LEARNING FROM HAPPY DOGS - don't be a postman-chasing, vet-biting malevolent cur. Be a servant and be happy!

Let us be like happy dogs!

Human beings are more like dogs

Than some are willing to accept,

Just like dogs, we are happiest

When we have a master to serve.

...................

In one of James Herriot's dog stories, he recounts how, as a Yorkshire veterinarian he had to deal with a pair of small dogs owned by a couple. The problem is that the dogs are an absolute menace, out of control, bossy and always looking to give a nasty nip at the ankles or hands of unsuspecting postmen or veterinarians. 

While attending to them, the vet noticed how the husband and wife molly-coddled the two dogs in the most saccharine and sentimental manner. That is fine, but when the dogs misbehaved, they appear to take no notice and allowed the animals to think that they can misbehave and act as they please. So the dogs became the masters of the house. 

But just because the dogs ruled the home, it does not mean that they are happy, observed the good vet. In fact, these dogs were much more natural and happier when they first arrived in the household, but the 'tolerant' and 'openminded' nature of their owners turned them from nice, good dogs to malicious, postmen-chasing curs. 

We humans are like that, I think. We need some centre, some focus of service and duty to align our life to the best that we can be. And perhaps there is no more natural essence of a soul than to be a blessed servant of the Soul-maker, the Creator, a.k.a. God Almighty. That we might be of some service to mankind, to animals, and to all of Creation. But when we lose our  bearing, when we forget that we are meant to be servants and not bosses, we open humanity's door to oppression, tyranny, exploitation and violence. Just like those damn dogs. And just like the dogs, we are actually not even happy being so mean.

So my friend says, "Seek happiness, seek servanthood!" And I cannot agree more with him.

Woof Woof!

wa min Allah at-taufiq

- Notrumi Embun, 22nd June 2014

Hate has no place in Islam

Love will show the Way

Allied to Hope - man, woman, marriage and reaching the station of naivety

Everything Will be Fine

If I let go of Hope,

What else do I have?

So I hold Hope's Hand,

And I listen to Hope's words,

Assuring me and telling me

That everything will be fine.

I do not ask for much,

Only that Hope would tuck me to sleep,

That Hope would keep me company through the night,

And when I wake up, that Hope is there

To greet me with a new day.

Life began with Hope,

And life is sustained with Hope,

And even when we let go of Life,

It is with Hope that we walk away

From this world and all its strife.

The Saints understand,

The Companions understand,

And above all, the Prophet understands

What it is to be alive,

To be married or unmarried,

To be healthy or sickly,

To be a father, a husband,

A wife or a spinster,

To be a woman, or

To be a man.

......................

It is funny. Although I have male readers, it is the womenfolk who sometimes drops a comment, either here or on my Facebook. And this, despite my long-held view that the spiritual station of women is different from the station of man. The path is different, and the views that they see are different from what we men witness.

Today an old friend confided in me his mystification with women, as represented (by proxy) by his loving wife. He he he. Join the club, I replied.

Perhaps there is no arrangement, no union or contract more closely allied to Hope than marriage. Sometimes, from what I see amongst my married friends and family, the Hope held is almost to the point of naivety and beyond. Some inscrutable and almost insanely held belief that 'everything will be fine', however sorely tested the marriage may be.

I envy such naivety. I hope to attain such naivety one day soon.

Have a lovely Sabbath, sunshine.

wa min Allah at-taufiq

Hate has no place in Islam

Love will show the Way

Debts of Love we all owe - unwinding the past, extending the present, revealing the future

Our Elders: Oh Where Shall I Hide My Shame?

O' my Beloved God,

In the name of Your Most Beloved,

Muhammad Habibullah, Most Glorious Rose

In the Garden of Your Creation,

Most Perfect Light created before

The Pen and the Tablet,

I am asking Thee, for Thou

Have commanded that we

Ask Thee and no one else...

