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
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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.
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.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Qur'an 20120221
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
51. The answer of the believers when summoned to Allah and God's messenger, in order that he may judge between them, is no other than this: "We hear and we obey." It is such as these that will attain felicity.
52. It is such as obey Allah and God's messenger, and fear Allah and do right, that will win.
53. They swear their strongest oaths by Allah that, if only you would command them, they would deploy. Say, "Swear you not. Obedience is reasonable. Verily, Allah is well-acquainted with all that you do."
54. Say, "Obey Allah, and obey the messenger. But if you turn away, he is only responsible for the duty placed on him, and you for that placed on you. If you obey him, you shall be on right guidance. The messenger's duty is only to preach the clear."
55. Allah has promised to those among you who believe and work righteous deeds that God will, of a surety, grant them in the land inheritance as God granted it to those before them; that God will establish in authority their religion, the one which God has chosen for them; and that God will change the fear of theirs to one of security and peace. They will worship God and not associate any with God. If any do reject Faith after this, they are rebellious and wicked.
The Light 24:51-55
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Swear you not. Obedience is reasonable. Verily, Allah is well-acquainted with all that you do.
Obey Allah, and obey the messenger. But if you turn away, he is only responsible for the duty placed on him, and you for that placed on you. If you obey him, you shall be on right guidance. The messenger's duty is only to preach the clear.
51. The answer of the believers when summoned to Allah and God's messenger, in order that he may judge between them, is no other than this: "We hear and we obey." It is such as these that will attain felicity.
52. It is such as obey Allah and God's messenger, and fear Allah and do right, that will win.
53. They swear their strongest oaths by Allah that, if only you would command them, they would deploy. Say, "Swear you not. Obedience is reasonable. Verily, Allah is well-acquainted with all that you do."
54. Say, "Obey Allah, and obey the messenger. But if you turn away, he is only responsible for the duty placed on him, and you for that placed on you. If you obey him, you shall be on right guidance. The messenger's duty is only to preach the clear."
55. Allah has promised to those among you who believe and work righteous deeds that God will, of a surety, grant them in the land inheritance as God granted it to those before them; that God will establish in authority their religion, the one which God has chosen for them; and that God will change the fear of theirs to one of security and peace. They will worship God and not associate any with God. If any do reject Faith after this, they are rebellious and wicked.
The Light 24:51-55
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Swear you not. Obedience is reasonable. Verily, Allah is well-acquainted with all that you do.
Obey Allah, and obey the messenger. But if you turn away, he is only responsible for the duty placed on him, and you for that placed on you. If you obey him, you shall be on right guidance. The messenger's duty is only to preach the clear.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Letter to Julia 20120221
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
YOOOOOLIIIIIIEEEEEEEE!
Hello again today, my beloved Julia! Are you working hard? I saw some of your Victoria's Secret buddies over at the opening of the Victoria's Secret store at the international airport. Well, actually, I saw them in an old newspaper clipping. Yeah, it is old news, but the Qur'an is more accurate and up-to-date than the newspaper, so I live my life of what God says, insyaAllah. Anyway, I think it's a great idea to put a store at the airport. I don't have to go into the city to buy my underwear! Well, I don't wear lingerie anymore. I don't pass anymore, so I don't bother with trying to look pretty. What's the point of wearing dainty underwear when you're built like a chimpanzee?
It must be tiring for your friends to have to fly all the way out here for a store opening. I'm glad that you didn't have to: please remember our goal, which is to SLOW DOWN. That's because you are my princess, and when we are married insyaAllah, we will be going everywhere together, so be prepared and bring your prayer apparel, so we can pray and run at the mosques. I find that even though I'm just a songbird in a cage, I have tons to do to maintain my cage! And when you are here with me insyaAllah, there will be tons to do together to maintain our cage.
Thus, I find myself busy everyday, doing mundane things, doing things for music and beauty, and doing things for Allah. I even have to schedule time to be lazy. I really need an Internet connection at home. It's not that I would babble everyday because I'm not the talkative type, and I would rather have you with me here. But it would be nice not to have to drive all the way to town to the Internet cafe. I'm sooooooo backed up with work to do on the Internet. Aaaaaagh!
YOOOOOLIIIIIIEEEEEEEE!
