Grapes of Wrath - sometimes, for your sake, God plays deaf

164. Noble Fruit

From ill-intent, nobility may yet blossom

As sometimes, contrary to the owner’s worst intention

That the Grapes of Wrath are plucked before they ripen.

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Given our nature, full of passion and disproportionate reaction, how many times have God waylaid our bad intentions and guided our path, often against our will, to the one best for us?

Answer: All the time.

Rumi once said, "God, in His mercy, sometimes refuse our prayers." I think there is a lot of truths in that. Like God refusing to open all manner of hell on that damn driver who just jumped the queue in front of you. You know it has happened.

He he he.

Have a wonderful Friday, sunshine. Drive safe, and thank God that God sometimes plays deaf and answers you with a "Say what?"

wa min Allah at-taufiq

Hate has no place in Islam

Love will show the Way

Remember, you are only a man - The Triumphalism of Man vs The Triumphalism of the Conscience

The Roman Triumph 

When a Roman general achieves 

Great success in the field of battle

He is awarded a Triumph,

A public parade of his soldiers and himself

Through the streets of Rome,

With their prisoners, slaves and booties of war.

A slave boy would stand behind him on the chariot

Holding aloft above his head the laurel wreath,

And whispering into his ears these words of caution,

"Remember, you are only a man..."

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

See. Even those ancient Romans understood well the dangers of over-weening pride and hubris. It would have paid Mankind well if we remember and follow the advice of the slave. Because when we take stock of the recent century of human 'progress' there has been many times when a little humility and humanity would have gone a long way in avoiding the pitfalls and cons of our less than perfect achievements. After all...

Triumphalism of Man

The Triumphalism of Architecture

Herald in the era of concrete monstrosity,

The Triumphalism of Brotherly Fraternity

Herald in the era of tyranny by the many,

The Triumphalism of Medicine

Herald in the era of over-drugged citizenry,

The Triumphalism of Psychology

Herald in the era of newer types of insanity,

The Triumphalism of Physics

Herald in the era of the Atom Bomb,

The Triumphalism of Modern Technology

Herald in the era of remote murders and killings,

The Triumphalism of Agro and Bio sciences

Herald in the era of global pharma-food companies,

The Triumphalism of Capitalism

Herald in the era of ostentatious consumerism,

The Triumphalism of Political Clerics

Herald in the era of the 'Islamic' republics,

The Triumphalism of Finance and the Economics

Herald in the era of thieves, blackmailers and sociopaths

Dressed in well-tailored suits and good intentions.

And lastly, the Triumphalism of the Information Age

Herald in the era of ignorance, anarchy and hate, 

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

I am not against progress, but like all things in this world, anything can be exaggerated and abused, until its end product becomes a corruption of the original intent.

We all have a slave, just like the mighty Roman commanders, standing behind us, ever whispering into our soul... 'Remember, you are only a man...' It is called our conscience. 

And it is the best among us, who turns around to the slave, and says... 'No, you stand in front. Where you lead, I shall follow.'

Don't you agree, sunshine?

wa min Allah at-taufiq

Hate has no place in Islam

Love will show the Way

The Quiver & the Arrow - PROSE OF RAMADHAN PART 3

The Quiver & the Arrow (The Ramadhan Verses #3)

My thoughts make no sense,

My words all meaningless,

My future is locked

In the past tense.

It is the hardest thing ever,

To change,

How you hold the bow,

How you hold the quiver,

And how you let go

The arrow.

The Prophet once said, or so I am informed, “If I am told that someone has changed his habits, and I am also told that a mountain has moved from its spot to another. I will believe the second to be far more likely.”

Change is a miracle. You can strive towards it and work hard for change. But when it comes it is like a divine intervention. It’s as if God presses the button hidden somewhere in the well of your soul and presto(!) - Your days and nights of effort has suddenly paid off! Good for you, sunshine!

I am not big for change. But the world turns regardless and time passes and they are not waiting for me to change. If you have any thing that you must do, some long ago dream you have yet to fulfill, some bad habits you long desired to drop, some path to travel, a mountain to climb, a book to finish, a journey to begin, a promise to keep… well, do it.

We all carry the past in us, often wearily reliving our past mistakes. At the same time we are struggling to cope with the expectations of the future. And while we are being burdened between the past that we cannot change and a future that we are nervous about, the present comes and goes unattended.

On this eve of Ramadhan, it is simply a timely reminder for me. That this is the 41st Ramadhan in my life but there are so much that I can still do to be better. And I hope to make full use of this month that way. And it begins with this moment, this present which I am hoping to share with you, an old prose called The Wasteland…

101. The Wasteland

In the wasteland of thy material afflictions

In thy overflowing cup of blame and sorrow

In thy rapture of all things hollow

Know this if you must know one thing

That it is never too late

To turn love from hate

To save joy from misery

To pry thyself free

Of false gods and false liberties.

And that,

As a man

Or as a woman

His Beautiful Face

His Merciful Gaze

His Enduring Embrace

Awaits thee,

Wherever thy gaze may turn.

God bless you, my friends. May you progress from goodness to goodness and leave behind the vanity of the yesteryears, especially when there is today, this fine beautiful Sunday for you to live to its fullest.

Pax Taufiqa.

Footnote - A few good men and women have established traditional archery (and horseback archery) in Malaysia. They say that they want to churn out good archers. But the secret is that they simply want to churn out good people. My admiration for them knows no bounds. You can google them up if you are interested, although one of the more famous is called the Leap Programme. You can learn more about them at their pemanah website. CLICK HERE.

A Beautiful Soul decides to stay on in Mecca - Umrah Pilgrimage Part 24

Commiserating with Zain

My Mecca journal continues -

A couple of days into our stay in Mecca, rumours started to circulate that someone from our jemaah (congregation) had passed away the night before. Later we found out that it was the mother of our friend, Zain (not his real name). He was in the pilgrimage together with his elderly father and mother. They must have been in their 70s - A nice gentle couple as you would find anywhere.

Next morning, Arjuna and myself went down for breakfast. We found Zain and his father there, both looking rather tired and shell-shocked. We gave them our condolences and sat with them for awhile, until the father begged our leave, and together with Zain, he went up to his room. A short while later Zain rejoined our table. He shared with us that he was ‘so’ not prepared for his mother’s demise. There was no indication of any terminal illness when they left Kuala Lumpur, about a week and a half ago. His eyes were tired and sorrowful, and finally tears trickled down his face, “I cannot stay in the room. Too many of my mother’s stuff… It is just too painful.”

Then he continued. “My mother has been on umrah pilgrimage many, many times before. Each time, she wanted me to accompany her, but I never really felt like it.” Arjuna then said, “Well my friend, now that you mother is peacefully resting in Mina (cemetery), you have more reasons to visit Mecca often. Not just for the Baitullah (House of God – Kaaba and the Masjidil Haram), but also to visit your dear mother.”

Zain replied, “I don’t know guys… I also feel bad because the truth is I didn’t have the proper intention to undertake the pilgrimage. Really, I am here because I was tired of saying No to my mother.” To which Arjuna replied, “But brother, to please your Mother is to please God… so come on... no regrets, my friend, only good has come from your pilgrimage with your mother.”

We continued talking for awhile, until I finally shared with him the reason for my own pilgrimage. I said. “My mother wanted to take me for umrah since 1991 (For managing to pass my 1st year in University - second time around. She must have been so relieved). And each year I made excuses telling her, "Not this year, Mama... maybe next year". Until finally, God's plan can wait no longer and my mother passed away in 2002, her wish unfulfilled. So you see, this umrah, belatedly, is for her.”

God bless all sons and daughters. And if there is something we have not done for our parents, then do it now. Because you never know when either of you might leave to return to the Divine Presence. Your parents have the highest hopes for you, and one day you will find out the depth and purity of their love. So why wait to find out? Don't be like me, be like Zain - Do it while your parents are still with you.

Have a thoughtful Tuesday, sunshine.

Pax Taufiqa.

Ask God for God, you Chelsea FC Fans!

My Dear Muslims, Jews, Christians, Hindus, Pagans, Wicans, Zoroastrians, and Chelsea FC soccer fans…

TEACH? I do not presume to teach. How can I? For that would mean I know something more than you. And I don’t really.

CARE? I do not presume even to care. Oh, I write such stuff off and on, implying that perhaps I care for you. But I cannot, for I am in need of caring, you see. How can I help you? If you are not well, then compared to you I am in the intensive care unit. I am on life-support and at any moment I may go.

