Race, Nationality and History - in the River of Time all come together at the Station of the Lover of the Beloved

This Thing Called Love!

I cannot tell you how it tastes,

This thing called love,

I can go on and on and on explaining,

But the thing is utterly mystifying.

But as love range from one station to another,

It gains speed and it gains a different nature,

For love, that starts its journey with exclusivity,

Between you and the Beloved, later transforms itself 

Between you and the Nation of the Beloved,

Finally coming to rest in the station of the Lover of the Beloved,

Where people of all walks of life, race and religion come together,

Beneath the all-encompassing banner of Muhammad,

Mercy to all nations, Mercy to all the worlds

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

Independence Day of Tanah Melayu

History defines you. It befuddles me. It worries me even, this thing called race and nationality. I worry that people pine too much for race and national identity, to the exclusion of other races and nationalities. But truth be told, there is a place for seeking to understand and explore your people's history, whether you are a Malay, a Chinese, an Anglo-saxon, a Slav, an Indian, an Eskimo... etc. After all, you are what your history makes you to be. You may like to think yourself as an enlightened world citizen. But the reality of the language you speak, the food you eat, the music you listen to, the books you read, the friends you keep and the family you are  born in, defines specifically who you are - a British Punjabi, a Malaysian Indian, an Australian Aborigine, an American Anglo-Saxon, an Argentinian Arab, a Japanese, a Chinese, a British Jew, an Australian Korean, a Baltic Slav, a German Turk.

History of Hate. But history can divide people. Why, not too long ago, my people feared the Japanese soldiers tramping down the village lane. Not too long ago, the Red Indian nations of North America were annihilated, the remnants herded into unwanted infertile lands. Not too long ago, the Anglo-Saxon and Slav nations of the world ranged in a terrible war against Germany, Italy and Japan. So much blood. So much suffering. How can we forget all that hate?

In the River of Time. But I have forgotten. Or rather, someone forgot to teach me to hate. And despite the continuing litany of hate and violence the world over, I refuse to give up our common humanity. For this is the signal command and message of the Lover (God) of the Beloved (Prophet Muhammad, s.a.w.s.) at this station of my thoughts and emotion. I am of the Nation of Muhammad, but I cannot be one, if I was not also one of the Nation of Adam. For this is the lesson of Muhammadan traditions, to respect and love all, and to see the different strains and colours of humanity flowing back in the River of Time to the cradle of mankind, to Adam and Eve.

After all, we are of one God, are we not? And if caught alone in the blazing desert, who will we ask for help if not from another man or woman that we chance to meet, another brother and sister united in the worship of God, however he or she may call unto Him.

wa min Allah at-taufiq

Hate has no place in Islam

Love will show the Way

Silver Medal but Golden Heart - Lee Chong Wei, Lin Dan and the heart of Malaysia

Not Olympic champion, but our champion.

Last night, at about 9.30pm I left my house to pick up Mikhail. The road was empty with only a few cars making their way through the overcast Malaysian night. I knew where everyone were... they were at home in front of their television, recovering from (watching) an epic battle between David and Goliath, between our Lee Chong Wei vs the People's Republic of China's Lin Dan in the finals of the men's badminton competition in London.

After winning the first set and trouncing Lin Dan at 21-15, Chong Wei faced a resurgent Lin Dan who won the 2nd set with a confidence-boosting 21-10. In the nail-biting see-saw battle of the final set, the PRC player, seen by many badminton pundits as one the most talented and dominant player in the sport's history finally overcame our Chong Wei at 21-19. The scores barely hint at the drama that was being played on court and in the homes of millions of Malaysians as once again, our champion lost to the amazing Lin Dan.

Because truth be told, I suspect many Malaysians, when they knew that Chong Wei was to face Lin Dan in the finals, kinda sighed a mute resignation, "Oh, well... silver is already an achievement." That is the level of awe inspired by the unquestionable ability of Lin Dan.

Lin Dan. Simply amazing. 

I was close to tears watching the last few minutes of the 79-minute ordeal because my gut feeling was that Chong Wei was not going to make it. And alas, the hopes of millions of my countrymen perished after Chong Wei lost the battle of nerves with only 2 points away from our country's first gold medal. 5 minutes later I was on the road to pick up my son.

Don't fret, my friend. For you have won your place
in the hearts of milions of us back home.

But during the drive I recalled the British female commentator when she exclaimed that Lin Dan had once again broken the hearts of millions of Malaysians rooting for our champion, and it got me thinking... Alhamdulillah (Praise be to God), that we as Malaysians had a heart to be broken. And for that thrilling 79 minutes, we forgot our communal and religious differences, our political agendas and historical baggage, our gripes and complaints... to find a common cause and a common hope in the heart of that thin lanky young man standing alone in the centre court of Wembley Arena, London.

