The Antichrist, Muslims and Jews, the Ego, a Pop Quiz and Divine Recompense

TWO OLD FOOLS. I was out with Munim, my friend. He was worried about the world. "The Dajjal (Antichrist) wants us to fight each other. Muslims against Jews. Jews against Christians and Muslims against Christians. That is his mission and that is his way." I nodded my agreement, "You are right, bro." Then he continued, "The Jews are not our enemies. And we are not theirs. It is our own ego and the compulsions which our ego encourages - hate, bigotry, envy... you know." I nodded saying, "I know. I know."

We are a couple of old fools, wandering the big city of Kuala Lumpur. Who listens to old fools anyway, when everyone thinks they have all the answers?

POP QUIZ. On Friday afternoon, I was out with Heche, Sharm and Mikhail. Mikhail bought a quiz book and was boisterously answering the quiz by Sharm. "Mikhail, is there a stone that can melt in rain?" Mika answered in the affirmative. "Well, what is it?" continued Sharm. Mika couldn't answer and Sharm said that it is limestone. Exasperated by Sharm's tough you-have-five-seconds-to-answer method of quizzing, he finally exploded, "I don't know la... I don't collect stones!"

Earlier He answered that there was 340 days in a year and when corrected he replied, "Mummy didn't tell me!" All in all it was a noisy day out.

Life is all about observation, asking questions and answering them. It is a beautiful way we have ahead of ourselves, sunshine... It is up to us how we choose to be recompensed.

54. Recompense

Some look forward to home,

Others look forward to

The journey home.

Then, there are those who

Seek the reward offered,

While others seek

No reward but He

Who is offering

The reward.

Have a safe and sweet Sabbath.

Hate has no place in Islam.

LIFE AS A DIVINE CONVERSATION - "You Love Me?" Asked God. "Why?"

You Love Me? Why?

The most venerable of traditions,

The most eloquent books of praise

I read and recited for God,

And I found religion.

Then one night,

As I was reciting some ancient spell

Extolling love and yearning

For our Creator, He answered and asked,

"Why? Why all these beautiful words for Me?"

"Why? Because You told me to, of course."

"Really, is that the only reason?" He replied and said no more.

From that night on I always sought to find the answer.

Religion is easy. Just do as you are told. But in the context of spirituality, it requires a little more exploration, a bit of adventure through this world. And to answer God's ultimate question - You say you love Me? But why? And it is not enough for us to say "Well, the holy scriptures and traditions of your Prophet (and Prophets and Saints) all say that we ought to love You." For we are not Angels without error. We are human with the innate power of choice, or some would call it a crown of thorns or a bed of nails. We can choose, so it is in that choosing that we may find the answer to God's question.

To briefly answer God, I guess we can say that we love Him because of what He has ordained for us. That we awake in the morning, alert and fresh. That we turn to find our children by our side, their eyes sparkling like heavenly pearls stolen from God's own treasury. That the Sun gracefully peeks through the open doorway like a kindly uncle coming once again into our life, to banish darkness and bring light. That for all our mistakes and judgement errors, we are not dispossessed of hope. That despite the cunning duplicity of our egos and how it tries to divide humanity, we can still look across race, religion and nation and still feel empathy. That the love which God says He has for us is felt in every quivering of the restless atom, in every thought which is planted in our mind, in every affectionate gesture we receive from our family, our friends and our lovers.

A Divine Conversation through the Garden of Creation. It was last night when Heche said, "I love you." To which I queried, "Why?" And really, is life not finding God's grace in the best, in the biggest and the smallest drop of Mercy and Compassion which He constantly rain in our lives? What is life if it is not a divine conversation - A walk through the Garden of Creation with the sublime company of God's inspirations? To this end, I walk this world with my Prophet, Muhammad the Mercy to all the Worlds. Perhaps you are walking with Jesus, the Prince of Peace, Son of Mary. Or maybe Buddha? Or perhaps Moses the Red-haired?

Well, whoever you are walking with, I am happy you are with me today, sunshine. I cannot think of any other company finer than thee.

wa min Allah at-taufiq

You are Muhammad, the Answer - Prose of Ramadhan Part 38

You are Muhammad. (Ramadhan Verses 21)

We are the raging tempest,

We are the stormy sea,

We are the white blizzard,

We are the thundering avalanche,

We are the river breaking its bank,

For what we are, you are not.

