The Definition of Good, and the importance of Adab - The Sinners' Dictionary

6. Good, In Accord

Good, if you wish it a name,

Is in the way of doing things well,

In its right time and place,

With considered thought

And discretion,

In accord with God

And Creation.

I guess it is a little presumptuous for a sinners' almanac to provide a definition of 'good'. But as each thing is known by its opposite, I consider myself particularly qualified to supply mankind with the meaning. And if I am wrong, who cares? After all, I am simply a sinner.

The Prophet Muhammad was asked of his mission, and this was one particular reply, "I brought unto mankind good manners (Adab)". The ideal of Adab does not confine itself to protocols and rules of etiquette amongst mankind, but really and perhaps most significantly governs man's relationship with his Maker, a.k.a. God Almighty. And Adab also pertains to the rules of engagement between mankind and other creation of God, both sentient and non-sentient. Whether you are talking to a King, addressing an assembly of politicians, planting a tree, avoiding to step on an ant, to your conversations (if you happen to have any) with Djinns. From praying in the most holiest sites of your religion, using an ATM machine, to you buying milk at a cornerstore, every conduct ought to be done with the proper Adab. I really cannot think of any daily work and play that we do that does not come with its proper manners and politeness.

But do not worry if you think that you have found the perfect Adab, for there is no end to perfection. Complacency is not an issue when each breath you take, each move you make (to quote Sting) should be one more step ascending towards the holy station of servanthood. Ah, and that is the nub of the matter - Only servants would be interested with Adab. But before the sight of God, are we not all servants?

Before the sight of God, are we not all servants?

God bless you, sunshine. Thank you for honouring my almanac with your presence.

Pax Taufiqa

Hate has no place in Islam

Global Thanksgiving and God - Do not be shy...

25. Be not shy

Gifts and charity to My servants reaches me,

So be not shy to give.

Expressions of gratitude to My servants reaches me,

So be not shy to receive and respond with gratitude.

My friend from the USA tells me that it is now the Thanksgiving Holiday there. And he tells me that one of the blessings that he shall give thanks for is me, which is irredeemably sweet of him. I replied and said that it was the nicest thing someone ever said to me today, except for one observation made by another friend... "Taufiq, you are fat, but not THAT fat."

A couple of days ago a new prose entitled The Third Eye, Love and Her Fury from your prosy sinner (that's me) was published in the Rainbow Rose (Click Here for the prose), a poetry blog introduced to me by my poem-inclined amigo called Russell Streur, who runs his own poetry establishment at the Camel Saloon. The Rainbow Rose is now added to the poetry roll on the right hand side column.

Of the many American holidays, I think this is one of the most admirable. Happy Thanksgiving, sunshine, wherever you may be, American or otherwise - Because when it comes to giving thanks, it should be a global ideal...

wa min Allah at-taufiq

Hate has no place in Islam

Are you trying to be a Sufi, Papa?

Can we be too humble? I think, depending upon your personality, aptitude, upbringing, education and social condition, we all have our pretentiousness. That little white facade which we cloak ourselves in - to be known as a wise man. To be known as pious. To be known as generous and kind. To be known as tolerant. To be known as funny. To be known as 'cool'. But most difficult is to be known as a person without any pretension whatsoever. Someone who appears to be happy and contented just existing. A person happy in the skin he or she is living in. There are precious few of such people about. 

Children are smart and honest. And sometimes you are surprised by their observations, expecting them to be concerned only with cartoons, toys and games. But children are also discreet, and they are wise enough to the antics of us adults that sometimes they do not tell you the truth. Because they are canny already to notice that these truths often make adults uneasy.

If you have children, I hope you will be very close to them. And that you will kiss and hug them every day. And that whatever they say, you can accept without blowing your top. You would think that this is such a natural thing to do, but in this hasty and artificial life which we sometimes get caught up in, the most natural thing can often be the most awkward thing to do. I know because I find it awkward too. 

But I have faith in you. Have a playful day, sunshine.

wa min Allah at-taufiq.

Hate has no place in Islam.

Mika, Tongue-twisters, my Mum and the Oneness of God

Mika doesn't understand the concept of tongue-twisters.

Mikhail and the tongue-twisters. I was out for lunch with Mikhail, Heche and Sharm earlier today. And in due course, Sharm started her normal lets-play-with-mika's-head session, "So, Mika... can you say - Red Lorry, Yellow Lorry non-stop?" To which Mika replied, "Red Lorry, Yellow Lorry non-stop!" Sharm rolled her eyes, "Okay, okay... let us think of other tongue-twisters..." And of course, Mika quickly interjected, "Red tongue-twister, yellow tongue-twister!" Hmm. I don't think my son actually understands the concept of tongue-twisters here.

In the 1980s. Now this rascally lot calls my mother "Tok Chik"

What do you call your mother? My mum, God bless her soul, passed away in 2002. But while she was still with us, I used to call her 'Mama' or simply 'Ma'. Her friends, brothers and sisters called her "Ba'yah" short from "Arbayah" which is her forename. My cousins calls her "Mak Chik", which means basically young auntie, because she was the second youngest in her family. My cousins' children would call her "Tok Chik" which basically means grand auntie. My direct nephews (no girls) from my brother's family simply calls her "Tok", which I guess means Granny. Now I would give anything to be able to call to my mother just once, and see her beautiful face turn towards me.

Let us pray.

