SCOUT JAMBOREE LITE - fathers and mothers, sons and daughters...

Mikhail and his tent mates...

Jamboree Lite. Last weekend Mikhail went on what I might define as a scout jamboree 'lite'. From what I could reckon, there was no hikes, no campfires or anything too arduous for these primary school kids. I am not complaining, as like Mika, many of the children were just 10 years old, and possibly their first night ever under a tent. A tent, in a school field in Taman Tun Dr. Ismail, a prosperous suburban neighbourhood not far from my own neighbourhood. In fact, the school field is just across the road from a restaurant that I often go for dinner. So I wasn't too worried. He he he.

Mikhail and his huge orange suitcase. Just what you need for a camping adventure.
I can assure you that Mika's luggage was the biggest at the jamboree.
I saw some other scouts arriving carrying only their every day school bag and a humble plastic bag. 

Delinquent Parents. In the three days and two nights the scouts were at the "camping site", hilarious and almost unbelievable stories started to turn up on the school moms Whatsapp group. There were some parents who continued hanging around in the school compound way after the scout program officially started. Other parents trotted off to the (conveniently nearby) shops to buy additional food and drinks for their kids, whom they fear would possibly starve or become severely malnourished during the weekend. But perhaps, the most amazing story involved a parent who was seen to actually helping his/her son to shower and change. I put the words 'his/her' to be polite, but I bet it was the mum. He he he.

Finally, unable to stand the interfering parents any longer, the scouts' working committee from Mikhail's school issued a warning to all parents to stay away from the school and camping ground until they are suppose to pick their kids up on Sunday afternoon. If any parent is spotted in the school compound, the committee warned, their child will be asked to immediately leave the program.

I don't blame the committee, because, after all, Mika's school is only one of 5 (I think) schools that sent their scouts for the weekend camping program. I think most of the delinquent parents were from Mika's school. Oh the shame of it all... 

He he he.  

Exhausted but exhilarated. I can still recall such childhood feelings.

But most importantly, despite the attempts by mum and/or dad to totally sabotage the scout camping weekend, I think it went well. When I picked up Mikhail, he was tired and hungry, yet I could see he was also exhilarated by the experience. "I really enjoyed sleeping in a tent, Papa.", he said. "We slept at one in the morning and got up at five!", he added. "I liked the chicken rendang (a very rich coconut based chicken dish... so much for the threat of starvation) that we ate!" And happily, Mika is keen to go for more camping, perhaps next time, at a proper camp site somewhere in the forest. And I bet for that one, the parents won't be furtively keeping watch in the bushes nearby. 

But then again... you never know what mums can get up to when they think their offspring are at risk! 

God bless the patient teachers and scout masters, and God bless all crazy parents.

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

MH370, a Postscript -We all know the news surrounding the tragic event of Flight MH370. May all friends and kin of the missing passengers and crew of that plane, find the courage to persevere with hope and faith as they pick up the shattered pieces of their lives. And for the rest of us, we who mourn with them in this difficult times, we can only pray to understand the lessons from this incident, that it may make us a better human being, and a better Christian, Buddhist, Jew, Hindu, Muslim, Atheists or Agnostics. 

Because, after all... whatever the nature of your belief or disbelief, we are all still part of one humanity.

wa min Allah at-taufiq

Hate has no place in Islam

Love will show the Way 

OH GOD...! YOU GOT ME! - the arrow, the heavenly website, mikhail and the melodramatic father

My son need not 'score' to win his place in my heart. At his birth God has already scored a bull's eye inside me. It is my life's hope to be worthy of this arrow sent winging its way from Heaven...

Mikhail a.k.a. 'Mini Me'

Well, Mikhail did rather decently for his exams. At his age of 8, it is not necessarily the most important thing in the world to me, but it has certainly elevated my son's self-confidence, which is always a good thing, I doth think. Perhaps more so than any other creature on our planet, the relationship between parent and child is one of the most complex and sincere connection you can have with another human being. He (or she) is genetically and spiritually your own Mini Me.

It is tough being a parent. No training, no proper certification, not even a short internship to prepare us when the stork comes along with the little bundle of joy (which will soon translate into a large bundle of bills and expenses unheard of by the new parent, especially the father). We know we are not very good, and everything devolves into on-the-job training. So our real prayers always is that we don't cause permanent damage to our children. It's a trust thing, you see..