You, whose named is extolled

Next only to God.

You, the still calm eye

Of our whirling cyclone.

You are Muhammad.

Upon the Throne of Hearts,

In gentle repose…

The Herald of Dawn

Against the retreating darkness,

The Light wielding the pen

Of our drunken verses.

I sometimes don't keep promises. But I am glad I can now, and as promised this is the prose in answer to the earlier riddle entitled "Who Am I?"- Click Here.

BAD EXAMPLES. Do not dwell so much in the bad examples of our humanity - the corrupt politicians, the mad mullahs, the chicken hawks in the right wing, the murderers and serial killers. They carry a dark karma, and it is not for you, sunshine. Look away and turn the page. Change the channel even if it's just to the Food Channel.

GOOD EXAMPLES. It is good to compare ourselves to something or someone good. There is no point really reflecting upon our personality in comparison to mad people. If you are Christian, you can compare yourselves to Jesus. If you are Jewish you can compare yourself to Moses (or perhaps Aaron). If you are Buddhist, you can join Buddha and sit under the tree. If you do not believe in God, well there is still your sainted mother and sister to think about. And of course, if you are Muslim, there is always Muhammad. Such are the examples of steadfast virtue and compassion that the Lord has seeded your history with. Look to them, and wait for the tree of servanthood to grow in the fertile soil of your soul.

Have a wonderful Sabbath night, sunshine.

Pax Taufiqa

Dome of the Rock - Umrah Pilgrimage Part 11

WEST AND EAST JERUSALEM. We entered the city through the Jewish side which is West Jerusalem. It looked nice, clean and cosy, reminding me of the mews and close of old London, with beautiful gardens and picture pretty frontages. I remember passing by what appears to be a University campus and young Israelis walking to and from classes.

As our bus climbed up the hill, our arrival at the Arab quarter is announced by the stone walls of old Jerusalem, parts of it rebuilt by the Ottoman when they held Jerusalem. Feroz the guide mentioned that this is discernable by the Ottoman type architecture and design. I nodded sagely while wondering “But this end of the wall looks exactly like the other end of the wall…” No doubt a practiced eye would see the difference which is lost to this sinner-pilgrim.

We finally arrived at the appropriately named Holy Land Hotel. After a quick breakfast and shower (after almost 20 hours' travel, I felt and no doubt smelt like a camel's breath), we assembled outside for our walk to the Dome of the Rock and Masjid al-Aqsa (“Al Aqsa Mosque”). The roads of Jerusalem are narrow with impossible corners and turnings, but somehow tour buses and large lorries still manage to navigate the serpentine streets of this city (with a lot of shouting, hand waving and honking).

HEROD’S GATE. About 100 metres down from the hotel we arrived at Herod’s Gate, which is one of the many entrances into the Old Jerusalem. At the gate, the sign of ‘Allah’ (God) and ‘Muhammad’ in Arabic script adorned the right and left side (which is the traditional position – as Arabic script is written and read from right to left) of the entrance. The ubercool thing was that it was written on two road signs. This is the first thing which made me think, “Yowza. I like this town…”

The labyrinth of the old city was captivating. Down each alley, turning right into a corner, I feel myself walking back in time, as around me, Arabs children play and their elders drink coffee and smoke outside the shop fronts.

Despite my dreamy reflection, I was soon jolted into the present when I saw an abandoned police barricade - a sign of past troubles and an indication that while the city seems peaceful, tension and conflict is never far beneath the surface.

I must run! Even my companion travelers on wheelchairs are far in front of me. I turn left, then right after a Christian souvenir shop. I walked down a long straight which was kinda dark at the end. In the gloom, two bored Israeli police officers sat, (boy, they look young! In fact all Israeli soldiers and policemen I encountered looked to be in their 20s) observing with mild interest the arrival of these strange creatures from Malaysia.

