Gratitude and the Divine Dowry for Fatima & Ali

1. Our little role

If there is a role to be played by us

In your little quiet life, o’ seeker,

It is to awaken you to your blessings

That you have received already,

And the promise of more

From your Lord!

We are in the company of Angels,

So do not be disturbed by the

Gentle ruffling of their wings!

For they are pleased to be with thee,

As I am pleased to remind thee,

Time and time again!

For they are pleased to listen

Of the Prophet’s story,

As I am pleased to remind thee,

O’ oath bearers of our Lady Fatima az-Zahra!!

Gratitude. There is no more beneficial endeavour to have than to be grateful. Grateful to our friends. grateful to our pets. Grateful to our mums and dads. Grateful for that winsome smile from the waiter. Grateful for the driver who stopped to let you out of the intersection. Grateful to our country's founding fathers. Grateful even for our arguments and debates. Grateful for the silent majority of people who make life bearable despite the most criminal endeavours of hateful politicians and preachers of hubris. Grateful for the light in the sky, for the air that we breath, for our limbs that continue to support us, and of course, grateful to God for making all these things possible.

Divine Dowry. Long before we were born, sunshine, our souls were presented before the Lord as a bridal bequeath, to become oath-bearers and knights for the sublime daughter of Muhammad. This is how that came to be - Fatima az-Zahra is the Prophet's daughter and Ali wanted her hand in marriage, and it is understood from ancient lore that the dowry demanded by this most essential rose of the Prophet is the very salvation of the nation of Muhammad. And to this request, God assented. So you see, there is no excuse for Muslim men to treat women other than with kindness, love and empathy, regardless whether they are Muslims or non-Muslims, or whether they are our mothers, sisters, friends, neighbours or acquaintances. The Writ of Love born from the dowry between Fatima and Ali goes beyond that silly selfish attitude of 'my religion' and 'your religion'. 

Sunday is coming to an end here in Malaysia. God bless you, wherever you are, sunshine.

wa min Allah at-taufiq.

Starbucks in Mecca - Umrah Pilgrimage Part 28

This sight of a not-so-busy entrance into the Masjidil Haram is a rare, rare scene.
Just 5 minutes walk from the nearest Starbucks. 

The Pilgrimage Journal continues...

Thusday, 31st March 2011 - Walked with Arjuna to Starbucks with my laptop to Starbucks only to find (to my great dismay) that there isn't any internet connection. And then late as usual, made our way past rows and rows of people praying in the ZamZam Tower, to reach the Masjidil Haram (Main Mosque in Mecca, in which resides the holy Kaaba), struggling against the flow of people who had just finished their afternoon prayers and were just exiting the mosque. I said "Hayy" to the Kaaba and had a rather lovely prayer.

Friday, 1st April - In the morning fate played a joke on me when I fell sprawled in the stairwell while lugging my morning coffee. Soaked my shirt in caffeine, so had to rush upstairs to my room for a change. But by the time I returned to the hotel's small cafeteria, found that the milk to make another cup of coffee was finished. Sigh. For Friday prayers, me and Arjuna (who was kindness personified) went to the Masjidil Haram again. I finished the prayers for all my family and friends (they gave me a long list), but in the last sujud (prostration during prayers), instead of asking for anything, I just said "Thank You, God... Thank You... Thank You..." I have no imagination sometimes.

A Shaykh. Returning from prayers we had a great lunch and shared a table with 3 Malaysians who were working on a government hospital project some 400km outside Mecca. They were in town for a break and to perform their umrah. One of them was a mureed (Student) of a Shaykh who I am informed is the 38th generation of the Prophet's family from the line of Hassan, one of the two grandson of the Prophet (The other being Hussein) through the marriage of Fatima az-Zahra (his daughter) and Ali (his cousin and 4th Caliph of Islam). Our new found friend invited us to join their evening (Maghrib) prayers where they will do tahlil and salawat (invocations of praise for the Prophet) with the Shaykh, something that is tolerated by the Saudi authorities, who generally considers such practices as bida'ah (innovation and heresy). Alas, we didn't manage to pay a visit to the famous Shaykh. Perhaps, next time.