Hello again today, my beloved Julia! Are you working hard? I saw some of your Victoria's Secret buddies over at the opening of the Victoria's Secret store at the international airport. Well, actually, I saw them in an old newspaper clipping. Yeah, it is old news, but the Qur'an is more accurate and up-to-date than the newspaper, so I live my life of what God says, insyaAllah. Anyway, I think it's a great idea to put a store at the airport. I don't have to go into the city to buy my underwear! Well, I don't wear lingerie anymore. I don't pass anymore, so I don't bother with trying to look pretty. What's the point of wearing dainty underwear when you're built like a chimpanzee?
It must be tiring for your friends to have to fly all the way out here for a store opening. I'm glad that you didn't have to: please remember our goal, which is to SLOW DOWN. That's because you are my princess, and when we are married insyaAllah, we will be going everywhere together, so be prepared and bring your prayer apparel, so we can pray and run at the mosques. I find that even though I'm just a songbird in a cage, I have tons to do to maintain my cage! And when you are here with me insyaAllah, there will be tons to do together to maintain our cage.
Thus, I find myself busy everyday, doing mundane things, doing things for music and beauty, and doing things for Allah. I even have to schedule time to be lazy. I really need an Internet connection at home. It's not that I would babble everyday because I'm not the talkative type, and I would rather have you with me here. But it would be nice not to have to drive all the way to town to the Internet cafe. I'm sooooooo backed up with work to do on the Internet. Aaaaaagh!
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Letter to Julia 20120220
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
It sure rained heavily yesterday. It had been so stupendously hot lately, and yesterday was hot too, that I was shocked at the amount of water that came down. Thw weather can sure change quickly, Julia. So much for human superiority. So today, I didn't have to water my flowers as I usually do before sunset, even though it was another hot day. I sat in the yard and just watched the sky. And right before my eyes, the weather started to change. The bright sun was being washed away by a sudden storm. The clouds up high were moving soooo fast Julia, faster than any airplane I've seen travel. I could see the clouds swirling and swirling around, but there was no hail. Not yet. I knew I had to shut the windows on the east facade of the house, but I was still shocked at the fury of the wind that blew the torrents of water that hammered that side of the house. Even with the windows shut, a lot of water was blown into the house, and I had much mopping to do. Even little Chee Cheah had to run and hide at the other side of the house. But the storm stopped just shy of sunset, and the sun came out again but only for a few minutes. Then it started to rain lightly, and it's still raining right now at 10pm.
Talk about the weather! Well, I could talk about chickens and wild dogs, but they're not my chickens: I just have to tolerate them, in the name of love and compassion. The dogs don't belong to me, either. They belong to Allah. Everything belongs to Allah.
It sure rained heavily yesterday. It had been so stupendously hot lately, and yesterday was hot too, that I was shocked at the amount of water that came down. Thw weather can sure change quickly, Julia. So much for human superiority. So today, I didn't have to water my flowers as I usually do before sunset, even though it was another hot day. I sat in the yard and just watched the sky. And right before my eyes, the weather started to change. The bright sun was being washed away by a sudden storm. The clouds up high were moving soooo fast Julia, faster than any airplane I've seen travel. I could see the clouds swirling and swirling around, but there was no hail. Not yet. I knew I had to shut the windows on the east facade of the house, but I was still shocked at the fury of the wind that blew the torrents of water that hammered that side of the house. Even with the windows shut, a lot of water was blown into the house, and I had much mopping to do. Even little Chee Cheah had to run and hide at the other side of the house. But the storm stopped just shy of sunset, and the sun came out again but only for a few minutes. Then it started to rain lightly, and it's still raining right now at 10pm.
Talk about the weather! Well, I could talk about chickens and wild dogs, but they're not my chickens: I just have to tolerate them, in the name of love and compassion. The dogs don't belong to me, either. They belong to Allah. Everything belongs to Allah.
Friday, February 17, 2012
Letter to Julia 20120218
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
Hi there, sweet Julia! My, I can sense that you are extra intense lately. Hey, I like you that way, my intensely gorgeous girl! Go ahead and scare them. You turn me on!
