Sunday, June 30, 2013

Letter to Julia 20130701

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

Hey Julia, my dearest.  How are you, my love?  I pray you're feeling healthy and confident.  I just finished my dinner of a loaf of bread and a bowl of chili.  No, I didn't get around to making any bread.  I still have the yeast in a plastic bag in the cooler unopened.  I'm getting too lazy to cook.  Especially something like tortillas, without a tortilla press, is so tedious, I don't even want to think about it.  Did you know that fresh mackerel roe and liver tastes better without soy sauce?  That's what I think.  That's what I had for an afternoon snack.  I bought a half kilo of fish for Batty, it's a shame to waste that delicious roe and fish liver.  I don't really plan my meals anymore unless I'm flat broke, or I have to defrost something.  It would be fun to plan meals with you, but alone it makes no difference.  Well, I'm going to start setting up my guitar.  I need to practice more.

Qur'an 20130701

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

222.  They ask you concerning women's courses.  Say, "They are a hurt and a pollution, so keep away from women in their courses, and do not approach them until they are clean.  But when they have purified themselves, you may approach them in any manner, time or place Ordained for you by Allah.  For Allah loves those who turn to God constantly, and God loves those who keep themselves pure and clean."

223.  Your wives are as a tilth to you, so approach your tilth when or how you will.  But do some good act for your souls beforehand, and fear Allah, and know that you are to meet God.  And give good tidings to those who believe.

224.  And make not Allah an excuse in your oaths against doing good, or acting rightly, or making peace between persons, for Allah is One who Hears and Knows all things.

225.  Allah will not call you to account for thoughtlessness in your oaths, but for the intention in your hearts.  And God is the Oft-Forgiving, Most Forbearing.

The Heifer 2:222-225
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Concerning women's courses: they are a hurt and a pollution, so keep away from women in their courses, and do not approach them until they are clean.  But when they have purified themselves, you may approach them in any manner, time or place Ordained for you by Allah.  For Allah loves those who turn to God constantly, and God loves those who keep themselves pure and clean.

Qur'an 20130630

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

219.  They ask you concerning booze and gambling.  Say, "In them is great sin, and some benefit, for mankind, but the sin is greater than the benefit."  They ask you how much they are to spend.  Say, "What is beyond your needs."  Thus does Allah make clear to you God's Signs, in order that you may consider.

220.  About this life and the Hereafter.  They ask thee concerning orphans.  Say, "The best thing to do is what is for their good."  If you mix their affairs with yours, they are your brethren.  But Allah knows the man who means mischief from the man who means good.  And if Allah had willed, God could have put you into difficulties.  God is indeed Exalted in Power, Wise.

The Heifer 2:219-220
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Concerning booze and gambling: In them is great sin, and some benefit, for mankind, but the sin is greater than the benefit.

How much to spend?  What is beyond your needs.

Concerning orphans: The best thing to do is what is for their good.

Friday, June 28, 2013

Letter to Julia 20130629

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

Hello, my Julia.  How are you, my love?  Me, I think I've been talking too much again lately, so it's about time for another period of isolation.  It's not that I would forget you, my dearest.  I love you.  It would be much simpler for me if you were here with me to share my isolation, as opposed to my having to communicate to you in public.  So please forgive me.  I think I'll make some dough, to eat with the rest of that chili I made.  Or maybe I'll just buy some bread if I'm lazy.  I don't know.

You should know by now that being a professional endorser of food products makes people clamor for your attention... but it doesn't mean that they treat you with more respect!  The point is to endorse Allah, and the the good people, and the truly good products.  Please don't be corrupt.

Qur'an 20130629

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

215.  They ask you what they should spend.  Say, "Whatever you spend that is good, is for parents, and kindred, and orphans, and those in want, and for wayfarers, and whatever you do that is good: Allah knows it well."

216.  Fighting is prescribed upon you, and you dislike it.  But it is possible that you dislike a thing which is good for you, and that you love a thing which is bad for you.  But Allah knows, and you know not.