UNDERSTAND? I do not presume to understand. This is strange considering the amount I write. But it is true nonetheless. Otherwise, I would not be so contradictory in the things that I say and do. Oh no, I do not understand, not really.

.

MERCIFUL? I do not presume to offer mercy. For I am in need of mercy myself. I can see mercy and speak of it, but you have no need of mercy from me - For I am a servant, although I often act like a master. But the truth is, I am blind and forgetful like the rest.

SOLACE? I cannot offer solace to anyone. How can I, when daily I am in need of solace myself?

In the end, all that I am doing here in this blog is SHARING.

I am sorry that I cannot give you any of the rest. I wish I could.

I really do. And YES… even to Chelsea fans.
.
So until tomorrow, sunshine, I leave you in the good grace of God, the Numero Uno in whom you can find all the wisdom, kindness, understanding, mercy and solace that you heart desires. My last advice, if you choose to take it, is this - If you are asking anything from God, do not be reticent or shy to ask for money, to pass that exams, to get that promotion or to win the heart of that hottie bank clerk. But if you are really shameless and your ambition is bigger than all-Creation, ask of God that one thing which you TRULY cannot live without - ASK GOD FOR GOD.

Pax Taufiqa!

Footnote: Oh, btw, my club is Nottingham Forest. I am a sucker for lost causes. Chelsea fan pics is from The Star newspaper. Chelsea was on an Asian promo tour in July 2008 and played a friendly against Malaysia's national team. Of course being Malaysians, many supported Chelsea. Don't ask why.

You are still trying to be something!

One day, a murid was traveling through Christian lands
with his Master when he saw a Muslim standing under a tree.
He gestured to the man and said to his Master,
"Look, Master. A Muslim!"

"No.", replied the Master, patiently.
"He is merely a something trying to be a human being.

Once he has succeeded in becoming a human being,
He can try to be a decent man.

And if he has achieved that, He may try to be a believer.

When he has attained that station, At last, he can then try to be a Muslim."

"Oh.", the boy said.

The two continued walking, until finally,
Unable to contain his curiosity any longer, the murid asked,
"And what about me, Master?"

"You, Taufiq? Why, you are none of the above.

You are still trying to be something."

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

Story is extracted from current and untitled chapter. By the way, I think I shouldn't sketch on rough paper anymore. Hehehe. Salams, and Happy Ramadan!

Labels Can Be Misleading

Islamic courses and Islamic rules,
Islamic books and Islamic schools,
Islamic shops and Islamic banks,
Islamic bombs and Islamic tanks.
This is what my Islam is made of.

Islamic shoes and Islamic sandals,
Islamic tales and Islamic fables,
Islamic labels and Islamic rebels,
Islamic banging on Islamic tables.
This is what my Islam is made of.

Islamic banner and Islamic country,
Islamic state and Islamic party,
Islamic bread with Islamic buns,
Islamic hate with Islamic guns.
This is what my Islam is made of.

O’ Lord, we are spreading the word of “Islam”,
We have succeeded where the caliphs have failed,
All and sundry we have labeled “Islam”,
So what was once the humble bucket,
Is now the Great Islamic Pail.

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

(No.65, from the 'Dam.SunSun.Ana')

When you use the name of a religion with adherents numbering more than 1.2 billion, I think it is only fair that your labeling is judged by the highest standards possible.

.

And if it is not your standards? Tough luck. Nobody is forcing you to use the label "Islam".

It's The Thought That Counts. REALLY?

2nd Posting for the day. In honour of the coming month of Ramadhan the Blessed, and my dear departed Mother who passed away more than 8 years ago last May.

I simply don't do enough charity. And I am just too good at rationalising my scrooge-ism. My late mum, God bless her peaceful soul, is my direct opposite. She used to scour the hinter lands up north, especially during the fasting month of Ramadhan, looking for the deserving poor. Not the sort of poor I-only-eat-rice-with-salted-fish, but the so-poor-that-I-am-not-sure-I-have-anything-to-eat category of poverty. Her name was Arba'yah. Her siblings and friends called her Ba'yah. Her nieces and nephews called her Makcik(Auntie). She did not wring her hands and despaired. She stepped out of her comfort zone and she changed things, leaving the world a better place for many whose lives she touched.

May God bless all our mothers who show that sometimes, just thinking about it, simply isn't good enough.