In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
102. Do the unbelievers think that they can take My servants as protectors besides Me? Verily We have prepared hell for the unbelievers for entertainment.
103. Say, "Shall we tell you of those who lose most in respect of their deeds?"
104. Those whose efforts have been wasted in this life, while they thought that they were acquiring good through their works.
The Cave 18:102-104
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Shall we tell you of those who lose most in respect of their deeds?
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Monday, December 12, 2011
Letter to Julia 20111213
But snakes eat mice, thus exerting some control over the vermin rodent population. I often hear those loud squeaks outside at night, but they don't come in my house, at least I haven't found any evidence of them (droppings, nibblings, etc). It's probably because I don't have any food. And Chee Cheah is a worthless mouser, she's so spoiled. But I don't want neither snake nor mouse in my house, so I pray they keep their power struggle outside.
All power is with Allah, and Allah grants power to whom God wills. Everybody wants to be somewhere else, "The grass is greener on the other side", you know the saying. The poor want wealth, the wealthy want more wealth, men of power want more power, etc. Sure, I could use more money, but I have absolute faith insyaAllah, that Allah will sustain me. It's not as if I don't work at it, although the fiscal rewards don't come quickly enough for some people, but who wants to please those who have no faith anyway? But I don't really want to go anywhere. I despise the city, so I love the kampung. I'm tired of travel: I've seen enough of the world to know that people are the same everywhere, and the rest is just photographs and adaptation to environment. Luxury can be imported, but there's nothing more luxurious than doing whatever I want with my time. No, I don't really want to be anywhere else than where I am now. I want you here with me of course, but that power too is in the care of Allah.
Hey, I just heard a squeak coming from inside...
All power is with Allah, and Allah grants power to whom God wills. Everybody wants to be somewhere else, "The grass is greener on the other side", you know the saying. The poor want wealth, the wealthy want more wealth, men of power want more power, etc. Sure, I could use more money, but I have absolute faith insyaAllah, that Allah will sustain me. It's not as if I don't work at it, although the fiscal rewards don't come quickly enough for some people, but who wants to please those who have no faith anyway? But I don't really want to go anywhere. I despise the city, so I love the kampung. I'm tired of travel: I've seen enough of the world to know that people are the same everywhere, and the rest is just photographs and adaptation to environment. Luxury can be imported, but there's nothing more luxurious than doing whatever I want with my time. No, I don't really want to be anywhere else than where I am now. I want you here with me of course, but that power too is in the care of Allah.
Hey, I just heard a squeak coming from inside...
Qur'an 20111213
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
83. They ask you concerning the Two Horned One. Say, "I will rehearse to you something of his story."
84. Verily We established his power on earth, and We gave him the ways and means to all ends.
The Cave 18:83-84
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I will rehearse to you something of his story.
83. They ask you concerning the Two Horned One. Say, "I will rehearse to you something of his story."
84. Verily We established his power on earth, and We gave him the ways and means to all ends.
The Cave 18:83-84
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I will rehearse to you something of his story.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Letter to Julia 20111212
Hi Julia. Are you hanging in there, my love? Of course I think of you all the time, and I pray you are doing well. I have been spending much time in the yard. Remember I told you that my little house is right next door to my grandfather's house? Well, the house and the compound has been overgrown with vegetation, and looks like a miniature jungle. I've been clearing the area out. It's an obvious hazard to the kids and people going to and fro on the road to the local elementary school, and it's right next to my house, so I certainly get the creeps having to look at that eeire old house covered and surrounded with vines and gloomy trees. It's a slow process, because I'm cautious, lazy, and can only work when it's cool enough to work, namely the two hours before sunset right after the Asr prayer. Being slow is for the best though. The compound is crawling with monitor lizards and snakes. Big snakes too about 2 1/2 meters long, most likely cobras, but I'm not sure because they always run when they sense me, and therefore not in a fighting mood. InsyaAllah.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Letter to Julia 20111210
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
Life is like the rain. God sends it down from the sky, it nourishes and rejuvenates the vegetation, which bears flowers and fruit, then becomes dry stubble which the wind blows. Meanwhile, God is the Only One Who prevails over all things.
Oh, I'm getting old, Julia. I sing and play the drums for two hours, then I feel like passing out. Two hours! When I was your age, I could go on all night, and dance as well! Well, my wisdom makes the music better, but I gave up much of my libido along the way. But a young man usually has no idea what to do with his libido. What the hell am I saying? Well, you can have what's left of my libido, Julia.