That if Thou have granted us

The foresight of knowledge and responsibility

Then for us, make it easy,

And extend a second beyond one second,

One hour beyond one hour, turn the day

Into a year of beautiful memories,

A year into an epoch of good deeds,

That we might give unto those whom

We owe much debt of gratitude and love

What they deserve, and that we are not

Questioned on the day when all deeds

Are accounted for - "O' Taufiq, when your

Elders become weak and enfeebled, when their

Limbs refuse to work as they used to,

When their mind is quiet and introspective,

When they are looking for your time and attention,

Did you give unto them their right?

Did you give unto them love and care?"

Oh, Lord... I fear Thy questioning of me.

Oh where shall I hide my shame...

Dear God, oh where...?

...............

My father (78) and my auntie (84) is living with me. And I have just realised that for the longest time they have nurtured secret hopes. A very human and reasonable want to go out, to have dinners at a restaurant, to go shopping, to travel and visit places they used to frequent in their younger days, to visit their friends and relatives, to have some favourite dish that they long missed. But they never tell me, you see. It is not my fault, is it?

Bapak (my dad)

This is me, bustling about like a mad man, running from work to work, writing for blogs, working hard for my customers, rushing in and out of my house, trying to earn a crust of bread and an amphora of honey, while all the while, my aunt and my father observes me with a contemplative and sad gaze. 

Mak Ndak (my aunt)

When I was growing up, they need not be told by me what I want or need. Regularly they have showered me with love, care, attention and presents, though I have done nothing to deserve their blessings, save for the simple effort of being born, and that too I really had not much work to do. I simply popped out of my mother's tummy. When I was growing up, my parents and elders have already the foresight to consider and plan for my future, years and years ahead of time. And now, here I am, not even able to consider five minutes into the future as to my father and auntie's wants and hopes.

Ah. That wise (and damning) words still rings true - A single father or mother can care and raise two, three or ten children. But sometimes, not even ten children can care for one elderly father or mother.

I often like to hide my foibles and weakness behind the station of a sinner. But truth be told, sunshine, this is worse than being a sinner.

I hope to change. I want to change. I don't want to meet God feeling all shitty this way. I want to make my elders happy. I reckon my mother, may God bless her soul, would have agreed.

wa min Allah at-taufiq

Hate has no place in Islam

Love will show the Way

Choose God. Choose Goodness. Have a good day!

Peace upon thee, little doggy! Have a nice day!

I am going to choose to have a good day today. I think it is really up to us how we want the day to begin (and end). It is a bit of a challenge though because my left eye has an infection and it is like watering non-stop. So I am wearing the darkest sunglasses I have (actually I have only one), which is good because presently I am squinting painfully like the blazes. I do not want to scare the patrons of this establishment where me and Heche are having breakfast.

Someone told me once that if you step out of the house feeling bad, you will more likely to bump into bad. So I am determined not to feel bad and to feel good. I hope you like the Sunday sketch which I drew earlier this morning. It is just as how I am feeling right now. Choosing God, choosing goodness and choosing to have a good day. Hopefully, a REALLy good day.

Here's wishing the same to you, sunshine. God bless.

wa min Allah at-taufiq

Hate has no place in Islam

Love will show the Way

The Lord, The Shepherd and the Sheep

The Lord, The Shepherd and the Sheep

I was alone with my sheep,

In the high cliffs by the sea,

The fire was slowly dying,

Its embers glowing like rubies,

The dogs were resting quietly

And all was deathly silent...

When suddenly, feeling so lonely,

I asked nobody in particular,

“Oh Lord… will only the sheep

And my dogs keep me company?

If I die here, who will wash me

Pray over me and bury me?”

Not long thereafter

I heard an answer,

“Do not worry, I will keep you company…

And If you are to die now,

I shall send My angels to wash your body,

Pray over you and bury you

With honour and mercy.”

………………………………..

