Although it was the policy for all students to have more than 75% record of attendance to sit for the final exam, only a handful of us met that criteria. The Ustaz being lenient and nice, would not report on us. The reason being only a small minority were of hardcore miscreants. The rest of us were good and obedient and never missed to submit our homework.

Towards the end of the semester, attendance got better and the class was full-house again. I made a point not to miss classes as Ustaz would, in between revisions, sometimes gave hints on probable questions for the final exam. A list of soalan bocor circulated among the 3 classes and students were all excited and geared up to sit for the final exam. Confident to receive the much coveted certificate, a license to enroll for advanced Arabic class next year.

I was the unlucky one. I missed my final exam as the date clashed with my Umrah trip. Sensing my frustration, Ustaz advised me to request for a special sitting at a later date. After I came back from my trip, I was engrossed in my normal busy life and forgotten all about the exam.

Until last Tuesday, when I received one sms from my Ustaz: ‘Saya dah arranged untuk awak ambik exam hari Khamis. Datang lah, pukul 8 pagi…’

This morning, sitting in one corner in the administrative office in Masjid Negara, I took my written Arabic exam, while eaves-dropping on conversations among the office staff discussing about balik kampung, kueh raya, ketupat and rendang…

Hubby went to TM for a meeting and I went to Mesjid Negara for the taklimat for the new intakes. I was late and by the time I joined the participants in the Dewan Besar they nearly finished the briefing. We had jamuan of mihun and kueh mueh where I met up with a few friends who will be in the same Arabic Class.

Hubby came to Mesjid Negara near magrib as he had Tajwid class tonight.

(Summary of my result)

Last Friday I received a letter from Mesjid Negara, signed by the Imam Besar Mesjid Negara. Enclosed was the result for the Peperiksaan Persijilan Kelas Lanjutan al-Quran Pengajian Dewasa Mesjid Negara Sesi Jun 2003/Ogos 2005. I was the best among the ladies!

Late that night, I received sms from Habsah.

Habsah:  katanya result dah kuar
Aku:        dah dpt. dorang hantar surat. my result alhamdulillah. Result u ok ke?
Habsah:  mine lum tau lagi.
Aku:        maybe esuk lusa dpt surat kot. kalau tak, gi ofis tanya. let me know ye..
Habsah:  ok. suspen betul. katanya pelajar kelas kita highest.
Aku:        ye ke? (segan pulak nak bagi tau yang aku lah pelajar terbaik tu. biarlah orang lain cerita... ha ha)

Right after office, hubby met me at our Sri Putramas apartment to inspect the status of the renovation. Most probably by mid of October the apartment will be ready. Earlier today, we called the furniture company to keep in storage our sofa and dining set until further notice from us.

Tonight hubby attended his class at Masjid Negara and I drove straight home. When he came home in the heavy rain, we had garlic prawn and fried chicken for dinner. It was difficult to keep awake when we were full and sleepy…

Tonight we had a special dinner function for our Masjid Negara class. It was also a farewell dinner as we will be graduating soon. For some of us who excel in the final exam will be invited to join the Tafaqquh Class. For the rest, this will not be the end of the journey. There are many other classes organized by Masjid Negara. In fact some of us are already planning to enroll in Arabic class this November.

After office I went to UIA to fetch Sara. She just came back from Langkawi on a project trip. Hubby came separately on his big-bike. Met up with the rest of my classmates at 8.30 p.m. at Retoran Nelayan, Tasik Titiwangsa. Originally we estimated the turnout to be around 25 persons so we booked 3 tables but it turned out to be more than 35 people came, some with spouses and kids and we have to open another table. We had set dinner of seafood. While having dinner, we were entertained by live performance of cultural dance.

Photo shots followed after speeches by the class rep and from the Ustaz. We handed Ustaz presents from the anak-anak murid and thanked him for his perseverance and tolerance in dealing with us in the class. Ustaz Mohamad is my favorite Ustaz and one of the best Ustaz that taught me throughout my beginner to advance classes. Time flies so fast. All in all, I have spent five years attending Monday and Wednesday night classes in Masjid Negara.

