60TH BIRTHDAY DOA

I am 60 years old today - embarking into a life of a warga emas ("gold citizen"). As usual, I am showered with wishes and doa (prayers) since 1200 am last night, from family members, alma mater, superiors, subordinates, students, peers, and friends.

A wish from my alma mater, St Cross College of Oxford University

Unlike previous years, the wishes and doa this year come with four greetings at once, that is Happy 60th Birthday, Happy Eid Mubarak, Happy Retirement, and Happy Contract Professor. Yes, today is my 60th birthday, and also the 5th day of Eid-ul-Fitr as well as my first day of retirement and my first day as a Contract Professor (for the coming three years) at Universiti Sains Malaysia, my lifetime university.

Retirement wish from eldest daughter, A'firah

Of all the wishes and doa, one has really touched my heart. It comes from my former student who is now a successful academic at a local university in the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia. His wish and doa are as follows (in Malay):

Bersempena hari ulangtahun kelahiran Prof pada hari yang mulia ini, hari Jumaat penghulu segala hari, saya mengambil kesempatan ini untuk memanjatkan doa berikut:

Ya Allah Ya Maha Mulia. Muliakanlah guruku Prof Muhammad Syukri Salleh di dunia dan di akhirat. Amat besar jasa guruku dalam mendidikku dan teman-temanku sekalian untuk berhati lurus memperjuangkan kemuliaan Islam. Hindarilah guruku dari segala bahaya. Anugerahilah guruku segala kemudahan jasmani dan rohani untuk melaksanakan usaha dakwah. Panjangkanlah usia guruku diiringi kesihatan tubuh badan buat bekal berjuang di jalan-Mu. Ampunilah segala kesalahan dan kekhilafan guruku. Amal baikku sebagaimana didikan guruku mudah-mudahan mengalirlah jua manfaat buat guruku yang tersayang. Duhai Ilahi dengarlah rintihanku......