JITRA: ‘Every day at 5am, I will wake him up for his pre-dawn meal (sahur). Although we practise different religions, I'll make sure he obeys the teachings of Islam,’ said Lim Hun Kheng, 44.
That’s the daily routine of Lim, the father of Mohammad Firdaus Hong Abdullah, 12, who is celebrating Ramadan for the second consecutive year after embracing Islam upon his free will in March last year.
According to him, after sahur, he would ensure his son perform his subuh prayers. He will then send Firdaus to school in the morning, and religious and fardhu ain (KAFA) classes in the afternoon.
“I did not object to Firdaus embracing Islam. As a father, I give him full support and encouragement.
“Although his daily activities are packed, I still want him to allocate some time to deepen his understanding about Islam. I allow him to make friends and study Islam with his adopted family,” he added.
Meanwhile, Firdaus, or his original name Lim Ching Hong, said he was very excited with the arrival of Ramadan, as he could perform the tarawih prayers at the mosque or surau with friends.
He added that after the KAFA classes in the afternoon, his father would take him to the Ramadan bazaar to buy his favourite meal, roasted chicken.
“It's one of the activities I've been waiting for during Ramadan. But more importantly, since embracing Islam, I've found answers to lots of questions in my mind, like how man exists and where did he come from.
“I also like to listen to stories of the prophets. The teachings of Islam give me peace of mind; fasting also teaches me patience," said the student of Sekolah Kebangsaan Hakim Teh in Kubang Pasu.
Asked about his ability to read al-Quran, Firdaus said he has now moved into reading the Iqra 3 book, and can memorise verses during prayers.
In his spare time, especially during the weekends, he will visit his foster grandfather Aziz Isa, 63, who lives in Pulau Timbul, to learn more about Islam.
“There, I learn to perform congregational prayers and also religious matters. I like the life I am living now,” he added.
“Many people care about me, including my teachers who are always willing to help me. The school has even bought me a new pair of baju raya," he said in Pekan Tunjang, here.