Muslims often say, "Jihad is not just war. The Jihad ul-Akbar (the Greater Struggle) is the personal struggle against our own ego and nafs (base desires)." Yeah... we say a lot of stuff. But we don't actually mean it, for time and time again, I observe than we are often overwrought and impressed by military history, weapons of destruction and violent sentiments. Of course we couch it in the name of God and His Beloved Muhammad (saws).
So I say now that...
The First Struggle
The first struggle for you
Is to overcome your self-delusion
That you truly understand
What is the Greater Struggle,
And for you to mind your manners with
The ant under your feet,
The woman that you claim to love,
The air that you breathe but do not own,
The God that you claim to worship but Whom you keep distant
And the Prophet that you claim to love but do not follow.
.................
I read someone who decries why Muslims are not "jihad-ing" like how we used to in the past. The struggle, right from the moment of the prophet of Muhammad Habibullah (saws) continues. Look with your heart and see our struggle! Not one moment passes that we are not walking upon the path between right and wrong!
Mika completed his first khatam quran yesterday at his mummy's house.
And it was a struggle. How beautiful it was because it was indeed a struggle!
And come to know a little of that which you seek...
Our Beloved and True God.
........................
Man like to think that we are the only one putting the effort in our relationship(s). And it doesn't matter whether it is our relationship with our spouse or lover, or in our relationship with our Maker. We err in thinking that God is the Most Desirable One, when He is also God the Most Desiring One.
Sometimes we are so far up our self-righteous wazoo, that we forget that it takes two to tango, and that the other has to be a proactive and reactive tango partner. After all, you don't want to be swishing and gliding across the dance floor as if you are lugging a sack of potatoes. Oh no.
So cease your ignorance in thinking that God is like a sack of potatoes. He is waiting for your dance together. And He will be setting the music. And though this is unusual (as you may be a Man), you gotta let God lead.
Because I reckon that the reason we always trip and fall in our dance is because of our refusal to let God lead. Our pig-stubborn ego, constantly rebellious and refusing to follow God. So come on, sunshine, stop listening to your ego. Get off the floor. Your life has not ended and God is waiting to begin your dance again.
Yes. He waits, the Most Patient One. That is His Love for you... and in the Completeness of His Understanding and Knowledge over you. And not just about your skill (or lack of skill) at tango. He knows every atom and sub-atomic particle that makes up the transient and fragile reality that you call you.
Will you be the Firaun or
will you be worse than the Firaun?
At least the Firaun was a
generous leader, are you as generous
With the pennies that you have?
Or are you deluding yourself
That when you get rich you
will get kinder?
If you complain about your
neighbour’s noise,
How many times have you
yourself disturbed their peace?
If you question someone’s
sincerity,
Why should you not question your own sincerity?
If you look down upon
someone’s fall into disrepute,
How far will you yourself
fall into disrepute?
If you sneer at a woman’s
dress or impropriety,
Why do you not avert your
eyes instead?
If you possess an envy for
so-called jihad-crusade wars,
Why are you not thankful for
the peace in your own land?
If you question the love a
Mureed (student) has for his Murshid (master),
Is it because you possess
none for anyone else but yourself?
If you think you can yourself
perfectly interpret the Holy Quran,
Why did God even bother
sending a Messenger when
He could have simply sent the Holy Quran?
If you think that democracy
is the way forward for Muslims,
Why do you think the
Messenger stressed so much on adab (good manners)
Above personal hak (rights)?
If you think Islam is the
best religion,
Why do you feel oppressed?
Who is oppressing you but
yourself?
Who is humiliating you but
yourself?
The nation will receive unto
it the leaders it deserves,
The nation will receive unto
it the religion it deserves,
You preach insularity and
introvertness,
But when the Messenger
(s.a.w.s.) looked within himself
He saw God, and outside he
saw the vast ocean of humanity.
What do you see when you look
within yourself?
Your ego? Dressed in a
religious cloth?
You speak of defending the
faith.
You say speak in the Name of God,
But the truth is you do not
Even understand the
Nature of Words,
And how Words
Can be sorcery
And how Words
Can be
Mercy.
You throw your day away contemplating
over the Devil’s deception,
Until you yourself become
part of his deception,
You wring your heart and beat
on your chest,
In righteous anger at the
Devil, at the unbelievers,
At the Jews, at the
Christians, at the Hindus,
But I see you there alone,
standing in front of the mirror,
And the only person I see you
harassing and haranguing
Is you and no one but
you...
