JUST TRY... AND LEAVE THE REST TO ME! - The Ramadan Story, Part 6

Mikhail, bless his heart, tries. And holds 100% clean record
for fasting so far this month. But either way, he is already my success.

Only If They Ask

If they ask if you are mad, tell them that you are in love,

If they ask if you are a bandit, tell them that your law is love,

If they ask if you are lost, tell them that your destiny is love,

If they ask of your journey, tell them that your path is love,

If they ask more, tell them that you are like a knot being undone,

Like a book being returned to the library,

Like a river flowing to the sea,

Like a number collapsing into the One,

Whatever that number might be... two, three or infinity!

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

Nikmat Puasa. It was a quiet breaking of the fast yesterday. And in the moment after the end of the muezzin's call of the evening prayers, a moment loaded with meaning could be sensed. And that meaning was the overwhelming peace and happiness of water from the river of paradise running over a parched soul. Is that a good description, sunshine? Aah. Maybe this is what the Muslims mean when they say nikmat puasa (the pleasure of fasting). And it was not the food or drink that they partake to end the fast, but instead their perception of completeness of Allah's (s.w.t.) blessing to humanity - a third eye being opened somewhere in the deep recesses of our consciousness to realise the goodness of God that our ancestors already knew long, long ago. Alhamdulillah.

A particularly excellent entourage
of those who try.

Just Try. I cry a lot nowadays. And if you count the number of times tears well up in my eyes, it is even more. Happily, most of the tears are tears of joy from some personal realization. You know, things like... I am lucky to be alive. I am fortunate to have God in my life. I am blessed to be a believer. And at the end of the day, whatever the test may be, Allah (s.w.t.) is only asking that I try. "Just try, kiddo, and leave the rest to Me... " I reckon God would say.

Earned Love. Those not familiar with the mystical path of Islam like to insinuate that Love is easy-peasy lemon-squeezy. They imagine Sufis to be bearded beatniks or hippies. But the truth is Love is not the easiest path. It is after all the foundation and building blocks of faith. So God has made Love to be sturdy, resilient and ever-lasting. And God has also made Love to be something that is earned.

May we all earn a place in His Love through the intercessions of His Own Beloved, Muhammad Habibullah (s.a.w.s.). And though ultimately, we can never truly earn either... we must try. Like I said, God is simply telling us, "Just try... and leave the rest to Me..."

wa min Allah at-taufiq

Hate has no place in Islam

Love will show the Way  

Eid Celebrations, Family and a Greedy Little Pig - oink! oink!

Coming to the end of Ramadhan and the Eidul Fitri celebrations on 1st of Syawal to mark one month of fasting by the Muslims, it is common for us to receive festive greetings via snail mail, Facebook, sms-es and WhatsApp (well, for us Android users at least). I have been a bit busy yesterday as we had a drove of wonderful, bright-eyed, brilliant and good-looking relatives come visit us on the first day (well, I have to be complimentary if I want them to come again next year... Or am I spreading the butter too thick?).

So I am finally able to catch my breath today, and have been typing my late replies. If you did not receive my reply because you never sent me an Eid Mubarak greetings (And by the way, why didn't you? *sad*), well here is my best reply sent out today -

Salams sunshine,... If you but knew me a bit better perhaps you would not like me, but if I knew a bit more of you I am sure to grow fonder of you. So my Salam and prayer for us this Eid is for God and His Prophet to veil my wickedness and to unveil your goodness that I might continue to be blessed with your love and companionship... alhamdulillah, God be praised! Madad ya Saideena Muhammad, madadul Haqq!

For those who came yesterday, thank you kindly for your company and smiles... It was wonderful. A note of thanks for my brother, Zahurein, for cooking up a mouth-watering Mee Rebus (a local noodle dish in beef, oxtail, shrimp, chilli and sweet potato broth). I am ashamed to confess here that I, a greedy little pig, had 4 servings.

He was THE host, but he had 4 servings! Shameless...

wa min Allah at-taufiq

Hate has no place in Islam

Love will show the Way

The Prophet & His Nation - Pictures fade but Love never

Pictures fade but Love never.

12. A Faded Rose in the Garden of the Prophet

Oh my rose,

If your colour has faded,

And your scent diminished,

If the weather of your world

Has been unkind,

And your beauty worn by time,

Come to me.

For I am created to tend to you,

With gentle ministration

And mercy.

So come to me,

O’ faded rose,

Come to me.

I shan’t give up on you,

For how can I?

When you were made for me,

And I for you.

And If you know me,

Then you would know that

I am one who is not wont

To take my Lord’s gifts

For granted.

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

The connection between the Prophet(pbuh) and his nation is something that one can only suspect. For it is impossible to weigh by mortal scale, though both the Prophet(pbuh) and his nation are indeed mortals. There has been many times in this life that the sinner is overwrought and overcome with grief and regret. But every time, and after each error or mistake it is the very same words that float into the expanse of our soul. To sooth us, to assure us that the Prophet(pbuh) has not forsaken his connection to us.

This grace does not come by our own efforts, so woefully weak are we. But through an association and connection to our betters, to those whom God has blessed to have authority over us. And just like the Prophet, our connection cannot be broken by distance or by death.

It's breaking of the first day of fasting now but I am just having a date, a cup of coffee and a piece of sponge cake for now. I guess as we get older, it is less important to break fast with food and water, and I am pleased to break fast with words, and in the company of my family...