Along these years we make a lot of friends. We lose some too…

This morning I woke up earlier and drove to Tanglin. I promised a friend to have breakfast together.

We used to have our sunset rendezvous at our favorite warong teh tarik at the Lake Gardern.

But lately, ever since Nasi Lemak Tanglin opens business everyday and extends business hours till 10 at night, we have been visiting the stall almost everyday. In the morning for breakfast and Monday and Wednesday evenings for teh tarik and sometimes Nasi Lemak for early dinner before we go for our classes at Masjid Negara.

A few years back, the Nasi Lemak Tanglin was a small shabby pondok under the giant Angsana trees with branches that droop till they touch the ground. Situated next to the Butterfly Park, they shared business with the makeshift Chinese coffee shop next door. When the children were young, going to eat Nasi Lemak here on Saturday mornings was a family outing. The children loved the Nasi Lemak and the Kuah Daging.

I love the ambiance. It was like having breakfast in Taman Negara, where sometimes we share tables with the monkeys and the crows. We didn’t mind the biji saga scattering into our plates when the pods exploded. Or the crawlies hanging from the trees into our cups of tea. They were harmless caterpillars, which will later transform into beautiful butterflies. We used to eat amidst the sound of chirping birds and crickets and admired the lush greenery. We used to just sit down to contemplate on the beauty of the place. You will find the feeling of peace lingers within the serenity of nature and its surroundings.

Now that they have turned the area into a large parking lot and relocated the warong at the new modern food stalls, I missed the tranquility and peacefulness…

I left the house early. Hubby followed suit on his big-bike half an hour later. The traffic was smooth so I arrived early and had time to do some recital while waiting for him to arrive. We had breakfast Nasi lemak at Tanglin. Whole day today was spent discussing on budget preparation. Don’t even have time to reply sms and answer calls.

After office we met at Tanglin and again I had a round of Nasi Lemak. Twice of Nasi Lemak a day? that’s too much! That was also my dinner for tonight. In class we had a revision session with Uztaz on Ulumul-Quran and we had a few spot questions to work on.

Happy Birthday yang. I love you so very much….

Today is one hectic day. 

We had teh tarik at the Lake Garden before we go to class. I informed Ustaz that I would not be attending the class for 2 weeks. Hopefully someone could take down notes for me to revise later although our exam will not be until July or August.

Had burger for dinner and tonight tried to start packing clothes and things that I need to bring for the trip. Most probably need to bring thick warm clothing as it is still snowing in Washington and Stockholm.

Human Resource and Development Centre organized a forum for all Deputy Directors and Training Managers. The objectives of the forum were to create greater partnership in learning among all stakeholders; to understand key responsibility in building meaningful partnership and to enhance understanding on linkages between learning and performance.

Tonight I attended my class at Mesjid Negara after a very long vacation. I heard that we are getting a new Ustaz as our Ustaz will be posted in Kuching very soon.

Tonight our class was having a doa selamat menyambut Ramadhan and makan-makan.

The mee curry was very nice, courtesy of Haji Dollah. A lot of food to be consumed. We even invited Ustaz from the other classes to join us. Our last class for the semester will be on Wednesday. Ustaz has given everyone a task to complete during the fasting month. To recite the whole of surah Sejadah.

There will be a recital test when we commence class after the Hari Raya festivals.

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I did not have any specific plan this morning.

So I lazed around and had toast for breakfast in bed and dozed off again only to wake up when dear hubby called around noon from Masjid Negara to remind me about tonight’s dinner. He was having his final Tajwid exam today. Good luck yang, I know you will do well.

After my spa session, went to have my hair cut and wash at Nur Cahaya Salon. At least this time I don’t need to go to the unisex salon for hair wash. Arranged with Ira for a facial tomorrow afternoon.

Dinner was delicious and filling.