you've convinced me, but what actually makes her a pious woman? The answer is simple: Allah himself has described those qualities most loved by Him in the Qur'an, and in the ahadith there are numerous accounts of the virtuous attributes of a pious woman.

The following are some ayahs on the attributes of the wife you should be seeking, so note those fine and appreciative qualities.

"And women of purity are for men of purity, and men of purity are for women of purity"[s.24;v.26]

"Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient, and guard in (the husbands) absence what Allah would have them guard"[s.4;v.34]

"It may be, if he divorced you (all), that Allah will give him in exchange consorts better ! than you, who submit (Muslims), who believe, who are devout, who turn to Allah in repentance, who worship (in humility), who travel (for faith) and fast..."[s.66;v.5].

And then, in surah Ahzab, is a full list of those qualities loved by Allah, qualities which by the way should be evident in both males and females. So, my dear brother, choose her for the following attributes:
-a Muslim woman
-a believing woman
-a devout woman
-a true woman
-a woman who is patient and constant
-a woman who humbles herself
-a woman who gives charity
-a woman who fasts and denies herself
-a woman who guards her chastity
-a woman who engages much in Allah's praise.

Among the four known perfect women was Maryam. She was loved by Allah because of her religious qualities: "O Maryam! Worship your Lord: prostrate yourself, and bow down (in prayer) with those who bow down"[s.3;v.43]. Another was the wife of Pharaoh: "And Allah sets forth, as an example ! to those who believe, the wife of Pharaoh: behold she said: 'O my Lord, build for me, in nearness to Thee, a mansion in the Garden' "[s.66;v.11].

The Prophet (s.a.w) loved his wives because of their religious qualities. Aisha once related the fine qualities of Zainab: "(Zainab) was the one who was somewhat equal in rank with me in the eyes of Allah's Messenger (s.a.w), and I have never seen a woman more advanced in religious piety than Zainab, more God-conscious, more truthful, more alive to the ties of blood, more generous and having more sense of self-sacrifice in practical life and having more charitable disposition and thus more closer to Allah, the Exalted, than her."

Ahh, you think, but you'll never find such a woman! Well, if that was true, Allah would not have described her in the first place, and furthermore those qualities were emanating from the women described above. Islam deals with reality, not fiction. Sure, the perfect woman doesn't exi! st, yet "if you take a dislike to them, it may be that you dislike a thing, and Allah brings about through it a great deal of good"[s.4;v.19]. Remember also that you are not perfect either.

KNOWING WHO SHE IS

To find that pious woman, there are two steps to be taken, and that first one relies on your personal observation. In surah Nisaa, Allah asks the believing women that they should "lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments," and also that they "should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments"[s.24;v.31]. If you notice a woman acting modestly, being not too obvious through her actions (by lowering her voice when around men), one who attempts to hide her attractions (which includes her external beauty as well as her internal charms), then you know she has some of those precious qualities. When you see a woman unashamedly flirting,unconcerned about her revealing clothes, ! and freely converses with males- keep far, far away. I'm sure when you get married you want your wife to devote her love to you,not to twenty other "just good friends".

Through simple observation, you can get a glimpse of her nature; for example, the way she stands when conversing, how she maintains eye-contact, her clothes, where she spends her time etc. Look for her strong points, and don't stress on her weak ones.

Yet, after all this, we still have to come to the most important topic. You can look all you want at her, set a private investigator to track her movements, read her diaries (all of which I consider extreme and unIslamic), yet, my dear brother, no-one knows her heart and intentions, no-one knows whether she will turn sour or more religious, or whether you are suitable for each other,except for Allah.

TRUST IN ALLAH

We are choosing our wife for her permanent values; namely her religious devotions, moral integrit! y, character etc. But believe me, if we try ourselves to combine a marriage,we are almost sure to fail, because we have no knowledge.

Allah loves a servant when he puts his trust in Him. When we do so, it is illustrating how we rely upon Him for help,and proving our sincerity to Him, establishing that we recognise His infinite knowledge and wisdom.

Islam is likened to being as a house, and in my estimation nothing cements that house together as well as putting our trust in Allah.

It is related on the authority of Jabir ibn 'Abdullah that the Prophet (s.a.w) used to teach his companions to seek,through a special du'a (known as an istikharah), the guidance of Allah in all matters which affected them. Rasulallah (s.a.w) said: "When you are confused about what you should do in a certain situation, then pray two rak'at of nafl salaat and read the following du'a (du'a of istikharah)."

I am surprised at the criticisms thrown at this du'a, and of its negl! igence. We are humans, powerless in this sphere of life, knowledgeable only enough to survive. So why shouldn't we turn to Allah and seek His perfect help whenever we require it? Allah responds to the call of His servant when he asks for guidance, and we are after all seeking to do something in order to please Him.

Many wrong notions exist concerning istikharah. Many Muslims will pray, read the du'a, and run to bed expecting to see a dream showing them their future wife, what her favourite colour is, and some other weird fantasy. That is not the purpose of this salaat.

The results of an istikharah can take many forms. Basically, you go by your feelings, whether you now feel more favourable or not. Also, you may notice events have changed, either for or against you. Finally, as a wonderful gift from Allah, you may be blessed with a dream. Note that you must follow the results of an istikharah, because no! t doing so is tantamount to rejecting Allah's guidance once you've asked for it. Also, you should firstly clear your mind, not have your mind already decided, and then afterwards follow the results willingly.