God bless. Have a lovely night, sunshine.

wa min Allah at-taufiq

Hate has no place in Islam

Love will show the Way

Today is lovely, but I assure you tomorrow will be lovelier... it's Ramadhan!

201. Windfall from the Lote Tree for Father

Thou have come this far,

O’ beloved companion.

Thou have survived birth,

Childhood and the rebellious

Years of youth.

Thou have come this far,

And for all the trouble

That harried thy way

Thou art here today.

O’ thou beloved companion,

O’ thou oft-blessed friend,

O’ thou shining pearl of Muhammad,

Thou have come this far.

Anything more is a windfall

From the Lote Tree.

How lucky art thee!

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

Indeed, you are. And now this morning, you are at the cusp of the Month of Ramadhan. A mere hours away from the end of today and the beginning of the holy month of fasting, which is the joy for many of my brethren. For my non-Muslim readers, let it be known that for Muslims, the day begins with sunset, thus the 1st of Ramadhan begins upon the call of the muezzin for the Maghrib prayers today, and fasting begins tomorrow at day break until the sun sets on the blessed Sabbath. There... sorted, first day of fasting!

In 2008, the sinner recorded 300 prose during this month. The above poem was the 201th of that collection. I wonder where and how I found the time to do so. Was I even working? I doubt whether I will be as productive this year, but we will see...

o' Ramadhan... is that thou knocking on my door?

This is wishing all my friends and readers, all my sunshine that brightens my grey sky, the very best, the very 'goodest' Ramadhan of your life. For each breath we take is better than the one before. Each day we live is better than yesterday, and tomorrow will, insyaAllah be more awesome. And this Ramadhan shall surely trounce all other past Ramadhan of yours... So long as we recall God in His Most Merciful aspects, and His most benevolent gift to the Worlds, being the reason for creation itself - Muhammad Habibullah, the Red Rose, the Most Gracious, Most Beautiful Flower in Heavenly Bloom in God's Garden of Recreation.

Have a lovely day, sunshine. But I assure you, tomorrow will be lovelier... it's Ramadhan!

wa min Allah at-taufiq

Hate has no place in Islam

Love will show the Way

Your Children is not "You Version No.2" - Prose of Ramadhan Part 28

Testing his father's chair for size. But I am not adamant
that Mikhail follows in my footsteps.

Mikhail barged into the room last night and immediately started to arrange the bed for sleep. "What are you doing, Mika? It's only 8.15." I asked. "I want to sleep early, Papa." He said. "So I can wake up early tomorrow  and have a long time to eat sahur (pre-fast meal around 4 - 5am). It's your fault I didn't fast today. I wanted to but you didn't wake me up for sahur last night!"

This is Mikhail and
not Taufiq Version 2.

Mikhail fasted most of Ramadhan last year, but then he wasn't schooling. Nowadays, with school, then later out for his Kumon maths tuition, he gets hungry and thirsty, a fact he made patently clear to everyone in the house. So I thought that he can have a break, especially on Monday, the beginning of his school week ("I  hate Mondaaaays...!" He would bleat). Oh well, perhaps I underestimate my son's resolve. When I drove him to school this morning, I asked and he said that he was fasting - "Otherwise, why would l wake up for sahur, Papa!"

I admire my friend Amirul. I have seen him in action with his kids. He is not like me. He would constantly be alert to his kids' (He and his wife has 2 daughters and one son) conversations. My attention, after half an hour of Mikachat, often drifts to other things. Amirul is different, he is a constant listener and almost Machiavellian in his parenting ethos. He recalled to me one incident during a parent-teacher meeting he had for his youngest girl. "The teacher really didn't get it! I was giving her eye-signals to indicate that she shouldn't praise my daughter too much!" He complained. "Hana has been No.1 in the whole grade... but then she started getting cocky!" I stared at him, and asked "Well, what is her score now?" In a tone of resignation he replied, "She is No.2 now... " Amirul absolutely doesn't relent in keeping up the pressure on his kids. But don't get me wrong, he ain't no dragon daddy. He jokes, he cajoles and he keeps up the light but honest banter with his children. I think he is a great dad. But then he also had his own legacy of success to pass on to his kids. I remember some 20 years ago when he and I was sharing the same university dorm and he showed me an old letter from West Point Military Academy USA accepting him as a candidate at the world famous army school (he was then studying in the Royal Military College, Malaysia). He opted not to go though, saying that he was more interested in business and money. Hehehe. That's Amirul for you.

"West Point? Ahh... thanks but no thanks." said Amirul.

Often we limit the scope of our children's ability by our own conditions. Sometimes we forget that the little manifestation of  humanity that is our son / daughter is a separate living and breathing personality from ours - so why should they be restricted in their promise and potential by our mistakes and prejudices? It is a most unfair thing to do to our children, I think.

So I hope that I shall learn to be more fair to my son. And remind myself that he has an entire Universe at his disposal to fill with his ambition, drive and dreams. Our job is just to get him the wings, give him some money for his fuel and see where his love, determination and conscience shall take him from there on.

See you later, Papa! I will be on my way!

Have a lovely Tuesday, sunshine.

Pax Taufiqa.

A "Meaningful" Fast

15. Heche is not very good at fasting

The moment I open my eyes
During the fasting month,
I feel the pain.

I console myself that
This way it makes my fasting
More meaningful.

Often though, I wish that
God wouldn’t make
My fast SO meaningful!

(From current and untitled chapter)