TOUGH LOVE, KIDS! - the whimsical jottings of a sinner (with pictures!)

I have been rather busy of late. But I did manage to sketch a commissioned work (see above) for a little wisp of a girl. I posted the pic later on his dad's Facebook, erroneously referring to her as a nine year old. "Hey! I am already ten going to eleven!" she complained to her dad, who simply replied, "See, that is what happens when you don't eat your vegetables." This is what you call tough love.

I was out last Saturday with my nine year old son to watch 'Planes' at a cineplex nearby. While in the carpark I noticed the signage and said to Mikhail, "Hey, Mika. I really like the Honda, can you pose next to it?" To which he sportingly agreed. Despite Mikhail's whining protestations I proceeded to post the picture in my Facebook and Instagram, captioning "Heartbreaker.. Ladies Man...". Yes, I am merciless, but I am also teaching him to be more observant of his surrounding, and to be less gullible to his Papa's trickery. This is also tough love.

I was watching a show on saltanat.org during office hours when my partner entered my office, deposited himself on the chair in front of me, and slowly and ever so gently drifted to sleep. His department is uber-busy and since the birth of his second son, his house is also uber-busy with the demands of a healthy bouncing baby boy. So he catches naps whenever he can. Poor guy. He he he.

Nothing esoteric, nothing transcendental to share with you today, sunshine. Just winding down the day in my bedroom, listening to the twilight chirping of birds and the devotional singing of my Sikh neighbours next door. The singing is from a temple troupe especially imported from India, I am told.

Have a lovely day, and may Allah (s.w.t.) bless you and the His Muhammad al-Mustafa (s.a.w.s.) guide you.

wa min Allah at-taufiq

Hate has no place in Islam

Love will show the Way

In the Suburban Idleness of Hartamas - ya Allah ya Rasulullah!

People and God

How I prefer to deal with you, Love,

Than with people.

People who are conditioned

By their past and expectations, fears

And hopes of a bright future.

People who are not able

To be in the present with me.

Like icebergs, they float into my life,

And when I get too close,

The ice invisible underneath

Breaches my hull,

And I am left adrift,

Cut by their words

And their action,

Though they mean me

No harm at all.

O’ Lord, you mean me no harm,

But You would do nothing, and indeed

You would do everything to

Ensure my happiness,

Which is in Your presence.

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

Praise and prayers be for the Message and the Messenger, Nabi Muhammad (pbuh) Beloved of God, and God's Mercy unto the worlds.

Yesterday as I was walking the dogs in the afternoon I passed through a secluded little park in the neighbourhood of Hartamas. I was by my lonesome save for two street sweepers who were taking a lunch nap on the park benches. And it was a good idea, because although the sun was shining brightly it was also very breezy under the shade of the tall trees.

As I passed the dozing pair the wind then really picked up, and a crop of trees were heaving gently, its rustling leaves suddenly bursting into song. Even the sleeping sweepers could not help but get up. For a minute or two I stood beside the trees, as the wind and the leaves sang their duet. Those crazy Sufis like to remind people that all things and creatures have their particular songs that glorify and praise God. It is called dzikr (remembrance of God). They also say that the salawat (praise of the Prophet Muhammad) calls the wind and the wind answers. So for a moment I was transfixed by the ya Allah (oh Lord!)and the ya Rasulullah (oh Prophet of God!) choir playing amongst the wooded hallow of a small park in the suburban idleness of Hartamas.

Then just as suddenly the wind came, it slowly died down and I continued my walk. It was a good walk you see. I knew it because it began with a stranger's greeting. A chinese contractor, having lunch in the coffee shop under my office smiled as he saw me coming in my walking outfit, then asked if I was going running. I said that I was not running, but only walking. Then he asked "Tak kerja ka hari ini? (Not working today?)" Then I said, "Kerja dan jalan!(Working and walking!)"

It does not take much to make me very happy. 

My dogs are friendly with cats so long as they are not snobbish.

wa min Allah at-taufiq

Hate has no place in Islam

Love will show the Way

Daily Planner of an 8 year old - Mikhail and his lunch problems...

An 8 year old's life is not easy. Busy with school and social commitments. There is homework to do and let's not even talk about playtime. So busy. Mika asked for a Daily Planner from his mum. I have just sent him to school, so now I can have a good look in his Daily Planner... Hehehe. I should respect his privacy? Nonsense. Honestly, what DOES an 8 year old need to plan for anyway?

Yes. He leaves for school around 6.45am. And I see he is timing to finish his lunch
of chicken, fish and rice in exactly 10 minutes. What?! 2 hours 10 minutes to play on
the laptop?! And then watch TV for 1 hour 10 minutes?! I gotta get this boy outdoors...
I also note that I am suppose to be back by 6pm to help him with his homework.
So this is not just Mika's Daily Planner, but mine too. 

