PUTRAJAYA: For many households, Hari Raya Aidilfitri is a period filled with joyous festivities. However, this Syawal month will bring greater challenges for 15-year-old Nur Iman Zahra Basir along with her brothers and sisters, Nur Iman Damia, aged 13, and Muhammad Daniel Iman, who is 10 years old.
Their father, ex-Utusan Malaysia reporter Muhammad Basir Abu Bakar, died on February 15 due to a cardiac issue. The brothers and sisters had previously lost their mother, Nor Azlina Jaafar, in October 2023 after she battled a liver infection.
Now left without parents, the children's yearning for them intensifies as Syawal draws near. They will no longer awaken to those familiar smiles urging them to carry out Eid prayers.
What endures now are only recollections: such as mum and dad collecting them from school, and their mother’s home-cooked mee rebus, which was Zahra’s most beloved meal.
Two years back, it marked their initial feast together as a family on Raya morning, unbeknownst to them that this would be the final occasion Nor Azlina would cook for her loved ones.
"Although I enjoy every dish my mother prepares, it is the mee rebus that I know I'll always cherish. My mother had a passion for cooking, and everyone who tasted her food adored it," Zahra shared with FMT lately.
The brother and sister are currently under the care of their aunt, Siti Salha Abu Bakar, along with her spouse, Bahari Ahmad Mustapha, in Seri Kembangan, Selangor.
For Zahra, Aidilfitri no longer revolves around new outfits or sumptuous meals on the dining table. The day will begin with a visit to her parents' graves at the Batu 10 Muslim Cemetery in Cheras, followed by celebrations with her aunt’s family.
Being the oldest, Zahra understands the importance of leading her brothers and sisters through difficulties — one of Basir’s final requests before he passed away.
“She mentioned that her father had told her that if he were no longer present, she should look after her younger brothers or sisters since he believed she was capable,” she said.
So, I must stay resilient for their sake and move forward with my life, particularly by achieving excellence in my education. This is the sole means by which I can repay my parents.