The Prophet (s.a.w) once sent Zainab a proposal of marriage. She refused to accept the proposal straight away, expressing her intention to refer the matter to Allah: "I do not do anything until I solicit the will of my Lord." Allah, the Responsive, answered her plea for help and revealed an ayah approving of the marriage. We may seem shocked at her refusal to accept a proposal from what is the best husband any woman can have, yet she was just recognising that it is Allah who knows how successful such a marriage will be, and as a sign of appreciation, that reply is now preserved in our Holy Book: al Qur'an.

The Prophet (s.a.w) once said to Aisha: "I saw you in a dream for three nights when an angel brought you to me in a silk cloth and ! he said: 'Here is your wife', and when I removed (the cloth) from your face, lo, it was yourself, so I said: 'if this is from Allah, let Him carry it out' ".

Marriage is a serious step, and requires the right attitude. If marriage completes half our faith, shouldn't that half be the best half? A woman married for the wrong reasons can only weaken the Muslim household. Consider that she will be your life-long companion, the rearer of your children. Don't marry her for her worldly wealth, but for her wealth in Islamic wisdom and knowledge. Her status in this life is but illusionary, so choose her for her status in the sight of Allah. Beauty is but superficial, but the beauty of Iman is transcendent.

When asking Allah for a wife, call upon Him by His beautiful names, as He has commanded us: "For Allah are certain and dignified names: therefore call upon Him by them"[s.7;v.189]. Ask for a companion who is devout, pious,patient and so on. Be amo! ng those who say: "Our Lord, may our spouses and our offspring be a joy to our eyes and make us leaders of the righteous"[al-Furqan,74].

I cannot provide a better conclusion than saying that you must put your trust in Allah. You must have trust in His concern for us, and His ability to help us. Allah says: "Put your trust in Allah, for Allah loves those who put their trust in Him"[s.3;v.159].

May Allah help us in our sincere efforts in following His commandments and the way of His beloved servant, and provide us with wives whom He loves.

"When my servants ask you concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them): I respond to the prayer of every supplicant when he calls on Me: let them also, with a will, listen to my call, and believe in Me: that they may walk in the right way"[al-Baqarah,v.186].

Rahasia Wajah
Oleh : Ustaz M Joban
(Di dalam BI - Bahasa Indonesia)

Menarik sekali jikalau kita terus menerus belajar tentang fenomena apapun
yang terjadi dalam hiruk-pikuk kehidupan ini. Tidak ada salahnya kalau kita
buat semacam target. Misalnya : hari ini kita belajar tentang wajah. Wajah?
Ya, wajah. Karena masalah wajah bukan hanya masalah bentuknya, tapi yang
utama adalah pancaran yang tersemburat dari si pemilik wajah tersebut.

Ketika pagi menyingsing, misalnya, tekadkan dalam diri : "Saya ingin tahu
wajah yang paling menenteramkan hati itu seperti apa? Wajah yang paling
menggelisahkan itu seperti bagaimana?" karena pastilah hari ini kita akan
banyak bertemu dengan wajah orang per orang. Ya, karena setiap orang
pastilah punya wajah. Wajah istri, suami, anak, tetangga, teman sekantor,
orang di perjalanan, dan lain sebagainya. Nah, ketika kita berjumpa dengan
siapapun hari ini, marilah kita belajar ilmu tentang wajah.

Subhanallaah, pastilah kita akan bertemu dengan beraneka macam bentuk wajah.
Dan, tiap wajah ternyata dampaknya berbeda-beda kepada kita. Ada yang
menenteramkan, ada yang menyejukkan, ada yang menggelikan, ada yang
menggelisahkan, dan ada pula yang menakutkan. Lho, kok menakutkan? Kenapa?
Apa yang menakutkan karena bentuk hidungnya? Tentu saja tidak! Sebab ada
yang hidungnya mungil tapi menenteramkan. Ada yang sorot matanya tajam
menghunjam, tapi menyejukkan. Ada yang kulitnya hitam, tapi penuh wibawa.

Pernah suatu ketika berjumpa dengan seorang ulama dari Afrika di Masjidil
Haram, subhanallaah, walaupun kulitnya tidak putih, tidak kuning, tetapi
ketika memandang wajahnya... sejuk sekali! Senyumnya begitu tulus meresap ke
relung qolbu yang paling dalam. Sungguh bagai disiram air sejuk menyegarkan
di pagi hari. Ada pula seorang ulama yang tubuhnya mungil, dan diberi
karunia kelumpuhan sejak kecil. Namanya Syekh Ahmad Yassin, pemimpin
spiritual gerakan Intifadah, Palestina. Ia tidak punya daya, duduknya saja
di atas kursi roda. Hanya kepalanya saja yang bergerak. Tapi, saat menatap
wajahnya, terpancar kesejukan yang luar biasa. Padahal, beliau jauh dari
ketampanan wajah sebagaimana yang dianggap rupawan dalam versi manusia.
Tapi, ternyata dibalik kelumpuhannya itu beliau memendam ketenteraman batin
yang begitu dahsyat, tergambar saat kita memandang sejuknya pancaran rona
wajahnya.

