In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
Hi my Julia. You're so beautiful, and I love you. I hope you're not thinking about opening your own fashion house. It's not necessary! Running a business is very time-consuming, and soooo much work, and you already have so many friends who are doing such a thing, plus others who are more able to put in the work and the time. Slow down, my dearest! All you need to do is be beautiful, and you already are. You are so, very beautiful. You are my most beautiful beloved Julia, and I love you. Alhamdulillah.
Most certainly you have encountered skeptics and disbelievers who bark negativity at you, but that's what makes them so easy to identify. Maybe sometimes they use smooth voices and talk, but when they express or suggest opposition to God and our love, that's when you know to fight back at them with due strenuousness. It would be a much easier thing to do than agreeing with them, and more enjoyable at that. Allah commands us to slow down and be patient, while they tell us to hurry up. Don't ever forget the First Law of Mass Media: the audience wants to run you into the ground as quickly and as miserably as possible. Don't let them.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Letter to Julia 20120229
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
Oh dearest, we humans are such limited creatures. Our minds and hearts can only absorb so much before we take it out on the rest of our body. Why push until we break? The best we can be is on the edge, insyaAllah. Which is why we cannot cram the Qur'an into our brains as quickly as possible: it is meant to be revealed and absorbed gradually. It took prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) 23 years to receive the entire Qur'an. Let alone lower ranking mortals like us. Let's try to slow down, my Julia. Let's try to enjoy our love and life together.
The locals here aren't too concerned about portraying sophistication in their personal attire, but we are a humble bunch. Apparel sales here should be geared towards giving visitors a souvenir to take home that they can wear. Now, there is no real, distinct brand name when it comes to Islamic women's apparel, not one that I know of anyway. Like I said before, there is only one type of dress design varied using different patterns of fabric, or people just patch up Western apparel with a headscarf. Western fashion at its highest is usually a house bearing the name of a fashion designer, right? Chanel, Gucci, Christian Dior, Versace, etc. There are no such fashion houses in Islamic women's apparel. Not that it would be easy to establish one. Snooty buyers would turn to the famous western fashion houses, right? Entrepreneurs in the business would need a leg up to be established as a fashion house. A trend. An opportunity, rather. Like our rock and roll situation, insyaAllah. Of course, the other fashion houses could take this opportunity to establish credibility as designers of Islamic women's apparel. They would have to be Muslims, though. Don't you agree?
Oh dearest, we humans are such limited creatures. Our minds and hearts can only absorb so much before we take it out on the rest of our body. Why push until we break? The best we can be is on the edge, insyaAllah. Which is why we cannot cram the Qur'an into our brains as quickly as possible: it is meant to be revealed and absorbed gradually. It took prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) 23 years to receive the entire Qur'an. Let alone lower ranking mortals like us. Let's try to slow down, my Julia. Let's try to enjoy our love and life together.
The locals here aren't too concerned about portraying sophistication in their personal attire, but we are a humble bunch. Apparel sales here should be geared towards giving visitors a souvenir to take home that they can wear. Now, there is no real, distinct brand name when it comes to Islamic women's apparel, not one that I know of anyway. Like I said before, there is only one type of dress design varied using different patterns of fabric, or people just patch up Western apparel with a headscarf. Western fashion at its highest is usually a house bearing the name of a fashion designer, right? Chanel, Gucci, Christian Dior, Versace, etc. There are no such fashion houses in Islamic women's apparel. Not that it would be easy to establish one. Snooty buyers would turn to the famous western fashion houses, right? Entrepreneurs in the business would need a leg up to be established as a fashion house. A trend. An opportunity, rather. Like our rock and roll situation, insyaAllah. Of course, the other fashion houses could take this opportunity to establish credibility as designers of Islamic women's apparel. They would have to be Muslims, though. Don't you agree?
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Letter to Julia 20120226
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
Hi Sweetie! I had to run a quick errand today, so I thought I'd drop by and say hi to my sweetie. Hi Sweetie! Are you taking good care of yourself and maintaining your prayers? Don't work too hard, now. Try to slow down! I don't have the time to play SL and be a virtual model today, even though I would dearly love to. You're just going to have to take over the fashion biz by yourself for now!
Hi Sweetie! I had to run a quick errand today, so I thought I'd drop by and say hi to my sweetie. Hi Sweetie! Are you taking good care of yourself and maintaining your prayers? Don't work too hard, now. Try to slow down! I don't have the time to play SL and be a virtual model today, even though I would dearly love to. You're just going to have to take over the fashion biz by yourself for now!
Qur'an 20120226
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
11. No, they deny the Hour, but We have prepared a fire for such as deny the Hour.
12. When it sees them from a place far off, they will hear its fury and its raging sigh.
13. And when they are cast, bound together into a constricted place therein, they will plead for destruction there and then!
