Letter to Julia 20121010

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

Hello Julia, my beloved young princess.  How are you feeling today?  You must be working hard as usual, so please make sure you are eating properly, and getting sufficient rest.  I tried making steamed buns for lunch today.  I'm sure you are familiar with that food... it's like dim sum, but a bun.  So I made a batch of dough, my standard simple routine, just flour, water, yeast, oil and salt.  And I borrowed my Mom's steamer.  FOr the filling, it was liver and onions, in liver sauce.  Which was quite good by itself, alhamdulillah.  But the bun itself needed to be more like a cake, so next time I'll have to add sugar and an egg to the dough.  Giving the dough a chance to rise would have helped too.

There is much international flavor for you, Mrs. Global!  And the beauty of it is that you don't really have to go anywhere.  InsyaAllah.  Don't forget that Islam is between you and God, and that it has little to do with you and me.  So much drama.  Everything seems to be a matter of life and death to everyone.  People are so intoxicated by fame.  Me, I feel the same way I did 10 years ago, and in the same situation, but poorer.  You my queen, please maintain your composure of regal purity and integrity.

Qur'an 20121010

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

13.  O mankind!  We created you from of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other.  Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you, and Allah has full knowledge, and is well acquainted.

14.  The Arabs say, "We believe."  Say, "You have no faith, but you say, 'We have submitted our wills to Allah,' for not yet has Faith entered your hearts.  But if you obey Allah and God's Messenger, God will not belittle aught of your deeds, for Allah is Oft-forgiving, most Merciful."

15.  Only those are Believers who have believed in Allah and God's Messenger, and have never since doubted, but have striven with their belongings and their persons in the Cause of Allah: such are the sincere ones.

16.  Say, "What!  Will you instruct Allah about your religion?  But Allah knows all that is in the heavens and on earth.  Allah has full knowledge of all things."

17.  They impress on you as a favor that they have embraced  Islam.  Say, "Count not your Islam as a favor upon me.  No, Allah has conferred a favor upon you that God has guided you to the Faith, if you be true and sincere."

18.  Verily Allah knows the secrets of the heavens and the earth, and Allah sees well all that you do.

The Chambers 49:13-18
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You have no faith, but you say, "We have submitted our wills to Allah," for not yet has Faith entered your hearts.  But if you obey Allah and God's Messenger, God will not belittle aught of your deeds, for Allah is Oft-forgiving, most Merciful.

What!  Will you instruct Allah about your religion?  But Allah knows all that is in the heavens and on earth.  Allah has full knowledge of all things.

Count not your Islam as a favor upon me.  No, Allah has conferred a favor upon you that God has guided you to the Faith, if you be true and sincere.