91. I, Wobot

Like a computer,

Every hour, divine programs

Are downloaded from the

Website in the Sky.

But it is when their elders,

Mess about with their codes,

That children become confused,

And they hang, refusing to reboot;

Ctrl, Alt, Del!

Ctrl, Alt, Del!

Have a lovely day, sunshine. And a wonderful Eidul Adha for our Muslim friends... God bless all children.

Damaged? No... my son just has a quirky sense of humour. In fact, if you look closely
enough you can see the fibre optic cable running from the top of his head to
the Heavenly Website upstairs. It is the same for all children.

wa min Allah at-taufiq

Hate has no place in Islam

Love will show the Way

Schism, Diversity and Unity - a pocket-book guide to avoid some big potholes along the road to you-know-Hu

God, the Saints and You

There are some close to God,

But cannot stand that God permits

Others less ‘holy’ to be with Him,

To be near Him, unassailed

By any Retribution.

There are some close to the Saint,

But cannot stand that the Saint permits

Others less ‘correct’ to be with Him,

To be loved by Him, unhindered

By any Judgment.

We do not own God

But we presume to speak on His behalf,

We do not own the Saint

But we presume to judge others

That the Saint has, with love, shown mercy.

Do you now see?

That is what makes a Saint a saint,

And we mere jesters and observers.

Do not stand in the Saints way...

For alive or dead their stories continue

In the unveiling of Truth above falsehood,

So now... Of that part, which is fit for you?

…………………………

Schism is an ugly word in religion. In Islam's history we have seen the rise of two co-existing caliphates, the Abbasids in Baghdad and the second Ummayad Caliphate in Andalusia, Spain. We also have the 4 jurisprudence schools of Hanbali, Maliki, Syafie and Hanafi dividing the Muslim nation as well as numerous sufi orders - Adawiyya, Chishti, Mehlevi, Qadiriyya, Rifa'i, Naqshbandi etc. But is this really schism?

But in religion, diversity and unity are really beautiful words. If God had wanted a single-one-type utopia He would have made everyone alike. but He didn't. He didn't even make His Angels the same, what more Djinn or Mankind with our varying passions, wisdom and foolishness? I think that this reflects the Unity through Diversity or Plurality... a reflection of the infinite multi-faceted attributes of God. After all, even God has many names and attributes, although a couple are clearly His favourites - Most Compassionate and Most Merciful, ar-Rahman and ar-Rahim.

Thus He has decide to reveal Himself to us, in God's single-absolute-unique Oneness but One whose attributes are so vast that really, we only know Him as He guides us to know Him. Clearly it was fated that from the seed of Adam, there would grow this rich diversity in our differing races and cultures. And I see no harm in this. So long as we know where we came from (from Him) and where we shall one day return to (to Him again). And even in this understanding we must withhold judgment on those who are still travelling in the journey... as we all are.

73. HU-man-ity

I always believed that

Man was just man.

Until HU came

And changed man into HUman.

Then HU made me see,

That from Ahmad’s single Nur

Came plurality,

Thus, HUman became HUmanity.

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

In terrible danger are those who think that they have 'found' God and that their journey is at its spiritual end while they still live. For they are always at risk to pride, hubris and the ego-driven alienating feeling of 'us' and 'them'. And yes, this danger is alive in all of us, whether we are laypeople or clerics, Muslims as well as those who aspire to the Tariqas (the Path) of Islam. Thank God that God and the Prophet is ever attentive to our mischiefs, and correcting us along each step of our own personal journeys.

If the storm clouds of schism is over your house, remember God, the Prophet
and observe patience and tolerance towards those whom you think are different.

Alhamdulillah then, praise be unto God, that you are you and I am I. Two separate personalities but united in the belief and worship of One God. May God make your journey easy (but always interesting). Of course, the funny thing is that often, when the journey becomes really interesting it becomes less easy. Hehehe. Just a thought, sunshine.

Have a happy, happy day.

wa min Allah at-taufiq

Hate has no place in Islam

Love will shown the Way

Abducted and still missing

If you are living around my neighbourhood or just visiting, you would have come across this poster pasted all over the place since yesterday - At the traffic lights, along the shop frontages, at restaurants and retail shops, in the banks, at the police stations, offices, at the mosques, churches and temples. Everywhere.