It appears that when God wants to appoint a Prophet, one of the more common qualification is - "Must have experience herding sheep." Many prophets, at one time or the other, were shepherds. This experience in handling sheep and goat are useful because they are one of the most difficult animals to care for. They will get up trees and refuse to come down until they have had their fill of the succulent leaves. When you are not watching they will climb right up to a precipice and get stuck, expecting you to rescue them. Often the sheep would innocently wander into a wolf's territory. They will eat whatever they want and sometimes get sick with over-eating the berries. In other words, they are almost as difficult to handle as Mankind. I bet Prophets of old would look over their human flock and reminisce about their youthful days, out for weeks on end with the sheepkind, and thinking "Oh boy... to think I thought that was difficult!"

No Shepherd? No problem! No pesky dogs? No problem!
Waaait a minute... is that wolves I hear?

Going back to the old traditional ways of our ancestors, some of my friends have started rearing a couple of cows and dozens of goats in their land. It is not an easy job. Feeding them and mucking out early in the morning, while the rest of us are just getting up. Checking for diseases and having to crouch in the daily back-breaking chore of milking. But they do not complain and appear to enjoy working with the animals. 

As Muhammad Habibullah (saw) is the Seal of the Prophets, there are no more prophets expected in the future. But I am told that the Veterinary Science is not exactly an area that young people are falling over themselves to study. So perhaps the Universities and Colleges should advertise their farming courses this way - "Qualify yourself as a Prophet! Study Sheep/Goat care, breeding and rearing!"

Hehehe.

'Tis a lovely Sunday and in a couple of hours time, my mother's Tahlil (traditional prayers for the deceased) will begin, and thereafter we shall have a nice lunch. If you are around Bukit Damansara, sunshine, do drop in.

Well, here is Arbayah herself, almost 30 years ago, with her own precious flock of sheep.
Alas, my mother won't be around for her tahlil (obviously). But we will not allow
this tiny technical detail to deter us from connecting with her living memories.

wa min Allah at-taufiq

Hate has no place in Islam

Love will show the Way

The Heavenly Harbour Master, the Salawat and the Way of God

When you praise and call blessings unto the Prophet, God and His Angels
raise a fleet of praises and blessings on your behalf for the Prophet.
Now tell me how God does not love you so?

7. The Heavenly Harbour Master

We docked and the harbour master came

Inquiring of our cargo,

“What do you bring to my harbour?”

Our captain replied,

“Praise for Muhammad!”

The harbour master grunted,

“This small ship, you say? Is this all?”

A chuckle escaped from our captain before replying,

“Yes, it is small. But look behind us, Harbour Master!”

The old man jumped in surprise,

Perceiving, a flotilla of ships on the water,

Blocking the view of the sea,

A flight of vessels in the sky,

Blocking the horizon from east to west,

With banners emblazoned with Light,

Declaring the ships not of human origin,

But displaying the holy colours of the Lord Himself,

And the countless insignias

Of His Arch-Angels.

......................

Orientalists of old called Muslims 'Mohamedans'. Ill-informed and indignant, I was one of many who thought such labels as confusing and misleading, intended to confuse the Muslim nation. But now, coming into 42 years old, I take it as a mark of honour to be known as a 'Mohamedan'. For you cannot be a Muslim if you are not a Mohamedan. It was in those school years that I unquestioningly accepted some of the 'knowledge' rolled-out from the Wahabi school, such as it is wrong and an evil innovation (bida'ah) to celebrate the Prophet Muhammad's (pbuh) birthday. Now I am not so deceived.

Today most Muslims continue to revel in the singing of beautiful songs giving honorable greetings to the Prophet and weaving praise for him all night long (They call it salawat). For it is the only form of devotion shared between mankind and God and His Endless Cohorts of Angels. It says so in the Holy Quran...

Lo! Allah and His angels shower blessings on the Prophet. O ye who believe! Ask blessings on him and salute him with a worthy salutation. (33:56, Marmaduke Pickthall translation)

Thus, if the religion of Islam is based on the Holy Quran and the Sunnaturasul (The Ways of the Prophet), then the practice of salawat is a Sunnatullah (The Ways of God).

Thus, if you wish to know of the Mohamedans, ask them of their Prophet Muhammad(pbuh). For that is the best example that they would wish to share with you. And if you ask them as to their religion, some shall say that they have none, and that they are merely taking shelter in the ways of the the Adab (courtly courtesies), the knowledge and the wisdom, the mercy and the compassion, the beauty, delicacy and laws as bestowed by God unto His Muhammad(pbuh) in God's Infinite Kindness, Compassion and Love for His creation. 

For all His Creation, for whom, God has an Unquenchable Love. This you would know with unfettered certainty, if you but knew a little of Him. You must not take this from me, an anonymous writer in an anonymous blog and an inscrutable fat fellow of doubtful history. Look for Him yourself... For He is certainly looking for you...

What a lovely day this is turning out to be, sunshine.

wa min Allah at-taufiq

Hate has no place in Islam

Love will show the Way

*Painting by Russian Black Sea Fleet on a Parade in 1849, by Ivan Aivazovsky, 1886.

He is in the Ripples of Human Emotion

50. Love is a word I use

Love is a word I

Use for you, but

Sadly it is but only

For a moment true.

For you would soon

Outstrip whatever meaning

I meant when I said 'love'...

By what you say,

By what you do,

By the smallest

Of your gestures,

I am left once again

To ponder your many

Buried treasures.

Romance. I meant this prose and was recorded in romantic sentimentality. The occasion of human passion is a wonderful thing, as the object of your desire drives you crazy-in-love and drives you mad by the strange and often contradictory nuances in their behaviour and character. But you are in love, and so you accept. It is not as if you have much choice, and it is this which drives your ego crazy. But your ego deserves to be driven crazy and humbled, for the human ego thinks itself independent and godlike. So in a way, your amour, the woman (or man) that exasperates you so is actually doing you good. Love is both honey (which is yummy) and medicine (which is ucky).

God. I do not think it strange that God hides His Attributes in us. I think it is the most natural place where Love ought to be...

He is in the Ripples of Human Emotion

In the realm of love and passion, is God's own kingdom...

In the first encounter, in the first timid advances,

In the first shy and glancing touch,

In the first opening of your hearts,

In the wedding and procreation,

In the birth of your first child

Are the pools of thoughtful reflection

Where you can find God...

In the ripples of human emotion.

Kiara Cemetery

May you find Love in you, sunshine. For Love has always been in love with you.

wa min Allah at-taufiq

Hate has no place in Islam

Love will show the Way

I Will See You In the Morning of Your Life

What a strange morning it is. I woke up and looked at my watch. 6.30am! Half-awake I jostled Mikhail out of bed,"Get up, Mika! Get up! It's already 6.30, you gotta shower quick!" We normally get him to school just before 7am. I stumbled into my washroom for my morning ablutions and when I got out I inadvertently glanced at my watch again. What the...? It was just past 5.45am. At 5.46am I am back in bed under the duvet. At 5.55am, I heard Mika walk into the room, "Let's go, Papa."

"Err, it's not even 6 yet, Mika."

"Whaaaat?!" Exploded Mikhail.

Sorry, Mikhail. My bad.

Later I was driving him to school and saw that the temperature indicator read it to be 22 degrees Celsius. By Malaysian standards, that was exceedingly cold. It rained last night, you see. Seeing the leaves, broken branches and remnants of bird's nests lying on the roads, it must have been quite a downpour. But in Malaysia it is habitually 'quite a downpour'.

127. Audacity

The dew on the grass in early morning makes me happy

The puddle of water left by the evening rain leaves me merry

The Sun glimmering behind a veil of green canopy keeps me cheery

And God is most-pleased with those who smile

Whatever the hour

Who have the audacity to be happy

When all life seems sour.

Life is not sour. Life is good, especially in a bracing and cold morning. I will see you, sunshine, in the morning of your life.

Pax Taufiqa

Hate has no place in Islam

Love will show the Way

The University of Love, Butt-Belch and Face-Fart - Mikhail's 8th Birthday

Mikhail's first picture as an 8 year old boy.  I asked him, "How does it feel to be eight?"
He replied, "Much the same, Papa."

Today is Mikhail's eighth birthday. And the fact that he has lived this long despite having a dad like me is a true reflection of his spirit to survive, live and damn all. He has endured the test and tribulation of my temper, clumsiness, ignorance and donkey-like stubbornness to reach this milestone. Not bad.

Butt-Belch and Face-Fart

But in my own limited ways, I have tried to teach him about good and bad. Politics and Chelsea Football Club (baaaad...), God, Nabi Muhammad, Eric Cantona (Goood...). I have tried to put a different angle to everyday things, so that he might learn, "Mika, a fart is a butt-belch, and a belch is a face-fart. Think about it."

University of Love

A parent's love for his/her child is passionate, real and visceral. It is maddening like drug, but if we keep our eyes open and our ears attentive, we are in truth entering into a University of Love, with God and the Prophet as our Master and Don, and us majoring in the delicate and challenging science of raising a kid good. 

93. Muhammad Mikhail

May he be a servant of God,

A lover of the Prophet,

A friend of the Angels,

A mureed of the Masters,

A caretaker of the Traditions,

And spring of charity

To all who may come to him in need.

Somewhere far, far down the line,

Perhaps he can also call himself

A son of mine.

That is my prayer for my son.

Have a beautiful day, sunshine. It is Mika's birthday!

wa min Allah at-taufiq

Hate has no place in Islam

Love will show the Way

My mother defines my meaning of success

My mother, circa 1973-75

10. Heart Surgery II

We associate to mend hearts,

Not argue theology.

So let us not quibble on dogma

And leave such pastimes

To those bewitched with religion.

Unbearable Me. So we are here because we need a little help. A little emergency heart procedure. Something to heal our broken heart and dreams, our addiction to ......{please fill in your poison here - drugs, alcohol, money, cigarettes, Louis Vuitton, etc}..., and to cure ourselves from our own intolerance, hatred, bigotry, sloth, wastefulness, envy and the rest of our very human failings which makes life difficult and makes us unbearable to be with. You know, sometimes we find our own company unbearable. I do.  

Religion. I find the religion of Islam fascinating. Of course, I am undoubtedly bias, but this is who I am, and this is how I have been brought up, and it is merely Providence that have sprinkled interesting and inspiring personalities in my life to push me this way. I never sought spirituality, and never really cared much about the Afterlife. My main concern was finding happiness here and now. I was never too interested in suffering in this world for a post-death gratification once I am dead and buried.  

I do not think that Islam is like that anyway. For in our regular prayers, we are always asking God for success (and safety) in this life and in the Hereafter. For me that is a dream worth chasing, don't you think?

But what is Succcess? Of course, there is a little grey area because words are open to interpretation - What tantamount to success in this life? A house? A studio apartment? 2 children? 10 children? A car? 100 cars even? A summer house in the French Riviera? A butler? A personal trainer? USD 5 billion in an offshore bank account?

My late mother. I think we can be poor but contented or rich but desperately unhappy. Well, that is what my mother's life has taught me. My mum chose to seek happiness in her heart. By being nice. To everyone, whether you are the Prime Minister's wife, or the garbage man that daily took our household rubbish away. She took time to live life and enjoy God's blessings. She took time to be part of charitable organisations, and on her own, in secret, doing her personal bit for the unfortunate. Not just those in the big city, but deep into the hinterlands of my country. At the same time she maintained a rich tapestry of friendship with friends and family all over the world. And through it all, she still had time for my father, my two brothers and me. So I guess, to me, my mother is a good definition of Success.

Of course, my mum is not perfect. But I have no doubt that in everything that she did, she did it all with patience and sincerity. And I think that was the key to her success. I do not think that God is asking us for more than that. After all, He made us and above anyone else, He understand our strengths and weaknesses. But I think God especially loves my mother for her unassuming and unpretentious nature. This is just a guess, mind you.  

Have a beautiful day, sunshine. Let us love, love, love our mothers.

wa min Allah at-taufiq

Hate has no place in Islam.

Love will show the Way.

Nashua, the Angel with a Long Train and a German Rock Ballad

I am here because you called me, Nashua. 

An Angel with a Long Train and the Scorpion’s Love Lullaby

An angel robed with a long train
Walked past a mingling crowd of working mothers,
Sitting, standing waiting in a row
With their noisy, clapping, laughing children.
One girl, with curly locks over her brown eyes
Noticed the angel and said, “Hey! What are you?”
“I am an Angel.” Replied the Herald.
“Why are you here?”
“I am here because you called me, Nashua.”
She made a face and denied, “No. I didn’t.”
The Angel then explained.

“Yes, you did. Or rather, you will. 23 years in the future. You were heartbroken by a man (that scoundrel), and you were listening to radio pathetico. Then the German rock band, Scorpions came on air with their song ‘Send me an Angel’. When you heard it, you cried even more, and you whispered along with the song, “Here I am, send me an Angel…” So here I am, an Angel.”

“I do not understand. Then, why are you here NOW?” Said Nashua.

“Because at 31 years old, you have grown up, Nashua. And you have forgotten and unlearnt the innocence and wisdom of children. I cannot appear to you in the future. But I am touched by your sadness. So I have travelled to the past to see you. You must keep this memory so that you know that however ill-used you will become, your Guardian Angel and our Lord God is never far. “

She then ventured a question, “Will I remember this? To which the Angel said, “No. but perhaps the love of our connection will remain. So that at the very least, you will remember to call unto God and His Angels, however much you despair of your life.

Then, the Angel smiled. “For that is why, I am here, you see. You remembered me still. As an echo of a Love Lullaby. Even if it took the Scorpions to trigger your subconscious. To be perfectly honest, they are not exactly in Heaven’s Top 100, being you know... a little naff*. But we Angels have learnt to adapt to humanity’s strange caprice.”

Nashua did not fully understand the Angel’s extended monologue, but her wise 8 year old heart understood enough. “Well, I guess I must thank you, Mr. Angel.” With great dignity, the Angel bowed before Nashua, “You are most welcome, o’ daughter of Eve.”

The little girl blushed looking pleased, and said,

Okay, so now what?”

The Angel stood up to his full height and extended his hand, “Why, now we have a little time before I leave. Hop on my train, and I will take you for a ride.”

Nashua smiled, crying, “Yeah!” But then she paused, and asked, "Wait. What is naff?"

Footnote: Courtesy of the BBC website – meaning of ‘Naff’. N-A-F-F. British slang. It means worthless, tacky, unfashionable - 'that's naff', 'the party was naff', 'those clothes are naff' - unenjoyable, of poor quality. 'Uncool', I suppose people would say these days - 'that décor is naff', 'that software is naff', 'that pub is naff'. In other words, it's used in a huge variety of circumstances as a general dismissive term…

................

Truth be told, I am actually fond of the song by The Scorpions, being kinda naff myself. Anyway, if you would like to see the music video, Click Here.

Hope you enjoyed the story, sunshine. You may have noticed that time appears to be circular in the tale, begging the question, which actually happened first - the past or the future?    

wa min Allah at-taufiq

Hate has no place in Islam

Love will show the Way

The House of Ego - Your Ungrateful Friend and Teacher...

17. House of Ego

Your ego is an ingrate.

Having ridden you

To despair’s end,

You run to his house begging entry,

“O’ ego! Give me shelter and rest, please”

In a furtive voice behind the door he replies;

“Go away! You are carrying the stink of your conscience.

Come back once you have forgotten your guilt.

Then we can parta-aay once again!”

The ego is a cunning creature. But it can also be overpowering and as overwhelming as a volcano. The ego may come unto you furtively, sliding close to your side, whispering sweet nothings, rationalising and giving a thousand and one reasons why you ought to do what your heart tells you not to do. Or the ego may come like a tide, sweeping you in a moment of passion, masquerading as your heart, lust or greed masked in the happenstances of love.

The ego is ungrateful. But however the ego moves you, once it has completed its task, it leaves you alone to mind your broken peace, your broken heart in miserable solitude. If you come to your ego for comfort, it will turn you away like a beggar. The ego will bide its time when you have passed through your sea of sorrow and regret. And if you forget your lesson, your ego will hook you once again with its bait of pride, lust, greed, envy, hubris and self-satisfaction.

Without the ego, we cannot learn humility. I cannot tell you how to learn your lesson, for we all have our path to face our ego along different milestones in our journey. It is not one single victory or defeat that will damn our happiness in this life. It is forgetfulness. The ego has already been cowed by God Almighty. Now it is through the ego and our interaction with it that we too shall learn our own humility and servanthood. For without darkness, who will recognise light? And if there is no sour, where is the sweetness? This is what I term 'tough love'. Tough but STILL love...

One day, we shall finish our school of life, may we come out of it as good servants to God and Mankind.

Have a helpful day, sunshine. God bless.

wa min Allah at-taufiq

Hate has no place in Islam

Love will show the Way

Mankind, the Devil, Civil Wars and the Bitter Sweet Chalice of Choice

21. It is the much alike (The Devil and Man)

It is the much alike,

Not the wholly different,

Who are bound to

Bear grudges between

Each other.

It is ironic.

Almost funny, save that

It can bear a sea of pain

Stretching from the young

To the death bed.

I wonder if

The Devil

And man

Has considered this.

MAN AND DJINN. According to conventional lore in Islam, the Devil is of the race of Djinn (not Angels although he was raised to an arch angel-like rank). Like a family secret nobody wants to admit, we are actually similar to Djinns, us mankind. Otherwise God would not have said that He created Mankind and Djinn to praise and worship Him. What's the point of putting two entirely different species of creation in one sentence, if not to imply some comparison between the two. And indeed we are similar, the most significant common ground being that both humanity and Djinn have been given the bitter sweet chalice of choice - Our choice to do what is right or wrong, our choice to be patient or impatient, our choice to do charity or be greedy, our choice to contemplate the reflected glory of God in our worlds or to be borne by our egos to some poor end.

CIVIL WARS. Civil wars are the worst sort of conflict. And the irony is that it is most often fought by those very, very similar to one another. Civil wars are fought between a group of people who tend to look the same, eat the same type of food, wear the same type of clothes, dance the same type of dance and probably even worship in the same faith. But for one reason or the other we fall out, then once we stop talking we start fighting. A horrible precedence from the days of Cain and Abel, the very first civil discord in recorded history. Unless of course you want to count Adam, Eve and the Devil.

Mankind is blessed but he ought to remember that the Devil was blessed too, with great knowledge, with great victories over the rebellious Djinns, and with great piety, for nay an inch of the world exists where the Devil did not prostrate in worship and praise of God. The Devil was the poster-boy, a Hero of the Ancient Wars of the Djinns, and he made only ONE mistake in refusing to bow before Adam, and looked what happened to the poor fellow. That is the Devil, but how many mistakes have we made? How many times have we ourselves erred?

No conclusions, today. Just something to think about, sunshine.

wa min Allah at-taufiq

Hate has no place in Islam

Love will show the Way

Send me a Saint... Send me a Saint... Send me a Saint...