Nah, saudaraku, kalau hari ini kita berhasil menemukan struktur wajah
seseorang yang menenteramkan, maka cari tahulah kenapa dia sampai memiliki
wajah yang menenteramkan seperti itu. Tentulah, benar-benar kita akan
menaruh hormat. Betapa senyumannya yang tulus; pancaran wajahnya, nampak
ingin sekali ia membahagiakan siapapun yang menatapnya. Dan sebaliknya,
bagaimana kalau kita menatap wajah lain dengan sifat yang berlawanan; (maaf,
bukan bermaksud meremehkan) ada pula yang wajahnya bengis, struktur katanya
ketus, sorot matanya kejam, senyumannya sinis, dan sikapnya pun tidak ramah.
Begitulah, wajah-wajah dari saudara-saudara kita yang lain, yang belum
mendapat ilmu; bengis dan ketus. Dan ini pun perlu kita pelajari.

Ambillah kelebihan dari wajah yang menenteramkan, yang menyejukkan tadi
menjadi bagian dari wajah kita, dan buang jauh-jauh raut wajah yang tidak
ramah, tidak menenteramkan, dan yang tidak menyejukkan.

Tidak ada salahnya jika kita evalusi diri di depan cermin. Tanyalah; raut
seperti apakah yang ada di wajah kita ini? Memang ada diantara hamba-hamba
Allah yang bibirnya di desain agak berat ke bawah. Kadang-kadang
menyangkanya dia kurang senyum, sinis, atau kurang ramah. Subhanallaah,
bentuk seperti ini pun karunia Allah yang patut disyukuri dan bisa jadi
ladang amal bagi siapapun yang memilikinya untuk berusaha senyum ramah lebih
maksimal lagi.

Sedangkan bagi wajah yang untuk seulas senyum itu sudah ada, maka tinggal
meningkatkan lagi kualitas senyum tersebut, yaitu untuk lebih ikhlas lagi.
Karena senyum di wajah, bukan hanya persoalan menyangkut ujung bibir saja,
tapi yang utama adalah, ingin tidak kita membahagiakan orang lain? Ingin
tidak kita membuat di sekitar kita tercahayai? Nabi Muhammad SAW, memberikan
perhatian yang luar biasa kepada setiap orang yang bertemu dengan beliau
sehingga orang itu merasa puas. Kenapa puas? Diriwayatkan bahwa Nabi
Muhammad SAW - bila ada orang yang menyapanya - menganggap orang tersebut
adalah orang yang paling utama di hadapan beliau. Sesuai kadar kemampuannya.

Walhasil, ketika Nabi SAW berbincang dengan siapapun, maka orang yang diajak
berbincang ini senantiasa menjadi curahan perhatian. Tak heran bila cara
memandang, cara bersikap, ternyata menjadi atribut kemuliaan yang beliau
contohkan. Dan itu ternyata berpengaruh besar terhadap sikap dan perasaan
orang yang diajak bicara.

Adapun kemuramdurjaan, ketidakenakan, kegelisahan itu muncul ternyata
diantara akibat kita belum menganggap orang yang ada dihadapan kita orang
yang paling utama. Makanya, terkadang kita melihat seseorang itu hanya
separuh mata, berbicara hanya separuh perhatian. Misalnya, ketika ada
seseorang yang datang menghampiri, kita sapa orang itu sambil baca koran.
Padahal, kalau kita sudah tidak mengutamakan orang lain, maka curahan
kata-kata, cara memandang, cara bersikap, itu tidak akan punya daya sentuh.
Tidak punya daya pancar yang kuat.

Orang karena itu, marilah kita berlatih diri meneliti wajah, tentu saja
bukan maksud untuk meremehkan. Tapi, mengambil tauladan wajah yang baik,
menghindari yang tidak baiknya, dan cari kuncinya kenapa sampai seperti itu?
Lalu praktekkan dalam perilaku kita sehari-hari. Selain itu belajarlah untuk
mengutamakan orang lain!

Mudah-mudahan kita dapat mengutamakan orang lain di hadapan kita, walaupun
hanya beberapa menit, walaupun hanya beberapa detik, subhanallaah.***

Teristimewa Buat Semua

Rindunya Abang Pada Nura

Nura memerhatikan jam di dinding, sudah dekat pukul 12.00 malam, argh..dia lambat lagi malam ini. Akhirnya sofa itu jugak menjadi katilnya malam ini.

2.00 pagi. "Nura, Nura bangun sayang". Hilmi mengejutkan isterinya.

"Eh! abang dah balik, maaf Nura tertidur, abang nak makan?" tanya Nura. "

"Tak per lah abang dah makan tadi, Jomlah kita tidur diatas". Jawapan yang cukup mengecewakan Nura. "Arrggh rindunya Nura pada abang, rindu nak makan semeja dengan abang, abang tak nak tengok ker apa Nura masak hari ni, ikan cencaru sumbat kesukaan abang," luah Nura dalam hati.

"Abang naiklah dulu Nura nak simpan lauk dalam peti ais dulu". pinta Nura sambil menuju ke dapur. Gugur air mata isterinya menyimpan kembali lauk-lauk yang langsung tidak dijamah suami tercinta kecil hatinya sedih perasaannya. Nura ambil dua keping roti sapu jem dan makan untuk alas perut kerana dia sememangnya lapar, tapi selera makannya terbunuh dengan situasi itu. Nura menghirup milo panas sedalam-dalamnya dan akhirnya masuk bilik air gosok gigi dan terus menuju ke bilik tidur.