20. Dzikr is not

The remembrance

Of God and Prophet by recitation,

But through listening.

Yea! Listening!

In the purring of kittens,

In the laughter of children.

In the crying of women.

Distraught mum and dad.

Yesterday, early Friday morning, a little 12-year old boy studying in Mont Kiara International School (MKIS) was abducted as he was about to enter the well-secured school compound. As an international school, the majority of its students are mostly kids from the large migrant diaspora in the wealthy suburbs of Mont Kiara. The school is perhaps 3 kilometres from my home, so the kidnapping made my heart skip a beat. Because if this could happen in MKIS, it can happen anywhere, including at my son's government public school, SKBD.

I will not say much about this incident. I worry in writing about something which I cannot imagine the outcome, although in the hearts of all people is a strong hope that this will turn out okay and young Nayati will be rescued or released unhurt.

Below are a pair of Youtube videos made by Nayati's schoolmates begging for everyone's help to find him. It is heart-wrenching.

We are all hoping and praying.

wa min Allah at-taufiq

Click on link - UPDATE 03.05.2012 - RELEASED AND FOUND ALIVE AND UNHARMED. 

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

The Honeymoon Years - Mikhail and His Homework

Mika was with me in my room. "Papa, can you help me with my homework...?"

"Whaa...?! Again?" I was home and a little tired. so sue me. Anyway, I helped him with his science work the night before, so Dad-job done and sorted, I thought.

"Naaw... You don't have to help me. You just need to be WITH me." He explained.

Great. Now I feel like an eel. But so it was, I followed him down to the kitchen, and just sat next to him while he finished his Kumon (maths and English) homework. "Ah... this is so easy, Papa!...Look, I am doing this so fast!" He said, as if to assure me that he doesn't need my help but only my company.

I think it is true, parents. Many a times, we don't actually need to help our kids. After all, if their brains are not tested and challenged, they won't learn much. And I think children are innately competitive, and their thirst to know and APPEAR to know (without adult help) is much bigger than we give them credit. They wanna feel that "I-did-it-myself-am-I-not-awesome?!" feeling. I get that.

So be around, sunshine, for your children. Even if you do nothing at all. People say it is all about quality time, not quantity, but I say sometimes just being around is good enough. It's like you are a supermom/dad emanating some 'parent super-good vibes' by your brooding presence. This is just one of many ways that your children makes you feel special. And remember, when puberty kicks in, they may not even want to be seen with you, so enjoy this honeymoon with your kids while it lasts.

It is priceless.

Have a superb Sabbath, sunshine.

wa min Allah a-taufiq

Hate has no place in Islam

Love will show the Way

I Will See You In the Morning of Your Life

What a strange morning it is. I woke up and looked at my watch. 6.30am! Half-awake I jostled Mikhail out of bed,"Get up, Mika! Get up! It's already 6.30, you gotta shower quick!" We normally get him to school just before 7am. I stumbled into my washroom for my morning ablutions and when I got out I inadvertently glanced at my watch again. What the...? It was just past 5.45am. At 5.46am I am back in bed under the duvet. At 5.55am, I heard Mika walk into the room, "Let's go, Papa."

"Err, it's not even 6 yet, Mika."

"Whaaaat?!" Exploded Mikhail.

Sorry, Mikhail. My bad.

Later I was driving him to school and saw that the temperature indicator read it to be 22 degrees Celsius. By Malaysian standards, that was exceedingly cold. It rained last night, you see. Seeing the leaves, broken branches and remnants of bird's nests lying on the roads, it must have been quite a downpour. But in Malaysia it is habitually 'quite a downpour'.

127. Audacity

The dew on the grass in early morning makes me happy

The puddle of water left by the evening rain leaves me merry

The Sun glimmering behind a veil of green canopy keeps me cheery

And God is most-pleased with those who smile

Whatever the hour

Who have the audacity to be happy

When all life seems sour.

Life is not sour. Life is good, especially in a bracing and cold morning. I will see you, sunshine, in the morning of your life.

Pax Taufiqa

Hate has no place in Islam

Love will show the Way

Mikhail, the Prophet and ParentCam Part II - The Surveillance Continues!