On Friday night I went back to a shop near my hotel which sold me beautiful fairuz tasbihs (turquoise rosary beads) for a mere SR15 (Saudi Riyal) yesterday. But the shopkeeper insisted that it is worth SR35. I tried explaining to him, "But...but... you sold me these same tasbihs for SR15 yesterday!" but to no avail. Ah... the crazy, beautiful and wonderful people of Mecca.

A couple more postings, sunshine, and my extended journal on my pilgrimage in March-April 2011 shall be coming to an end. I recall that before I left for the pilgrimage, I had all sorts of preconceptions and some misgivings about the trip. But I just left it to God to lead me wherever God would. And in some way, He brought me back home, to a home I never even knew I had...

151. Footprints

What am I, but a stray pixel

From an inscrutable imagination,

A castaway

Of a heaven long forgotten.

Wandering the shores

Of time,

And finding strange footprints

Resembling my own,

Trailing out of some Untamed Sea.

Pax Taufiqa

The One-Eyed King behind his Besieged Walls of Deceit and Conceit - Prose of Ramadhan Part 22

31. Affections of the Master II (a reappraisal)

There are those who would preach,

That choices have no role

In the Realm of Love.

But it does,

And at many times,

Your choice magnifies Love.

For have you not contemplated,

That when the Lord created us,

He too, chose.

My son Mikhail has his entire life ahead of him, while statistically I have passed more than half of mine. In the course of his life Mika shall have an ocean of choices to make. To weigh as best as he can, in the circumstances that he shall find himself in, which path to take, which door to open and which destination to choose. 

It is my earnest hope, that he shall always choose to magnify Love. To not be quelled and cowed by the illusion of our limitations. To not be bogged down by the baggage of regret and fear. To put faith in his heart and act upon his good conscience. And that perhaps, in the course of his mortal time, to unearth someone who shall always recall him to the Lord of Mercy and Compassion, as I have found in my son and his hypnotic glances.

If it is fated that I am to pass on earlier, I hope he shall remember his father's hopes. And if you bump into him on the street, or sitting next to you in the bus, tell Mika what I wished for him. So that he knows that his father is never truly gone.

When we act upon hate, envy, hubris and anger, we lose our choice to our manifested ego. It is our egos that choose, not us. It is only when we elect to do good, to be on the side of God that we retain our honoured gift from the Lord. To choose to be the gentle friend, the firm support to all humanity, as chevaliers in dowry to the court of Fatima az-Zahra the Renowned. The conspiracy theorists talk of the one-eyed king in the end of time and his vast black dominion. But in my writ, we are besieging the dark lord behind the walls of his conceit and deceit. He hasn't a snowball's chance in hell. Into the breach, my friends!

God bless you on this early hours of a Sunday morning in Ramadhan 2011.

wa min Allah at-taufiq

The Hand of Fatima of Spain and North Africa, and our own Nutcracker of Fatima and Staff of Ali

THE HAND OF FATIMA. This is what is famously known as the Hand of Fatima, or sometimes Hamsa (which is Arabic for ‘five’). It is used as a protective amulet against evil incantations and spells by Muslims in especially in North Africa, Spain, and certain parts of the Mediterran ean region. Depending on who you talk to, the Hamsa refers to the 5 pillars of Islam or the family of the Prophet, including his daughter, Fatima az-Zahra and her husband, Ali the Fourth Caliph, and their two sons, Hassan and Hussein.
THE HAND OF MIRIAM. Such was the popularity of its use that I read that even Jewish communities around the region started to adopt the symbol, although it was renamed the Hand of Miriam, being the sister of Moses and Aaron. The fact that this occurred was undoubtedly arising because of the COOLNESS of the Umayyad Caliphate which sprung in Andalusian Spain after the Abbasids annihilated its previous capital in Damascus. How COOL it was is depicted by Maria Rosa Menocal’s brilliant book entitled “Ornament of the World” – CLICK HERE - Ground Zero Mosque and the Ornament of the World on my earlier posting on this important book.