Sekali lagi terguris hati seorang isteri apabila melihatkan suaminya telah terlelap.
"Sampai hati abang tidur dulu tanpa ucapkan selamat malam tanpa kucupan mesra, tanpa belaian dan tanpa kata-kata kasih abang pada Nura", bisik hati kecilnya. Aargghh rindunya Nura pada abang. " Nura rindu nak peluk abang, Nura nak kucup abang, Nura rindu abang".

Selesai solat subuh Nura panjatkan doa semoga dia sentiasa beroleh bahagia, dipanjangkan jodohnya dengan Hilmi tercinta, diberi kesihatan yang baik dan paling panjang dan kusyuk dia berdoa semoga Allah berikan kekuatan untuk menempuh segala badai. Selesai menjalankan amanat itu, Nura kejutkan Hilmi, manakala dia bingkas menuju ke dapur menyediakan sarapan buat suami tersayang. Nura keluarkan ayam dan sayur dan mula menumis bawang untuk menggoreng mee.

"Assalamualaikum", sapa Hilmi yang sudah siap berpakaian untuk ke pejabat. "Waalaikumsalam, sayang". Nura cuba bermanja sambil menambah, "abang nak kopi atau teh?" Nura tetap kecewa apabila Hilmi hanya meminta air sejuk sahaja, dia ada 'presentation' dan hendak cepat, mee goreng pun hanya dijamah sekadar menjaga hati Nura dan tergesa-gesa keluar dari rumah. Nura menghantar pemergian suami hingga ke muka pintu "Abang, Nura belum cium tangan abang, abang belum kucup dahi Nura", kata Nura selepas kereta itu meluncur pergi. Arrghh rindunya Nura pada abang.

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"Mi, semalam pukul berapa kau balik?" tanya Zikri.
"Dekat pukul 2.00 pagi". Jawab Hilmi acuh tak acuh.
"Wow dasyat kau, kalah kami yang bujang ni, woi semalam malam Jumaatler, kesian bini kau". Zikri bergurau nakal.
"Apa nak buat, lepas aku siapkan plan tu, aku ikut Saiful dan Nazim pergi makan dan borak-borak, sedar-sedar dah pukul 2.00", aku balik pun bini aku dah tidur. "Balas Hilmi.

"Sorrylah aku tanya, sejak akhir-akhir kau sengaja jer cari alasan balik lewat, hujung minggu pun kau sibuk ajak member lain pergi fishing, kau ada masalah dengan Nura ke?". Zikri cuba bertanya sahabat yang cukup dikenali sejak dari sekolah menengah, sampai ke universiti malah sekarang bekerja sebumbung.

"Entahlah Zek, aku tak tahu kenapa sejak akhir-akhir aku rasa malas nak balik rumah, bukan aku bencikan Nura, kami tak bergaduh tapi entahlah". terang Hilmi.

"Well, aku rasa aku perlu dengar penjelasan lebar kau, aku nak dengar semuanya, tapi bukan sekarang. Lepas kerja jom kita keluar ok?". Usul Zikri.

"Ok." Ringkas jawapan Hilmi sambil menyambung kembali merenung plan bangunan yang sedang direkanya.

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Nura membuka kembali album kenangan itu. Tersenyum dia bila melihatkan saat manis dia diijab kabulkan dengan Hilmi. Majlis ringkas, hanya dihadiri sanak saudara dan rakan terdekat. Maklumlah yatim piatu, kenduri ini pun mujur sangat kakak sulungnya sudi mengendalikan. Saat-saat sebegini Nura teringat kembali alangkah indahnya sekiranya ibunya masih ada, akan diluahkan segalanya pada ibu tetapi sekarang, dia tidak punya sesiapa. Nina menangis sepuas hatinya. 5 tahun menjadi suri Hilmi, bukan satu tempoh yang pendek. Nura bahagia sangat dengan Hilmi, cuma sejak akhir-akhir ini kebahagiaan itu makin menjauh. Nura sedar perubahan itu, dan dia tidak salahkan Hilmi. Makin laju air matanya mengalir.

"Abang sanggup menerima Nura, abang tidak menyesal?". tanya Nura 5 tahun yang lepas.

"Abang cintakan Nura setulus hati abang, abang sanggup dan Insya-Allah abang akan bahagiakan Nura dan akan abang tumpahkan sepenuh kasih sayang buat Nura,". Janji Hilmi.

"Walaupun kita tidak berpeluang menimang zuriat sendiri?". Tanya Nina lagi.

"Syyy...doktor pun manusia macam kita, yang menentukan Allah, Insya-Allah abang yakin sangat kita akan ada zuriat sendiri", Hilmi meyakinkan Nura.

Nura masih ingat saat itu, apabila dia menerangkan pada Hilmi dia mungkin tidak boleh mengandung kerana sebahagian rahimnya telah dibuang kerana ada ketumbuhan. Harapan untuk mengandung hanya 10-20 peratus sahaja. Tapi Hilmi yakin Nura mampu memberikannya zuriat. Tapi, itu suatu masa dahulu, selepas 5 tahun, Nura tidak salahkan Hilmi sekiranya dia sudah mengalah dan terkilan kerana Nura masih belum mampu memberikannya zuriat. Walaupun Nura sudah selesai menjalani pembedahan untuk membetulkan kembali kedudukan rahimnya dan mencuba pelbagai kaedah moden dan tradisional. Arrghh rindunya Nura pada abang.
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"Aku tak tahu macam mana aku nak luahkan Zek, sebenarnya aku tidak salahkan Nura, dia tidak minta semuanya berlaku, isteri mana yang tidak mahu mengandungkan anak dari benih suaminya yang halal, tapi..." ayat Hilmi terhenti disitu.