He has a 'Lunch Problem'. Poor guy. But he has a tip! - make instant pot mee (noodle)
and share with someone (I cannot figure out the hideous scrawl).

Mika noticed that he mistakenly jotted down his Monday schedule on Sunday.
So here is his actual schedule. I am interested with the line "school footnote: check on
website lunch prbolems." I think he has more spelling prbolems that lunch prbolems.

Mika's life is full of footnotes - "Listen in assembly" The school has an
assembly every Monday, I think. 

22nd July... he remembers! Written in his curious 8 year old cynical wit -
"nobody's birthday. no just kiddin. Papa's birthday"

Kids... they are just smaller versions of us. But perhaps better and smarter.

Have a lovely Monday, sunshine.

wa min Allah at-taufiq

Hate has no place in Islam

Love will show the Way

Al-Qaeda can shove it. Taliban can stuff it. Osama is a nutjob - Putting the Joy back in Jihad, Putting the Fun in Fana!

17. Putting the Fun in Fana
Do not blame us for feeling happy
Being at the side of our Saidi
Swimming we are, in a sea of manna
Leaving footprints, on the shore of fana.

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

(From Chapter 1, ‘The Dam.SunSun.Ana’) Fanaa (فناء) is the Sufi term for extinction. It means to annihilate the self, while remaining physically alive. Persons having entered this state are said to have no existence outside of, and be in complete unity with God. Fanaa is similar to the concepts of nirvana in Buddhism and Hinduism or moksha in Hinduism which also aim for annihilation of the self. Fanaa may be attained by constant meditation and by contemplation on the attributes of God, coupled with the denunciation of human attributes. (from Wikipedia - I do not agree entirely with this definition, but it's not too bad)

Some seven years ago, I wrote this poem. A happy, happy verse reflecting my happiness in finding a compass in my sea of doubt, a ranger to lead me through the witch’s forest, a friend, a guide, a Jedi Knight, a Saidi.

In March 17 2010, a friend published an article called ‘Putting the Joy back in Jihad’ in her blog. I found it to be some kind of wonderful. Do read it. I have mentioned Nun Tuck already in my previous postings. If I were to judge my religious convictions on whether I agree with the merits of her words, then I too am a Christian. But I am tired of labels and labeling.

While others use religion to stick labels on people, bloggers like Nun Tuck applies religion to peel away our prejudices of ‘the other people’. Only when you remove your misconceptions of other people, only then, will you be able to break through your own misconception of who you are. Once, you know what you are not, you are on your way to knowing who you really are, and hey, that’s only a wink away from knowing God. *Wink* *Wink* *Wink*

I hope that one day, I may be accepted as those who establish Lordly worship. I hope that one day, people will remember me and say, “Taufiq? He was neither here nor there, but how he loved the Prophet!” As for now? Now I am just a sinner.

But despite that, you are still my friend. I would say that God will thank you for befriending a sinner, but I know you. You are already happy befriending a sinner. You already know what others know not.

Have a goodish Tuesday, sunshine!

Pax Taufiqa.

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

i do not worship idols

.

made of stone or wood

.

Nor do i pray to gods

.

cast in a name or word.
..................................................

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.

You are just being polite. Don't worry.

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

This is in reply to Shal's (aka Sheikh Feisal) comment on yesterday's posting entitled 'RUN from this world'. I actually drew this way back in 2007. I knew that if I waited long enough, there would be a use for this cartoon. Hehehe. I am indebted to you, Shal.

Salam Ramadan, my friends. Just 3 days to go.

Me a Ghost!? ....NEVER!

208. Shakespeare
The world is at best a stage
For ghosts, shadows and imagination.
A path that may take you far inland,
Or return you home to the Ocean.

2. Layla’s ghost
I thought I was tangible,
I thought I had meaning,
I thought I was a lover,
Ruling with the heart of a king.

I now know
I am none of the above,
I am but a ghost,
A vagrant amongst the living.

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

From the chapters entitled 'The Dam.SunSun.Ana' and 'These Words', and posted here in response to my dear friend, Feisal Bajrai's question (via Facebook) to an earlier posting. So you see, Feisal, my conscience is quite prepared to be a ghost to God's True Reality. But my ego doesn't want to be some silly intangible ghost! My ego is NOT prepared to play a minor role... It wants to be the Real Thing!

Stupid stubborn ego.

Help!

Do something useful (No.19, from 'Only a Thought Away')

Do something useful,
And fritter not your seconds away,
For moments gone will not return,
Nor days spent in wasteful play.

For worthy work exists
Outside the governance of time.

And those who dwell there
Bends and stretches time
As befits the varying needs
Of their work.