There is no evil but evil,
And you have become the messenger of evil, o’ Man.
O’ Humanity, O’ Muslims, O' Sincerity, wake
up! Wake up!
.......................................
The Dajjal (Antichrist) is only One-eyed because, in truth, it cares for no one but itself...
The Spring of Democracy in the Middle East and North Africa has become the Spring of the Self, in an Age of the Self. Insufferably selfish, we-have-all-the-answers, down-with-the-old-and-up-with-the-new political movement with a million-headed hydra of individual fears, desires and hubris.
There are no real leaders because such leaders that they have follows the selfish self-centred whims and fancies of 'the people'. But they are not following the people, because the desires of the people are not the people themselves. But none understands this because the people sees their egos and themselves as one.
And that is the greatest tragedy in the Century of Self (which is coincidentally the title of this amazing BBC documentary. Just like the prose, the documentary is too long, 235 minutes. But worth every second, I think.).
May we all have a conscious day today, aware of ourselves and cautious of our ego, always.
Doing Nothing. And when you are doing nothing, you are also doing something. For the human ego has to two contradictory abilities, it can motivate you to do the baddest thing in the world, and like a giant donkey, it can simply sit on you and stop you from doing the best thing you can do, for yourself, and the world. As a sinner who has graduated with both majors, I can assure you that the ego can ruin your life either way.
The Ego. Whether you are rich or poor, the ego as the selfish, proud, a genuine mr-know-it-all with a middle-age spread of hubris can make life unbearable. Whether you are sick or healthy, the ego will either make the path of recovery appear so unlikely that it will convince you to do nothing at all, or it will tell you that you will always be healthy and live forever. Both are of course, damn lies, but it is difficult sometimes to sieve through the truth and lies, facts and illusions, especially if you are inclined to believe the insidious mutterings of your ego most of the time...
The Selfless Ones. I admire the selfless and the generous, who thinks of nothing to lend their last penny to their brothers and sisters in need. They have trained their ego to heel, to sit, to stand up, to trot and to gallop according to their conscience, and not the other way around. God bless them!
Thank you for sharing the loft of your mind with me, sunshine. It is Monday and the Sun is shining obscenely bright outside. And I can almost hear the cackle and noise of humanity knocking on the door of my contemplation, requiring my attention. In my line of business, worrying and doing something about other people's problems is my vocation. My donkey is tethered outside and impatiently braying for me to come. Thankfully, I like what I do very much... May we all be guided to do in life what is natural to our fitrah (individual essence), whether as a doctor, a mechanic, a farmer, a writer, a singer or a nurse. Love what you do and do what you love... as the old adage goes.
Whatever you are working as, may you have a wonderful day ahead.
Peaks and Valleys. And on, and on and on... we live our daily life being pulled in the eternal tug of war between love and hate, mercy and vengeance, patience and haste, knowledge and ignorance, humility and hubris.
I don't know about you, sunshine, but these are the peaks and valleys of my own, and each moment is defined thus, and so each moment for me, truth is manifested, being either the Truth of God, Most Compassionate and Most Merciful, or the many coloured truths of my ego - being self-centered, selfish, self-absorbed, envious and narcissistic.
Public Speaking. Things become more interesting as you step out of your shell and into the public arena. Although I am a lawyer, I am more of a draftsman rather than a litigator, working behind the scenes, advising and counseling. But of late I have taken a step out of the dusty bookish realm of drafting into the arena of public speaking and lectures. And I have been forced to face up to my own (often hidden) self image and pride. To find the balance between representing myself as a sensible 'respectable' man and avoiding the all-too-easy trap of vanity.
Below Average, You Say?! Happily, the review so far have been mixed - Downs like approaching a participant in the front seats to ask for the time, only to find her happily sleeping, Ups like receiving a call from the organizers to hold another lecture, and again Downs like being told that I have been marked average for my content but below average for my presentation. Ooh... the pain my ego felt.
He he he.
What in God's name is that fat man droning about?
The sinner at a wedding reception last night. Yet another
experiment in public speaking. But the happy couple (Messrs Syed Khaled
and Cherry Fifi) said they liked it. But otherwise, appearing to be ignored by 1000 people
is always a good lesson for the human ego. He he he. Now I know how God may sometimes feel like.
I highly recommend it. And tomorrow night, I will be forming a trinity of speakers to give a talk on the
economic impact of emerging economies to the new 2012 batch of
of medical students of at a University here, and no doubt, to be largely
ignored by hundreds more of below 20s undergrads.
I wonder how politicians and preachers maintain their sensibility when basking in the ego-boosting, heady and bewildering atmosphere of a clapping and adoring audience? I believe that all great terror, corruption and evil came somewhere from this failure of leaders to find a suitable remedy.
So I guess sometimes it is good to be told 'Sorry, but you kinda sucked!'.
He he he.
But all's well that end's well... The wedding reception was an unqualified
success (not counting me that is), and here is the husband and wife happily
surrounded by their friends. The wife was not so happy later when one old and
dear friend (no, not me.) jumped her, and accidentally pulled down her
veil and broke her beautiful tiara. Oopsie. On the way back the friend confided in me and
Heche, "I think I will keep out of sight for one month, until Fifi forgets..."
There are no doors for kings and knaves to reach Me,
All shall come to Me as servants, beggars and slaves,
But yea, How loved is the beggar,
When the Lover is Me!
.......................................
Lovers are fond of making the sweetest promises, and promising the most impossible of things to their beloved. And I don’t blame them. For if they are motivated by true love, everything suddenly appears possible, and nothing is impossible. They have inadvertently tapped into the Vein of Love that courses through every man, woman and child on this planet. It is a powerful stuff, this love. God made us all this way. Thank You, God.
But love, like all forms of energy, must be cultivated and nurtured. Love is not without its pre-conditions and post-conditions. Who was it that once said that there is a thin line drawn between love and hate? He (or she) is not far from the truth because Love is like a nuclear reactor. If planned and carefully prepared, love can energise entire nations. But if it is treated disrespectfully and callously, it can destroy whole cities. And this happens when the human ego seeps into love, tainting its sweet, generous and selfless nature – love is overthrown and something mimicking love is in place – the ego-driven need for validation, praise and security. This thing fools the smartest of doctors and the most beautiful of beauty queens… It has uprooted the reasoning of Kings and the modesty of Queens. It is a bad thing.
How Shaykh Raja Ashman adored his Maulana! But that seemed to augment and not lessen his ability to love everyone else, leaving each person who crossed his path feeling special and hopeful. al fatihah.
That is where God comes in. In particular, our servanthood and adab (courtly courtesies and manners) towards God. Because from this very basic divine formula of love for the One God, flows all our love for other human beings and other creatures, and all sentient and non-sentient matters in this Universe. A selfish insular love for another person, be it a woman or man, is no love at all. Because everything is weighed and measured in totality, and that includes our friends, family, neighbours, workmates and acquaintances. To ignore or exclude anyone else but your boyfriend / girlfriend or husband / wife is a strange and lonely facsimile of love.
Of course there is a certain balance that you must seek to attain. After all, you have specific obligations and rights over your spouse that you do not have over anyone else (the unfortunate breach of this basic rule has led to many a broken marriage). And you owe a greater duty to your parents than to your friends. And this is the tricky bit, to find the perfect balance and equilibrium. I do not think it is easy, and I always hope to be rightly guided.
Hehehe. The fact is that we often are rightly guided. But our egos are also good at persuading us that it is in our best interest to follow its advice and take the opposite path. And there lies the road to trouble. So conclusion for today… Don’t let our ego into the nuclear reactor of love. It can start a chain reaction that will annihilate our most cherished hopes…
But don't worry (too much) about my nuclear euphemism, sunshine. After all, God is on the side of lovers and the broken-hearted. I bid you a lovely, lovely Sunday.
When I am down, I pretend I am not friends with myself,
Then I find solace in the company of my other friends.
But I have found that the greatest friends
Are those who will refuse to let me
Be at odds with myself,
And who will, with patience
And kindness,
Gently reintroduce me
To myself and let
Love’s natural course
Lead me back to
Friendship
With myself.
Oh, come on! It's nobody else. It's you. Talk to him...
You cannot be angry with yourself forever. You cannot be disappointed with yourself for too long. You cannot just sulk and ignore your own self. At the end, you must face yourself, however angry or disappointed you are. Because after all, you are you and no one else. And no one else can make you contented and happy.
So listen to your friends, and face yourself. Do not be afraid. It can all be forgiven.