Mika's, then the Prophet's Birthday

It was Mikhail's birthday last 31st January 2012. I later found out that he got a birthday card from his grandfather, my father. To all his grandchildren, my dad is known as Tok Wan. My dad is awfully fond of all his grandchildren, I doth think. Of all days, today especialy I wish to be reminded of love and recollection of love during birthdays. For don't you know? It is my Prophet Muhammad's birthday. Woot woot!

ParentCam Part II - Surveillance on Mikhail

My friend Rina loves taking pictures. And this almanac has benefited from it in the past by her instituting a ParentCam on my son in school (Click Here for earlier posting). Her son Hazeeq is in the same school as Mika and when she fancies it, she takes pictures of my son and posts it on Facebook. I guess we can classify her as a stalker. But we shan't because she is a lovely girl Rina is. One of the best. Well, without further delay, these are the recent surveillance pictures... 

"Hey, who is this girl you are buying snacks for?!" I asked Mika. "Noooo..." he protested.
"I don't even know her! She was just standing next to me... I was with my friend You Shen!"

"Well, where is he then!?" I retorted. "There! There, Papa! In the next picture!"
Oh, I see.

They appear inseparable actually. Mikhail and You Shen. I am glad he is making friends,
because he is actually a shy and sensitive sort. I wonder where he got that trait from?
Hmmm.

Now I am pretty damn sure they are not suppose to do that.
But I have seen schoolgirls sitting on the railings that way.
It's the 'in thing' to do, I guess.

No doubt in a deep discussion about philosophy, mathematics,
The Smurfs movie and the disgusting icky girls they must tolerate in school!
He is at that age.

Rina actually took 7 pictures of Mika. So I asked him whether he noticed Kak Rina taking his pictures, to which he replied in the negative. I was surprised. "Mika, are you telling me you didn't even notice Kak Rina? She must have been clicking away right in front of you for some of the pictures!" That's my son for you. Nice people will say that he is a very focused child. No doubt others will comment that he is oblivious of his surroundings. For me I do not care really. He is simply my son. And Tok Wan's grandson.

Have a lovely day, sunshine. Salam Maulid-ur-Rasul!

Pax Taufiqa

Hate has no place in Islam

Love will show the Way

Will you not love Me? - asked God persistently

First day at school. Still very dark though it is in fact past 7am. 

Mika is back home. And brought a gigantic poster of Star Wars 'Clone Wars' play cards.
The poster is almost as tall as the little blighter.

If you live in Malaysia, you will know that the Chinese New Year is just around the corner.
This means that the hot weather has begun and the year's end rainy season has ended.
And let me tell you that (to me) there is no greater thirst quencher than a glass
of rippling wet ice water. Ahhhh.

I woke up very, very early on Saturday. I found the Moon lying very low to Earth,
just peeping over the nearby hills of Bukit Kiara. I found her nearness haunting and
her luminous beauty beguiling. I took out my cellphone and took a picture, but I
forgot to say thanks to the Maker. So I will do it right now - "Thank You , God!"

The Persistent God 

"Will you not love Me?" Asked God persistently...

Your mother loves you the way I deign best,

Your father loves you at My encouragement,

Your siblings love you at My own behest,

Your lover loves you at My blandishment,

Everything and everyone,

From friends, aunties and uncles,

Nephews, nieces and cousins

All love you by My will.

Thus, will you not love Me in return?

Loving Me best of all,

Loving Me above anything else,

Takes nothing away from

Your love for anyone else,

If you but understood what Love means...

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

Have a perfectly well-rounded day, sunshine.

wa min Allah at-taufiq

Hate has no place in Islam

Love will show the Way

End of School Year 1 for Mikhail - Looking Back

Tomorrow shall be Mikhail's last day of school for this year, his first in Primary 1. It has been a quiet year, enlivened once in a while with class birthday parties, PTA gossips and my son falling into the fish pond. I am glad that he enjoys school, preferring the company of his classmates than being cooped up at home with the old folks (We are all old here. I am youngest at 41).

With the list of final exam results coming in, it appears that Mikhail has garnered 7As, 1B and 1C. Not bad, but as I was driving him to breakfast on Tuesday, I ruefully observed, "Mika, I see that even with 7As you can still come out with me wearing your pants inside out." He just laughed.