I found some clams last Wednesday evening at the night market. Good sized ones too, with no sand! The great thing about clams is the broth: that's the juice inside the living clam before it opens up from being cooked. I fried up the little suckers in a wok using a touch of my Mom's recipe, namely some chilli sauce (if you've forgotten, chilli sauce is tomato ketchup with chilli flavoring). But theoretically, you can fry it up in anything, because what gives the flavor is the clam broth. Make sure you cook clams to death! Or more practically, until every single one of those bad boys is wide open. The broth generated in this session was particularly intense, so I couldn't slurp up all that soup: I could only dip my clam into the broth like a spoon and suck out the meat. I didn't waste the leftover broth, though. I froze it and used it the next day to make fried noodles. Ah, what mild but flavorful fried noodles! It almost tasted like a pasta salad. Clam broth becomes poisonous quickly, so please make sure you use it all up immediately! I offered some noodles to my Mom, but she refused. One thing about my Mom, she's the most competitive cook in the world.
Well, I'm going to go enjoy some ice cream now. You take care of yourself, my beautiful dearest, and please maintain your prayers. I'll be here waiting in all chastity for the day when Allah allows me the means to marry you. I love you, Julia.
Hi there, sweet Julia! My, I can sense that you are extra intense lately. Hey, I like you that way, my intensely gorgeous girl! Go ahead and scare them. You turn me on!
I found some clams last Wednesday evening at the night market. Good sized ones too, with no sand! The great thing about clams is the broth: that's the juice inside the living clam before it opens up from being cooked. I fried up the little suckers in a wok using a touch of my Mom's recipe, namely some chilli sauce (if you've forgotten, chilli sauce is tomato ketchup with chilli flavoring). But theoretically, you can fry it up in anything, because what gives the flavor is the clam broth. Make sure you cook clams to death! Or more practically, until every single one of those bad boys is wide open. The broth generated in this session was particularly intense, so I couldn't slurp up all that soup: I could only dip my clam into the broth like a spoon and suck out the meat. I didn't waste the leftover broth, though. I froze it and used it the next day to make fried noodles. Ah, what mild but flavorful fried noodles! It almost tasted like a pasta salad. Clam broth becomes poisonous quickly, so please make sure you use it all up immediately! I offered some noodles to my Mom, but she refused. One thing about my Mom, she's the most competitive cook in the world.
Well, I'm going to go enjoy some ice cream now. You take care of yourself, my beautiful dearest, and please maintain your prayers. I'll be here waiting in all chastity for the day when Allah allows me the means to marry you. I love you, Julia.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Letter to Julia 20120216
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
How are you feeling, my darling Julia? How's it like to be a rock and roll princess? Oh, so many of those people admire your purity in beauty, my beloved. Allah does purify whom Allah wills, so make sure you give God the credit.
It's really hard to achieve purity and simplicity in cooking when using leftovers, especially someone else's leftovers. Purity and simplicity combined is the key to cooking food that doesn't give food poisoning. But sometimes we are forced to use up the leftovers, so with leftovers the key to good cooking is neutralization. Ya ya!
Anyway, there's been an abundance of sliced cheese and cream cheese in my cooler lately, so I've been enjoying cheeseburgers and steak and cheese sandwiches. Alhamdulillah. I also had some oyster mushrooms and broccoli, so I thought I would try to make cream of chicken, broccoli and mushroom soup. It tasted OK, but I feel it would have been better if I had made cream of chicken or cream of broccoli or cream of mushroom soup instead. Simplicity!
Anyway, especially now you have become such the center of attention, you must lower your gaze and guard your modesty, and not try to draw attention to your beauty and ornaments. While this is true for all Muslim women, it is especially unnecessary for you to exhibit yourself. Those who love to see scandal broadcast all over the world will get stomped on eventually. You just make sure you don't stoke the gossip by showing off your bosom etc. Forget the past, and be the princess now and forever.
How are you feeling, my darling Julia? How's it like to be a rock and roll princess? Oh, so many of those people admire your purity in beauty, my beloved. Allah does purify whom Allah wills, so make sure you give God the credit.
It's really hard to achieve purity and simplicity in cooking when using leftovers, especially someone else's leftovers. Purity and simplicity combined is the key to cooking food that doesn't give food poisoning. But sometimes we are forced to use up the leftovers, so with leftovers the key to good cooking is neutralization. Ya ya!
