Have you ever wondered why you work so hard yet are unable to make gains despite your efforts? What has occured is a result of basic politics: your work did not influence the people who have power to give you the gains that you desire. You might think it to be unfair, however you are dealing with human beings. And human beings are selfish.
Then what would it take to influence these people? Let's look upon this from their perspective. They have their own family and friends that they interact with on a regular basis, and usually the family takes precedence in all business affairs. This results in a organization that runs the "family business" in a manner that serves the best interests of the family. Does this sounds like gangsterism? Of course! You will discover that even at the lowest level, most gangs are made of family members. As the circle of power and influence gets larger, the same basic principle applies. The family exerts its control over a multitude of "other people". But what to do? Even Allah commands that we take care of our parents and family. But Allah does not command us to do evil, and create mischief and destruction!
Turn away from the ignorant, Julia. Hold to forgiveness, and command what is right. Seek refuge with Allah when thoughts of evil cross your mind, and maintain your prayers. I am your family now, Julia. So let us come together, and I will love you. I am the one who loves you.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Qur'an 20110719
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
186. To such as Allah rejects from God's Guidance, there can be no guide. God will leave them in their trespasses, wandering in distraction.
187. They ask you about the Hour: when will be its appointed time? Say, "The knowledge thereof is with my Lord. None can reveal as to when it will occur. Heavy is its burden through the heavens and the earth. Only all of a sudden will it come to you." They ask you if you were eager in search thereof. Say, "The knowledge thereof is with Allah, but most humans know not."
188. Say, "I have no power over any good or harm to myself except as Allah Wills. If I had knowledge of the unseen, I should have multiplied all good, and no evil should have touched me. I am but a warner, and a bringer of glad tidings to those who have faith."
189. It is God who created you from a single person and made his mate of like nature, in order that he might dwell with her. When they are united, she bears a light burden and carries it about. When she grows heavy, they both pray to Allah their Lord, "If You give us a goodly child, we vow we shall be grateful."
190. But when God gives them a goodly child, they ascribe to others a share in the gift they have received. But Allah is exalted high above the partners they ascribe to God.
191. Do they ascribe to God as partners things that can create nothing, but are themselves created?
192. No aid can they give them, nor can they aid themselves!
193. If you call them to guidance, they will not obey. For you it is the same whether you call them, or you hold your peace!
194. Verily those who you call upon besides Allah are servants like unto you. Call upon them, and let them listen to your prayer, if you are truthful!
195. Have they feet to walk with? Or hands to lay hold with? Or eyes to see with? Or ears to hear with? Say, "Call your 'god-partners', scheme against me, and give me no respite!"
196. "For my protector is Allah, Who revealed the Book, and God will choose and befriend the righteous."
197. "But those you call upon besides God are unable to help you, and indeed to help themselves."
The Heights 7:186-195
----------------------------------------------------------
The knowledge thereof is with my Lord. None can reveal as to when it will occur. Heavy is its burden through the heavens and the earth. Only all of a sudden will it come to you.
The knowledge thereof is with Allah, but most humans know not.
I have no power over any good or harm to myself except as Allah Wills. If I had knowledge of the unseen, I should have multiplied all good, and no evil should have touched me. I am but a warner, and a bringer of glad tidings to those who have faith.
Call your 'god-partners', scheme against me, and give me no respite!
186. To such as Allah rejects from God's Guidance, there can be no guide. God will leave them in their trespasses, wandering in distraction.
187. They ask you about the Hour: when will be its appointed time? Say, "The knowledge thereof is with my Lord. None can reveal as to when it will occur. Heavy is its burden through the heavens and the earth. Only all of a sudden will it come to you." They ask you if you were eager in search thereof. Say, "The knowledge thereof is with Allah, but most humans know not."
188. Say, "I have no power over any good or harm to myself except as Allah Wills. If I had knowledge of the unseen, I should have multiplied all good, and no evil should have touched me. I am but a warner, and a bringer of glad tidings to those who have faith."
189. It is God who created you from a single person and made his mate of like nature, in order that he might dwell with her. When they are united, she bears a light burden and carries it about. When she grows heavy, they both pray to Allah their Lord, "If You give us a goodly child, we vow we shall be grateful."
190. But when God gives them a goodly child, they ascribe to others a share in the gift they have received. But Allah is exalted high above the partners they ascribe to God.
191. Do they ascribe to God as partners things that can create nothing, but are themselves created?
192. No aid can they give them, nor can they aid themselves!
193. If you call them to guidance, they will not obey. For you it is the same whether you call them, or you hold your peace!
194. Verily those who you call upon besides Allah are servants like unto you. Call upon them, and let them listen to your prayer, if you are truthful!
195. Have they feet to walk with? Or hands to lay hold with? Or eyes to see with? Or ears to hear with? Say, "Call your 'god-partners', scheme against me, and give me no respite!"
196. "For my protector is Allah, Who revealed the Book, and God will choose and befriend the righteous."
197. "But those you call upon besides God are unable to help you, and indeed to help themselves."
The Heights 7:186-195
----------------------------------------------------------
The knowledge thereof is with my Lord. None can reveal as to when it will occur. Heavy is its burden through the heavens and the earth. Only all of a sudden will it come to you.
The knowledge thereof is with Allah, but most humans know not.
I have no power over any good or harm to myself except as Allah Wills. If I had knowledge of the unseen, I should have multiplied all good, and no evil should have touched me. I am but a warner, and a bringer of glad tidings to those who have faith.
Call your 'god-partners', scheme against me, and give me no respite!
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Letter to Julia 20110719
Hello there, my beautiful beloved Julia! I hope you are feeling fine and upbeat, for I'm sure you are working hard as usual. Please take good care of your lovely self, and please make sure you eat adequately.
As for me, I had to change my daily menu. For a while there, I had nothing but mackerel and onions, I couldn't even vary the preparation because of the lack of ingredients. Suddenly, the price of mackerel went sky-high. What was once considered "poor man's food" suddenly became unavailable for the poor. It's probably Chee Cheah's fault. I brought this to her attention, and she said "Meow", then gave me a look that said, "No, it's your damn fault." Oh yeah? I don't control the prices of fish and cooking oil! If they want me to buy more expensive fish, then they should give me more money! So, I turned to my Mexican influences (you know, the people oppressed by the drug cartels, as this is a similar situation), and am now living off chili and tortillas. Preparing beans takes forever. I should have soaked the beans overnight, but I got hungry. It takes at least half a day to cook chili, so I cook an enormous batch, and live off that for about a week or so. Most people don't know this, but chili matches well with rice. Hmmm, I wonder what chili with be like using lentils? Lentils are cheaper than beans. Biblical, isn't it? Quranic, rather.
There is the type of man who receives the Signs of God, but he passes them by. Therefore, the devil takes the opportunity to exert control over him. God could have elevated this guy with the Signs of God, but the human preferred the material over the spiritual, so he followed his own desires. Like a dog, if you beat it, it lolls out its tongue, and if you leave it alone, it lolls out its tongue. So, is it evil in his nature? Rather, God rejects those who reject the Signs of God. We often ask ourselves, "Why do these people who refuse to take heed, get away with their evil?" But they don't. The Compassionate One cuts them a break, and gives them respite until the punishment gradually reaches them, in ways that they do not perceive.
As for me, I had to change my daily menu. For a while there, I had nothing but mackerel and onions, I couldn't even vary the preparation because of the lack of ingredients. Suddenly, the price of mackerel went sky-high. What was once considered "poor man's food" suddenly became unavailable for the poor. It's probably Chee Cheah's fault. I brought this to her attention, and she said "Meow", then gave me a look that said, "No, it's your damn fault." Oh yeah? I don't control the prices of fish and cooking oil! If they want me to buy more expensive fish, then they should give me more money! So, I turned to my Mexican influences (you know, the people oppressed by the drug cartels, as this is a similar situation), and am now living off chili and tortillas. Preparing beans takes forever. I should have soaked the beans overnight, but I got hungry. It takes at least half a day to cook chili, so I cook an enormous batch, and live off that for about a week or so. Most people don't know this, but chili matches well with rice. Hmmm, I wonder what chili with be like using lentils? Lentils are cheaper than beans. Biblical, isn't it? Quranic, rather.
There is the type of man who receives the Signs of God, but he passes them by. Therefore, the devil takes the opportunity to exert control over him. God could have elevated this guy with the Signs of God, but the human preferred the material over the spiritual, so he followed his own desires. Like a dog, if you beat it, it lolls out its tongue, and if you leave it alone, it lolls out its tongue. So, is it evil in his nature? Rather, God rejects those who reject the Signs of God. We often ask ourselves, "Why do these people who refuse to take heed, get away with their evil?" But they don't. The Compassionate One cuts them a break, and gives them respite until the punishment gradually reaches them, in ways that they do not perceive.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Letter to Julia 20110716
As for the house I live in now, it is far from ready for you. I have been focusing on the yard, but the interior still needs much work. The walls and window sills needs scraping and painting, the ceiling and roof need work, the bathrooms need work, the kitchen needs updating, there needs to be central air-conditioning installed, not to mention appropriate cat-proof furniture, etc etc etc. The yard takes a lot of my energy, as I hand-trim the grass, and am planting and tending more fruit and spice trees, and am constanly raking and burning. I barely have energy left to keep the insides tidy, and the spiders still rule the house. Then the outside needs painting too, and I'm still too poor to buy a can of paint. I dare not even let you look at the inside, I have to admit I have at least a few years left before I let you look at the interior.
I do enjoy the garden, though. The grass is long, because I don't use shears. But it only grows so high, so all I really need to do is remove the flower stems. The grass flowers are white and blue: one doesn't notice the blue unless one looks very closely. I also have many other white and blue flowers, but I don't know the name of the plant. I just help it spread and flourish. Among the grass are other white and blue flowers, some of them very tiny, and the balsam I sowed is finally growing and flowering, which coincidentally happen to be white and blue also. There are many curry leaf shrubs, but I had to prune most of them down because the quality was poor. There is a cashew and a mango tree up front, and I am adding more, along with some chilli plants, and a young bamboo of course, which will grow to be huge if I don't check it. I have an ancient fruit tree called an amra growing by the gate (which needs to be replaced). The fruit is a white, snappy, slightly sour flesh but it bears fruit all year long, and the skin tastes like it's packed with antioxidants. I also have a child of the amra which I keep in a flowerpot as a bonsai. There is a tropical cherry tree growing right beside the house. It's a very pretty tree, which gives a lot of shade, but only the songbirds can eat the fruit. There are some other shrubs with black stems and red fruits, I don't know what they are, but my Mom told me to keep them because the red fruits are high in vitamin C. Hmmm. But there is a large area of concrete where cars can park, so I don't have much space for more plants.
The back of the house is not so attractive, because the vegetation is immense. I'm doing what I can, but cleaning up the leaves is difficult, because of the preponderance of army ants. Yes ma'am, BIG red ants! If I dance around them then they leave me alone, but sometimes I need to hose down the concrete, and that makes them aggressive. There are 2 tall mango trees growing over the cesspool... I don't eat the fruit, but they do give out a wonderful scent during mango season. Beyond the cesspool is a ditch with a miniature swamp, which is someone else's property, so the back of the house needs to be bricked up. My grandfather's house is right beside mine, and it is abandoned, hence the thick vegetation. I would like to tackle that area eventually if I have the manpower, for there are many natural treasures there, but for now I have to focus on this house.
But the front yard is very quaint, and I barely got started, so I have great hopes in the future for a very pretty front yard. Ya Allah, I would like some money to start painting the house, and I would like to put a new roof, too. Plus many other things. Alhamdulillah. For now, I like to trim the grass on the evenings, and Chee Cheah is often at my side. My brother left his chickens here, so sometimes it's quite a soothing pastoral scene as I tend the garden. There is an elementary school just a few houses away. My mother's family has been in this for many generations, and it is a perfect place to raise a family.
I do enjoy the garden, though. The grass is long, because I don't use shears. But it only grows so high, so all I really need to do is remove the flower stems. The grass flowers are white and blue: one doesn't notice the blue unless one looks very closely. I also have many other white and blue flowers, but I don't know the name of the plant. I just help it spread and flourish. Among the grass are other white and blue flowers, some of them very tiny, and the balsam I sowed is finally growing and flowering, which coincidentally happen to be white and blue also. There are many curry leaf shrubs, but I had to prune most of them down because the quality was poor. There is a cashew and a mango tree up front, and I am adding more, along with some chilli plants, and a young bamboo of course, which will grow to be huge if I don't check it. I have an ancient fruit tree called an amra growing by the gate (which needs to be replaced). The fruit is a white, snappy, slightly sour flesh but it bears fruit all year long, and the skin tastes like it's packed with antioxidants. I also have a child of the amra which I keep in a flowerpot as a bonsai. There is a tropical cherry tree growing right beside the house. It's a very pretty tree, which gives a lot of shade, but only the songbirds can eat the fruit. There are some other shrubs with black stems and red fruits, I don't know what they are, but my Mom told me to keep them because the red fruits are high in vitamin C. Hmmm. But there is a large area of concrete where cars can park, so I don't have much space for more plants.
The back of the house is not so attractive, because the vegetation is immense. I'm doing what I can, but cleaning up the leaves is difficult, because of the preponderance of army ants. Yes ma'am, BIG red ants! If I dance around them then they leave me alone, but sometimes I need to hose down the concrete, and that makes them aggressive. There are 2 tall mango trees growing over the cesspool... I don't eat the fruit, but they do give out a wonderful scent during mango season. Beyond the cesspool is a ditch with a miniature swamp, which is someone else's property, so the back of the house needs to be bricked up. My grandfather's house is right beside mine, and it is abandoned, hence the thick vegetation. I would like to tackle that area eventually if I have the manpower, for there are many natural treasures there, but for now I have to focus on this house.
But the front yard is very quaint, and I barely got started, so I have great hopes in the future for a very pretty front yard. Ya Allah, I would like some money to start painting the house, and I would like to put a new roof, too. Plus many other things. Alhamdulillah. For now, I like to trim the grass on the evenings, and Chee Cheah is often at my side. My brother left his chickens here, so sometimes it's quite a soothing pastoral scene as I tend the garden. There is an elementary school just a few houses away. My mother's family has been in this for many generations, and it is a perfect place to raise a family.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Letter to Julia 20110715
No, it is not my intention to push the envelope when it comes to Islam. I'm just trying to get by the best I can until Judgement Day. I'm not creating a new following, or any new teachings. Rather, I'm a follower, not a leader. My leader is prophet Muhammad (peace be on him), and my "ambition" as a Muslim is to master the Qur'an, in action as well as verse. I'm not trying to write any new religious books, or gain any sort of name/rank as a scholar. I'm a musician.
And an old one, at that. I still can't get to the point where I can play the drums everyday, even when I had my own set I wasn't able to do that. Now my fingers hurt from playing the drums yesterday. I'm not the competitive type either. I avoid music contests like I avoid parties. I just want to please Allah with music, and to create music that I can listen to without cringing. It's not easy!
As for you, I want to be your mate, and to watch over you as we work. It's fine with me if I follow you around while I do my work, but sometimes you may have to follow me around. Then, we will place much pressure on our children if we stay in motion. Please think about that. I understand that all this Islam is a trial for you, but it is also a blessing. Just do the best you can with what Allah gives you. Peace, and blessings of Allah be upon you. Assalamu'alaikum.
And an old one, at that. I still can't get to the point where I can play the drums everyday, even when I had my own set I wasn't able to do that. Now my fingers hurt from playing the drums yesterday. I'm not the competitive type either. I avoid music contests like I avoid parties. I just want to please Allah with music, and to create music that I can listen to without cringing. It's not easy!
As for you, I want to be your mate, and to watch over you as we work. It's fine with me if I follow you around while I do my work, but sometimes you may have to follow me around. Then, we will place much pressure on our children if we stay in motion. Please think about that. I understand that all this Islam is a trial for you, but it is also a blessing. Just do the best you can with what Allah gives you. Peace, and blessings of Allah be upon you. Assalamu'alaikum.
Qur'an 20110715
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
158. Say, "O mankind! I am sent unto you all, as the messenger of Allah, to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. There is no god but God. It is God that gives both life and death. So believe in Allah and God's messenger, the unlettered prophet, who believes in Allah and God's Words. Follow him, that you may be guided."
The Heights 7:158
----------------------------------------------------------
O mankind! I am sent unto you all, as the messenger of Allah, to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. There is no god but God. It is God that gives both life and death. So believe in Allah and God's messenger, the unlettered prophet, who believes in Allah and God's Words. Follow him, that you may be guided.
I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship other than Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.
158. Say, "O mankind! I am sent unto you all, as the messenger of Allah, to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. There is no god but God. It is God that gives both life and death. So believe in Allah and God's messenger, the unlettered prophet, who believes in Allah and God's Words. Follow him, that you may be guided."
The Heights 7:158
----------------------------------------------------------
O mankind! I am sent unto you all, as the messenger of Allah, to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. There is no god but God. It is God that gives both life and death. So believe in Allah and God's messenger, the unlettered prophet, who believes in Allah and God's Words. Follow him, that you may be guided.
I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship other than Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.
Letter to Julia 20110714
YOOOOOLIIIIIIEEEEEE!!!!!
Hello my beloved sweet Julia, how are you feeling? Again, I apologize for not writing as often as I used to. Never that I love you less, rather, I can only love you more once we know more about each other. Yes, we have yet to know each other! You do remember that I didn't know you before: you were recommended for me. So, in essence, we have a pre-arranged marriage. But how could I not love you, because you are all that I could ever want in a girl, and you are MY girl!
I hope you are not planning on inviting Claudia to our wedding. I certainly am not inviting her, and I definitely don't want to see her at our wedding. Perhaps you mean to be nice, or political, or whatever. But don't. Don't invite her to our wedding, not even to gloat. Don't do it. YOU are my girl, so I don't want to see her, not even accidentally.
Anyway, I'm just biding my time, trying to go as slowly as possible. You should realize this by now, that time is the most valuable commodity for people like us. I'm just letting Allah take care of me, I put my trust in Allah. What's the worth of running oneself into the ground as quickly as possible, in a rat race? Yes, you are already caught up in your flow, it's hard to stop and take a breath. That's why the prayers are so important, for it forces your bosses to let you stop for a while, no matter when and what. This envelope can be pushed to its extreme repercussions, so they had better not give you grief about your Islam. Anyway, when we're together (insyaAllah), we had better do what it takes to spend as much time as possible with each other: you will find it to be more profitable than you imagine. We had best synchronize our work and our schedules to fit each other in.
It is not my intention to push the envelope. I just want to be married to my Julia, and make love to her 24/7, well, as often as possible 24/7... I don't want to mess up your expensive clothes, well, you are rather sexy in beautiful clothes, I might not be able to help myself. If I follow you to work, I had better bring my office along to keep me busy. But how can I concentrate with Julia looking so delicious?
Hello my beloved sweet Julia, how are you feeling? Again, I apologize for not writing as often as I used to. Never that I love you less, rather, I can only love you more once we know more about each other. Yes, we have yet to know each other! You do remember that I didn't know you before: you were recommended for me. So, in essence, we have a pre-arranged marriage. But how could I not love you, because you are all that I could ever want in a girl, and you are MY girl!
I hope you are not planning on inviting Claudia to our wedding. I certainly am not inviting her, and I definitely don't want to see her at our wedding. Perhaps you mean to be nice, or political, or whatever. But don't. Don't invite her to our wedding, not even to gloat. Don't do it. YOU are my girl, so I don't want to see her, not even accidentally.
Anyway, I'm just biding my time, trying to go as slowly as possible. You should realize this by now, that time is the most valuable commodity for people like us. I'm just letting Allah take care of me, I put my trust in Allah. What's the worth of running oneself into the ground as quickly as possible, in a rat race? Yes, you are already caught up in your flow, it's hard to stop and take a breath. That's why the prayers are so important, for it forces your bosses to let you stop for a while, no matter when and what. This envelope can be pushed to its extreme repercussions, so they had better not give you grief about your Islam. Anyway, when we're together (insyaAllah), we had better do what it takes to spend as much time as possible with each other: you will find it to be more profitable than you imagine. We had best synchronize our work and our schedules to fit each other in.
It is not my intention to push the envelope. I just want to be married to my Julia, and make love to her 24/7, well, as often as possible 24/7... I don't want to mess up your expensive clothes, well, you are rather sexy in beautiful clothes, I might not be able to help myself. If I follow you to work, I had better bring my office along to keep me busy. But how can I concentrate with Julia looking so delicious?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)