217.  They ask you concerning fighting in the Prohibited Month.  Say, "Fighting therein is grievous, but graver it is in the Sight of Allah to prevent access to the path of Allah, to deny God, to prevent access to the Sacred Mosque, and drive out its members.  Tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter, nor will they cease fighting you until they turn you back from your faith if they can.  And if any of you turn back from their faith and die in unbelief, their works will bear no fruit in this life and in the Hereafter:  they will be companions of the fire, and will abide therein."

218.  Those who believed, and those who suffered exile and fought in the Path of Allah: they have the Mercy of Allah.  And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

The Heifer 2:215-218
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Whatever you spend that is good, is for parents, and kindred, and orphans, and those in want, and for wayfarers, and whatever you do that is good: Allah knows it well.

Fighting therein is grievous, but graver it is in the Sight of Allah to prevent access to the path of Allah, to deny God, to prevent access to the Sacred Mosque, and drive out its members.  Tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter, nor will they cease fighting you until they turn you back from your faith if they can.  And if any of you turn back from their faith and die in unbelief, their works will bear no fruit in this life and in the Hereafter:  they will be companions of the fire, and will abide therein.

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Letter to Julia 20130627

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

When was the last time I saw you, my sweet Julia?  I think that was almost 2 years ago, and it was a TV show.  A fashion show.  And here I am today, waiting for Allah to give me the means to go and get you.  I don't want to give you my poverty, Julia.  I want to care for you, and give you happiness.  I want to shower you with love, for I love you.

It is a routine that I try to maintain here in patience inshaAllah, because we don't want our family and children to live in chaos.  Right?  It is for your and their sake that it be as mundane as possible.  No touring, no living out of a suitcase.  Despite the hugeness of the situation, it is the mundane and the routine that you must desire, expect, and pray for Julia.  We must try our best to slow things down.  We don't want our loved ones to live in chaos.  So please be patient, my Julia.  What God has given us is best.  Other people try to change what God has given out of selfish dissatisfaction and envy, only to be worse off.  We have seen the Signs, and the favors that God has presented to us, so there is no turning back.  Ya Allah, thank You for the Grace that You have bestowed upon us.  Thank you for your love, my dearest Julia.


Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Letter to Julia 20130626

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

Hello again, Julia my beloved.  How are you feeling today?  I feel lonely without you, of course.  Because I love you.  I felt listless this morning, staring at my bowl of chili, holding half a loaf of bread.  I put too much chilli powder in this batch.  It's still good, but it feels kind of lonely.  Next time, I'll use a spoon to measure the spice.

Everyone seems to be talking about the massive haze caused by the mass burning of vegetation to make way for industry in Indonesia.  Not that I give much of a rat's ass about what everyone is babbling about, but one of the 10 Signs of Judgement Day is the Smoke.  The haze doesn't seem to have taken over Perlis just yet.  It was very hazy during voice training, but it cleared up soon after the Asr prayer.  Blue sky, with a touch of haze on the northwest horizon.  But I still can't burn the trash.

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Letter to Julia 20130624

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

Hi Julia.  How are you feeling today, my dearest?  I don't really have much to say today.  I'm generally a quiet person.  I never forget you Julia, because I love you, and I want to marry you.  But some days, I just don't have anything to say, and some other times, I can't make it to  the Internet cafe to blog, so please forgive me for my shortcomings.  I made a batch of chili!  I used all local ingredients- no tomatoes!  I used chilli paste instead, and red beans instead of pinto beans.  Now that's chili!  Would you like some?

Qur'an 20130623

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

189.  They ask you concerning the New Moons.  Say, "They are but signs to mark fixed periods of time in men, and for Pilgrimage."  It is no virtue if you enter your houses from the back:  it is virtue if you fear Allah.  Enter houses through the proper doors, and fear Allah, that you may prosper.
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They are but signs to mark fixed periods of time in men, and for Pilgrimage.

The Islamic calendar is a lunar calender.  The new moons are used to measure time, and that's it.  There are no superstitions involved, and there is no worship of the moon.