Anyway, there's been an abundance of sliced cheese and cream cheese in my cooler lately, so I've been enjoying cheeseburgers and steak and cheese sandwiches. Alhamdulillah. I also had some oyster mushrooms and broccoli, so I thought I would try to make cream of chicken, broccoli and mushroom soup. It tasted OK, but I feel it would have been better if I had made cream of chicken or cream of broccoli or cream of mushroom soup instead. Simplicity!
Anyway, especially now you have become such the center of attention, you must lower your gaze and guard your modesty, and not try to draw attention to your beauty and ornaments. While this is true for all Muslim women, it is especially unnecessary for you to exhibit yourself. Those who love to see scandal broadcast all over the world will get stomped on eventually. You just make sure you don't stoke the gossip by showing off your bosom etc. Forget the past, and be the princess now and forever.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Letter to Julia 20120213
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
As you know my beloved, beautiful sweetheart, everyday is a day of love and romance, and I love you each and every day. And it's all the same day anyway, and today I pledge my love to you, and I want to marry you, and live and be in love and happiness with you in this life as well as the hereafter, insyaAllah. I put my faith in Allah for God to grant us everlasting love everyday, and I don't need some "saint" to tell me to love you once every year.
The Qur'an places strict guidelines for the relationship between a man and a woman. After all, the love thereof is sacred, right? For example, in cases of fornication, 4 witnesses must be produced to prove that the chaste woman is guilty. God's rules in the Qur'an are perfect, after all, it is all to easy to revert to an animal state, especially in matters of lust, sex, greed and revenge. Many humans and humanists would argue the Qur'an's laws of relationships are archaic, but are these people really as advanced or progressive as they think they are? Could it be that they wish to intellectualize and legalize their animal state? Women seem to be getting more and more naked in public each passing day. Isn't freedom of choice actually the right to dance naked in the streets and the right to throw unwanted babies into the trash? No, today we have abortion. How compassionate and humanistic. Sure, there are the victims of rape. As the rapist follows his animal lust, so do some other people wish to protect their choice to follow their animal lust. How is that connected to abortion? But this is not a discussion of abortion: it's about the relationship between a man and a woman. Oh, but to be human is to have options! It's kind of like choosing to be born. Meanwhile, I chose celibacy to honor our sacred love.
So many people exalt love over all, being swept away and consumed by their emotions and all that, and succumbing to confusion instigated by the devil in the matter of the relationship between a man and a woman, and the sanctity of thus in respect to our relationship with God. But the devil can be beaten at his own game. Please be constantly aware! And seek protection with Allah from Satan, the rejected. I would have never met you if it had not been for the mercy of of Allah. Thus, I wish for Allah to bless our love.
As you know my beloved, beautiful sweetheart, everyday is a day of love and romance, and I love you each and every day. And it's all the same day anyway, and today I pledge my love to you, and I want to marry you, and live and be in love and happiness with you in this life as well as the hereafter, insyaAllah. I put my faith in Allah for God to grant us everlasting love everyday, and I don't need some "saint" to tell me to love you once every year.
The Qur'an places strict guidelines for the relationship between a man and a woman. After all, the love thereof is sacred, right? For example, in cases of fornication, 4 witnesses must be produced to prove that the chaste woman is guilty. God's rules in the Qur'an are perfect, after all, it is all to easy to revert to an animal state, especially in matters of lust, sex, greed and revenge. Many humans and humanists would argue the Qur'an's laws of relationships are archaic, but are these people really as advanced or progressive as they think they are? Could it be that they wish to intellectualize and legalize their animal state? Women seem to be getting more and more naked in public each passing day. Isn't freedom of choice actually the right to dance naked in the streets and the right to throw unwanted babies into the trash? No, today we have abortion. How compassionate and humanistic. Sure, there are the victims of rape. As the rapist follows his animal lust, so do some other people wish to protect their choice to follow their animal lust. How is that connected to abortion? But this is not a discussion of abortion: it's about the relationship between a man and a woman. Oh, but to be human is to have options! It's kind of like choosing to be born. Meanwhile, I chose celibacy to honor our sacred love.