THE DOME OF THE ROCK. Then suddenly, I saw a glint of gold. There it is, beyond the darkness of our troubling times, a light at the end of the tunnel. Beautiful and golden, glorious monument of the Prophet’s heavenly ascension…

How did it feel, sunshine? It felt familiar. Oh so familiar. Suddenly I am reminded why I am here. I am pursuing Love. As Muhammad did, when one serene night Gabriel came to him and led him away from Mecca, far away from Arabia… to the Land of the Prophets and to the City of Prophets and Saints - beautiful and captivating Jerusalem. It felt like a dream. And writing this now… It feels like I am there still.

Pax Taufiqa.

Green Israel, Holy and Ancient Jerusalem - Umrah Pilgrimage Part 10

TEL AVIV. We arrived at Ben Gurion International Airport, Tel Aviv in early Tuesday morning (22nd Mar 2011). Ergo, the picture of the sinner in front of an ATM (with Hebrew squiggly writing) and the Galilee Travel Bus Service as proof. No diplomatic relations between Malaysia and Israel? No problem! Just remember to remind the Israel Immigration official not to chop your passport. “Please don’t chop my passport!” I urged, as the officer rolled up her eyes, no doubt tired of hearing the phrase for the 48th time. (I was no. 48 in the Visa Manifest list)

Ben Gurion Airport was built to impress, with huge sandstone walls and uber-high ceilings of a modern techno-cathedral. A permanent edifice intended to remind visitors to this embattled state of Israel's desire to remain permanently in the Holy Land. Visible presence of security is minimal. In fact I think that in KLIA I can see more police and security personnel than here. No doubt the airport is well protected, but you just don’t see many guns and khakis.

After about 40 odd minutes all our group passed through as harmless Muslims with no intention to bomb or hurt anybody in Palestine-Israel. Walking out, Ariffin commented ruefully “Just wait till we get to Medina airport in Saudi Arabia. Immigration will not be so easy there…” Replaying my school days, I joined the rowdy crowd in the back of the bus. Well, rowdy as you can be when you are middle class, middle aged and middle-minded in that fuddy-duddy kinda way. You know, my kinda crowd of respectable sinners.

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UNEXPECTEDLY GREEN. The trip to Jerusalem lasted about one hour, and I guess what impressed me was the green. Miles upon miles of cultivated greenery - agricultural, decorative and national park(s). The picture below would not be out of place if taken in Germany or France, but then you notice the dry, brown and sandy soil. These people are in the vanguard of agro-bio, and it appears that they are quite adamant to green the desert. Impressive, in that earnest get-out-of–my-way sort of commitment.

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Along the way we had Feroz, our local guide who once studied in UIA (International Islamic University) Kuala Lumpur and picked up a pretty good command of Malay. He kindly educated us in a strange Palestinian-Indonesian accented Malay on some basic facts about Palestine-Israel - For instance, that of the 10 million people inhabiting the land, about half is Arab and the other half Jews, although in Jerusalem itself the number of Jews are much higher. He also spoke about the state sponsored program for Jewish citizens to receive free housing if they are willing to settle out of town centres, which I guess is an initiative to spread the Jewish settlement more evenly across the land. He didn’t comment at all about this, merely mentioning it as a matter of fact. I am pretty certain that the privilige is not extended to the Arabs.

After about an hour, I noticed a green road sign in Hebrew, Arabic and English, speaking to me the name of our destination, the City on the Hill, praised and beloved of the 3 Faiths, Baitul Muqadis, the ancient and holy Jerusalem…

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O’ Jerusalem II

O’ Jerusalem,

You draw me like A moth to the flame,

And your bitter flames Lick me like a flaming petal Of a red and divine rose.

Again and again, you attract me, Again and again, you repel me.

But your resolute rejection of me Makes you even more compelling!

For I am unlike other men, I am Taufiq, I am Taufiq,

And to conquer you or To die upon your high walls

As a knight-errant of Fatima az-Zahra, My last breath would still speak,

“My Lord drove me to you,

And My Lord is welcoming me home!”

We are getting close, sunshine.

Pax Taufiqa.

Take-Off - Umrah Pilgrimage Part 9

The Prophet's Mosque, Medina, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia .

Well, I am back, sunshine.

14 DAYS. After 14 days of travel and pilgrimage covering (or passing) Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, the Dead Sea, Jericho, Jordan, Medina, Mecca, Jeddah and the Red Sea, your loyal sinner is home in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Warm, wet, rainy and humid Malaysia.