My son is still as monetarily inclined as always. When I wanted to put some eye drops into his sore eyes, he said, "One eye, one dollar." Yesterday, I asked him to carry his own Lipton Ice Tea, and again, the same refrain, "One can, one dollar." I think he just makes these monetary demands to stamp his opinion that his time is money. I never actually give him any.

We woke up pretty early this morning - at 5 am. By 6.15am he was up and ready for school, so once again we had a little breakfast at our neighbourhood Indian Muslim (Mamak) restaurant. The Manager, Iqbal, was around, and as usual he gave Mika some candies. I am going to miss this morning ritual during the holidays. Sigh.

I like to think I can sketch and draw. But no work of art made by man can compare to the beauty of children. Children are wonderful in so many ways. Really, it is just up to us not to mess with their heads...

91. I, Wobot

Like a computer,

Every hour, divine programs

Are downloaded from the

Website in the Sky.

But it is when their elders,

Mess about with their codes,

That children become confused,

And they hang, refusing to reboot;

Ctrl, Alt, Del!

Ctrl, Alt, Del!

God bless you, sunshine.

wa min Allah at-taufiq.

Hate has no place in Islam

The Prophet, Isms and Education

THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION in the words of Muhammad Habibullah. I will fall silent here, and share with you 4 guided and guiding Hadis (saying) of Muhammad, Mercy to the worlds. I am aware of the 2 earlier Hadis below, but the third is a gem amongst gems and the fourth is one which I cannot recall without emotion…

To acquire knowledge is binding upon all Muslims, whether male or female.

The ink of the scholar is more holy than the blood of the martyr.

He who travels in the search of knowledge, to him God shows the way of Paradise.

Acquire knowledge, because he who acquires it, in the way of the Lord, performs an act of piety; who speaks of it praises the Lord; who seeks it, adores God, who dispenses instruction in it, bestows alms; and who imparts it to its fitting objects, performs an act of devotion to God. Knowledge enables its possessor to distinguish what is forbidden from what is not; lights the way to Heaven; it is our friend in the desert, our companion in solitude, our companion, when bereft of friends; it guides us to happiness; it sustains us in misery; it is our ornament in the company of friends; it serves as an armor against our enemies. With knowledge the creatures of God rises to the heights of goodness and to noble position, associates with the sovereigns in this world and attains the perfection of happiness in the next.

STOP LIMITING WHAT THE PROPHET MEANT. And I do not think the Prophet here is talking solely about studying the Al Quran and the Sunnah (Traditions of the Prophet). Oh no. He is talking about the entire corpus of science and learning; history, physics, biology, chemistry, psychology, and all manner of Arts or Sciences subjects… – of which is after all, what the al Quran and the Sunnah encompasses and is about. So for those who are trying to limit what the Prophet intended when he says ‘knowledge’ to mere theology, such persons are qualifying the grandeur, mystery and magnificence of the holy scriptures. They are drawing false borders in the Ocean of Knowledge because their authority and influence comes from their limited vision. Do not listen to them! The Prophet knew what he was talking about, God bless his heart…

ISMS AND EDUCATION. And this is what I intended to also share with you today. A prose freshly baked in the morning air of this beautiful sunny Sabbath. It makes sense to me, I hope it makes sense to you...

Isms and Education
Democracy without education will lead anarchy,
Populism without education leads to manipulation,
Socialism without education will lead to poverty,
Capitalism without education will lead to exploitation,
Communism without education will lead to dictatorship,
Patriotism without education will lead to jingoism.

It is a painful lesson for countries to learn… And I think I have written about the importance of education vis-à-vis government systems earlier. Wait, okay… yeah! Here they are. Click on the titles…
- Meritocracy, Democracy, Moderation, Revolution and the Conscience
- Japanese Tsunami, Democratic Tsunami, Education & the Informed Voter

Have a good Sabbath, sunshine. And remember… study, study, study!

Pax Taufiqa.

The Mrs.Gomez Treatment - My School Daze Part 2

A PLAGUE OF MORONS. Mrs. Gomez was a teacher in high school. Actually I have never met her (I was in another school, the rival school in fact) but her story came about when I was talking to my good buddy, King. We were commiserating each other as to why so many politicians are consummate idiots who appear to take moronism to new heights, treating it less like a disability and more like an ambition to pursue. “My ambition?” They would reply, “Duhh… Why, it is my lifelong quest to be more stupid tomorrow than I am today.”