Such is the veneration of our Lady Fatima az-Zahra and her dashing husband Ali, as well as the powerful drama surrounding their sons Hassan and Hussein that often are their names used in reference to talismans and other symbols of Islam – as a sign of Divine Providence, Generosity and Power, as well as a protection against sorcery. This emotive attachment is not solely the writ of the Shia but is also felt by a large section of the Sunni community. As it is similarly felt here in the Malay Archipelago. But in my country, the name of Fatima and Ali is more famously referenced not to a protective talisman but to a natural product for the, err… ahem, earthier aspect of our daily life. From their names you will undoubtedly be able to discern their regular application.

THE NUTCRACKER OF FATIMA (KACIP FATIMA) is a herb derivative of the Labisa Pumila plant and famously used to improve woman’s health. The beneficial claims of this miracle plant are numerous, and dear old Uncle Wiki had this to say –
“- Helps establish a regular menstrual cycle when periods fail to appear for reasons like stress, illness or when the pill is discontinued
- Prevents cramping, water retention and irritability for those with painful periods.
- Balances, builds and harmonizes the female reproductive system to encourage healthy conception
- Supports healthy vaginal flora to prevent irritation and infections.
- Alleviates fatigue, smooths menopausal symptoms and promote emotional well being.
- Prolong energy during Playtime (hehehe… PLAYTIME. I like the nuance).
- Helps to solve the problems related to constipation
- Tightens vaginal skin and walls.
- Anti-dysmenorrhoea; cleansing and avoiding painful or difficult menstruation
- Anti-flatulence, drive away and prevent the formation of gas.
- Firming and toning of abdominal muscles.”

STAFF OF ALI (TONGKAT ALI). But the commercial success of Kacip Fatima pales in comparison to the runaway success of its male version which is roughly translated as the Staff of Ali. This traditional remedy for (ahem) men’s health comes from the root of the Eurycoma Longifolia plant, which is particularly bountiful in Indonesia and Malaysia, and to a lesser degree in Thailand, Vietnam and Laos. It is Malaysia’s natural answer to the synthetic Viagra and is claimed by many of its adherents (and they are aplenty here) to increase sexual appetite, improve performance and general well-being of men (well, any improvement in bed will ALWAYS improve the general well-being of any man. And any woman too, come to think of it). Scientists have not made up their mind, but appears that the herb reduces the effect of estrogen (Female hormones) in a fella’s body while increasing his testosterone levels (not to mention sperm count). Oh, and it also improves blood circulation.

I find it positively quaint and a reflection of my people’s innate appreciation of sexual intimacy that two of the biggest names in Islam are reflected in two of our most prized natural remedy / enhancer of our conjugal performance. So what if it is not a talisman against warlocks or witches? If you have had personal experience of not performing very well in bed, and felt the post-coitus seething dissatisfaction and complaints from your lover, then really, for you IT IS a talisman of sorts.


Hehehe.

Pax Taufiqa.

Motherhood, Womanhood and Godhood

Get Me Down From Here
There is no good raising my mother on a pedestal,
For she will only say…
“Hey, get me down from here, I look ridiculous!

There is no good praising her with praise,
For she will only say…
“That is not important, what is important is you.”

There is no good putting up many pictures of her in my house
For she will only say…
“That is just too much, take some of them down.”

There is no good reminding people of her,
For they will only say…
“How can I forget your mother, she was so friendly!”

And finally, there is no good writing poems of her,
For she will only say…
Really, you are wasting your time with this frivolous activity!

COOKIE. My mother, God bless her sweet soul, is an awesome cook. And that means getting the ingredients as fresh (and as cheap) as possible at the neighbourhood wet markets. Thanks to my father who gave her considerable allowance for housekeeping, she was not only able to keep her family fed (perhaps too well) but also feed close and far relatives and friends, all day, every day. In her lifetime, our house was a hive of hospitality, and my Mom was the queen bee.