HOW TO COOK WITHOUT COOKING OIL
Perhaps you would like to cut down on the oil content of your foods, or perhaps one does not have access to cooking oil because it is too expensive or unavailable because it was sold in bulk to a wealthier buyer. Most foods, no matter how fat-free, have some level of oil content. Most packaged oils today are produced from plants like soybeans, corn, coconut, peanut, olive, sesame, oil palm, flax, sunflower, safflower, cottonseed etc. While it can be tedious to press or boil meal to extract oil, that is certainly how the ancients did it back whenever, and most of them were dirt poor. Mulch the grain/seed into a meal, then press for oil. Or heat the meal in water, then separate the oil from the water.
More efficient would be to stretch one's oil dollar. One way is to fry items in a closed pot, preferably with the food elevated above the oil by using some sort of grille, so the food does not come in contact with the oil. The oil is heated to evaporation, and coats and cooks the food. Very hot! But less oil is used, and the food tastes less oily. Of course one can recycle cooking oil by straining it, and reusing it. I've heard stories of Italian housewives deep frying calzones in iron drums filled with ancient olive oil.
Animal fat is the way to go for a dense oil supply, plus protein at the same time. Don't throw away that beef fat or chicken skin! Cook the beef or chicken fat first in a dry pot or pan, then separate the oil to be used for cooking vegetables. Animal fat is denser, so you would use less of it. Not too much heat either, because burned animal fat leaves a lingering stench which is unbearable. Now, one would assume that ground meats like sausage would generate more oil, which can be true. But gyro meat, which is beef and lamb sausage, leaves an oil which is disgusting and totally inedible, and is only good for greasing bicycle chains.
Funny, huh? Tick, tock....
Life is like the rain. God sends it down from the sky, it nourishes and rejuvenates the vegetation, which bears flowers and fruit, then becomes dry stubble which the wind blows. Meanwhile, God is the Only One Who prevails over all things.
Oh, I'm getting old, Julia. I sing and play the drums for two hours, then I feel like passing out. Two hours! When I was your age, I could go on all night, and dance as well! Well, my wisdom makes the music better, but I gave up much of my libido along the way. But a young man usually has no idea what to do with his libido. What the hell am I saying? Well, you can have what's left of my libido, Julia.
HOW TO COOK WITHOUT COOKING OIL
Perhaps you would like to cut down on the oil content of your foods, or perhaps one does not have access to cooking oil because it is too expensive or unavailable because it was sold in bulk to a wealthier buyer. Most foods, no matter how fat-free, have some level of oil content. Most packaged oils today are produced from plants like soybeans, corn, coconut, peanut, olive, sesame, oil palm, flax, sunflower, safflower, cottonseed etc. While it can be tedious to press or boil meal to extract oil, that is certainly how the ancients did it back whenever, and most of them were dirt poor. Mulch the grain/seed into a meal, then press for oil. Or heat the meal in water, then separate the oil from the water.
More efficient would be to stretch one's oil dollar. One way is to fry items in a closed pot, preferably with the food elevated above the oil by using some sort of grille, so the food does not come in contact with the oil. The oil is heated to evaporation, and coats and cooks the food. Very hot! But less oil is used, and the food tastes less oily. Of course one can recycle cooking oil by straining it, and reusing it. I've heard stories of Italian housewives deep frying calzones in iron drums filled with ancient olive oil.
Animal fat is the way to go for a dense oil supply, plus protein at the same time. Don't throw away that beef fat or chicken skin! Cook the beef or chicken fat first in a dry pot or pan, then separate the oil to be used for cooking vegetables. Animal fat is denser, so you would use less of it. Not too much heat either, because burned animal fat leaves a lingering stench which is unbearable. Now, one would assume that ground meats like sausage would generate more oil, which can be true. But gyro meat, which is beef and lamb sausage, leaves an oil which is disgusting and totally inedible, and is only good for greasing bicycle chains.
Funny, huh? Tick, tock....
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Letter to Julia 20111207
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
But out of my cave again comes this reclusive writer, to do some work! For to Allah belongs all power. Oh Julia, I really want to snuggle up with my sweetie on a bunch of fluffy pillows, and kiss longer. The problem is that I'm actually some sort of workaholic, I actually enjoy working, at things that I enjoy working at. But since I'm also a contradiction, I'm lazy, and just want to snuggle up with my sweetie on a bunch of fluffy pillows, and kiss longer. But I guess I can get up to cook a nice meal for my honey, if I have the right ingredients. How about a cheese and asparagus omelette with grilled jumbo shrimp, with a bunch of sweet purple grapes on the side? Ah, alhamdilillah.