THE MRS. GOMEZ TREATMENT. So according to King’s hypothesis, these political gentlemen (and some ladies, let’s not be chauvinists here) are brainless because they did not benefit from the Mrs. Gomez Treatment during their schooling years. I ask for further particulars and this was King’s elaboration…

A TEACHER’S DIVINE BENEDICTION. “When I was in high school, all my classmates feared the Mrs. Gomez Treatment. In an all-boys school, being bullied AND kicked about was part and parcel of life, so most kids hardly minded. But the Mrs. Gomez Treatment was a refined type of psychological torture which shamed the living daylights out of us. If so happen you are thick, slow or somehow lacking focus in her class, Mrs. Gomez would quietly sidle next to your desk, then without warning, she would drop to her knees and loudly utter this prayer, 'Oh, GAAAWD! Pleeeease Give This BOY Some BRAAAINS!' And if you are actually smart, you would pray together with her.”

And this is what we need in schools nowadays, I think. The Science of Knowing Thyself and a regular dose of the Mrs. Gomez Treatment. Write to your representatives, please!
May God bless all our teachers. And especially Mrs. Gomez.

Pax Taufiqa.

Footnote - Click Here for Love, Servanthood and the Science of Knowing Thyself - My School Daze Part 1

Love, Servanthood and the Science of Knowing Thyself - My School Daze Part 1

149. School Daze
O’ Ministry of Divine Snubs,
How have you compiled the syllabus
Without touching upon the need
To recognize and control the human ego?

On the basis of which touchstone
Have you given the children garden implements
But no lessons in how to use their hands?
No lessons as to why they need to tend the garden?

You think a spade is good in itself.
But I say, Nay!
For even a spade can be put to murderous use.

TASAWWUF is often referred to in Malay as ‘ilmu mengenali diri’, which translates to the Science of Knowing Thyself. It is too bad however that nowadays not many Muslims here even use that word regularly.

POEM NO. 149 was written depicting the absence of Tasawwuf in the medium of Islamic knowledge teaching during my time. And the conclusion – that sometimes, religious education can lead to crime and mindless zealotry is sadly true today as it was 7 years ago when I recorded the prose. I am a sinner, but even I can comprehend that the teaching of the Science of Knowing Thyself must be an essential part of religious education. And in the context of our ego, which often corrupts our humble faith into hubris, I didn’t even acknowledge the concept of ego, until I was in my late 20s. And in a country where almost half of the population are non Muslims, I do believe that religious hubris and arrogance must be addressed at a young age (high school at least). Not only because it is will help ensure harmony amongst the multi-faith Malaysians - but because it is the Essence of what Muhammad Habibullah is teaching us. Otherwise religious intolerance will grow into a malignant tumour and will eat into the beautiful inheritance of my brethren - it has already for some of my co-religionists… much to my sadness.

LOVE & SERVANTHOOD. Islamic Knowledge education has been in the national syllabus for Muslim students long before the day I first stepped into primary school, some 34 years ago. In my time the ustaz or ustazah (female religious teacher) were, as far as I can recall, kindly and patient dearies. But even up to college level, I do not remember any specific focus on Tasawwuf. It was only much, much later, after I started work that I bumped into a couple of gentlemen attached to a local branch of a Sufi Order. It so happened that they were my close friends. When they spoke, I listened. And I thought that they made a lot of sense. They lent me books about Shaykh Abdul Qader Geylani, Jelaluddin Rumi and a few other old-time favourites of the Sufi library. Hmm, I thought. Very interesting, and it was all about Love and Servanthood…

May God bless all Saints and saintly teachers who acquaint us as to the nature of true Love and true Servanthood. The brighter their light shines, the better for us to expose the deception and ugliness of terror which is disguising itself under the cloak of 'jihad' and 'jihadis' - such bandits are our everlasting enemy.

Pax Taufiqa.

Mika, Usman Awang, Orientation Day and a Debt that shall never be paid

Muhammad Mikhail bin Taufiq was born on 31st January 2004 I in Ward C, Pantai Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur. I was nervously waiting in the room when the nurse came in and said, “Can the father come with me?”. I followed her in a semi-conscious state to the babies ward. The as-yet unnamed baby son looked red like a tomato. The nurse gently passed him to me, and I recited the Azan (Call of Prayers) into his ear (I did it wrongly, but never mind that). That same night, I wrote a prose. I do not know why, but angels were mentioned…

..