Friday, June 21, 2013

Letter to Julia 20130622

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

Hey Julia, my dearest!  Are you excited?  Are you?  Are you?  It's almost the fasting month!  Are you ready to rock?  Well, I'm getting ready to fast.  I do so love the fasting month, much more than the Eid.  The whole month is thoroughly enjoyable for me.  I must tell you about my Ramadan routine.  The spend most of the night preparing food and eating.  I don't eat much for breaking fast at sunset, because I would be going to the mosque.  So I prepare a big meal at about 3 or 4 am, eat well, then stay awake until the dawn prayer.  I wake up later than usual in the morning, try to get my internet work done as quickly as possible so I can take a nap before voice training at 2pm, I always voice train at 2pm.  But since I can't drink coffee, I need the nap so I don't lullaby myself into a coma.  I maintain my house chores and yard work routine, but I try to make sure I have a light meal ready for breaking fast at sunset.  Ramadan is also my most social time of the year, because every night I attend additional prayers at the mosque.  I don't really talk to anybody, I'm just there for the prayer, which usually ends at 10pm.  Yes, you're going to have to come along with me.  InshaAllah.

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Letter to Julia 20130620

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

Hi Julia.  How are you feeling today?  I am fasting today.  No, it's not Ramadan yet.  Ramadan begins on Wednesday, July 10.  Hey, that's Andre's birthday!  Yeah, I remember my old friends, and they still visit me in my dreams.  But anyhow, I'm fasting today.  I love the fasting moth.  It's my favorite time of year, because I find it to be very surreal.  Allah sent Bat Cat to me about a week before last year's Ramadan, right when the Colorado theater shooting was.  Hence his name, Bat Cat.  Plus, he looks kind of like a bat.

I spent the early evening clearing out the area where I hope to build Casa de Julia someday soon, inshaAllah.  What if I suddenly came into a lot of money?  I thought to myself.  Then I would immediately go into motion to marry you.  First, I would have to prepare this little house for you to live in while we build Casa de Julia, namely buy the land, then build your bathroom and our master bedroom, and make the doorways taller.  At least.  All this before you can move in.  After that, I would go (or send someone) to Germany to fetch you, to bring you back here for a simple ceremony at the local mosque.  If you have a big production planned, then it would be in addition to this.

Of course you can come over and we'll live in a hotel while we work on the house.  I don't want to move out of the house even temporarily, because of my singing routine, and to take care of my parents.  Plus, I love small houses.  Would you want to live here while all the building and whatever is going on within?  You might be pregnant, you know.  Otherwise, we'll go with my plan, which could be time consuming.  It all seems so small and tedious doesn't it, compared with your glitzy fashion shows, mansions, and penthouses.  But mashaAllah, what's occurring here is bigger than all that.  Do you believe?


Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Letter to Julia 20130619

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

YOOOOOOOLIIIIIIEEEEEEE!!!!!!

So I went to have a steamboat buffet at my brother's restaurant.  Where did you go?  Do you know what a steamboat buffet is?  Well, when we're married inshaAllah, we'll be having it regularly, so I hope you get used to it.  I kind of enjoy eating it alone, because I don't have to see any of those darned vegetables in my soup.  I usually eat until I'm bloated.  I'll be fasting tomorrow, though.  InshaAllah.  Why am I fasting tomorrow?  Because it's fun!  Whee!!  I'll probably still come in to blog my love for you.  InshaAllah.  Why?  Because I love you.

Monday, June 17, 2013

Letter to Julia 20130618

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

Hi Julia.  I'm sorry I didn't come in and blog yesterday.  I had to take the cat to the vet.  It wasn't Chee Cheah or Bat Cat, but one of my brother's cats.  She's pretty hammered: she's the one that had the mouth disease, and now she has a fungal infection.  The vet said that the mouth disease is pretty much over, so thank Allah.  So please don't look at me like that.  I don't like to announce my visit to the vet, because then they would be crowded, and I would have to stand around there with a nervous cat.  So please forgive me.  I love you!  I didn't do anything to dishonor you, and I have full intent to keep my promise to marry you.  I just don't have any money right now.  So please pray with me that Allah grants me the means to give you a good married life, and we would be together always.

