You probably don't know how to pray, and if even if you did, you wouldn't want to be caught praying in the Muslim way. Ironically, that's the correct approach. Prayer should be done in private, unless you're at a mosque. Ironically again, even if you were to hide your prayer, the world would instantly know. I discovered long ago that I as a Muslim, that my regular prayers is power. I recall while I was still working at the pizza joint, I watched the clock during dinner rush for a chance to take a 5 minute break to go and pray in the toilet. Every day. If I were to tell anybody here that story, they would look at me like I'm stupid or lying, but that's what it took for me to maintain my prayers in America. Sometimes I would have to clean the toilet first with straight bleach to get rid of the stench, and bleach blisters eventually grew on my feet. But that's not the whole story!
Anyway, God doesn't need anything from humans. The only thing that humans have to offer God is prayer. A lot of people want reward first from God, or proof that God exists before offering prayer (for example, "God if you exist, make me rich"), then they don't pray anyway. I don't want you to go through what I went through. I love you and I need you. Now that you have become strong, please do not weaken yourself with alcohol, drugs, gambling and fortune telling. But before you ask Allah for anything, at the very least offer this prayer. Silently is fine, preferably in Arabic but English should be fine for now inshaAllah. It's the chapter of the Qur'an that every Muslim says in the daily prayer, called "The Opening":
1. In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
2. Praise be to Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the worlds.
3. Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
4. Master of the Day of Judgement.
5. You do we worship, and Your aid we seek.
6. Show us the straight way.
7. The way of those whom You have bestowed Your Grace, those whose is not wrath, and who go not astray.
I got up early this morning, and fired up the grill for beef chitlins. Chitlins are so greasy. All they are are rubbery intestine and fat, so when they grill they drip grease and burst into flames. That's why we boil them before grilling, because chitlins have to be burned but not too burned. I was chitlin-ed out rather quickly, and I have some left over. I'll probably use them as a pizza topping. I had meat pastries from the supermarket for dinner. They were going for 5 for RM4, so that's not bad. Plus I'm full. I found some Driscoll's strawberries while I was there. Imported from USA! Fresh strawberries! I haven't had those in years! RM13.99 for a pint? Yikes! At least I can get you some strawberries now. I didn't see any avocados though. I don't think the locals know what to do with them. The supermarket was packed. This supermarket is open today and tomorrow until midnight. Ramadan.