14. This day plead not for a single destruction: plead for a destruction oft-repeated!
15. Say, "Is that best, or the Eternal Garden, promised to the righteous?" For them, that is a reward as well as a goal.
16. For them there will be therein all that they wish for. They will dwell for aye, a promise to be prayed for from your Lord.
The Criterion 25:11-16
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Is that best, or the Eternal Garden, promised to the righteous?
11. No, they deny the Hour, but We have prepared a fire for such as deny the Hour.
12. When it sees them from a place far off, they will hear its fury and its raging sigh.
13. And when they are cast, bound together into a constricted place therein, they will plead for destruction there and then!
14. This day plead not for a single destruction: plead for a destruction oft-repeated!
15. Say, "Is that best, or the Eternal Garden, promised to the righteous?" For them, that is a reward as well as a goal.
16. For them there will be therein all that they wish for. They will dwell for aye, a promise to be prayed for from your Lord.
The Criterion 25:11-16
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Is that best, or the Eternal Garden, promised to the righteous?
Friday, February 24, 2012
Letter to Julia 20120225
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
As you know, this old soldier isn't all that fussy about what to wear nowadays. I mean, it's OK for a man to be butt-ugly, right? I would be satisfied if I wore just a sarong everywhere, except that I sunburn easily, and am sensitive to the weather in general. I suppose that could be extreme modesty, or simply extreme. Or perhaps fatalistic: pretty clothes aren't going to make me pretty or rich. But don't worry, dearest. I'm just being temporarily gloomy. I promise to dress respectfully in public. After all, when prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) came to me in a dream, he was neatly dressed wearing a shirt, slacks and shiny shoes, and his beard was professionally trimmed. He was well known during his lifetime to be a slick-looking dude. The next time he dropped by, he was wearing a similar outfit, but his face was cleanly shaved. I AM trying to be patient, insyaAllah. Which is why I enjoy Second Life so much, even though Muslim women shouldn't wear such outfits, but it isn't reality, so may Allah forgive me for my abject longing for heaven.
Today, my Mom told me to spruce up one of those ancient sewing machines she had in her storage room. Y'know, the type you pedal with your feet to move the needle. I'm guessing it belonged to my grandmother before. It's in poor condition: full of dust, cobwebs, and it's been rained on. The needle hardly moves. No, I don't plan on doing any fashion designing, or sewing at that. I almost get a heart attack just mending my raincoat. I suck at sewing. It tenses me up.
Most people here don't really try too hard to look sharp anyway. So of course, it wouldn't be any effort for you to out-dress everyone. Do you remember that I told you that there is a HUGE market for Islamic women's apparel? This is because of a general lack of creativity in the industry. It seems that there is only one type of dress design varied using different patterns of fabric, or people just patch up Western apparel with a headscarf. This is not just here, but a everywhere around the world. I feel Islamic women's apparel is an opportunity that's about to explode, given our situation is the right situation, or trend. InsyaAllah! So start sewing, y'all!
As you know, this old soldier isn't all that fussy about what to wear nowadays. I mean, it's OK for a man to be butt-ugly, right? I would be satisfied if I wore just a sarong everywhere, except that I sunburn easily, and am sensitive to the weather in general. I suppose that could be extreme modesty, or simply extreme. Or perhaps fatalistic: pretty clothes aren't going to make me pretty or rich. But don't worry, dearest. I'm just being temporarily gloomy. I promise to dress respectfully in public. After all, when prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) came to me in a dream, he was neatly dressed wearing a shirt, slacks and shiny shoes, and his beard was professionally trimmed. He was well known during his lifetime to be a slick-looking dude. The next time he dropped by, he was wearing a similar outfit, but his face was cleanly shaved. I AM trying to be patient, insyaAllah. Which is why I enjoy Second Life so much, even though Muslim women shouldn't wear such outfits, but it isn't reality, so may Allah forgive me for my abject longing for heaven.
Today, my Mom told me to spruce up one of those ancient sewing machines she had in her storage room. Y'know, the type you pedal with your feet to move the needle. I'm guessing it belonged to my grandmother before. It's in poor condition: full of dust, cobwebs, and it's been rained on. The needle hardly moves. No, I don't plan on doing any fashion designing, or sewing at that. I almost get a heart attack just mending my raincoat. I suck at sewing. It tenses me up.
Most people here don't really try too hard to look sharp anyway. So of course, it wouldn't be any effort for you to out-dress everyone. Do you remember that I told you that there is a HUGE market for Islamic women's apparel? This is because of a general lack of creativity in the industry. It seems that there is only one type of dress design varied using different patterns of fabric, or people just patch up Western apparel with a headscarf. This is not just here, but a everywhere around the world. I feel Islamic women's apparel is an opportunity that's about to explode, given our situation is the right situation, or trend. InsyaAllah! So start sewing, y'all!
