Everybody knew him as a great professor, teacher, motivator, writer and penceramah/pendakwah. He was famous not only in Malaysia but all over the world.
I knew him way back in 96/97 when we were doing PhD. He was in Bangor, Wales and I was in Colchester Essex. One summer I travelled north through the countryside of Wales and ended up in Bangor. I called him from a public phone in Tesco ( that time still did not own a mobile phone) and no one answeres. So I hung up went to the washroom. On my way out one of the phones on the wall rang. Without hesitation I picked up and it was him on the other end. I have never picked up a ringing public phone let alone expecting a call from it. But that one was for me and it was all so strange. Coincidence? Fate? I never had an explanation.
While in UK he coached me to be a writer. Sent through emails the tips on how to produce a good article. At one point, my article was accepted for publication in a magazine in Malaysia. And on top of that received some money for it. Thank you Mil for your help.
Mil and I kept in touch since then and he always being hospitable whenever we had a chance to meet. After we finished our Phd and returned to work, we were busy as usual and never had time to see each other. But I saw him from afar climbing the corporate ladder of UiTM. With his charm and huge academic credentials, he became the top management of Uitm and received his professorship. Whenever we met at the mosque or meetings, he never failed to greet me and said hi. His humbleness and down to earth characters have won him the heart of many of us.
Soon, he quit Uitm and went to work with a university in Madinah. My wife and I had a pleasure to be his guests and tasted the delicious nasi Arab Kak Roza. Alhamdulillah.