So many people exalt love over all, being swept away and consumed by their emotions and all that, and succumbing to confusion instigated by the devil in the matter of the relationship between a man and a woman, and the sanctity of thus in respect to our relationship with God. But the devil can be beaten at his own game. Please be constantly aware! And seek protection with Allah from Satan, the rejected. I would have never met you if it had not been for the mercy of of Allah. Thus, I wish for Allah to bless our love.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Letter to Julia 20120211
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
Hi Julia! How are you feeling, my gorgeous one? I'm feeling a bit sore, because I've been doing much yard work. Yes, I finally have some time to do yard work. In particular, there is this tree at the back of my house, which happens to be the tallest tree on the compound. It grew at the side of the ditch behind my house, and it leaned over my house, For months now I was wondering how to safely chop that tree, because it was dying and rotting, and it would fall sooner or later. I have 2 giant mango trees behind my house as well, and my Mom said that the mango trees would stop the dead tree from breaking my roof. I decided to give the dead tree the axe anyway.
I was worried that the tree was bent in such a way that it would fall on top of my house, or on top of me as I chop it. Since it was growing at the side of a ditch, I could only chop it at one angle. So I stood on a chair and focused on a spot high on a tree where it bent slightly sideways. I chopped with my long machete, to keep my distance in case the thing fell on my head, and my axe is too heavy to cut it that high. Anyway, God was nice to me, and I was able to take off 6 foot portions of the very tall tree while the 2 mango trees kept it upright. Amazing, huh? I finally reached a point where I had room in my back yard to knock the tree down, so I used my axe to knock and slide the base of the tree so it fell neatly lengthwise across my back yard. Alhamdulillah!
Well, I suppose that chopping down a tree in my back yard may seem mundane, but to me it wasn't. I'm a musician, not a lumberjack. But most people couldn't care either way if that tree fell on my roof or on my head. It's not as if I were bringing some international corporation crashing down to the dirt. Oh well, story of my life. Hey, when we are together, we'll talk about what to wear and what to eat instead of chopping trees. InsyaAllah.
Hi Julia! How are you feeling, my gorgeous one? I'm feeling a bit sore, because I've been doing much yard work. Yes, I finally have some time to do yard work. In particular, there is this tree at the back of my house, which happens to be the tallest tree on the compound. It grew at the side of the ditch behind my house, and it leaned over my house, For months now I was wondering how to safely chop that tree, because it was dying and rotting, and it would fall sooner or later. I have 2 giant mango trees behind my house as well, and my Mom said that the mango trees would stop the dead tree from breaking my roof. I decided to give the dead tree the axe anyway.
I was worried that the tree was bent in such a way that it would fall on top of my house, or on top of me as I chop it. Since it was growing at the side of a ditch, I could only chop it at one angle. So I stood on a chair and focused on a spot high on a tree where it bent slightly sideways. I chopped with my long machete, to keep my distance in case the thing fell on my head, and my axe is too heavy to cut it that high. Anyway, God was nice to me, and I was able to take off 6 foot portions of the very tall tree while the 2 mango trees kept it upright. Amazing, huh? I finally reached a point where I had room in my back yard to knock the tree down, so I used my axe to knock and slide the base of the tree so it fell neatly lengthwise across my back yard. Alhamdulillah!
Well, I suppose that chopping down a tree in my back yard may seem mundane, but to me it wasn't. I'm a musician, not a lumberjack. But most people couldn't care either way if that tree fell on my roof or on my head. It's not as if I were bringing some international corporation crashing down to the dirt. Oh well, story of my life. Hey, when we are together, we'll talk about what to wear and what to eat instead of chopping trees. InsyaAllah.
Qur'an 20120211
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
115. Did you then think that We had created you as a joke, and that you would not be brought back to Us?
116. Therefore exalted be Allah, the King, the Reality, there is no god but God, the Lord of the Throne of Honor!
117. If anyone invokes, besides Allah, any other god, he has no authority therefor, and his reckoning will be only with his Lord. And verily the unbelievers will fail to win through.
118. So say, "O my Lord! Grant Your forgiveness and mercy, for You are the Best of those who show mercy!"
The Believers 23:115-118
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O my Lord! Grant Your forgiveness and mercy, for You are the Best of those who show mercy!
115. Did you then think that We had created you as a joke, and that you would not be brought back to Us?
116. Therefore exalted be Allah, the King, the Reality, there is no god but God, the Lord of the Throne of Honor!
117. If anyone invokes, besides Allah, any other god, he has no authority therefor, and his reckoning will be only with his Lord. And verily the unbelievers will fail to win through.
118. So say, "O my Lord! Grant Your forgiveness and mercy, for You are the Best of those who show mercy!"
The Believers 23:115-118
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O my Lord! Grant Your forgiveness and mercy, for You are the Best of those who show mercy!
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Letter to Julia 20120209
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
How are you, my most cherished, beloved young wife? Well, someday soon, insyaAllah. God doesn't like it when I babble, but I am only human, and my creativity certainly doesn't match the creativity of Allah. But I have to speak to you to nurture our love, even though I am not the talkative type. I pray you are taking good care of yourself, and maintaining your prayers. Allah does not place a burden on a soul greater than it can bear. So when you work, please do good and charitable work, and make sure that God and only God is Who you worship. There are plenty of the wealthy ones who decline to do righteous deeds even though the winds of change blow strongly, and in arrogance they talk nonsense about the Qur'an. They never really took the Bible or the Torah seriously either. The Qur'an is the Truth. But most people hate the truth: the only things that matter to them are their desires. But if the Truth had been in accord to their desires, then everything would have been in corruption and confusion!
Please give charity without asking for it, be foremost in righteous deeds. and Allah will take good care of us with justice. InsyaAllah. Ya Allah, thank You for all You have given me. Please forgive me as I will never be able to thank You adequately. And thank you for your love, my beautiful Julia.
How are you, my most cherished, beloved young wife? Well, someday soon, insyaAllah. God doesn't like it when I babble, but I am only human, and my creativity certainly doesn't match the creativity of Allah. But I have to speak to you to nurture our love, even though I am not the talkative type. I pray you are taking good care of yourself, and maintaining your prayers. Allah does not place a burden on a soul greater than it can bear. So when you work, please do good and charitable work, and make sure that God and only God is Who you worship. There are plenty of the wealthy ones who decline to do righteous deeds even though the winds of change blow strongly, and in arrogance they talk nonsense about the Qur'an. They never really took the Bible or the Torah seriously either. The Qur'an is the Truth. But most people hate the truth: the only things that matter to them are their desires. But if the Truth had been in accord to their desires, then everything would have been in corruption and confusion!
Please give charity without asking for it, be foremost in righteous deeds. and Allah will take good care of us with justice. InsyaAllah. Ya Allah, thank You for all You have given me. Please forgive me as I will never be able to thank You adequately. And thank you for your love, my beautiful Julia.
Qur'an 20120209
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
78. It is God who has created for you hearing, sight, feeling, and understanding. Little thanks it is you give!
79. And God has multiplied you through the earth, and to God shall you be gathered back.
80. It is God Who gives life and death, and to God the alternation of night and day. Will you not then understand?
81. On the contrary, they say things similar to what the ancients said.
82. They say, "What! When we become dust and bones, could we really be raised up again?"
83. "Such things have been promised to us and our fathers before! They are nothing but tales of the ancients!"
84. Say, "To whom belong the earth and all things therein? If you know!"
85. They will say, "To Allah!" Say, "Yet, will you not receive admonition?"
86. Say, "Who is the Lord of the seven heavens, and the Lord of the Throne Supreme?"
87. They will say, "To Allah." Say, "Will you not then be filled with awe?"
88. Say, "Who is it in whose hands is the governance of all things, Who protects, but is not protected, if you know?"
89. They will say, "To Allah." Say, "Then how are you deluded?"
90. We have sent them the Truth, but indeed they practise falsehood!
91. No son did Allah beget, nor is there any god along with God. Behold! Each god would have taken away what he had created, and some would have lorded it over others! Glory to Allah, from the things they attribute to God!
92. God knows what is hidden, and what is open. Too high is God for the partners they attribute to God!
93. Say, "O my Lord! If You will show me that which they are warned against,"
94. "Then O my Lord! Put me not among the people who do wrong!"
95. And We are certainly able to show you that against which they are warned.
96. Repel evil with that which is best. We are well acquainted with the things they say.
97. And say, "O my Lord! I seek refuge with You from the suggestions of the evil ones."
The Believers 23:78-97
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To whom belong the earth and all things therein? If you know!
Yet, will you not receive admonition?
Who is the Lord of the seven heavens, and the Lord of the Throne Supreme?
Will you not then be filled with awe?
