Imam dies in crash moments after rehearsing berzanji with son

New Straits Times

5 days ago

SEGAMAT: Moments before their vehicle plunged into a ravine on Jalan Labis–Segamat yesterday, an imam was rehearsing berzanji recitations with his son ahead of a religious competition.
The 6.47pm crash killed both Mohd Fitri Md Said, 39 and his nine-year-old daughter Nurin Insyirah, near Kampung Kwongsai, here.
His wife, Nurain Farhana Johari, 32, and their other children - Muhammad Zikri, 11, Nur Atiya, 2, and Nur Husna, 4, sustained injuries but have since been discharged from hospital.
The incident unfolded as the family were heading to Segamat from Felda Redong to buy a toy for the youngest child.
Their vehicle skidded, overturned three times and landed in a swampy ravine.
Mohd Fitri, the imam at Masjid Nurul Falah in Felda Redong was coaching Muhammad Zikri for an upcoming berzanji recitation competition.
Berzanji is a poetic narration of Prophet Muhammad's life, recited in praise and prayer.
Muhammad Zikri said he crawled out of the wreckage through a broken window and waved at passing vehicles to seek help.
"I saw my father's right leg twitching and my sister Nurin Insyirah's hand and leg moving, but they were unconscious," said the Year 5 pupil, visibly shaken.
A teacher who was driving pass the crash site, spotted the boy and placed an emergency call.
Mohd Fitri's sister, Rozy, 47, recalled remarks he had made in the days leading up to the accident.
"He kept saying he wanted to resign from all his roles — as an imam, Parents, Teachers Association president, and even as the person in charge of slaughtering livestock during Qurban," she said.
"He even handed over his slaughter knife to Zikri with his name engraved on it."
Rozy said the family now believes those words were a premonition.
"He sounded like someone who knew his time was near," she said.
Mohd Fitri and Nurin Insyirah will be laid to rest at the Felda Redong Muslim cemetery later today.