God is One. But however we call our mothers, and by whatever name others may call her, she is still the same person. And that is really the same idea with God. For monotheists, there is no other person that is known as God. He may be called by a different name, but when a person lights an incense stick, rings a bell, turns the prayer-wheel, raises his hands up to the sky, or put his hands together, or preaches at the pulpit, or bows his head, or goes on his knees, or prostrates on a prayer mat, or makes holy ablution, or fasts for a day or a month, or does charity work, or donates to an orphanage, all these acts of worship and piety is done essentially for (or in the name of) one person, a.k.a. God. No Christian God. No Muslim God. No Hindu God. No Jewish God. Just God.

You do not own God. The days of claiming God as your property or excuse is over. Whether you are a Bible-thumping neo-conservative war-mongering lobbyist in Washington, a Quran-thumping AK-47 wielding Imam in Afghanistan, or a Bigoted Arab-hating trigger-happy Rabbi in Tel Aviv, your days are over. You may not have realise it, but God is moving on. Why should God be concerned only for a part of humanity when He created ALL of humanity, and not just those who THINK they are favoured by Him?

Love the One, love the all.

This is the price for being loved by God and wanting to love God in return. You cannot pick and choose who amongst humanity that you will love... It is not the easiest road, but it is the best. Or so I am told. 

Have a loving and lovely day, sunshine.

wa min Allah at-taufiq

Hate has no place in Islam

It is Love who dares and wins - God and His Divine Courtship

112. Love Dares and Wins

Today, a voice whispered

In gentle reprimand,

"The pages are for you to write,

The dreams are for you to dream,

The promises are for you to keep,

So all that Love desires and demands;

The smiles of laughter to share,

And such tears of disappointment

That you hide within.

For when nothing else dares,

It is Love who dares and wins."

Divine Guarantee. We do not know what lies ahead. Love, solemnly promised may yet face the tribulations of life and we fall apart. There is no guarantee for love except ourselves, and no guarantee of our existence except God Almighty. We are not perfect and we make mistakes, but God is perfect and no mistakes does He make.

Ah... Young Love.

Youthful Courtship and Divine Courtship. I am fearful of my actions, error prone as I am. So I rest my endeavour on the pillars of heaven and hope that God keeps an eye on me. Young love often rides on youthful passions, but none is more passionate for us than our Maker. So, if you are in love, choose what you do or do not do well. For before you ever felt the first spark of youthful affection and intimacy, verily God was already there, loving you perfectly. Perhaps you cannot see Him, but certainly He sees you and is concerned over you always. And however stupid you may be, and if your young love is not reciprocated and if your courtship of the maiden rejected, if you love God you are simply reciprocating His love for you and accepting His courtship of you.

Ambassador Muhammad. He has laid out jewels beneath the earth, He has raised the sky in blue splendour and He has carpeted the world with mountains of riches and forests of goodness for you. And from birth, He has ensured that you are attended by your loyal family and friends. But most gracious of all, God has anointed His Most Beloved, Muhammad Mercy to All the Worlds as His Ambassador to you, to speak words of Divine love and promise.

Surely we will not reject the Magnificence and Richness of God's courtship...

Have a beautiful Wednesday, sunshine.

wa min Allah at-taufiq

Hate has no place in Islam

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

Dove of the Soul, I am You - God's Mercy and Grace

27. Dove of the Soul

If you are pitiful,

Trembling in your skin

As night falls,

Know that in another part of earth

The Sun is shining bright and clear,

And in a beat of your heart

I would fly there,

To return before the second

With a little sunshine still

Reflecting in my eyes,

To light your path,

To lighten your burden,

To smooth the rough,

To give you the keys of heaven,

To assure with signs of love,

To render unto a flesh of humanity,

A glass of nectar poured

From four tankards’ full

Cheering “Ya Huu!” for God

And “Ya Hayy!” for His Rule.

If you are in distress,

And in sorrow undressed,

Know that in another part of earth

A child is smiling,

A couple is marrying,

A love is requited,

And in a beat of your heart

I would fly there,

To return before the second,

Bearing in my beak a little

Of the happiness for you,

To make you see,

How can you possible be

Sad and weary?

When as the Lord’s creation

You are caught in the spell

Of a Lord who loves,

And who loves well.

And now you ask,

Who am I?

I am you,

Released from

The prison of the present,

With each breath

That you gratefully inhale,

With each breath

That you meaningfully exhale.

I am the Nightingale of Prayers,

The Dove of your Soul,

My beak is made of pity

My head is crowned with mercy,

And my wings are tipped in gold.

And while you continue to age

In your mortal cage,

I, do not grow old.

For Death cannot understand me,

And Life appears transient to me,

Endless am I as

My Lord allows me to be,

My obedience is to Him only,

Not to time, nor to eternity.

Glossary:
Hu means He, as in the only He, also known as God.
Hayy is al-Hayy, as one of the divine names and attributes of God meaning 'the Ever-Living' or 'the Alive'.

If today is a little hard on you. If the place where you are at now is uncomfortable and stressful, do not worry too much. Like a caption in a Sunday newspaper cartoon spread, our life has a beginning and an ending, beginning from God and returning to God. And as God is the One who made you, why are we fearful and afraid? Afraid that God will leave us to our lonely sorrow? But if He loves us best, better than even the love of our sainted mothers, surely this is not a destiny meant for you - He that forgives you again and again for your contratemps and errors. He who is sorrowful for you in your sadness and joyful for you in your successes. 

Beyond the magnificence of their words do poets stutter to recollect their rationality in the Light of God's Love for His Creation. His Light is both illuminating and blinding. But this blindness is not a bad thing. It is a signal of our helplessness before His all-knowing Mercy and Compassion. We just have to believe in Him and believe Him...

Have a perfect day, sunshine.

wa min Allah at-taufiq

Hate has no place in Islam