Once upon a time there were two men. God granted one of them two gardens, surrounded them with date palms, and in between the two gardens there were cornfields. Each garden brought its produce without fail, and in the midst of them flowed a river. This man boasted to the other that he had greater wealth, honor and power. And he went into his gardens with an unjust state of mind, saying, "I deem not that this will ever perish, nor do I deem that my time will run out. Even if I am brought back to my Lord, I shall surely find something better in return." The other guy said, "Do you deny God Who created you out of dust, then out of sperm, then fashioned oyu into a man? For my part God is Allah my Lord, and none shall I associate with my Lord. Why didn't you enter your garden saying, 'Allah's Will! There is no power but with Allah!' If you see me less than you in wealth and children, it may be that my Lord will give me something better than your garden, and God will send thunderbolts and turn your garden into sand, or the water will run off underground and you will never find it." So the gardens were destroyed by calamity, and the owner was filled with regret, saying, "Why wasn't I appreciative to God while I had the chance?"
But out of my cave again comes this reclusive writer, to do some work! For to Allah belongs all power. Oh Julia, I really want to snuggle up with my sweetie on a bunch of fluffy pillows, and kiss longer. The problem is that I'm actually some sort of workaholic, I actually enjoy working, at things that I enjoy working at. But since I'm also a contradiction, I'm lazy, and just want to snuggle up with my sweetie on a bunch of fluffy pillows, and kiss longer. But I guess I can get up to cook a nice meal for my honey, if I have the right ingredients. How about a cheese and asparagus omelette with grilled jumbo shrimp, with a bunch of sweet purple grapes on the side? Ah, alhamdilillah.
Once upon a time there were two men. God granted one of them two gardens, surrounded them with date palms, and in between the two gardens there were cornfields. Each garden brought its produce without fail, and in the midst of them flowed a river. This man boasted to the other that he had greater wealth, honor and power. And he went into his gardens with an unjust state of mind, saying, "I deem not that this will ever perish, nor do I deem that my time will run out. Even if I am brought back to my Lord, I shall surely find something better in return." The other guy said, "Do you deny God Who created you out of dust, then out of sperm, then fashioned oyu into a man? For my part God is Allah my Lord, and none shall I associate with my Lord. Why didn't you enter your garden saying, 'Allah's Will! There is no power but with Allah!' If you see me less than you in wealth and children, it may be that my Lord will give me something better than your garden, and God will send thunderbolts and turn your garden into sand, or the water will run off underground and you will never find it." So the gardens were destroyed by calamity, and the owner was filled with regret, saying, "Why wasn't I appreciative to God while I had the chance?"
Qur'an 20111207
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
28. And keep your soul content with those who call on thier Lord morning and evening, seeking God's Face. And let not your eyes pass beyond them, seeking the pomp and glitter of this life, nor obey any whose heart We have permitted to neglect the rememberance of Us, one who follows his own desires, whose case has gone beyond all bounds.
29. Say, "The Truth is from your Lord." Let him who will, believe, and let him who will, reject. For the wrongdoers We have prepared a fire which is like the walls and roof of a tent will hem them in: if they implore relief, they will be granted melted brass that will scald their faces. How dreadful the drink! How uncomfortable a couch to recline on!
The Cave 18:28-29
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The Truth is from your Lord.
(God does have a sense of humor! Life in hell is often referred to in the Qur'an as "entertainment", where, in the example of verse 18:29, an inhabitant kicks back on a couch of flames, and drinks a cocktail of melted brass.)
28. And keep your soul content with those who call on thier Lord morning and evening, seeking God's Face. And let not your eyes pass beyond them, seeking the pomp and glitter of this life, nor obey any whose heart We have permitted to neglect the rememberance of Us, one who follows his own desires, whose case has gone beyond all bounds.
29. Say, "The Truth is from your Lord." Let him who will, believe, and let him who will, reject. For the wrongdoers We have prepared a fire which is like the walls and roof of a tent will hem them in: if they implore relief, they will be granted melted brass that will scald their faces. How dreadful the drink! How uncomfortable a couch to recline on!
The Cave 18:28-29
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The Truth is from your Lord.
(God does have a sense of humor! Life in hell is often referred to in the Qur'an as "entertainment", where, in the example of verse 18:29, an inhabitant kicks back on a couch of flames, and drinks a cocktail of melted brass.)
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