The following speech was given during IIUM’s 3rd Session Convocation Ceremony, Year 2007. I know it’s a bit late for release but here it is just in case anyone wants to use it as a reference later on (Zukhairi, that includes you!).

Our honourable President,
Y. Bhg. Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Sanusi Junid,

Our respectable Rector,
Y. Bhg. Prof. Dato’ Syed Arabi Idid,

Tan Seris and Puan Seris,

Datuks and Datins,

Lecturers, parents, and fellow graduates.

 

السلام علبكم ورحمة الله وبركاته
and a very good morning to all.

 

I stand here today before my graduating friends in humbleness, to represent not only myself, but also the rest of us who have successfully made it through in their years of pursuit for knowledge. It has been four years since the moment we enrolled ourselves and set our foot on the sacred grounds of IIUM – the garden that we shall all miss dearly. Little attention did we give to the times that have passed by. Our minds were clearly indulged into thinking of the time for graduation. And now, that time has come. There is a mixture of both sadness and happiness as the convocation marks the end of our life as an undergraduate and postgraduate. Whatever the feeling, our pursuit for knowledge never ends. Such has been mentioned in one renowned phrase:

 

اطلبوا العلم من المهد إلى اللحد
Seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave.

 

In alignment to this year’s convocation theme, ‘IIUM Graduates Reaching for the World’, I feel that it is essential to recall some of the admirable achievements of our seniors. This great hall has seen many of our predecessors making history in various arenas. The first instant I stepped into this hall, we were met by our senior, Mohd Izwan Azir Saleh, who was then a Ta’aruf Week committee member. He now appears regularly on TV3 as a newscaster. Over the ensuing years, I came to know Muhtar Suhaili, an ambitious graduate who was claimed by the New Straits Times (July 22, 2007) as the fourth nominee for the 2007 Asian Youth Ambassadors Dream Malaysia Most Outstanding Youth of the Year Award. Then there is the story of Muhammad Raqib Abdul Raza, who suffered a stab wound in his attempt to defend a boy from a snatch thief! And there was even the time when news headlines kept flashing about Melati Abdul Hamid, who was then awarded the Best Orator in the International Law Debate Competition in April 2005. Indeed, IIUM has witnessed many of its countless graduates as great men and women. These people are sources of inspiration from which we can muster our courage and determination to follow their exemplary lead. When we leave this hall, remember that we are all global players with a global mission in mind. The time has come for us to exert every effort for the betterment of the world.

 

For all of us, the four years that we have gone through have summed up a terrible price to be paid in exchange for the graduation that we once looked forward so eagerly. In the end, we will realize that the important thing was not the scroll, but the precious time and exciting moments we went through as a young and vibrant student in this beloved university of ours. Indeed, those days have passed and the ‘best four years’ will never recount itself again.

 

Whatever regrets we hold in the past should be forgotten for we have the future to look ahead into. Be proud of our achievement today. No matter what our CGPAs are, the important thing right now is to blend ourselves into the next phase of life. We will surely have roles in our society, and most importantly, we will have roles to play for the ummah. I believe that we all have potentials within ourselves. We are all great people. And remember, being great is not about being recognized with an award, nor is it about being someone in the highest rank. If one man can contribute to another, then he has achieved something great; he has indeed done more than a whole nation can. As Malaysia celebrates its 50^th Merdeka this 31^st August, let us all set ourselves in gear to serve the nation. It is no doubt that during the course of our careers, we will inevitably face numerous challenges. With the honour of becoming either a lawyer or an IT expert, there also comes tremendous responsibility. People will look up to us with respect not only for reason of knowledge, but also our virtues. Al-Imam Asy-Syafi’e has beautifully revealed in his syi’ir that knowledge and virtue must always be together:

 

شكوت الى وقيع سوء حفظى
فأرشدنى الى ترك المعاصى
و قال لى ان العلـــــــــــم نور
و نور الله لا يهدى لعاصـــى

 

In this very hall, there are two special people whom I owe my thanks and gratitude. If it wasn’t for the grace of Allah who has given me the fate to be raised up and borne by them, I probably would not have been here giving this speech. The two are indeed my parents – unconditional in their love and support. Back in the year 2002, I remember myself feeling crestfallen upon knowing the results that I have obtained for SPM. It was the darkest moment; all I knew was that I haven’t met their expectation. Reason being thus, misery brought me to the deepest depth there ever was. Over the ensuing weeks, I would often hear news of friends who were offered to study abroad, or even those who got a place in local institutions. This added the pressure even more. However, out of her pure heart, my mum one day came up to me, and reassured that she accepts whatever I have achieved for SPM. At that instance, I felt as if my whole weight has been lifted up. Just because you fail today, it doesn’t mean that you’ll do the same tomorrow – that was the greatest lesson she taught me. My father was all the same. From him, I learnt not to make decisions blindly and to strategise every movement I make, or in short, to prepare the umbrella before it rains. I thank my mum, Wasilah Sabron, for being a spectacular mother with the extraordinary ability to understand my deepest craves, and Dr. Mohd Ezani Mat Hassan, an outstanding father who educates, guides, and believes in my potentials. Thank you both and may Allah reward them.

 

Of course, there were others who stood by me during the past four nostalgic years. And I believe that the same goes for all of us here. We have our amazing lecturers to thank for; all of whom have worked so hard to get us through as top-notch students. Alongside them are their superb sidekicks to whom we refer as tutors – they too deserve our recognition. And above all, we must not forget our fellow friends who have accompanied us all these years; those who would wait for us in times of desperation and those who would stand for us when we needed support. We will miss their laughter and their silly jokes for sure. Thank you friends … for being a marvelous comrade during those four years. And thank you all … for making IIUM a truly unique experience.

 

Having said that, I will wrap up my speech with a few lines of pantun:

 

Indah kalam di akhir kalimah
Setelah sudah berperi-peri
Pensyarah kami berjiwa ummah
Mendidik kami menabur bakti

 

Hancur badan dimamah bumi
Hancur berkecai hati terhiris
Ampun dan maaf dipinta kami
Andainya ada hati terguris

 

Hijau pepohon menghias bumi
Biru lautan mengalir nadi
Tiba sudah pemergian kami
Perwira Taman Ilmu dan Budi

 

To all my friends of class 2007, congratulations, we finally made it to the end! May Allah confer upon us greater achievements in this world and in the Hereafter, insya-Allah.

وبالله التوفيق والهداية والسلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته.