In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
Hello there, my beloved Julia. How are you feeling right now? I'm tired. I'm beat. I couldn't do anything laborious this evening, so I'm just sitting here writing to my sweetie, and waiting for them to call the sunset prayer in about an hour, so I can eat something.
About the accompanist, of course it should be common knowledge that I'm broke right now, otherwise I would be married. So I sing to please Allah. Anyone who would be my accompanist now would best do so for the love of Allah, and expect reward from Allah, like me. I hate cell phones, so anyone who wants an audition would have to connect with me through someone I know. This of course gives a local the advantage, but isn't that the way it should be? I'm a musical illiterate, I just create music from what I hear. So the guitar player who is my accompanist should be good at picking out chords from recordings. And fast too, for right now I have 96 songs in my live repertoire, and increasing inshaAllah.
Of course if greed is an issue, then whoever would have to wait until I have money before they work with me. By that time I would be busy with my Julia, and leaving the task of auditions to my band leader (whom I've already chosen). In the meantime, I'm happy with just karaoke, until Allah grants me something better inshaAllah. Who needs the burden of fake friends?
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Qur'an 20130729
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
59. The similitude of Jesus before Allah is as that of Adam. God created him from dust, then said to him, "Be!" And he was.
60. The Truth from your Lord alone, so be not of those who doubt.
61. If anyone disputes in this matter with you now after knowledge has come to you, say, "Come! Let us gather our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves. Then let us earnestly pray, and invoke the curse of Allah on those who lie!"
62. This is the true account: there is no god except Allah. And Allah: God is indeed the Exalted in Power, the Wise.
63. But if they turn back, Allah has full knowledge of those who do mischief.
The Family of Imran 3:59-63
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Come! Let us gather our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves. Then let us earnestly pray, and invoke the curse of Allah on those who lie!
59. The similitude of Jesus before Allah is as that of Adam. God created him from dust, then said to him, "Be!" And he was.
60. The Truth from your Lord alone, so be not of those who doubt.
61. If anyone disputes in this matter with you now after knowledge has come to you, say, "Come! Let us gather our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves. Then let us earnestly pray, and invoke the curse of Allah on those who lie!"
62. This is the true account: there is no god except Allah. And Allah: God is indeed the Exalted in Power, the Wise.
63. But if they turn back, Allah has full knowledge of those who do mischief.
The Family of Imran 3:59-63
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Come! Let us gather our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves. Then let us earnestly pray, and invoke the curse of Allah on those who lie!
Friday, July 26, 2013
Letter to Julia 20130727
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
Hi Julia! How are you feeling, my dearest? I am missing you of course. When will I see you again? I have been very busy. Ramadan is very busy for me. And I'm just doing mundane things, living day to day, praying that Allah will allow us to be happily and safely married to each other. InshaAllah. I took Chee CHeah to the vet on Thursday. Even when I don't announce my visit to the vet, there always seems to be someone there ready to pounce on me with their cat. And I'm rarely in a good mood in the morning. I'm not a morning person Julia. I'm like a car that takes a while to start. I planned to take little Fluffy Ramadan to the vet on Friday morning, but I got too lazy. She seems to be coping well since her last visit, so I decided to postpone her doctor's visit. For dinner, I made a batch of curry flavored chili, and I'm going to enjoy it with some "murtabak", a kind of bread stuffed with eggs and meats, made by the locals. Would you care to join me?
Ouch! My right shoulder hurts. I'm old, Julia! All those years of hammering on the guitar and bass have caught up to me. This pain started right at the beginning of the fasting month after I practiced the guitar, and it hasn't completely gone away. I'm afraid that the days of singing and playing an instrument are over: I definitely need an accompanist, or karaoke at the very least, which everyone can relate to, by the way. Singing puts pressure on my right hand for some reason. I'm firmly convinced that one cannot be an exceptional singer and play an instrument at the same time. Average yes, but not exceptional. As for me, Allah is the One Who grants the music. Which of course, makes it even more profound.
Hi Julia! How are you feeling, my dearest? I am missing you of course. When will I see you again? I have been very busy. Ramadan is very busy for me. And I'm just doing mundane things, living day to day, praying that Allah will allow us to be happily and safely married to each other. InshaAllah. I took Chee CHeah to the vet on Thursday. Even when I don't announce my visit to the vet, there always seems to be someone there ready to pounce on me with their cat. And I'm rarely in a good mood in the morning. I'm not a morning person Julia. I'm like a car that takes a while to start. I planned to take little Fluffy Ramadan to the vet on Friday morning, but I got too lazy. She seems to be coping well since her last visit, so I decided to postpone her doctor's visit. For dinner, I made a batch of curry flavored chili, and I'm going to enjoy it with some "murtabak", a kind of bread stuffed with eggs and meats, made by the locals. Would you care to join me?
Ouch! My right shoulder hurts. I'm old, Julia! All those years of hammering on the guitar and bass have caught up to me. This pain started right at the beginning of the fasting month after I practiced the guitar, and it hasn't completely gone away. I'm afraid that the days of singing and playing an instrument are over: I definitely need an accompanist, or karaoke at the very least, which everyone can relate to, by the way. Singing puts pressure on my right hand for some reason. I'm firmly convinced that one cannot be an exceptional singer and play an instrument at the same time. Average yes, but not exceptional. As for me, Allah is the One Who grants the music. Which of course, makes it even more profound.
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Letter to Julia 20130724
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
Whew! It's been a very hectic Ramadan so far. I seem to have less time than usual, and this morning I felt like I was in a trance. I didn't want to be driving. I don't really enjoy driving. It puts me to sleep. I have more time when I wake up early in the morning to eat. So I can prepare food. This morning I had fried noodles, with steak and oyster mushrooms. You must be very busy. I pray that Allah gives you great rewards for your worship. I hope you aren't preferring the company of atheists and pagans just because you crave their friendship or business. Perhaps you wish to please everyone. The right thing to do is to make a stand, and please Allah. Just like I have made a stand, and am committed to marrying you. Perhaps you are in awe of them in some way, perhaps you think they are cool. Actually, you are the cool one. You are the one en vogue. You are the one whom others crave the company of, inshaAllah. Because you are MY girl. You are the most beautiful girl in the world, and I love you.
Whew! It's been a very hectic Ramadan so far. I seem to have less time than usual, and this morning I felt like I was in a trance. I didn't want to be driving. I don't really enjoy driving. It puts me to sleep. I have more time when I wake up early in the morning to eat. So I can prepare food. This morning I had fried noodles, with steak and oyster mushrooms. You must be very busy. I pray that Allah gives you great rewards for your worship. I hope you aren't preferring the company of atheists and pagans just because you crave their friendship or business. Perhaps you wish to please everyone. The right thing to do is to make a stand, and please Allah. Just like I have made a stand, and am committed to marrying you. Perhaps you are in awe of them in some way, perhaps you think they are cool. Actually, you are the cool one. You are the one en vogue. You are the one whom others crave the company of, inshaAllah. Because you are MY girl. You are the most beautiful girl in the world, and I love you.
Qur'an 20130724
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
28. Let not the believers take for friends or helpers unbelievers rather than believers. If any do that, in nothing will there be help from Allah except by way of precaution, that you may guard yourselves from them. But Allah cautions you Godself, for the final goal is to Allah.
29. Say, "Whether you hide what is in your hearts or reveal it, Allah knows it all. God knows what is in the heavens, and what is on earth, and Allah has power over all things."
30. On the day when every soul will be confronted with all the good it has done, and all the evil it has done, it will wish there were a great distance between it and its evil. But Allah cautions you Godself, and Allah is Full of Kindness to those that serve God.
31. Say, "If you do love Allah, follow me. Allah will love you, and forgive you your sins, for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, most Merciful."
32. Say, "Obey Allah and God's messenger." But if they turn back, Allah loves not those who reject Faith.
The Family of Imran 3:28-32
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Whether you hide what is in your hearts or reveal it, Allah knows it all. God knows what is in the heavens, and what is on earth, and Allah has power over all things.
If you do love Allah, follow me. Allah will love you, and forgive you your sins, for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, most Merciful.
Obey Allah and God's messenger.
I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship besides Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.
28. Let not the believers take for friends or helpers unbelievers rather than believers. If any do that, in nothing will there be help from Allah except by way of precaution, that you may guard yourselves from them. But Allah cautions you Godself, for the final goal is to Allah.
29. Say, "Whether you hide what is in your hearts or reveal it, Allah knows it all. God knows what is in the heavens, and what is on earth, and Allah has power over all things."
30. On the day when every soul will be confronted with all the good it has done, and all the evil it has done, it will wish there were a great distance between it and its evil. But Allah cautions you Godself, and Allah is Full of Kindness to those that serve God.
31. Say, "If you do love Allah, follow me. Allah will love you, and forgive you your sins, for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, most Merciful."
32. Say, "Obey Allah and God's messenger." But if they turn back, Allah loves not those who reject Faith.
The Family of Imran 3:28-32
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Whether you hide what is in your hearts or reveal it, Allah knows it all. God knows what is in the heavens, and what is on earth, and Allah has power over all things.
If you do love Allah, follow me. Allah will love you, and forgive you your sins, for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, most Merciful.
Obey Allah and God's messenger.
I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship besides Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.
Monday, July 22, 2013
Letter to Julia 20130723
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
The copy of the Qur'an that I have is a bilingual- in the original Arabic script, with its English translation side by side. I also have a smaller sized Arabic Qur'an once owned by my Mom, which I use to read out loud every morning before the dawn prayer. Right now in my smaller Qur'an, I've paused at chapter 63: The Hypocrites.
Again, how do you spot a hypocrite Muslim, Christian, or Jew, Julia? O you sincere Muslim, inshaAllah? They usually dress nicely, and are pleasing to the eye, so it's hard to tell when they influence our emotions so. The Qur'an gives a formula: you can detect a hypocrite by the expression of disgust on his/her face when he/she turns away after talking to you.
The copy of the Qur'an that I have is a bilingual- in the original Arabic script, with its English translation side by side. I also have a smaller sized Arabic Qur'an once owned by my Mom, which I use to read out loud every morning before the dawn prayer. Right now in my smaller Qur'an, I've paused at chapter 63: The Hypocrites.
Again, how do you spot a hypocrite Muslim, Christian, or Jew, Julia? O you sincere Muslim, inshaAllah? They usually dress nicely, and are pleasing to the eye, so it's hard to tell when they influence our emotions so. The Qur'an gives a formula: you can detect a hypocrite by the expression of disgust on his/her face when he/she turns away after talking to you.
Qur'an 20130723
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
23. Have you turned your vision to those who have been given a portion of the Book? They are invited to the Book of Allah to settle their dispute, but a party of them turn back and decline.
24. This because they say, "The fire shall not touch us but for a few numbered days." For their forgeries deceive them as to their own religion.
25. But how, when We gather them together against a Day about which there is no doubt, and each soul will be paid out just what it has earned, without injustice?
26. Say, "O Allah! Lord of Power! You give Power to whom you please, and You strip off Power from whom You please. You endue with honor whom You please, and You bring low whom You please. In Your Hand is all Good. Verily, over all things You have Power."
The Family of Imran 3:21-26
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O Allah! Lord of Power! You give Power to whom you please, and You strip off Power from whom You please. You endue with honor whom You please, and You bring low whom You please. In Your Hand is all Good. Verily, over all things You have Power.
Those who killed the prophets of Allah, and those who killed people who teach just dealing with mankind have no clue of power, and the measure of time. Allah promises them a grievous penalty. They will get theirs, if not already.
23. Have you turned your vision to those who have been given a portion of the Book? They are invited to the Book of Allah to settle their dispute, but a party of them turn back and decline.
24. This because they say, "The fire shall not touch us but for a few numbered days." For their forgeries deceive them as to their own religion.
25. But how, when We gather them together against a Day about which there is no doubt, and each soul will be paid out just what it has earned, without injustice?
26. Say, "O Allah! Lord of Power! You give Power to whom you please, and You strip off Power from whom You please. You endue with honor whom You please, and You bring low whom You please. In Your Hand is all Good. Verily, over all things You have Power."
The Family of Imran 3:21-26
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O Allah! Lord of Power! You give Power to whom you please, and You strip off Power from whom You please. You endue with honor whom You please, and You bring low whom You please. In Your Hand is all Good. Verily, over all things You have Power.
Those who killed the prophets of Allah, and those who killed people who teach just dealing with mankind have no clue of power, and the measure of time. Allah promises them a grievous penalty. They will get theirs, if not already.
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