Sufis (and everyone else really) know that getting angry is bad, but bitterness, that undercurrent of dissatisfaction rippling beneath the surface is also bad, very bad indeed. When you get angry, people know about it. So it is out in the open and can be resolved, one way or the other.
Bitterness
But bitterness, especially for people who are natural actors and talented in hiding their emotions, is a hot burning lava which will consume them from the inside. I do not know what is the quick fix to bitterness. Yes, of course we need to contemplate and reflect on the positives of this life, in our selves and in people around us. And we can also pray very, very hard that God might guide us away from the dark karma consuming us. Sometimes, this will take a while.
You are better than this!
So in the meantime what do we do? Well, in this situation I am guided by an old buddy of mine. He said that, "Taufiq ol' chum, when I am stricken by bitterness, I absolutely distrust my own judgment. I listen to what my bitter reflection has to say (after all, you cannot ignore it since it is inside of you), and I tell myself that I am reflecting in an appalling mood so whatever conclusion I may have is misleading and very wrong. So what my bitterness tells me to do, I shall do the exact opposite. It is not easy ignoring your own sentiments, but at this point in time such sentiments are not worthy of you. You are better that this! Some people call this a form of selflessness. It is a good trait to have."
A friend or two
"And of course.." he concluded, "It is good to have a friend or two to confide in. But no more than that. For not many people are capable of handling your emotions well. And you certainly don't want to confide in a potential shit-stirrer, no matter their best of intentions."
So my friend, if you are feeling bitter about something, do not give up on your good self and give in to these hateful emotions. Have patience, keep your silence and keep company with one or two good friends. You will get through it just fine.
Gurindam Again - Today the sinner attended a meeting concerning an oil palm enterprise in the morning, together with his partner and friend, Ariffin. We were happy that Gurindam was also in the meeting. Gurindam (a pseudonym) is an elder and wise planter that we had made acquaintance with last year, some stories of which has already been recorded in this almanac.
An intermission - During today's meeting, Gurindam suddenly slipped me a note paper, on which he had scribbled, "The most scary matter is to be a witness to your ownself in front of Allah azzawajalla on what you have done / not done during your world life." Now what is this about?
Mulla Nasruddin - This caught me by surprise. But I held my peace for the duration of the meeting. Instead, I myself scribbled a reply in the form of a story about Mulla Nasruddin, a great sufi persona of immense stature, whose life story and tale is replete with wisdom mingled in mortal irony and humour. My brother, Saiful shared the tale with me last night. He told me the story this way -
Sufi guy goes a tailor to make a shirt. Tailor says, " God willling, it'll be ready next week ". Sufi guy comes back after a week, Tailor says," Shirt not ready, God willing, next week ". Sufi guy comes back again a week later. Tailor guy says, "Not ready, God willing, it'll be ready next week". Sufi guy then says.."Look, if we leave God out of it, how soon can my shirt be ready?"
Many Interpretations - I slipped the note back to Gurindam who read my reply. He chuckled, then he passed back the note with a reply, "It is just a test of patience". I found this interesting because my brother looked at the story from another angle which is "Stop using God as an excuse." But I guess an event recollected in a folk tale or sufi lore often offers many equally valid interpretations, depending really on whose point of view you are taking.
Mr. Mischief - Anyway, the meeting soon ended and I queried Gurindam as to the purpose of the advise, And this was what he answere, "If we really believe that God is with us all the time, we would not do any mischief." I listened and replied, "Ah. Very true. But I am not there yet..." After all, what else can I say?... for it is true... I still make mischief. But now I am wondering why he shared that with me. Did he read 'Mr. Mischief' written on my forehead? I should see him again, I think, and find out more. Insecure? Guilty as charged!
I have always found Gurindam fascinating. So much so that I have written at least 4 earlier postings arising from our conversations. We first met during a visit to an oil palm estate in Sarawak, situated in the island of Borneo/Kalimantan (Click on title to go to the postings): -
Each time I have ventured out of my private and almost hermit-like life, fate has presented me with beautiful people who are generous enough to share with me the most wonderful of stories and wisdom. I think it is time for the sinner to travel again. But where?
23. Judging self We are taught To judge ourselves, But have care that You do not judge yourself And in your zeal, You inadvertantly Punish someone else.
That is not wisdom, It is self-conceit, Alas, a common error Stumbling the most Earnest of seekers.