I DO APOLOGISE. I must, because I promised to write and blog in my travel. Unfortunately there weren't any convenient (meaning cheap or free) wireless network that I could connect into. The last was KLIA (Kuala Lumpur International Airport), and even then it appears that I have failed to properly upload my writing, about 2 hours before my flight to Amman, Jordan. There I am below, confidently writing my last post more than 2 weeks ago (or so, I thought!)...

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Being away from this blog for so long has made me a little shy of sharing. But I will, for in my travel I have managed to collect copious notes and pictures. And along the way, I made new and interesting friends, both dead and alive. (death and mortality should not stand in the way of a good frienship, I was always taught)

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JERUSALEM, OH JERUSALEM! Never did I contemplate that I would ever reach its crowning hill of olives, prophets and saints. But I did... first though I had to reach Amman, Jordan, and from there take a connecting flight to Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv. From the capital city of Israel it was an hour and a half's bus ride to the Holy City of the Jews, Christians and the Muslims...

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O’ Jerusalem I

I do not want to break your heart,

I want to find your heart.

It is too beautiful too resist, I am not sorry at all.

I am blessed to fall in love with you,

I want to be near you, for as long As God gives me the pleasure.

I am Taufiq, a fool And a sinner,

You are my Jerusalem,

You mean nothing…

And everything to me.

There are many words to write, and many mixed emotions for me to contemplate as I recall these past two weeks. I hope that it will be interesting to you, sunshine, and that you will keep me company as I begin my posting about my pilgrimage which began 21st March 2011 and ended only yesterday, 4th April 2011.

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Pax Taufiqa.

Footnote - Just to avoid any confusion, let me be clear here that the earlier Parts 1 to 8 postings recorded my feelings and reflection prior the actual pilgrimage. Yes, yes... I am a little disorganised. Sorry.

Objectivity? What Objectivity? Part 4

I mean what I write but not necessarily what you read...

I mean what I said but not necessarily what you heard...

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REGRET. In the last posting, I promised to share with you what I think is the significance of the three earlier posts entitled "Objectivity? What Objectivity?". I woefully regret my vows because I do not know how to now conclude the topic.

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FACTS? WHAT FACTS? The post which I anticipated to now write is my conclusion that facts - cold hard damnable facts do not truly exists. Simply because I remember writing a prose about it. And now I cannot find the damn poem! Maybe facts do not exist because I, your poor sinner has trouble remembering them.

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NO EXPIRY DATE. NO SELL BY DATE. GOOD FOR YOU FOR ALL TIMES. So I shall not go down that road. Instead I will make a safer conclusion, and one that is more easily believed and digestable. I think that anyone who has a religion with holy scriptures can accept that their divine books must contain meanings which continue to be applicable from the first moment that a holy prophet wrote or uttered such words. And this goes to what I wish to share with you. A friend of a friend of a Murid (student) of a Sufi Master once had this to say about the Sunnah (traditions and sayings) of Muhammad Prophet of God - "Oh... the sayings of the Prophet can be used for all times!" And I bet a Jew would say the same about Moses, a Buddhist would agree that it applies to Buddha, and the Christians would vouch that the gospel of Jesus is undoubtedly applicable in year dot as it is now in year 2011.

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When we consider our earlier theory that the meaning of words changes as it slides, curves, swerves and bends in their majestic journey across the space and time continuum, it all makes sense, doesn't it (Well it does to me. Hehehe). And what is ultimately important to remember is that however the meaning of such utterances changes, the speaker is still a Prophet of God... and you, my precious friend... you are still the listener. You are not like the Modern Man...

.....

21. Modern Man II
Modern man thinks
He is thinking,
Sadly, he is only drifting.

He could have chosen safety,
And stayed in the harbour,
But he is disdainful of his elders,
And seeks a reputation
For wisdom and adventure.

He has no sail or anchor,
He is without a rudder,
Really, he has no ship whatsoever,
For such things are inventions
Of another era, and in his pride
He thinks he can do better.
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THE ANCIENT MAN. Whether you are 14 or 40 years old, you seek love, and the wisdom of those who have long passed away many years ago, but are in truth never absent from your presence...