Who is it in whose hands is the governance of all things, Who protects, but is not protected, if you know?
Then how are you deluded?
O my Lord! If You will show me that which they are warned against, then O my Lord! Put me not among the people who do wrong!
O my Lord! I seek refuge with You from the suggestions of the evil ones.
78. It is God who has created for you hearing, sight, feeling, and understanding. Little thanks it is you give!
79. And God has multiplied you through the earth, and to God shall you be gathered back.
80. It is God Who gives life and death, and to God the alternation of night and day. Will you not then understand?
81. On the contrary, they say things similar to what the ancients said.
82. They say, "What! When we become dust and bones, could we really be raised up again?"
83. "Such things have been promised to us and our fathers before! They are nothing but tales of the ancients!"
84. Say, "To whom belong the earth and all things therein? If you know!"
85. They will say, "To Allah!" Say, "Yet, will you not receive admonition?"
86. Say, "Who is the Lord of the seven heavens, and the Lord of the Throne Supreme?"
87. They will say, "To Allah." Say, "Will you not then be filled with awe?"
88. Say, "Who is it in whose hands is the governance of all things, Who protects, but is not protected, if you know?"
89. They will say, "To Allah." Say, "Then how are you deluded?"
90. We have sent them the Truth, but indeed they practise falsehood!
91. No son did Allah beget, nor is there any god along with God. Behold! Each god would have taken away what he had created, and some would have lorded it over others! Glory to Allah, from the things they attribute to God!
92. God knows what is hidden, and what is open. Too high is God for the partners they attribute to God!
93. Say, "O my Lord! If You will show me that which they are warned against,"
94. "Then O my Lord! Put me not among the people who do wrong!"
95. And We are certainly able to show you that against which they are warned.
96. Repel evil with that which is best. We are well acquainted with the things they say.
97. And say, "O my Lord! I seek refuge with You from the suggestions of the evil ones."
The Believers 23:78-97
---------------------------------------------------------
To whom belong the earth and all things therein? If you know!
Yet, will you not receive admonition?
Who is the Lord of the seven heavens, and the Lord of the Throne Supreme?
Will you not then be filled with awe?
Who is it in whose hands is the governance of all things, Who protects, but is not protected, if you know?
Then how are you deluded?
O my Lord! If You will show me that which they are warned against, then O my Lord! Put me not among the people who do wrong!
O my Lord! I seek refuge with You from the suggestions of the evil ones.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Letter to Julia 20120206
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
Hello there, my love. Yes, I do love you and long for you, but here I am, patiently waiting for Allah to allow us to be together. It has been a rather sleepy weekend for me. For some reason, I feel so drowsy all the time, like I'm sleepwalking. I haven't been doing anything special, just the usual. Helping my parents keep house, voice training, doing yard work... oh, I've been cleaning up Shadowplay TV. Shadowplay TV is definitely low definition, very dithered. It's basically only for me, so I don't have to swallow other people's programming. I like to observe how the randomizer chooses the show and how it corresponds to reality. Hey, life is like Shadowplay TV. My daily Qur'an reading is more accurate, though.
Sure, I would love to have some nice toys, and my girl to snuggle and make babies with. But I am grateful with whatever Allah has given me. I really don't desire the riches and children that some of the wealthy have. Especially when Allah's plan is to punish them with these things in this life.
May Allah forgive me for my idle chatter, but I must speak some with my Julia, only if to water the flowers in my garden. If you had not noticed, this is my ark, which I built many years ago, and you are my mate. Praise be to Allah, Who has saved us from the people who do wrong. O my Lord! Enable me to disembark with Your blessing, for You are the Best to enable to disembark.
Hello there, my love. Yes, I do love you and long for you, but here I am, patiently waiting for Allah to allow us to be together. It has been a rather sleepy weekend for me. For some reason, I feel so drowsy all the time, like I'm sleepwalking. I haven't been doing anything special, just the usual. Helping my parents keep house, voice training, doing yard work... oh, I've been cleaning up Shadowplay TV. Shadowplay TV is definitely low definition, very dithered. It's basically only for me, so I don't have to swallow other people's programming. I like to observe how the randomizer chooses the show and how it corresponds to reality. Hey, life is like Shadowplay TV. My daily Qur'an reading is more accurate, though.