So please eat and enjoy the good things that Allah has provided for you.  Go out and enjoy good food with your friends at restaurants you trust: you know what the limits are.  I really miss good cheese, so I envy you.  Blue cheese, swiss, provolone.  I don't have much money to eat out all the time, but Allah has granted me a little knowledge on how to cook, so I am grateful.  Please be grateful to Allah.  Ya Allah, thank you for Julia.  She is all I could ever dream of in a girl.

Friday, June 14, 2013

Letter to Julia 20130615

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

Hi Julia.  How are you today, my love?  Let me remind you again that the goal of our marriage is to slow down, stay put, and enjoy our life and love together.  To raise a family, and enjoy our house.  Your house.  Casa de Julia.  I'm trying to build a tourist attraction here, so I can't travel.  I won't allow you to travel without me, so any trip you want to take will have to planned way ahead.  Together always, OK?  InsyaAllah.  No spontaneous journeys.

No, I'm not going to force you to watch my TV station.  InsyaAllah, we're going to get satellite TV for you, so you can have your sports and current events.  You're just going to have to start getting used to being Boss Model, and to get your business to come to you.

And please be certain that Allah will test your faith.  So if you are having troubles and suffering, please know that I suffer without you.  Together we are one, and your hardship is mine.  Please be patient, maintain your prayers, and persevere, and say, "To Allah we belong, and to God is our return."

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Letter to Julia 20130612

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

Hello Julia, my beautiful young bride.  You are my girl, my heart, my future.  You are the most beautiful girl in the world to me.  You are all that I can ever dream of in a girl, and I love you.

There are a lot of things I don't talk about in these letters.  Mostly because since I have no privacy, you and everyone else should see things for yourselves.  Also because I don't have much power.  I'm just a servant of Allah, so I ride the waves of the Power of Allah.  Ya Allah, please grant me a happy and secure marriage with my Julia, and all the toys/tools and means I need to create music that pleases You.

So you must know that I'm locking on to the perfect fond for fried noodles, using entirely local ingredients.  My experience in Italian food takes over here, so my fried noodles is more like a Malay spaghetti, except that I don't use any pasta, tomatoes, or cheese.  Mighty tasty, though.  Praise Allah.  I could easily polish off a wok at a time.  But nobody loves a fat astronaut, so I don't.

Qur'an 20130612

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

142.  The fools among the people will say, What has turned them from their Direction to which they used to face in prayer?  Say, "To Allah belongs both east and west.  God guides whom God wills to the Straight Way."

The Heifer 2:142
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To Allah belongs both east and west.  God guides whom God wills to the Straight Way.

Monday, June 10, 2013

Letter to Julia 20130611

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

Hello, my beloved Julia.  Are you feeling all right?  I pray you doing well, and feeling healthy and confident, for I love you so much.  I hope you haven't been trying to find me in SL lately.  I have to organize my inventory, and it is a very time-consuming process.  Especially when clothes rez slowly.  So it looks like my avatar will be isolating herself for a few months.

I've been setting up mouse traps in my mother's kitchen lately, and yesterday I caught 2 fat mice, they were almost rats in size.  So I had to kill 2 rats, because I has to use the trap again.  Is there such a thing as a compassionate way to kill a rat?

Sunday, June 9, 2013

Letter to Julia 20130610

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

Hi again, my princess Julia.  I do love you so, my beauty.  I had steak again today.  Well, I have a bunch of steaks in the freezer- a kilo of beef can go a long way, and steak and rice pleases me easily, and is uncomplicated to cook, especially when you're lazy like me.  Of course I didn't get the cut I really want, but I'm going to have to buy a whole side of ribs the get the beef of my dreams.  That also means I'm going to have to slaughter my own steer.  No, I don't have a steer.  I have a couple of cats, and I love them too much to eat them.  Lately, Chee Cheah and Bat Cat have been getting into jealous squabbles with each other over cat food and indoor rights.  Hey guys, it's only cat food.

