Thy Pie Hole

Even more powerful than the ability to express oneself eloquently is the ability to keep mum when needed.

-painfully discovered through painful experience under excrutiatingly painful circumstances.

White Oleander

Time flies when you're having fun, so goes the old addage. Especially if that fun is in the form of a book by Janet Fitch. I am literally unable to put it down ever since I bought it three days ago. The one hour wait I endure almost daily melts away like butter left irresponsibly in the hot sun. When the book is in front of me, I am a prisoner on death row savouring her precious hour-a-day in the yard. I want to be the beauty that Ingrid Magnussen flaunts so nonchalantly. I want to be Astrid's serene white innocence. I want to be Ron's tales thrown precariously to his audience. I want to be Olivia's deathly grip on Life. I want to step into the pages and flutter in the wind. I want to leave Here and join them There.

Explaining Islam

Karen Armstrong holds the ticket as a Muslim apologist. I consider her to be one on a broader scale. Apologia refers to a rational explanation. In her own words, Karen Armstrong is an apologist not only of Islam but of other religions as well. I personally salute her unwavering commitment in communicating to the public what various religions is all about. Through her writings she has labored to clear some of the most common (and often damning) fallacies that has befallen Islam today. Since I have yet to read her books, I find it odd and ironic that someone of immense knowledge on Islam should be banned from our country where Islam is often a victim of misinterpretation, mingled with customs and traditions and personally misconstrued.

While it is consoling to have a prominent figure making waves and throwing positive vibes about Islam, it also a saddening reality that a person not of the faith is the one able to provide the world with an objective etching. Armstrong speaks of the beauty of Islam through her studies of the Quran and other scholastic Islamic texts, and that's just the tip of the iceberg that is Islam. Imagine how much more Muslims, practicing, faithful Muslims, have to contribute to clearing Islam for slander and vilification by the west. If only.

However, there must also be caution in glorifying the likes of Armstrong in championing the religion. Never is she to be mistaken as a reference or guide on being a Muslim and practicing Islam for Muslims, be it in the old days or the modern world.

While her intentions and efforts are undoubtedly noble, her writings and opinions can only be taken as that - her writings and opinions. Allah dictates in the Quran that in matters of religion (which in actuality covers every aspect of our lives) Muslims are to consult the more knowledgeable amongst us (i.e. the religious scholars)( the Quran 21:7). It is therefor impossible for someone like Armstrong to guide us on religious matters since she lacks that one fundamental facet - faith in Allah. It is pertinent for me to point out that Karen Armstrong had stressed, in an interview, that she does not see belief as an important factor in one's religion. That is an expression of her faith but it clearly goes against teachings of the Quran, in which stress is placed upon building a strong belief in God, the angels, heaven and hell among others, time and time again. Without the belief that a higher Being is watching over and providing for you, there can be no compulsion to show gratitude and give thanks. Without the belief that there is an abundance of unseen bounty in the hereafter, there can be no real compulsion to do good deeds unselfishly.

This post is not meant to undermine Karen Armstrong in any way. I, for one, am fast becoming an admirer of her works. However, it is important to be both pedantic and prudent in selecting our sources as guidance.

Fathi Yakan's To Be A Muslim (see chapter The Creed)

Absolute Vanity

There is nothing more painful to witness than absolute vanity. Especially if it's sitting in your office nine to five, dishing out beauty tips to anyone naive enough to ask.

The pain of that transgresses all boundaries known to man.

Busy busy busy

All it takes is a busy weekend to put last week a lifetime away.

House hunting

Reality bytes;

I'm slowly learning the subtle difference between what my parents can provide for me and what I can afford on my meagre trainee's allowance.

akmal

Photo courtesy of esyaque

THAT is bliss....
THAT is joy....
THAT is life....

Praise Allah.

internet at work

Internet@work

I'm sure there's a set rule regarding the use of internet access in the office but it's a grey area in mine. The boss made it accessible in order for us to update our freeware antivirus programmes but we're supposed to hide our usage of it while he (the boss) is around. GO figure.

Home

Working out, safely.

After seven years of living within the vicinity of readily available public amenities, I've decided to make use of one of them,the local gym, two months before we're due to move out. It's no fancy affair, just a few equipments in an eighteen-by-nine room. The work clothes I got for myself at the beginning of my tenure is beginning to feel snug and I wasn't breaking enough sweat walking from my friend's car to the train station entrance. I'd have gladly walked the distance from my office to the station if not for several life-threatening factors.

To begin with, the roads here are rarely curbed, meaning you'd be walking ON the road,either on the side or, if you're completely bonkers, right smack in the middle of it.(I think the government's campaign for people to walk against traffic is pointless so long as they're still walking ON the road).

Even if there are continuous and safe curbs to tread on, there's the dogs issue to deal with. Here in the motherland, domestic felines and canines alike roam the streets unhindered. Just last month my family had a nerve-wrecking encounter with a surprised-but-decided-to-be-fierce mongrel on our walk to the local mamak's. It was an amazing scare but none of us were hurt, except for maybe my father's pride when he slipped to his rump in taking off his sandal to fend of the malicious dog. So you see, a walk down the street 3 minutes from home can be quite a life-threatening adventure.

Say the local authorities, for some insane reason, decided to do their job and round up all the strays, another issue persists. Local dog-owners, at least the ones in my neighbourhood and the ones near my office, seem to favour the streets as one big, free, maintenance-free litter box. This is as disgusting as you can imagine. Every morning and evening, on my way to and from work, I can see individuals standing by the road-side, innocently holding a leash while their domesticated poop-machines do their 'job'. Some don't even bother going into the bushes. I used to walk home during my final years of high-school and I've been an unwilling witness to the products of this daily irresponsible act. I'm sure some irreversible damage's been done to my psyche from unwanted sightings of excrement. Don't get me started about (accidentally)stepping on a pile of crappola.

Irresponsible bowel movements and insufficient pedestrian amenities aside, there's the motorists creating traffic and emitting carbon. The dangers of inhaling car exhaust is an old and oft-discussed issue. Pedestrian priority is non-existence here in the motherland. The rule is, if you see someone trying to cross the road, be sure to speed up and make sure the person doesn't cross in front of you. Now, thanks to low cc motorcycles that can weave in and out of traffic and in between cars faster than you can run to the loo, we're faced with the danger of snatch- thieves. This reckless breed of purse-dippers are becoming bolder too, slashing their victims needlessly in procuring their loot. Every time I cross the road, my purse is clutched to my chest rather than kept in my hand-bag. In the event that my handbag gets snatched, I'd at least still have saved my purse. It's ridiculous carrying a bag that doesn't serve any purpose. That clearly reflects the (near-bedlam) environment we've had to live in.

So, after seven years if walking and looking past that gym, I've decided to put on some running shoes and give it a go. At least I'd be breaking a sweat without unwittingly reducing my life span.

Shakespeare said...

Shakespeare said...

'...nothing is so common as the desire to be extraordinary.'

...hence the French guy who keeps scouring the world's skyscrapers.
...hence Erikah Badu and her oddly named offsprings.
...hence Gehry's Bilbao project.
...hence the stuffed crab and dead cactus on my desk.
...hence moir.

LRT

Random Ramblings #16

People getting into trains (in the motherland) never have the common sense to step aside and let other people get off before entering the carriage. I often have to squeeze my way through the barrage of sweaty bodies after a long day's work in order to get out. It doesn't help that the train door stays open for only a short period. They don't have the decency to queue in good discipline either. Either that or they're just plain dumb.