"Tetapi kenapa? Kau dah bosan? Kau dah give up? Celah Zikri.

"Bukan macam tu, aku kesian dengan dia sebenarnya, duduk rumah saja, sunyi, tapi sejak akhir-akhir ini perasaan aku jadi tak tentu arah, aku rasa simpati pada dia, tetapi kadang-kadang perasaan aku bertukar sebaliknya", terang Hilmi.

"Maksudnya kau menyesal dan menyalahkan dia? tingkas Zikri.

"Entahlah Zek, aku tak kata aku menyesal, sebab aku yang pilih dia, aku tahu perkara ni akan berlaku, cuma mungkin aku terlalu berharap, dan akhirnya aku kecewa sendiri. Dan aku tidak mahu menyalahkan Nura sebab itulah aku cuba mengelakkan kebosanan ini, dan elakkan bersama-samanya macam dulu kerana aku akan simpati aku pada dia akan bertukar menjadi perbalahan " Jelas Hilmi.

"Dan kau puas hati dengan melarikan diri dari dia? kata Zikri tidak berpuas hati dan menambah, "apa kata korang ambil saja anak angkat?"

"Anak angkat tak sama dengan zuriat sendiri Zek, kau tak faham. Aku harapkan zuriat sendiri dan dalam masa yang sama aku tahu dia tak mampu, ibu dan kakak-kakak aku pun dah bising, mereka suruh aku kawin lagi, tapi aku tak sanggup melukakan hati dia Zek. Aku tak sanggup". Ujar Hilmi.

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Nura masih menanti, selalunya hujung minggu mereka akan terisi dengan pergi berjalan-jalan, membeli belah, atau setidak-tidaknya mengunjungi rumah saudara mara atau menjenguk orang tua Hilmi dikampung. Kini dah hampir 5 bulan mereka tidak menjenguk mertua dia. Dia sayangkan mertua dan iparnya yang lain macam saudara sendiri. Dia tidak punya ibu, maka dengan itu seluruh kasih sayang seorang anak dicurahkan kepada kedua mertuanya.

Sebolehnya setiap kali menjenguk mertua atau kakak-kakak iparnya dia akan bawakan buah tangan untuk mereka, biasanya dia akan menjahit baju untuk mereka, itulah yang selalu dibuat untuk menggembirakan hati mertuanya, maklumlah dia punya masa yang cukup banyak untuk menjahit. Selalunya juga dia akan buatkan kek atau biskut untuk dibawa pulang ke kampung suami tersayangnya. Dan mereka akan gembira sekali untuk pulang ke kampung, tapi kini...aarghh rindunya Nura pada abang.

Nura tahu Hilmi pergi memancing sebab dia bawa bersama segala peralatan memancing, dan hari ini sekali lagi Nura menjadi penghuni setia rumah ini bersama setianya kasihnya kepada Hilmi. Nura masih tidak menaruh syak pada Hilmi, dia masih cuba memasak sesuatu yang istemewa untuk Hilmi bila dia pulang malam nanti, tapi Nura takut dia kecewa lagi. Arghh tak apalah, demi suami tercinta.Aaarggh Rindunya Nura pada abang.

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"So you dah tahu i dah kawin, tapi you masih sudi berkawan dengan I kenapa? Adakah kerana simapti atau ikhlas?" tanya Hilmi pada Zati yang dikenali dua minggu lepas semasa mengikut teman-teman pergi memancing. Sejak itu Zati menjadi teman makan tengaharinya, malah kadang teman makan malamnya.

"I ikhlas Hilmi, dan I tak kisah kalau jadi yang kedua, I dah mula sayangkan you". Zati berterus terang. Lega hati Hilmi, tapi Nura?

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"Abang Nura tak berapa sihatlah bang rasa macam nak demam saja," adu Nura pagi tu, sebelum Hilmi ke pejabat.

"Ye ker? Ambil duit ni, nanti Nura call teksi dan pergilah klinik ye, abang tak boleh hantar Nura ni." jawapan Hilmi yang betul-betul membuatkan Nura mengalirkan air mata. Tidak seperti dulu-dulu, kalau Nura sakit demam Hilmi sanggup mengambil cuti, bersama-sama menemani Nura. Arrggh rindunya Nura pada abang.

Disebabkan Nura terlalu sedih dan kecewa, dia mengambil keputusan tidak mahu ke klinik selepas makan dua bijik panadol, dia terus berbaring. Sehingga ke petang, badan dia semakin panas dan kadang terasa amat sejuk, kepalanya berdenyut-denyut. Nura menangis lagi.

Malam tu, seperti biasa Hilmi pulang lewat setelah menemani Zati ke majlis harijadi kawannya. Nura masih setia menunggu dan dia rasa kali ini dia ingin luahkan segala perasaan rindu dan sayangnya pada Hilmi. Tak sanggup lagi dia menanggung rindu yang amat sarat ini, rindu pada manusia yang ada didepan mata setiap hari. Aargh rindunya Nura pada abang.

Apabila Hilmi selesai mandi dan tukar pakaian, Nura bersedia untuk membuka mulut, ingin diluahkan segalanya rasa rindu itu, dia rasa sakit demam yang dia tanggung sekarang ini akibat dari memendam rasa rindu yang amat sarat.