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22. Wise is he
Wise is he who
Takes into account
Everyone, whether
They are present
Or absent.
Nothing is regretted,
No words misheard.
All things occurring as fated.

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Pax Taufiqa.

(The addenda are the 3 last paras added at 7.29am, 8th Mar 2011.)

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Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Cheerleading is Divine Work for the Divine One

Last week I proceeded with the development of Mikhail's understanding about God (God help him that he has me for his papa. Hehehe). And about God's best pal, which for the Muslims, is the Prophet Muhammad (whom we sometimes refer to here as Nabi Muhammad). In an earlier posting entitled "Even the mightiest of trees began life in a tiny little seed" I mentioned how Mika says that his Boss is Nabi Muhammad and God. Or perhaps more theologically correct, God and Nabi Muhammad.

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Well, last week I mentioned to Mika that not only is God and Nabi Muhammad his Boss(es), they are also his cheerleader(s). After all, even if God is Lord over all creation, and the Numero Uno Master of the Universe(s), He is also your Most Loving, Most Kind and Most Compassionate. And in addition to that constellation of Mosts, God is also the Most Wise in Planning for Your Success, and, so long as you wish Him to be, Your Most Motivating Motivator, All-Cheering One, He Who possesses, beyond the highest love of even a father and mother, the belief that you can indeed be the best that you can be. He and His Prophet, They are at the sidelines of the pitch, cheering you on when you are running for the pass, cheering you on when you are down and injured. Cheering you on and saying Go! Go! Go! or perhaps also Medic! Medic! Medic!

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I share this with you, o' Christians, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Wiccans and Trekkies, because I can. Because beyond the label of 'God' and 'Muhammad' is the meaning in such words. And in my life, I have met sainted souls who call upon my Lord in different names and different ways. Yet I am proud and honoured by their friendship in worship. In fact, they humble me by their dedication and charity.

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I am tired of the 'us and them'-ism of so-called religious people. Because, from where I am running in the field of life, I see the Lord and His Beloved Prophet cheering us on, and beside me I see people of many faiths and dispositions, helping me race the good race, and fight the good fight. On the stands and bleachers, I see Angels looking on, recording and taking notes. But they cannot understand us. But you can, sunshine. Because, really... are you not me? And am I not you?
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Have a wonderful Friday. Gong Xi Fa Cai!
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Pax Taufiqa.

You are my mirror, and I am yours

19. All Ours

All things invented and made,

All things written and read,

All things of beautiful birth

Are in truth, ours.

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

From the chapter entitled 'Muhammad, My Only Other'

Completed 17th May 2009

Beautiful music transcends the boundaries of our religion. Beautiful architecture crosses the border between Rome and Istanbul. Beautiful verses speaks to the heart of both Jew and Buddhist. Beautiful food tastes wonderful whether you are an atheist or a priest. And a beautiful maiden or a man, is beautiful whatever nation he is born into.

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When truth comes out of a politician, it is still truth. When love blossoms in the heart of a sinner, it is still love. When mercy flows like tears from a soldier, it is still mercy. When kindness is given by the grumpy old neighbour you have long detested, it is still kindness.

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So who is the we in the verse? Oh, have you not guessed it already, my love? It is you and I. It is the earth and the sky, and the host of angel that bear witness on the history of mankind.

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We are not like the hounds of doubt, forever with their noses on the ground, sniffing for the folly and mistakes that we all share in. Instead we are looking with keen eyes into the hearts of the believers. And the beauty we find in you we find in ourselves too.

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You are my mirror, and I am yours.

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Pax Taufiqa

All about God, Good and Evil, Angels, Michael, Artiya'il and a Cat named Moses

I woke today resolved to post a good blog. A happy blog. Full of soul-lickin’ goodness. I scrolled my manuscripts until I came across this…

1. Indiscriminate Mercy
They come with the clouds
And ride the falling raindrops,
Each sparkling pearl,
That feed the earth
And fill the sea,
Heralds of a Lord
Whose Bounty falls
On the heads of the Muslims,
Jews, Christians, Atheists,
Agnostics, Buddhists and Hindus alike.
…………………..
From chapter 20 entitled ‘Raindrops’. “Ya Huu!"or even "Yahoo!" means in Arabic (roughly) “Oh He!” as in He who is God.