WOMANHOOD AND GODHOOD. Technology of the Heart is a blog I used to frequent a lot, but of late, between work and my own writing I have had very little time to read blogs or books (I have 3 books still waiting for me to complete). So I count myself lucky to drop in today because there I read 'Divine Feminine in Islam and Fatima' (Parts 1 and 2 – Click Here). It is a sublime and indepth exposition on the idea and ideal on women and femininity in Islam. If you are a rare visitor to the Sufi world, or even like me, an occasional trespasser in mysticism, you will still be amazed by what is written... I kid you not.

I write a lot about my mother. But I bet she is like all mothers out there, caring, loving and with a stubborn belief in the goodness and promise of their children. We must not let them down, sunshine... I know you won't.

God bless God, and God bless Motherhood and Womanhood.

Pax Taufiqa.

I am the Luckiest Guy Alive in Medina - Umrah Pilgrimage Part 16

On Thursday, 24th March 2011, around brunch, and if you were strolling in Masjid Nabawi (Prophet's Mosque) you may find a black bundle of a man sprawled across the soft red blue carpet of mosque. You may hear him mumbling nonsense, and once in a while, taking out his handphone and taking pictures of the interior. You may even have seen him jotting down some intelligible notes in his journal - "Immigration (exhausion)... couldn't sleep good... Hunger... confusion... (wrote) an emo sms to Heche...". You must forgive him, because this sinner just arrived in Medina from Jerusalem via Jericho and Amman, had to go through Medina's infamously disorganised passport control and finally crawled into bed the night before, barely half the man he was when he left the Holy Land Hotel in the Old Quarter. And later I found that the airconditioner wasn't working.

So here I am. In Medina, in the home of the Prophet after he left Mecca all those years ago upon a pilgrimage to change the world. Later the same day, I found the cafeteria which served excellent food and the sinner was rejuvenated. You must forgive the sinner for being so food-driven, after all, he's not used to going without a meal for more than 24 hours. To be honest, I am not that guy who can be jolly and happy regardless of the state of his stomach. Once I had some yummy in my tummy, suddenly it dawned upon me... Yeah! I am in Medina! The City of the Prophet! Wuu Huuu!

The mosque of my Prophet is beautiful. And that umbrella thingy they have installed on the exterior, very lovely and shady. It was warm when we were in Medina, but because of the dry weather, it's much more bearable. As compared to hot and humid Malaysia, when you can break into a sweat just getting dressed up after shower. I kid you not.

After lunch the sinner wandered back to the mosque, wondering what to do next. Happily I bumped into Saiful, my friend and part of the group. He was heading to the Turkish quarter of Medina (which lies just outside Bab as-Salam (The Gate of Peace) which leads to the entrance of the Raudah (the Prophet's Tomb), which is the epicentre, the central focus of the Masjid Nabawi. "We will visit the Raudah after we check out my friend's shop", he said. Alas, when we reached the Turkish shop, we found out that the establishment has just closed down for good. So no chance to get Saiful's Turkish robe (I think he's talking about he Naqshbandiya Khalidiya robe which we see a lot of Turkish pilgrims wearing here in Medina - they are here, by the thousands). We resigned ourselves to fate and enjoyed a cup of milky chai in front of the mighty gates of this amazing mosque. I looked at him and smiled, thinking, "Yeaah!... I am in the Prophet's city, just a few steps away from his Raudah." I felt like the luckiest guy alive, sunshine.

We later made our way through Bab as-Salam, passing through nervous and excited pilgrims, their eyes ever searching to the front... "Where is it? Where is the Raudah? Where is he? Where is my Prophet?" And me, sunshine? What was crossing my mind? I don't know why, but these words were running through my heart... "You are the lake of my lake, the sun of my sun, the sea of my sea..." and similarly odd words and phrases. I would not understand the meaning of this until much later. Slowly I walked towards the Raudah with my fellow pilgrims. My throat felt dry, my heart was beating fast and although crowded by humanity, I felt alone and priviliged, I am going to say Hello to him, to my Prophet Muhammad, to his Companions Abu Bakar and Umar, and also to his beloved daughter, Fatima az-Zahra... Again, I felt like the luckiest guy alive, sunshine.