8. Pantai Hospital, Ward C
Babies talk in Morse
To angels who tread these corridors

What beautiful talent we sadly unlearn
Weary of life’s maze, twist and turn
Until life itself ebbs to its full and final term
And we lay in bed, old, weak and infirm

Only to find ourselves once again speaking
To angels garbed in light, and with yea, what mighty wings!

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

His first pre-school was Villa Maria, run by the Good Shepherd Sisters. In end of 2009, he graduated. His major achievement I must say is his high tolerance of embarrassing costumes that he had to wear for the annual concerts. Often, I can see it in his eyes an unfulfilled wish to be 1 million miles away from the little concert hall.
.

Skip 1 year onwards, and today I and Mika’s mother accompanied him for his orientation day in his primary school, Sekolah Rendah Taman Tun Dr. Ismail (1) for the January 2011 intake. Preliminary placing of Mika put him in Kelas 1 Mutiara (1 Pearl). During registration a teacher came in to round up the kids for an assessment test. Happily, Mika was the first to finish, but he had to wait for the rest to finish - Waiting is not one of his strong points.

Well, neither is it mine really. So I left him and wandered around the school compound. On a stairwell I found this beautiful poem by Malaysia’s Poet Laureate Usman Awang hanging of the wall…

Translation:
If today
There is a Prime Minister in power
If today
A King ascends a throne
If today
(There is) An Honourable Spiritual Scholar
If today
A lawyer wins a trail
If today
A writer becomes famous
If today
Anyone becomes an adult
Their history was begun
By an ordinary teacher
(Who) with kindness, and patience
Taught (them) to read and write.

I came back to check on Mika, and saw that the pencil box has lost all its attraction and he has started making friends with the boy next to him. But he ignored the lovely girl to his right. My fault - Initially, I told Mika that all boys share a secret vow which simply reads 'Don’t Trust Girls!’. After a brief look at the class register, I found that girls outnumber boys by almost 2 to 1. In the car later, I suggested gently to him that the ‘Don’t Trust Girls’ dogma needs to be reassessed in light of the new discovery. He solemnly nodded his agreement.

After the assessment test was over, the teachers took the children for a tour around the school, you know, the canteen, the toilets, the computer lab, the teachers’ rooms etc. I found it naively sweet that the school authority believes that the 6-year olds would recall it all when they come for their 1st day of school in more than 1 month’s time from today.

The final item of the orientation was the re-placement of children to different classes. Some parents were kiasu (‘overly-earnest’ is the best translation I can give) and excited, waiting with bated breath. I made a joke that the teachers are in fact re-placing children according to how kiasu their parents were. They have no problem with the kids, it’s their parents that are the trouble-makers. I thought it was funny… but nobody laughed.

I am happy that everything went well today. And sad. I feel that my son is growing up too fast for me. But let me share with you a personal observation. When Mikhail was a baby / toddler, I always thought that I shall never love him as much as I loved him then. Such a cute and cuddly kid, I thought, with those huge Japanese cartoon eyes. Surely, when he grows up he will start to develop his own personality and character quirks, and shed the baby fat. No doubt, he will be less adorable to me. Less innocent. Less cute.

Now I can say that I was wrong. My love for him has grown on a steep learning curve. I love him for his good and bad habits. I love him for his patience and impatience. I love him for his smile and his scowls. I love him for his selfishness and generosity. I do, and I don’t know why I do.

As is often the case, such thoughts lead me back to my father and mother. And I believe that they too were faced with the same unexplained mystery. And that is why I know that my debt to them cannot be measured, and their love for me is counted every moment in a Heavenly Scale untouched by human weakness and caprice. This debt shall never be paid.

I would like to conclude this posting with the same question that I have often asked in this blog - If you share the same sentiments about your parents and your children, how can we not be brothers and sisters?

Have a great Saturday, sunshine.

Pax Taufiqa.

P/S – ‘Pantai Hospital, Ward C’ is from the 1st Chapter called ‘the Dam.SunSun.Ana’, completed June 2004.