"Abang, Nura nak cakap sikit boleh?" Nura memohon keizinan seperti kelazimannya.

"Nura, dah lewat sangat esok sajalah, abang letih," bantah Hilmi.

"Tapi esok pun abang sibuk jugak, abang tak ada masa, dan abang akan balik lambat, Nura tak berpeluang abang". ujar Nura dengan lembut.

"Eh..dah pandai menjawab,"perli Hilmi.

Meleleh air mata Nura, dan Hilmi rasa bersalah dan bertanya apa yang Nura nak bincangkan.

"Kenapa abang terlalu dingin dengan Nura sejak akhir-akhir ni? Tanya Nura.

"Nura, abang sibuk kerja cari duit, dengan duit tu, dapatlah kita bayar duit rumah, duit kereta, belanja rumah dan sebagainya faham?" Hilmi beralasan.

Nura agak terkejut, selama ini Hilmi tak pernah bercakap kasar dengan dia, dan dia terus bertanya,

"dulu Abang tak macam ni, masih ada masa untuk Nura, tapi sekarang?" Ujar Nura.

"Sudahlah Nura abang dah bosan, pening, jangan tambahkan perkara yang menyesakkan dada", bantah Hilmi lagi.

"Sampai hati abang, abaikan Nura, Nura sedar siapa Nura, Nura tak mampu berikan zuriat untuk abang dan abang bosan kerana rumah kita kosong, tiada suara tangis anak-anak bukan? Dan Nura terus bercakap dengan sedu sedan.

"Sudahlah Nura abang dah bosan, jangan cakap pasal tu lagi abang tak suka. Bosan betul..."

Pagi tu, Hilmi keluar rumah tanpa sarapan, tanpa bertemu Nura dan tanpa suara pun. Nura makin rindu pada suaminya, demamnya pula kian menjadi-jadi.

Malam tu Hilmi terus tidak pulang ke rumah, Nura menjadi risau, telefon bimbit dimatikan, Nura risau, dia tahu dia bersalah, akan dia memohon ampun dan maaf dari Hilmi bila dia kembali. Nura masih menanti, namun hanya hari ketiga baru Hilmi muncul dan Nura terus memohon ampun dan maaf dan hulurkan tangan tetapi Hilmi hanya hulurkan acuh tak acuh sahaja. Nura kecil hati dan meminta Hilmi pulang malam nanti kerana dia ingin makan bersama Hilmi. Hilmi sekadar mengangguk.

Tetapi malam tu Nura kecewa lagi. Hilmi pulang lewat malam. demam Nura pulak makin teruk, dan esoknya tanpa ditemani Hilmi dia ke klinik, sebab sudah tidak tahan lagi.
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Abang pulanglah abang, pulanglah Nura ingin beritahu perkhabaran ini, pulang abang, doa Nura. Nura kecewa tapi masih menanti, bila masuk hari ketiga dia sudah tidak sabar lagi, dia menelefon ke pejabat. Dan telefon itu disambut oleh Zikri.

"Syukurlah Nura kau telefon aku, ada perkara aku nak cakap ni, boleh aku jumpa kau? tanya Zikri

"Eh tak bolehlah aku ni kan isteri orang, mana boleh jumpa kau tanpa izin suami aku, berdosa tau", tolak Nura.

Pilunya hati Zikri mendengar pengakuan Nura itu. Setianya kau perempuan, bisik hatinya.

"Oklah kalau macam tu, aku pergi rumah kau, aku pergi dengan mak aku boleh?" pinta Zikri

"Ok, kalau macam tu tak apalah, aku pun dah lama tak jumpa mak kau, last sekali masa konvo kita 6 tahun lepas kan?" setuju Nura.

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"Eh kenapa pucat semacam ni? tegur Mak Siti. Nura hanya tersenyum penuh makna, dan membisik, "Allah makbulkan doa saya mak cik". Pilu hati Mak Siti dan betapa dia sedar betapa Allah itu Maha Mengetahui apa yang Dia lakukan. Segera Mak Siti mendapat Zikri di ruang tamu dan khabarkan berita itu. Zikri serba salah.

"Nura, aku anggap kau macam saudara aku, aku tak tahu macam mana nak mulakan, aku harap kau tabah dan tenang, sebenarnya Hilmi dalam proses untuk berkahwin lagi satu, dan aku sayangkan korang macam saudara sendiri, dan aku tak sanggup rumah tangga korang musnah macam ni, kau tanyalah dengan Hilmi dan bincanglah, cubalah selamatkan rumah tangga korang." terang Zikri.

Nura menangis semahunya dibahu Mak Siti, rasa hampir luruh jantung mendengarkan penjelasan itu. Patutlah selalu tidak balik rumah. Berita gembira yang diterima pagi tadi, sudah tidak bermakna. Nura menantikan Hilmi sehingga ke pagi, namun dia masih gagal.

Dua hari kemudian Hilmi pulang dan sibuk mengambil beberapa pakaian penting, dan masa ini Nura bertekad untuk bertanya.

"Ya betul apa yang Nura dengar tu, dan kami akan langsungkan jugak, dan abang takkan lepaskan Nura, itu janji abang, mak ayah pun dah tahu dan mereka tak kisah asalkan abang tidak lepaskan Nura, kerana mereka juga sayangkan Nura, dan Nura kena faham abang inginkan zuriat sendiri, walau apa pun persiapan sedang dibuat, abang janji takkan abaikan Nura." Janji Hilmi.