MISERABLE ME. Self-audit is part of self-discovery. It is a rudimentary approach but essential to help clean away the dirt and cobwebs that spoil your soul's true beauty. But I think man (and woman) is inclined to overdo it sometimes. And I am a fine example. In my zeal for perfection I find despair when I do not meet my own expectations. But this often doesn't just hurt me, but also those around me and who depend on me. I work slower, I smile less, becoming crabby and exceedingly difficult to live with.
SELECT-FOCUS BECOMES AUTO-FOCUS. I found this nifty select-focus option in my camera phone which permits me to err... select focus on a particular part of the shot before I take a picture. We too have our own select focus option, but often we do it without being aware. So just as the camera can focus on a particular point, we too normally focus on one aspect of our life at any given moment. And when we are down and stressed, oh boy, do we auto-focus on the negativity. And when we are up and cheerful, we tend to auto-focus on the positives. But both do not actually reflect reality which is often a mix of good and bad vibes.
TUNNEL VISION? I think that perhaps, true self-discovery lies not in a myopic tunnel vision of our selves. It is in taking the good and bad with a sense of balance, not too sad and not too happy. And to really always endeavour in finding the best way we can serve other people and not ourselves alone. I do not think God himself has tunnel vision because I do not think God is in a tunnel. I believe He is everywhere and sees and hears everything. And if God does not sway in His gaze upon you, surely that must mean that you mean something to Him.
DESTINY. Today is Monday and the beginning of a new working week for us. We are at the cusp of victory, sunshine. We are at the edge of success. We are only moments away from glory. So just like God, do not be swayed by the distractions and misadventures of this world. If we mean something to Him, then surely we must be destined to fulfill some beautiful quest, however high or humble may be our station.
Stake your claim on your destiny, my friend. And even if you do not find gold, you may find God in the earth and stream that courses through your immortal soul.
When man prospects for gold or God they tend to grow long beards...
I was out past midnight with my friend, Longhair, when all virtuous people have already gone to sleep. We spoke about God, love, woman and sex. I said that men (okay, let's just say me alone) are perpetually in the movie, 'Sixth Sense', but unlike the spooky little boy who could see dead people, I would instead whisper breathlessly "...I see hot babes...".
We also spoke about Muhammad. He reminded me of an old sunnah (tradition) of the Prophet - One day, he was asked, "Who is a Muslim?" To which Muhammad Habibullah replied, "It is he from whom anyone need not fear harm, whether to be caused by his hands or his words."
I think today is as good as any day for you Muslims to raise the Bar and reject the deformed perception of many of your co-religionists who are changing their Faith of Moderation to suit their violent and bigoted ideas of what makes a Muslim.
Have a harmless Sabbath, sunshine.
Pax Taufiqa.
Footnote - Picture is the interior of al-Aqsa Mosque, Jerusalem. Courtesy of Syful Studios.
39. The Lament of Abu Bakar & Then Some If only I was blade of rye, About to be cut by a swing of the scythe.
If only I was lost and nameless, Nothing even to my deceiving self.
Like a book unread, Gathering dust on the shelf.
This is one of those poems which was posted earlier (Click Here - Anonymity in the Oneness of God, Abu Bakar, Mary and that Descartes Dude). I am a disorganised sinner. You must forgive me for posting a poem or prose one day, and sketching the accompanying drawing in another posting. If I am totally confusing you, trust me that it's totally unintentional.
MY FRUIT-LADY. Well, I am not nothing. I am me. And I bet you are not nothing too. I think that so long as we are not nothing, we gotta make something out of our un-nothingness. Whatever we are doing, we ought to be the best that we can be. Below my office is a fruit seller. A chinese lady who sells slices of guava, papaya, watermelon, jackfruit(sometimes), sour and sweet mangoes, pineapples and wintermelons. Her business model is simplicity itself. Slice the fruits into the appropriate sizes, keep them in a small plastic display with ice blocks to keep the fruits cool and fresh. Then wait for the customers to come. There is nothing to it. But I have been observing how she works. Minimum movements, maximum efficiency with no wasted action as she carefully slices and dices the watermelon with graceful practised strokes. A skill no doubt honed over years of diligence. She works beautifully and harmoniously.
LAWYER? I am a solicitor, and I wonder whether I can say the same about how I work. Do I look beautiful and harmonious too when I am crouched over a contract document? Hehehe. I bet I don't. I would like to one day. But until that day comes, I shall continue to observe and study the chinese lady with her small fruit stall.