Qur'an 20120225
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
4. But the unbelievers say: "This is nothing but a lie which he has forged, and others have helped him at it." In truth it is they who have put forward an iniquity and a falsehood.
5. And they say: "Tales of the ancients, which he has caused to be written, and they are dictated before him morning and evening."
6. Say, "This was sent down by God who knows the Mystery in the heavens and the earth. Verily God is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
7. And they say: "What sort of a messenger is this, who eats food, and walks through the streets? Why has not an angel been sent down to him to give admonition with him?"
8. "Or why has not a treasure been bestowed on him, or a garden that he may eat out of it?" The wicked say, "You follow none other than a man bewitched."
9. See what kind of companions they make for you! But they have gone astray, and never a way will they be able to find!
The Criterion 25:4-9
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This was sent down by God who knows the Mystery in the heavens and the earth: verily God is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship other than Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.
4. But the unbelievers say: "This is nothing but a lie which he has forged, and others have helped him at it." In truth it is they who have put forward an iniquity and a falsehood.
5. And they say: "Tales of the ancients, which he has caused to be written, and they are dictated before him morning and evening."
6. Say, "This was sent down by God who knows the Mystery in the heavens and the earth. Verily God is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
7. And they say: "What sort of a messenger is this, who eats food, and walks through the streets? Why has not an angel been sent down to him to give admonition with him?"
8. "Or why has not a treasure been bestowed on him, or a garden that he may eat out of it?" The wicked say, "You follow none other than a man bewitched."
9. See what kind of companions they make for you! But they have gone astray, and never a way will they be able to find!
The Criterion 25:4-9
-------------------------------------------------------------
This was sent down by God who knows the Mystery in the heavens and the earth: verily God is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship other than Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Letter to Julia 20120223
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
What's taking up a lot of my time on the Internet is Second Life. The name of the game is misleading, though. There is plenty of evil in the game, with no justice, much inefficiency, plus one's avatar can still die. But I do get to choose a much prettier body for my avatar than the ape-like structure that I have now. Don't get me wrong: I'm very grateful to Allah for the strength granted to me, for strength can be very useful in this corrupted world. But If God allows me heaven, then strength would not be necessary, and I would ask to be pretty. Like you. But with greater virility than what I have now.
Meanwhile, Allah allows me to have a pretty avatar in a game called Second Life, and because I am who I am, it is work to me. My avatar has to have a HUGE wardrobe, and be the sharpest looking gal in the room. And this is important, I'm sure you would agree. This involves much handcrafting and patience and work matching outfits to my body type and personality, and sifting through the junk. And junk can be very expensive in SL. Though fashion is in high demand, I don't think fashion designers make much money in SL. Rather, I observe that the choreographers, or rather animators, make a killing in the game. Didn't I once invite you to meet me in the game? I suppose you are very busy, and you don't need to be prettier than you already are so that you would have a fantasy life about it. I forgive you, mostly because I have to be in SL whether or not I meet you there. Business, y'know.
By the way, please make sure everyone asks permission before they enter your room at all times, while children and your servants must do so before dawn, when you take your afternoon nap, and after the late night prayer. My princess, you.
What's taking up a lot of my time on the Internet is Second Life. The name of the game is misleading, though. There is plenty of evil in the game, with no justice, much inefficiency, plus one's avatar can still die. But I do get to choose a much prettier body for my avatar than the ape-like structure that I have now. Don't get me wrong: I'm very grateful to Allah for the strength granted to me, for strength can be very useful in this corrupted world. But If God allows me heaven, then strength would not be necessary, and I would ask to be pretty. Like you. But with greater virility than what I have now.
Meanwhile, Allah allows me to have a pretty avatar in a game called Second Life, and because I am who I am, it is work to me. My avatar has to have a HUGE wardrobe, and be the sharpest looking gal in the room. And this is important, I'm sure you would agree. This involves much handcrafting and patience and work matching outfits to my body type and personality, and sifting through the junk. And junk can be very expensive in SL. Though fashion is in high demand, I don't think fashion designers make much money in SL. Rather, I observe that the choreographers, or rather animators, make a killing in the game. Didn't I once invite you to meet me in the game? I suppose you are very busy, and you don't need to be prettier than you already are so that you would have a fantasy life about it. I forgive you, mostly because I have to be in SL whether or not I meet you there. Business, y'know.
By the way, please make sure everyone asks permission before they enter your room at all times, while children and your servants must do so before dawn, when you take your afternoon nap, and after the late night prayer. My princess, you.
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