Nura sayu mendengar, dan bagaikan kelu lidahnya untuk berkata-kata. Dan segala perkhabaran gembira itu terbunuh menjadi khabar duka. Nura terlalu kecewa.

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Hilmi masih menanti diluar, rasa amat bersalah bersarang dikepala, sejak dihubungi Zikri, dia bergegas ke hospital apabila dimaklumkan Nura pengsan dan mengalami pendarahan. Doktor dan jururawat keluar masuk. Dia masih resah.

"Insya-Allah En. Hilmi, dua-dua selamat". terang doktor pada Hilmi.

"Dua-dua apa maksud doktor? tanya Hilmi

"Dua-dua ibu dan baby dalam kandungan tu, tapi dia kena banyak berehat kerana rahimnya tidak begitu kukuh, saya takut banyak bergerak akan menyebabkan berlaku keguguran, tapi kami dah mulakan injection untuk kuatkan paru-paru baby dan jahitkan rahim dia dan bersedia untuk early delivery dalam kes macam ni," terang doktor.

"Ya Allah Nura mengandung, Ya Allah berdosanya aku pada Nura, kesal Hilmi. Malu rasanya untuk menatap muka Nura.

"Kenapa Nura tak bagi tahu abang yang Nura mengandung? kesal Hilmi.

"Nura memang nak bagitau abang tapi, bila abang cakap abang sudah bertunang dan akan berkahwin dengan perempuan Nura tak sampai hati bang, Nura tak sanggup abang malu dan keluarga abang malu." Jelas Nura.

"Nura sebenarnya, abang belum bertunang dengan budak tu, abang cuma sekadar berkawan sahaja. Belum pernah abang bincangkan soal kawin lagi, dan abang tak sanggup nak teruskan hubungan tu lagi kerana abang akan jadi ayah tidak lama lagi." janji Hilmi.

Kesal kerana mengabaikan Nura yang mengandung itu, membuatkan Nura risau dan akhirnya pitam dihalaman rumah, mujurlah ada jiran nampak dan membawa kehopital, dan mujur jugak Nura pengsan dihalaman, dapat dilihat orang.

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"Mama kenapa mama buat tu, biarlah mak yang buat," marah Hilmi bila melihatkan Nura cuba menyapu lantai. Sejak keluar hospital hari tu, mertua dia meminta supaya Nura tinggal saja dirumah sehingga bersalin kerana dia memang tidak dibenarkan doktor melakukan sebarang kerja, bimbang keguguran kerana rahimnya tidak kuat.

"Ala Papa ni, biarlah mama buat sikit sajalah."balas Nura. Itulah panggilan manja mereka sekarang ni.

Dengan pengawasan rapi doktor, yang setiap dua tiga sekali akan melakukan pemeriksaan, dan bila usia kandungan mencecah 6 bulan, doktor mengarahkan supaya Nura hanya berehat dihospital, supaya senang mengawasi Nura dan andainya apa-apa berlaku Nura akan terus dibedah untuk menyelamatkan nyawanya dan bayi yang dikandung. Setiap hari Nura akan dilawati oleh Hilmi. Nura amat bahagia, ternyata bayi yang dikandung membawa sinar, amat berharga kehadiran dia nanti, sebab itulah Nura sanggup tinggal dihospital , sanggup menelan berjenis ubat, sanggup disuntik apa saja semuanya demi bayi itu.

Kandungan sudah dipenghujung 7 bulan, Nura amat bahagia merasakan gerakan-gerakan manja bayi yang dikandungnya. Setaip tendangan bayi dirasakan amat membahagiakan. Doktor makin teliti menjaga Nura, kerana bimbang berlaku pertumpahan darah, dan akhirnya apa yang dibimbangi para doktor menjadi nyata apabila Nura mengalami pertumpahan darah yang serius, lantas terus dia ditolak ke dalam bilik bedah dalam masa beberapa minit sahaja. Hilmi tiba bersama ibu dan ayahnya, dia panik sekali, namun cuba ditenangkan oleh kedua orang tuanya. Hampir 1 jam berlalu, apakah khabarnya Nura di dalam sana. Hilmi makin risau, setengah jam kemudian doktor keluar.

Hilmi meluru "doktor bagaimana isteri saya ?", Hilmi terus bertanya.

"Sabar, kami telah cuba sedaya upaya, tahniah anak encik selamat, encik dapat anak perempuan, seberat 2.1 kilogram, dan kini kami cuba sedaya upaya untuk selamatkan Puan Nura Ain." terang doktor.

"Apa maksud doktor? Tanya Hilmi yang sudah tidak sabar.

"Begini, dia kehilangan banyak darah, kami cuba sedaya upaya menggantikan darahnya yang keluar itu, dan masih berusaha, namun rahimnya terus berdarah dan kami mohon kebenaran untuk membuang terus rahimnya demi menyelamatkan nyawanya." jelas doktor.

"Buatlah doktor, saya izinkan asalkan isteri saya selamat."