Qur'an 20130610

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

135.  They say, "Become Jews or Christians if you would be guided."  Say you, "No!  The Religion of Abraham, the True, and he joined not gods with Allah."

136.  Say you, "We believe in Allah, and the revelation given to us, and to Abaham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and the descendents, and that given to Moses, and Jesus, and that given to Prophets from their Lord.  We make no difference between one and another of them, and we bow to Allah."

137.  So if they believe as you believe, they are indeed on the right path: but if they turn back, it is they who are in a schism.  But Allah will suffice you as against them, and God is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.

138.  The Color of Allah: and who can color better than Allah?  And it is God whom we worship.

139.  Say, "Will you dispute with us about Allah, seeing that God is our Lord and your Lord: that we are responsible for our doings and you for yours, and that we are sincere to God?"

140.  Or so you say that Abraham,  Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and the descendents were Jews and Christians?  Say, "Do you know better than Allah?"  Ah!  Who is more unjust than those who conceal the testimony they have from Allah?  But Allah is not unmindful of what you do!

The Heifer 2:135-140
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No!  The Religion of Abraham, the True, and he joined not gods with Allah.

We believe in Allah, and the revelation given to us, and to Abaham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and the descendents, and that given to Moses, and Jesus, and that given to Prophets from their Lord.  We make no difference between one and another of them, and we bow to Allah.

Will you dispute with us about Allah, seeing that God is our Lord and your Lord: that we are responsible for our doings and you for yours, and that we are sincere to God?

Do you know better than Allah?

Friday, June 7, 2013

Letter to Julia 20130608

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

Hi Julia, my love.  How are you feeling today?  I'm trying to slow down.  There's a lot going on, and I'm just trying to be patient, and grateful for what Allah has given me.  Remember, the goal of our marriage is to slow down, and enjoy our life and love together with each other.

So I'm just lazing around on the floor, watching the best and most-watched TV station in the world mashaAllah, Shadowplay TV....  Hey, it's the Jeff Beck Group.  I learned my right hand technique from watching him, but I stay away from effects and the bridge.  My bass influence, I suppose.  I had steak and rice for dinner.  What a huge chunk of fat that was, about half meat and half fat.  It's going to be a hot night.  Good thing I have the AC on.  One of my favorite simple pleasures is steaming hot white rice with light soy sauce.  A piece of nostalgia from when that's all I had to eat, was rice and soy sauce.  Sometimes I didn't even have soy sauce.

Qur'an 20130608

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

120.  Never will the Jews or the Christians be satisfied with you unless you follow their form of religion.  Say, "The Guidance of Allah: that is the Guidance."  Were you to follow their desires after the knowledge which has reached you, then would you find neither Protector nor Helper against Allah.

121.  Those to whom We have sent the Book study it as it should be studied: they are the ones that believe therein.  Those who reject faith therein: the loss is their own.

The Heifer 2:120-121
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The Guidance of Allah: that is the Guidance.

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Letter to Julia 20130606

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

YOOOOOOLIIIIIIEEEEE!!!!!!

Hey Julia, my girl.  Staying busy?  Well, please make sure you get sufficient rest, and eat adequately.  My routine changed slightly because of the soup I ate: I woke up at an odd hour to pee.  It was a good thing because I've been extra lazy lately, and I've been watching too much TV, so I was about time I did some extra worship.  Actually my watching TV could be considered work since I have no privacy, and that would make Shadowplay TV the most-watched TV station in the world!  MashaAllah.  Anyway, my inner clock was thrown off a little, and even though I got 7 hours sleep, I became worn out quickly during voice training.  Uh oh.  I just had chicken and bamboo shoot stew for dinner.  Want some?

Qur'an 20130606

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

110.  And be steadfast in prayer, and regular in charity, and whatever good you send forth for your souls before you, you shall find it with Allah: for Allah sees well all that you do.

