Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Letter to Julia 20110901

Hi Julia! Did you miss me? I certainly miss you. You and your gorgeous body. Did you enjoy the holidays? Oh, you had to work? Poor Julia! I've just been lazing around watching TV, playing Krush, Kill & Destroy, and working on the yard. You know, living in a bubble, an adolescent fantasy world. It's been raining so much. The rain finally stopped when the fasting month ended, but the pile of leaves to burn is now as tall as me, and it's still wet.

As you know, I didn't really do much to celebrate the Eid, because I much prefer Ramadan. I went for the prayer at 8:30 in the morning... too early! I usually sleep in until 10:00am. The next morning (Independence Day), I took my Dad to visit the grave of his parents, or my grandparents. Chee Cheah wouldn't let me forget the appointment. At 3:00am, she started howling and banging on my bedroom door. She went, "Yowl! Yowl!" BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM "Yowl! Yowl!" BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM. I didn't know a cat could hammer on a door like that.

But it is not sorcery. It is odd that people would believe in sorcery over God. Sorcery is forbidden in Islam. Allah is the One who arranges all affairs. Certainly, I feel unhappy that I can't afford my Julia, but I must be patient and constant. Besides, if I'm supposed to wear high fashion name brand clothes onstage, then that shouldn't be my expense! I would be happy enough to wear a tattered old sarong with no shirt or shoes, and in theory everyone else would start dressing that way (actually they already do around these here parts). It's OK for a man to be butt-ugly, isn't it? So, don't be holding out your shoe for me to wear, because I don't pass anymore! How annoying. Yes, I feel unhappy that I can't afford my Julia right now. I work for Allah, and my life conveys a message, again that Allah is the One who arranges all affairs.

Qur'an 20110901

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

9. If we give man a taste of mercy from Ourselves, and then withdraw it from him, behold! He is in despair and blasphemy!

10. But if We give him a taste os favors after adversity has touched him, he is sure to say, "All evil has departed from me." Behold! He falls into exultation and pride!

11. Not so do those who show patience and constancy, and work righteousness: for them is forgiveness, and a great reward.

12. Perchance you may give up a part of what is revealed to you, and your heart feels straightened lest they say, "Why is not a treasure sent down to him, or why does not an angel come down with him?" But you are there only to warn! It is Allah that arranges all affairs!

13. Or they may say, "He forged it." Say, "Bring you then 10 Surahs forged like it, and call whomsoever you can, other than Allah, if you speak the truth."

14. If then they answer you not, know you that this Revelation is sent down with the Knowledge of Allah, and that there is no god but God! Will you even then submit?

15. Those who desire the life of the present and its glitter, to them We shall pay their deeds therein, without diminution.

16. They are those for whom there is nothing in the hereafter but the fire. Vain are the designs they frame therein, and of no effect are the deeds that they do!

Hud 11:9-16
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Bring you then 10 Surahs forged like it, and call whomsoever you can, other than Allah, if you speak the truth.