55. Attachments, expectations and satisfaction Without attachment There would be No expectation.
Without expectation There would be No dissatisfaction.
But if you cannot be displeased, Verily, you can never be pleased, And was not Abu Bakar Pleased with God?
So have attachments and expectations, For that state is demanded of you.
Say... though you find It difficult still to believe, that...
"I have no expectations but God, And Muhammad is the Messenger of my Expectation."
"I have no attachment but God, And Muhammad is the Messenger of my Attachment."
THE WHIRLING. It is one story that the Sufis whirl because Abu Bakar whirled. And this is how (it is said) to have happened...
HE GAVE AWAY EVERYTHING. When the Meccans arrived in Medina, the Prophet organised a Baitul Mal (Public Treasure) to provide assistance to the Muhajirins (Literally 'the Immigrants' - meaning the Meccans who followed the Prophet to Medina to escape the persecution by the Quraish in Mecca). Answering the call of Muhammad, the Ansars (Literally "the Helpers" - meaning the local Medinans who are providing support and shelter to the Muhajirins) and Muhajirins both donated whatever they could afford from their wealth or poverty. But above all was Abu Bakar, who donated beyond what he could afford, even down to the clothes on his back. So on that auspicious day, Abu Bakar, most close companion to Muhammad Beloved of God, literally had nothing, not even the clothes on his back.
THE GUNNY SACK AND THE ANGELS. But he can't stay hidden indoors forever, and he wanted to meet the Prophet. So alone in the little house that accommodated him, Abu Bakar happily found some ragged gunny sack and had the bright idea of stitching up some robe or cloth that he may be able to wear. He was unaware that as he commenced his sewing, he was being watched from afar. A congregation of Angels earlier saw him donating everything he ever had, and they were awed by his selfless generosity, "Oh what glorious soul, oh what magnificent specimen of mankind..." they intoned. "What is he doing now?" they puzzled, "Where is he going?" they asked. "He is going to see the Prophet, Muhammad, my brethren...", someone amongst the angelic audience said. "Then he cannot walk alone! Someone amongst us must accompany him!" - the host of God were in a state of high agitation.
GABRIEL AS HIS COMPANION. Suddenly a voice rang out, "I shall accompany Abu Bakar, my brethren." It was the Archangel Gabriel. The rest of the angels silently agreed (Well, who's going to argue with the Boss Angel?).
Abu Bakar was satisfied after he put on his newly stitched gunny-attire. At the very least, I am decently dressed, he thought to himself. He then left the house, but not long in walking he was suddenly accosted by a man, also wearing a similar gunny-sack-cloth. The man (who was in fact Gabriel the Archangel, Herald of the Holy Revelations) inquired gently of Abu Bakar, "Kind sir, where are you going?"Abu Bakar replied, "I am on my way to see Muhammad, Prophet of God". The man then asked whether he could accompany Abu Bakar, to which he consented.
THE QUESTIONS. After awhile, the pair arrived at the Prophet's home and was led to his presence. Abu Bakar was settling down when the his companion suddenly asked the Prophet, "O'Rasulullah (Prophet of God), who is this man?" gesturing to Abu Bakar who looked a little astonished. The Prophet replied, "He is my closest friend, Abu Bakar." The man then said, "O' Rasulullah, ask him, if he is pleased with God." Muhammad addressed his childhood friend, "O' Abu Bakar, you heard his question. Are you pleased with God?" Abu Bakar stood up and replied, "O' Rasulullah, I am ever so pleased with God and what He has granted me, Alhamdulillah!(Praise be to God!)"
GOD'S REPLY. The man acknowledged Abu Bakar's answer and said, "Tell him, o' Rasulullah, that I am Gabriel, and God sends His Greetings of Salam (Peace) to Abu Bakar." Muhammad the Mercy of the Worlds, then turned to Abu Bakar smiling and said, "O' Abu Bakar, God Himself sends greetings of Salam unto you!"
ABU BAKAR WHIRLS. Carried by an overwhelming feeling of happiness, his heart ablaze with God's greetings of peace and entwined by pleasure, Abu Bakar then started to whirl, with his right hand raised and open to receive the blessings of this Divine Pleasure, and his left hand open and extended to pass on the rahmat and baraka (blessings) to the assembled companions, and now today, to me and you as you read this.
Thank you for sharing your time with me, sunshine. I am so happy to share this story with you.