111.  And they say, "None shall enter Paradise unless he be a Jew or a Christian."  Those are their desires.  Say, "Produce your proof, if you are truthful."

112.  No, whoever submits his whole self to Allah, and is a doer of good: he will get his reward with his Lord.  On such shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.

The Heifer 2:110-112
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Produce your proof, if you are truthful.

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Letter to Julia 20130605

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

Hello Julia, my love.  And how are you today?  I went to buy some beef this morning.  They had clams on sale for RM5 a kilo, so I bought a kilo.  I'm sorry, but I love to eat clams.  So I had clams for lunch.  Just a kilo of clams, that's all.  I saved the broth for dinner.  I cooked it up with rice and bamboo shoots.  You know, the very tips of the shoots go great with soups, because they unravel into flat noodle-like strips.  Bat Cat has suddenly become a mackerel gourmet, and only eats the heads and tails of the fish, so I have to eat the rest.  I put that in my soup, for a man-sized meal.  Oh, I'm so full.

Sunday, June 2, 2013

Letter to Julia 20130603

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

Hi Julia.  You are my love, and I love you.  I pray you are feeling healthy and confident today.  I don't really have much to say today.  The Qur'an speaks better than me anyway, and my analysis is the same one I posted 5 years ago.  I had to scatter a whole bunch of mothballs on my bedroom floor.  My bedroom was beginning to smell of feet, and I couldn't get rid of the smell no matter how many times I vacuumed and mopped it, no matter how much floor cleaner and bleach I used.  So now, my bedroom smells of mothballs.

Qur'an 20130603

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

91.  When it is said to them, "Believe in what Allah has sent down," they say. "We believe in what was sent down to us."  Yet they reject all besides, even if it be Truth confirming what is with them.  Say, "Why then have you slain the prophets of Allah in times gone by, if you did indeed believe?"

92.  There came to you Moses with Clarity, yet you worshiped the calf after that, and you did behave wrongfully.

93.  And remember We took your Covenant, and We raised above you of the mountain: "Hold firmly to what We have given you, and hearken."  They said, "We hear, and we disobey."  And they had to drink into their hearts of the calf because of their faithlessness.  Say, "Vile indeed are the behests of your faith, if you have any faith!"

94.  Say, "If the last Home with Allah be for you specially, and not for anyone else, then seek you for death, if you are sincere."

95.  But they will never seek for death, on account of that which their hands have sent on before them, and Allah is Well-acquainted with the wrongdoers.

96.  You will indeed find them, of all people, most greedy of life, even more than the idolaters.  Each one of them wishes he could be given a life of a thousand years.  But the grant of such life will not save him from punishment, for Allah sees well all that they do.

97.  Say, "Whoever is an enemy to Gabriel, for he brings down this to your heart by Allah's will, a confirmation of what went before, and Guidance, and Glad Tidings for those who Believe-"

98.  "Whoever is an enemy to Allah, and God's angels and prophets, to Gabriel and Michael- Lo!  Allah is an Enemy to those who reject Faith."

The Heifer 2:91-98
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Why then have you slain the prophets of Allah in times gone by, if you did indeed believe?

Vile indeed are the behests of your faith, if you have any faith!

If the last Home with Allah be for you specially, and not for anyone else, then seek you for death, if you are sincere.

Whoever is an enemy to Gabriel, for he brings down this to your heart by Allah's will, a confirmation of what went before, and Guidance, and Glad Tidings for those who Believe-

Whoever is an enemy to Allah, and God's angels and prophets, to Gabriel and Michael- Lo!  Allah is an Enemy to those who reject Faith.

The calf referred to in verses 2:92 and 2:93 is the golden calf idol which the Children of Israel made out of their ornaments while Moses wasn't around to keep an eye on them.  I believe the calf also represents materialism, or rather the worship of material things, which carries a greater value to the materialist than the Worship of God.

One of the slain prophets referred to in 2:91 is Jesus (peace be on him).