Send me a saint... send me a saint... send me a saint... send me a saint...

64. Santa Claus

Saints have

The biggest egos around

And hide the best secrets around.

If you desire knowledge, find a saint. For a while you would be a little shy with the saint, playing the role of a student. But in time you will tire of your disguise and will stand before the saint, quite exposed in all your sinful lowliness. Stripped away of your pretentious piety, you can finally begin the journey of healing yourself. For how can you heal yourself if you do not know the illness that afflicts you? And how will you even begin that journey if you do not even know who you truly are? That is the best secret for you to find out.

The saint will answer all your questions. So long as you know the right questions to ask. 

The saint will come, much like Santa Claus, through the sooty black chimney of your soul and bring you the knowledge of your true nature, from whence the knowledge of the Prophet and the knowledge of God would come. So if the desire for knowledge is still burning in you, ask God for a saint. He will send you one. He is God after all, He cannot not send you one. It will be like getting Christmas presents every day.

Have a lovely day, sunshine.

Pax Taufiqa.

Hate has no place in Islam.

Love will show the Way.

The Definition of Good, and the importance of Adab - The Sinners' Dictionary

6. Good, In Accord

Good, if you wish it a name,

Is in the way of doing things well,

In its right time and place,

With considered thought

And discretion,

In accord with God

And Creation.

I guess it is a little presumptuous for a sinners' almanac to provide a definition of 'good'. But as each thing is known by its opposite, I consider myself particularly qualified to supply mankind with the meaning. And if I am wrong, who cares? After all, I am simply a sinner.

The Prophet Muhammad was asked of his mission, and this was one particular reply, "I brought unto mankind good manners (Adab)". The ideal of Adab does not confine itself to protocols and rules of etiquette amongst mankind, but really and perhaps most significantly governs man's relationship with his Maker, a.k.a. God Almighty. And Adab also pertains to the rules of engagement between mankind and other creation of God, both sentient and non-sentient. Whether you are talking to a King, addressing an assembly of politicians, planting a tree, avoiding to step on an ant, to your conversations (if you happen to have any) with Djinns. From praying in the most holiest sites of your religion, using an ATM machine, to you buying milk at a cornerstore, every conduct ought to be done with the proper Adab. I really cannot think of any daily work and play that we do that does not come with its proper manners and politeness.

But do not worry if you think that you have found the perfect Adab, for there is no end to perfection. Complacency is not an issue when each breath you take, each move you make (to quote Sting) should be one more step ascending towards the holy station of servanthood. Ah, and that is the nub of the matter - Only servants would be interested with Adab. But before the sight of God, are we not all servants?

Before the sight of God, are we not all servants?

God bless you, sunshine. Thank you for honouring my almanac with your presence.

Pax Taufiqa

Hate has no place in Islam

THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF HOPE, AND NOT HATE - God, religion and humanity

14. The Sun & The Moon II (Epilogue)

Allah!

By the Sun shall you see the Moon,

And by the Sun shall you see the Sun.

Allah!

And blessed and oft-forgiven are those

Who share the Light with his neighbours,

Returning scowls with a smile,

Returning hate with love,

Returning weakness with strength,

And ignorance with the sweetness of understanding.

13. Muhammad is Here!

Do you have the fear?

Do not fear!

Do you have the hate?

Do not hate!

Believe and be reprieved,

For wherever you may turn,

He is here, Muhammad is here!

The Glory of Creation!

The Gladness of all God’s creatures!

These are two old prose recorded against the dominion of hate, the crusade of bigotry, the war of hubris now fought in our names by politicians and preachers who think they speak and act on our behalf. We are not one of their meek sheep, to be led blindly into the abyss of darkness. 

Though we may be clothed in different faiths, are we not brothers and sisters, you and I? Thank you, sunshine for being a part of humanity... For being a part of hope, and not hate.

Hate has no place in Islam. Hate has no place in any religion.