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"Ermmm...lekanya dia sampai terlena." tegur Hilmi sambil membelai dan mengusap kepala Nur Syuhadah yang terlena akibat kenyang selepas menyusu dengan Nura. Nura hanya tersenyum. Hari ni genap seminggu usia Syuhadah. Nura Ain masih lemah akibat kehilangan banyak darah. Namun dikuatkan semangat demi Nur Syuhadah buah hatinya. Dia mencium sepenuh kasih sayang pipi comel anaknya itu. Dia membelai sayu wajah comel itu. Entah kenapa dia rasa seperti terlalu sayu hari itu, hatinya terlalu sepi, semalam dia mimpikan arwah ibunya, datang menjenguk dia dan Syuhadah, tanpa suara, ibunya hanya tersenyum. Dan akhirnya berlalu begitu sahaja. Hari ini Nura menjadi seorang perindu, dia rindukan ibunya, dan diceritakan perkara itu pada Hilmi.

"Mungkin mak Nura datang tengok cucu dia, dan dia amat gembira". pujuk Hilmi menenangkan Nura.

"Abang...tolong Nura bang!!" laung Nura dari bilik air.

"Ya Allah Nura kenapa ni? Hilmi ketakutan. "Mak...tolong mak...makkkkkkkkkkk" Hilmi menjerit memanggil emaknya didapur.

"Cepat, bawak pergi hospital, cepat Hilmi" perintah Mak Zaharah.

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"Maaf dia tidak dapat kami selamatkan, terlalu banyak darah yang keluar, dan kami tak sempat berbuat apa-apa, dia terlalu lemah dan akhirnya dia 'dijemputNya", terang doktor. Terduduk Hilmi mendengarkan hal itu.

Jenazah selamat dikebumikan. Syuhadah seakan mengerti yang dia sudah tidak akan menikmati titisan-titisan susu Nura Ain lagi. Syuhadah menangis seolah-olah ingin memberitahu dunia yang dia perlukan seorang ibu, seorang ibu yang bersusah payah, bersabung nyawa demi untuk melihat kelahirannya. Demi membahagiakan papanya, demi membahagiakan neneknya. Syuhadah terus menangis seolah-olah tidak rela dia dipisahkan dengan ibunya hanya bersamanya untuk sekejap cuma. Semua yang hadir kelihatan mengesat mata, tidak sanggup mendengar tangisan bayi kecil itu. Semua terpaku dan terharu, Hilmi mendukung Syuhadah dan memujuk bayi kecil itu, akhirnya dia terlelap didakapan papanya.

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Abang yang Nura rindui,

Abang maafkan Nura kerana selama ini tidak mampu menjadi isteri yang terbaik buat abang. Saat abang membaca surat ini, mungkin Nura sudah jauh meninggalkan abang, Nura tak harapkan Nura akan selamat melahirkan anak ini, tapi Nura harap bayi akan selamat walau apa yang terjadi pada Nura. Itu harapan Nura bang. Nura masih ingat, rumah tangga kita hampir runtuh kerana Nura tidak mampu memberikan zuriat buat abang, tapi bang, kali ni doa Nura dimakbulkan, dan untuk itu, biarlah Nura menanggung segala kapayahan demi zuriat ini bang.

Saat Nura menulis surat ini, Nura masih lagi menjadi penghuni setia katil hospital ini. Baby kita makin nakal bergerak bang, tapi Nura bahagia merasa tiap tendangan dia abang, Nura bahagia, cukuplah saat manis ini Nura dan dia. Nura rasakan setiap pergerakannya amat bermakna, dan andainya ditakdirkan Nura hanya ditakdirkan untuk bahagia bersama dia hanya dalam kandungan sahaja Nura redha bang. siapalah Nura untuk menolak ketentuanNya. Nura tak mampu abang.

Cukup bersyukur kerana sekurang-kurangnya Allah makbulkan doa Nura untuk mengandungkan zuriat dari benih abang yang Nura cintai dan kasihi selamanya. Nura redha sekiranya selepas ini walau apa terjadi, Nura redha, kerana Allah telah memberikan Nura sesuatu yang cukup istemewa, dan andainya maut memisahkan kita Nura harap abang redha sebagaimana Nura redha. Syukurlah sekurang-kurang Allah berikan nikmat kepada Nura untuk merasai nikmatnya menjadi seorang ibu walau cuma seketika.

Andai apa yang Nura takutkan terjadi, dan bayi ini dapat diselamatkan Nura harap abang akan jaganya dengan penuh kasih sayang. Nura harap abang jangan biarkan hidupnya tanpa seorang ibu. Cuma satu Nura harapkan dia akan mendapat seorang ibu yang mampu menjaga seorang anak yatim dengan baik dan menjaganya dengan penuh kasih sayang. Seumur hayat Nura, Nura tak pernah meminta sesuatu dari abang, dan kini inilah permintaan Nura, janjilah anak ini akan mendapat seorang ibu yang penyayang.

Abang yang Nura rindui...

Dulu sewaktu rumah tangga kita dilandai badai, Nura ingin sangat ucapkan kata-kata ini pada abang, tapi Nura tak berkesempatan, dan walaupun kini Nura tiada lagi, tapi Nura nak abang tahu yang...

Nura rindukan abang......Nura rindu sangat dengan abang.....rindu bang...rindu sangat....

Sekian,

Ikhlas dari nurani isterimu

Nura Ain Bt. Abdullah


Hilmi melipat kembali surat itu, yang telah dibaca berulang kali dan kini dia amat rindukan Nura Ain...dan kini barulah dia sedar betapa berharga sebuah kerinduan itu.....

Nura....abang juga rindukanmu sayang..bisik hati Hilmi.