The ‘They’ are Angels, of course. Sufi lore discloses some aspects of their presence, for instance, are you aware that: -

- With each rain drop, rides an angel?
- With each dew and misty drop from the Niagara Falls also clings an angel?
- On each leaf on each tree, stands seven angels?
- There is an angel called Artiya’il whose job description is to visit and heal the sorrowful?
- Arch-Angel Mikhail / Michael (a.s.), is overall in charge with the workings of the Universe, the disposition of rain, and generally wealth and prosperity (and I guess poverty too)

Holy Geronimo. That’s a whole lot of angels and divine love. More than enough for you, me and the cat named Moses. In fact it is mind-boggling, isn’t it? Just from where I am drinking Nescafe in the back alley of a Chinese Kopitiam, I can clearly see 16 trees. Say we assume there’s on average 300 leaves (the trees are those dwarfish urban types), that’s already 33,600 angels. This is not counting your guardian angels (of which I do not know our individual quotas), nor other angels attending to the Sun, the air, the clouds high above me, nor the two busybody angels sitting on my shoulder, diligently recording my good and bad deeds even as I type this blog.

The whole point of what I am saying is this. The numbers between good and evil is disproportionately in favour of Good. Ergo, in favour of you.

Good trounces evil. Hands down, evil is not even in the same league. Not even in the same dimension of meaning. Good is God, and evil simply the absence of a goodly conscience. Just as darkness has no substance but merely the manifest absence of light.

So today is Monday. The beginning of our working week. But the Angels work 24/7, tireless in their absolute obedience to our God.

Your God and my God, compadre - He is the One and the Same. There may be some amongst the Muslims, Jews, Christians, Buddhists, Taoists, Zoroastrians or Wiccan telling you otherwise. Well, that is their right to say so. But this time, their right is simply wrong.

So maybe it is time to follow God's way - and let us stop discriminating in our mercy and love for one another. Ameen.

Pax Taufica.

p/s - Sketch is mine, fresh as the coffee I had this morning. The pictures are ancient Persian Muslim depictions of Angels. Sourced from this delightful site called Isodore of Seville.

p/p/s - Moses the cat is in reference to the cat in Joshua Kadison's song "Jessie', and not the Prophet Moses Kalimullah. But I am fond of him too.

God's Highway and the Illusion of Apostasy

“There is no apostasy in Islam, but there are apostates of love, compassion and mercy. Those who rejected such meanings in the Quran and Sunnah, and have exiled themselves from our association, they have also forced others to apostate according to their thinking. But to us, anyone wishing merely to live under the banner of love, compassion and mercy, such people will always be under our association.

The Tree of Ahad has no end, and the shade of love, the flowers of compassion and fruits of mercy which it offers, all called Ahmad, also have no end” – Mika read the sms and says that I should send it to Nabi Muhammad, but since I don’t have his mobile no, maybe you can pass on the message to him, when you see him next. Salaams, Taufiq."

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The above was a sms sent earlier this morning from my cellphone to three friends, Kash, Jad and Ipen. I just thought to share it with you. You may also read it as a continuation of my earlier ramblings entitled 'Claiming you are a Muslim doesn't make you a Muslim. Claiming you are an apostate doesn't make you an apostate' in August 2010. How time flies when you are having fun! Alhamdulillah! Ya Huu!

Pax Taufica.

What is in a name or word? THE MEANING...

i do not worship idols

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made of stone or wood

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Nor do i pray to gods

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cast in a name or word.
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A couple of months back, Malaysia was beset with the ‘Allah’ controversy. A public debate arising from a court application by the Herald in East Malaysia for the right to use ‘Allah’ in reference to God in that Catholic publication.

The above prose and sketch were recorded in those troubling days when politicians and pundits were talking about ‘the god that the Christians worship’ and ‘the god that the Muslims worships’- strange and worrying phrases coming from believers reputed to be super-duper monotheists.

I am not comfortable with such notions. I am one of those old fashion monotheists who believe that, in truth, everyone prays to the One God, whether you are a Christian, Jew, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Zoroastrian or whatever.

But who cares what I think…,

I am after all, just a sinner.