Yes, I am right. Alhamdulillah that we had a heart to be broken. For it is a precious thing in this strange and often troubling times that we live in.

Thank you for sharing our sadness and happiness this morning, sunshine. God bless you.

Postscript 10.46am - And after the match the fella actually went and tweeted an apology to the 28 million Malaysians that were rooting for him to defeat Lin Dan... How can you not but love this guy? *smiling through tears...*

wa min Allah at-taufiq

Hate has no place in Islam

Love will show the Way

Women, The French and Their Wicked Witty Wisdom... of sorts

Heche presented to me a couple of very old looking books, all of which I shall share with you one day. But perhaps the most quirky little hardcover is a book entitled ‘A Thousand Flashes of French Wit, Wisdom & Wickedness’ - A compendium of collectible French quotes and proverbs by one J. De Finod. The book was first published in 1880 and this particular copy being the 1916 publication. The book is almost 100 years old with 100 years old social niceties and prejudices. People were quite conservative in those days, priggish even. Or at least Finod himself had that impression, when he wrote in his prefatory to the collection…

“In compiling this book, I have carefully excluded everything that would seem objectionable to you, my liberal but virtuous reader, the English language being the more austere than the French in its expressions; but, after having paid a legitimate tribute to your just susceptibilities, I have, without timorous scruples, preserved such piquant gems as could be enjoyed without endangering your morals.”

He is afraid of endangering your morals. But I think we will do just fine, sunshine. Moving on he writes…

“A final word to the lady reader: You will see, fair reader, that much good has been said of you, and, alas! Much bad also; this is because no subject more worthy of attention has ever haunted the minds of all great philosophers of the world. But listen to this well-meant injunction: Believe unhesitatingly all that is said in your favor, and deny energetically, as myself do, all that is said to your prejudice. Do not criminate an innocent compiler, who would not exchange one of your smiles for all the wisdoms of Solomon, and who has inserted in his book the malicious remarks of certain ill-natured philosophers, only to show how far man’s ingratitude can go. “

De Finod

My initial impression was - An Apologia pathetic and groveling to womankind. But having read some of the quotable quotes from the French about women, I am not surprised. Perhaps he was not compiling all these French sayings alone. Perhaps De Finod was married, and his wife (or mistress) was hovering around him, reading the manuscripts and muttering, “Hmm… I hope you yourself do not subscribe to some of these vicious things that the French say about women!” To which De Finod may have protested, “Of course not, my little pumpkin! I condemn such prejudices from the core of my being. They are after all, just being French”

Just perhaps.

Well, without further ado, these are some of the more succulent morsels of French wit, wisdom and wickedness that I found worthy for my reader’s attention. And just like De Finod, let me tell you that I am just quoting. Please don’t shoot the messenger. 

 Poor old Hugo. Either he fell irresistibly in love with a Femme Fatal
or maybe his Landlady kicked him out.

Criticism of the sex does not totally come from the opposite. 

I disagree with this 17th century writer. I think that wrinkles are
the grave of vanity, not love at all. But of course some are
prone to treat them both alike.

 True. And boy, are men good kindler of fire!

Uh oh.

 Who's gonna argue with De Sade?

*Gulp* 

Have a lovely Friday, sunshine.

wa min Allah at-taufiq

Hate has no place in Islam

Love will show the Way

Who is God? He certainly isn't Anglo-Saxon, Asian, Jewish or Arab

Who Is God?

I am you

And you are me,

And above us

Is God.

I am your life

And you are my death,

And the Beginning

And the Ending

Is God.

I am not your enemy

And you are my friend,

And the Enemy of Enemies

And the Friend of friends

Is God.

I say, “To you be your way.”

And you say, “To you be your way,”

And we part as brothers and sisters

But only to later meet at a crossroad

And the crossroad

Is God…

Where all conjecture ends,

Where all uncertainty ends,

Where God meets us

In the Reality of Who He is,

And for us, as a woman or a man,

The Grandchildren of Adam and Eve.

So who is God?

He Is.

The One in front of the Mirror of Creation,

As the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful

To all the worlds,

To all the nations.

GOD IS NOT ANGLO-SAXON, ASIAN, JEWISH OR ARAB. Oh ye who is draped in the flags of your nations; Americans, Malaysians, Saudi Arabians, Singaporeans, British, Australians, Turks, Pakistanis, Russians, Chinese, Japanese, Yemenis, etc. God is neither Caucasian, Slav, Anglo-Saxon, Aryan, Negro, Latino, Chinese, Arab, Indian, Jewish, Persian or Malay. It is just the way how we sometimes insult or look down upon other people's perception of God, it is as if we own God... Surely this cannot be true.

Have a peaceful day, sunshine!

wa min Allah at-taufiq.

Hate has no place in Islam