Never Stop Learning

My grandmother is in her 70s this year.

At a time when most people stop learning, she is just learning how to read in the Malay Language.



Special customized place cards for “my student”.

She can converse well in the language but can only write in Jawi. Hence, she is not very good at reading Malay Language and has difficulty reading the meanings of doa’ translations written in Malay. Grams quit school at an early age as there were not many options last time and stayed as a housewife for many years.

“And say: My Lord increase me in knowledge.” – Ta-Ha 20:114

Her “Malay teacher” is none other than me.

The amazing thing about this scenario is that nearly 20 years ago, she was the one who taught me how to read the Holy Qura’n. I remember how I would standby my Muqaddam and “rehal” in front of her after I finished praying. My grandma taught me from scratch, from Alif Ba Ta all the way to the Holy Quran.  Only when I passed the Muqaddam, then I could proceed to Juz 1 and respectively after that until I was able to “khatam” the Quran.

Abu Hurairah (RA) said ‘I heard the Messenger of Allah (SAW) say “The world is cursed, that which is in it is cursed, except dhikr Allah (remembering Allah) and what follows it, or a learned person, or a student”‘. [Ibn Maajah]

When grandma taught me, I was about four or five so it was easier for me to absorb. But my grandma is now in her golden ages and I admit, teaching her can be very challenging.

As a granddaughter, I’m extremely proud of her determination. But as a teacher there are times that I need to motivate her and even be firm with her when she feels like all her confidence is gone and keep saying “tak boleh”. Although she never caned me last time (though the “rotan” was always on standby), she did scold me many times – especially when I was being lazy or not getting the pronunciation right. Now when I look at her struggle I am filled with mixed emotions.

Frustration for her to get it right, that she is not getting it even though I have explained it to her many times, angry and upset coz my “student” can be really difficult and stubborn, and at the same time happy and proud to call her my grandma, praying that when I get older I would still have the same determination and willingness to learn.

“Allah will raise up, to (suitable) ranks and (degrees), those of you who believe and who have been granted knowledge. And Allah is well-acquainted with all you do.” – Al-Mujadilah 58:11

Lastly and most importantly I will always remember how much she taught me with much effort and compassion, if she could teach me to read the Holy Quran and gave me the opportunity to be closer to Allah, understand His world through His words and to get closer to His Paradise, if He wills, I would be able to do the same for her too.

The Messenger of Allah (SAW) also said, “Who takes the path hoping for knowledge, Allah makes easy for him the path to Paradise. Verily, the angels lower their wings for the seeker of knowledge out of pleasure of what he is doing. Verily all in the heavens and earth seek forgiveness for the knowledgeable, even the fish in the water. The excellence of the knowledgeable over the servant is like the excellence of the moon on the night of the full moon over all the planets. Verily, the learned are the heirs of the Prophets, the Prophets do not leave dinar or dirham, but they are inherited in knowledge, and he who takes it takes a great bounty.” [Abu Dawood]

Siti Mardhiah Mahmood is a fresh graduate from the Singapore Institute of Management who enjoys travelling and outdoor adventure, overcoming one mountain at a time. She blogs her creative juices at www.simplymardy.wordpress.com