Father accepts master’s degree scroll on behalf of late daughter at 40th IIUM Convocation

By, Amni Azizan

GOMBAK, 18 November 2024: As human beings, we often plan to meet goals that we dream of. However, the best Planner is Allah SWT and our life may change as evident in the Quran (Surah al-Anfal verse 30):
وَإِذْ يَمْكُرُ بِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لِيُثْبِتُوكَ أَوْ يَقْتُلُوكَ أَوْ يُخْرِجُوكَ ۚ وَيَمْكُرُونَ وَيَمْكُرُ ٱللَّهُ ۖ وَٱللَّهُ خَيْرُ ٱلْمَـٰكِرِينَ ٣٠

“And [remember, O Muhammad], when those who disbelieved plotted against you to restrain you or kill you or evict you [from Makkah]. But they plan, and Allah plans. And Allah is the best of planners” (Sahih International).

In the second session of the 40th IIUM Convocation Ceremony at IIUM Gombak, Amran Othman received the posthumous master’s degree on behalf of his late daughter, Nurul Aqilah binti Amran, formerly from the Kulliyyah of Pharmacy, who sadly passed away after battling breast cancer.

The second out of five siblings, Nurul Aqilah was an academic person, who aimed to become a lecturer in her field and did not hestitate to pursue her master’s degree soonafter completing her bachelor’s degree.

“She loved to learn, that was why she wanted to continue her studies until PhD,” Amran informed IIUMToday in an exclusive interview when asked about the late Nurul Aqilah’s essential quality, “She was a cheerful person,” he continued.

Nurul Aqilah and her father became very close after the passing of her mother when she was studying for her PMR exams, in 2013. As the only female in her family, she filled the role of a maternal figure to her younger siblings. She served as the emotional pillar of the family since her mother’s passing. Indeed her passing saddened her family, who not only lost the only big sister but also someone to confide in for emotional support.

Nurul Aqilah had undergone several rounds of chemotherapy and radiation therapy after she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Later on, her condition worsened and she suffered from organ failure affecting her lungs causing her to have breathing difficulties.

Despite these hardships, she succeeded in finishing her master’s degree proving that this was a triumph of adversity.

Amran expressed his hope that his late daughter’s success will inspire her younger siblings academically and that they will emulate her perseverance to work hard to achieve their dreams.

Al-Fatihah to Allahyarhamah Nurul Aqilah binti Amran, a graduate of Master of Science in Pharmacy, Kulliyyah of Pharmacy, IIUM. May she be placed amongst the pious in Jannatul Firdaus.***