Sure, I would love to have some nice toys, and my girl to snuggle and make babies with. But I am grateful with whatever Allah has given me. I really don't desire the riches and children that some of the wealthy have. Especially when Allah's plan is to punish them with these things in this life.
May Allah forgive me for my idle chatter, but I must speak some with my Julia, only if to water the flowers in my garden. If you had not noticed, this is my ark, which I built many years ago, and you are my mate. Praise be to Allah, Who has saved us from the people who do wrong. O my Lord! Enable me to disembark with Your blessing, for You are the Best to enable to disembark.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Letter to Julia 20120204
Hi there, my gorgeous rock and roll babe! How would you like to buy a vacation package? To an exotic tropical getaway at the north of Malaysia, where the air is sweet and the rice fields shine with gold and green. As you disembark from your flight, you leave the stinking and sweaty city to ride on an electric train, zipping along smoothly through the hills, valleys, plantations and jungles. This is an experience you will never forget, as you sit in the lounge sipping chrysanthemum tea and watching the countryside blur by. Oh, you are one of those blessed ones who happen to spot a huge, black, monkey-eating eagle! I saw one once. May your monkey get eaten. But you have a purpose, because you heard somewhere on the internet that the ghost of Billie Holiday has appeared somewhere in the wilderness of North Malaysia, where the echo of her voice bounces from hill to hill amidst the chirping of wild songbirds. As you seek a retreat from the rat race, you add the beautiful white sands of the Langkawi islands to your itinerary as a stopover before you make a scenic land journey of adventure through Thailand. How about it, dahlink?
Wait a minute... you will already be here, because we will be married and raising our children! InsyaAllah.
Meanwhile, check out the little guy with the monster guitar!
Wait a minute... you will already be here, because we will be married and raising our children! InsyaAllah.
Meanwhile, check out the little guy with the monster guitar!
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Letter to Julia 20120202
Alhamdulillah. I managed to make time to attend to my garden today. I absolutely had to tend to the flowers in my garden, oh my beloved Flower of my Garden. I had been putting around in my grandfather's lot and grave lately, that I had less time for my own yard. My little pepper patch is gaining strength, even though I planted it in wild soil. I'm trying to cultivate bamboo to make drumsticks, but the shoots keep on breaking, as if somebody is intentionally breaking them. But no matter- I harvested the bamboo growing by the ditch in front of my Mom's house. I have one acceptable stick so far, I need to chop down more bamboo. I don't like those straight average bla drumsticks. I like sticks that curve and bounce. Oh, I just love bamboo.
Oh, and what about that liver and eggplant sauce? Well, it turned out quite well, thank God, except that I made too much of it and ate it all. I should have saved some for future dinners. You take some liver, some eggplant, a little bit of this and a little bit of that, turn the fire and heat up some grease, tweak this and plop some of that, wet it down a little, and voila! Hey, this stuff would make a great salad dressing! Hah! I'm not going to teach you the secret sauce recipe until you make mad monkey love to me. Hopefully, I won't forget what I did because I was only flying by the seat of my pants.
Now you maintain your prayers in due sincerity, for it not only shows your Islam. Be sincere to Allah, for Allah has chosen Islam with all its riches and wonders for you, and is most Lenient with you, and has imposed no difficulties for you. And if you need help, then get your help from God, for Allah is the best to help you. Please be patient and wait for me my beloved Julia, as I strive towards our marriage, as it is part of my service to Allah.
Oh, and what about that liver and eggplant sauce? Well, it turned out quite well, thank God, except that I made too much of it and ate it all. I should have saved some for future dinners. You take some liver, some eggplant, a little bit of this and a little bit of that, turn the fire and heat up some grease, tweak this and plop some of that, wet it down a little, and voila! Hey, this stuff would make a great salad dressing! Hah! I'm not going to teach you the secret sauce recipe until you make mad monkey love to me. Hopefully, I won't forget what I did because I was only flying by the seat of my pants.
Now you maintain your prayers in due sincerity, for it not only shows your Islam. Be sincere to Allah, for Allah has chosen Islam with all its riches and wonders for you, and is most Lenient with you, and has imposed no difficulties for you. And if you need help, then get your help from God, for Allah is the best to help you. Please be patient and wait for me my beloved Julia, as I strive towards our marriage, as it is part of my service to Allah.
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