If you will notice the picture above, there is inscribed in Arabic script the name of Muhammad, the Prophet of God. This is in fact right behind the Raudah and is one of the older parts of the mosque - built during the Ottoman times. And as far as I am aware this is the only part of the Masjid Nabawi where the name of the Prophet Muhammad is exhibited as well as the name of God. This is the way in which almost all homes and mosques in Malaysia exhibits the name of God, ie. God's name on the right, with the Prophet's name on the left and on the same height. This is an important fact to note, sunshine.

And beneath the name of God and His Prophet lies the suffah, a platform which was originally in the Prophet's mosque from his time. The suffah (I thought he said 'sofa' - and I thought, "A sofa, behind the Raudah? Really? How convenient!") was famous even in the Beloved's days because that was where the 'especially involved' early Muslims used to stay all the time, praying and doing dzikr (remembrance of God). They are called the lovers of God and His Prophet, and from that name arose the title 'Sufi'. (Yes, yes... I know there is also another theory as to how the Sufis got their name, but bear with me, okay?) If you are looking for the strangest and weirdest of people in Masjid Nabawi, this is where you may find them. But I looked around and saw just ordinary people, patently happy. But I bet none felt luckier than me, sunshine. Hehehe. Because here I am! The incorrigible sinner, right at the suffah! What irony! Wuu Huu!

Outside my hotel and adjacent to the mosque, street traders made brisk business selling their slippers, rosary beads, skullcaps, perfumes, robes, shoes and cellphone simcards and credit top-ups to the voracious shoppers amongst the pilgrims. There is a spot I picked just outside my hotel where I would spend my lazy time, just looking and observing. And one day this was what I wrote "...Chilling until zuhr (afternoon prayers) at "my spot" near the entrance of the Mosque. I like people watching - so many thousands who come to you, o' Rasul (Prophet) in endless shapes and sizes. You don't need me... But you still want... thank u !..."

Perfumes, Haji?!

22. More and more love
As the Prophet ascends the
Ladder of spiritual stations,
He draws more and more Love
From the Lord’s Sea of Infinite Love.
And the Prophet passes what
He has gained to you.

O’seeker, do you now see?
The Prophet is ever falling
More and more in love
With you.

How do you treat
One such as him?

God bless you, sunshine. I have been to Medina. And I am contented. Alhamdulillah.

Pax Taufiqa.

The Ever-Present God, the Lady Fatima az-Zahra, Knights of the White Flame and the Quest

Present Love
Even when I was
In great turmoil and doubt,
Love came to me and smiled
Saying, “Oh seeker, here am I!”

Then Love gazed upon
My shameful countenance,
And said,
“If you never fail,
You would not
Seek My Guiding.
Then we would both
Lose a precious thing,
The you that is
Always seeking Me,
The Most Sought,
And the Me that is
Always with you,
As your Ever-Present God.
……………

THE SCIENCE OF FAILING. It is okay to fail. That is what makes us human. And this sinner is an expert in failure. Initially I only obtained a Degree in the Science of Failing (DsF) from University of Life. Later I progressed to Masters in Failures (MsF). I have a talent for this sorta things. I need very little help to be a fool.

I am making ha-ha.
.

BUT SERIOUSLY. The above prose was recorded in May – April 2009. It is the electrical fire that runs through the soul circuitry.

CLUBBED. It is 6.30 a.m. on the second Sunday of 2011. I was out attending a birthday soiree at a club in town. I am winding down the night at a 24/7 Indian Muslim restaurant near my house. It is now full of boys and girls back from the clubs. I am not gonna sleep as I am going to pick up my buddy, King, for a super-early breakfast.
....
FULL LIFE. I guess you could say that my life is full. It was once full of failures, but now, with Heche and Mika turning my life upside-down, it is also full of wholesome goodness. Thank God for that and thank you for spending a few precious minutes with me.

THE QUEST. Just a final note, my sweet – Love doesn’t provide all the answers. But it makes the quest for the answers worth it. And yes, do not be fooled, for IT IS a Quest. And you are all knights of the White Fire, heralds in the bridal train of the Lady Fatima az-Zahra. You did not choose to be knights and heralds? You did, my friends – when you fell in love with love.

Have a sunny Sunday, sunshine.

Pax Taufiqa.