April 8, 2022.
Friday. The first week of Ramadan.
Jakarta's sky was gently overcast, and the breeze carried something in it—something more than just the scent of the evening. It carried a message. A message that someone had arrived—someone who would one day change the way I see life, time, and responsibility.
At 5:21 PM (WIB), inside Hermina Sunter Hospital, a cry broke the silence.
A cry that didn’t only belong to him — but also echoed deep inside a man who, in that very second, became a father.
His Name: Muhammad Alkhalifi Yuwanda
We had whispered this name in our prayers long before he was born.
We murmured it during sahur, scribbled it down on torn paper, and kept it close — as if he already existed even before he physically did.
Muhammad — a name full of blessings. We hope it becomes the core of his character.
Alkhalifi — from “khalifah,” meaning successor. Our prayer is that he becomes a leader who is just, patient, and wise.
Yuwanda — our proud family name. May he always know where he comes from, and who he lives for.
When the World Suddenly Went Quiet
When the nurse opened the door and called out my name, my legs felt light, but my heart beat uncontrollably.
“Pak, Alhamdulillah… it’s a boy.”
I nodded. Maybe smiled. But my eyes were already full of tears.
Something collapsed inside me — anxiety, fear, confusion — all faded the moment they placed that tiny body in front of me.
His skin was red. His eyes still closed.
But he was real.
He was here. And from that moment on, time stopped.
I forgot about deadlines. I forgot about notifications.
All that remained was me… and my son.
Becoming a Father on a Blessed Day
I never planned on becoming a father on a Friday, especially not in the month of fasting.
But Allah knows how to arrange moments perfectly.
On the most blessed day of the week. In the holiest month.
Alkhalifi arrived — with meaning.
I, who once feared holding a baby, now had to learn to be the safest place for his tiny body.
I, who used to panic during blackouts, now had to stay calm when the crying wouldn’t stop.
I, who often chased time, now had to stop… and be fully present for a small soul who had just entered the world.
To You, My Dear Son
My child,
The world is wide. Sometimes warm, sometimes cold.
But your mother and I — we will be your first home.
We’ll walk together.
Through years that may not always be easy,
but will always matter.
I’m not perfect.
But I’m learning.
Because since 5:21 PM that day, I found a new reason to be a better man.
And that reason… is you.
April 8, The Day Everything Changed
That day wasn’t just about your birth.
It was also the beginning of something new for both of us —
your mother and I, becoming parents for the first time.
Alkhalifi, you were born not just as a gift,
but as light.
A reminder that life is no longer about “me,” but about us.
Muhammad Alkhalifi Yuwanda,
welcome to the world.
May your small steps one day become great footprints
that bring goodness to the lives of others.
We love you —
since before you were born, until there is no more time left.
Jakarta, 12 April 2022
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