Miracles happen all the time

I have stopped working full time as of now, 3 yrs ago. One of the things abt going to work same time as a few million people was dealing with the insane human jam at train stations. Cunningly I had avoided these unpleasant journeys in as much of my working life as possible, by taking the bus. On the odd occasion I had to take the train as destinations wld be right by the station for example. Today is one such day.

Of course in the last few years the population taking the train has increased at least threefold and now the SMRT has offered free rides if you board trains between 6-7am or something like that. But the jams at peak hour still don't look eased up. I reached Clementi station at 8.05 I think. And cldn't get into the first train that came. I was wondering how now, will I be late. I was annoyed that the woman in front of me hadn't pushed thru into the train and then later while we all waited, had stepped on my feet accidentally and didn't even bother saying sorry or acknowledging it. She had barely looked to see what she stepped on! I thought at least after a while she may realise but she didn't bother. Another woman opposite us also wanting to enter the same door had seen all this and I cld feel her glance on me trying to read my face. I restrained all kinds of impatient expressions on my face.

Miraculously within a minute the next train came. It was.... completely empty. This hardly happens. And best of all I got a seat... again something that hardly happens in morning peak hour. Getting the seat is especially a respite when you're having severe first day cramps. As I sat down, a realisation dawned on me: It was a blessing to have missed the earlier packed-to-the-brim train. It was a blessing to have had a lady step on my toe so I reacted waiting for a 'sorry', and hence in hindsight could see I was meant to have patience given time for next train. It was a blessing to have an empty train so that I got a seat to sit on for the 45min journey. All my anxiety, frustration, quick reaction dissipated in that one moment of realisation.

I saw a bigger and higher wisdom hover around and above me. I would not have known of what's to come. So to surrender completely means to let go all the time for all moments. Do your part but don't have expectations. Easier said and easier understood but to practise it moment by moment needs practise and conscious action of 'not doing' (wu wei).

May we always continue to 'see' miracles in the mere everyday mundane acts we take for granted so we are always grateful. Rabbana barik lana.

1st Quarter 2014 Reflections

SubhanAllah. 
Just as I typed the above, a huge branch naturally fell from the tree in the forest in front of my window. Every few months, a branch or two or four would stumble through the others below them and hit the heavily canopied forest floor with a soft thud. It's so gentle that none of the bird tweets are affected. I can hear a wood pecker forming the continuous background together with that tweet-tweet-tweet-tweet bird that frequents this part of the world in April. She and her clan usually stay for a couple of months. By June, they are replaced by other birds. The royalty though throughout the seasons, the common kingfisher, stays. And always on the same spot  - atop the short mango tree in the foreground of my view. Then there are swallows and egrets, the occasional pigeons and the screeching mynahs. Saw a couple of long tailed macaques a few months ago on the railing that formally separates our residential area and the forest beyond. They were unfazed as always. 

Anyway my 'subhanAllah' was in reference to the way events pan out in front of us and how we become mere spectators from being participants - in a flash. I had signed up to conduct 5 months' worth of training courses with the last one in May (which is now cancelled), and I did the last of it weekend before last. 

This last one had a group size of ten. In giving examples to illustrate the connection of overseas volunteer work and life back at home, I had shared about how elderly folk are often seen in the void decks of apartment blocks among themselves. And how several working adults and students walk right past them as if they are invisible. everyone is in a hurry. Little does one realise that the security and infrastructure in our nation-building is contributed by these very same folk, who have worked hard and brought about what we are enjoying today. It's a common sight - the elderly in the void decks of blocks. And all younger abled residents just walking past them, usually not acknowledging them with even a smile or a nod.

It seemed i had the class in full attention. I thought i made an impact. I could see from their faces faint recollections of their own encounters or perhaps their own grandparents who are at void decks. But it was only a week later when i was walking back from the shops (as you may guess, through several void decks) that it hit me. Our youth are not 'made aware' of these things. There is no time for reflection. There is no time for moral ethical lessons of life. School is all about being computer literate and being on top of your class and work so you make it to the next phase. So perhaps those few seconds had created a reflection point for them as the entire course aims to do. 

Parents are not at home when the student or child comes home from school. There's a helper sometimes who fixes the meals, cleans up the rooms and toilets. Maybe a pet or two. Maybe a grandparent if you're lucky for human interaction but that too is brushed off these days in the face of mobile phones as the newest weapons spelling: 'Leave me alone. I am busy.'

My training is satisfying because at the end of it, it's not a lesson in what you could have gotten from a set of notes. It's about valuing partnerships, human relationships, respecting another's past experiences (despite not knowing or in many cases, after knowing another person), about planning and being prepared for unexpected outcomes (lessons I myself had learnt from my Girl Guides days). 

Trainings aside, this whole cloud of 'submission' has been hovering over me - it's not a new lesson but one that must be executed time and again for it to completely submerge me in its wisdom or to make sense from a heart level. Sometimes we are so sure of our spiritual practice that we forget the very core is to keep practising as if you're learning from ground Zero. I'm blessed to have Nature in front of me and reminding me. But our own fears and doubts make us 'lose' faith in the Unseen yet Promising One. We are doubtful based on what others say to us. We allow their fears to umbrella over us. When these fears get too big for us to handle, we break down and go crying to the One who creates and sustains us.

It is well known that humans will disappoint one another but the Creator will never abandon Its Creations. This is His responsibility. When crime is committed on a person, the reality is that this is a temporary abode and all unfairness in this life will see its fairness in the next. Because of its transitionary quality, we must not get too attached to its offings.

The Creator loves its creations more than a mother could care for her child. We unfortunately don't get this because our doubts and fears get in the way. Let Go and Let God. 

The Individualistic Doer

Individualistic Doers are self-assured and very independent people. They are quiet and realistic, very rational, extremely matter of fact people. They strongly cultivate their individualism and enjoy applying their abilities to new tasks. But they are also very spontaneous and impulsive persons who like to follow their sudden inspirations.

Individualistic Doers are good and precise observers who register everything which goes on around them. However, they are not so sensitive as regards interpersonal relations and are surprised when they occasionally rub someone up the wrong way with their direct and blunt manner. They are not particularly fond of obligations; but if you give them space, they are uncomplicated, sociable and cheerful individuals.

Individualistic Doers enjoy challenges - action and the odd kick are simply part of their life. They love tempting fate and many people of this type have risky hobbies such as skydiving or bungee jumping. This also applies to their workday life. Individualistic Doers are in top form in critical situations; they can grasp situations, make decisions and take the necessary steps extremely quickly. Hierarchies and authorities impress them very little; if a superior is not competent, they will have little respect for him. Individualistic Doers like to take on responsibility. They have a marked sense of reality and always find the most suitable and expedient solution for a problem. They resolve conflicts openly and directly; here, they sometimes lack tact but are also very good at taking criticism themselves.

As friends, Individualistic Doers are loyal and devoted; they only have a few friendships but many of them last a lifetime. People enjoy talking to them because of their optimistic attitude to life and their ability to listen. However, they prefer to talk about mutual interests and hobbies rather than about theoretical or philosophical issues - they are not tangible enough for them. They need a lot of freedom and time to themselves in love relationships but, at the same time, they are also very tolerant towards their partners. It happens very seldom that Individualistic Doers fall head over heels in love. They are far too rational. They prefer to pick their partner on the basis of mutual interests and preferences which they want to share with that partner. Individualistic Doers are not particularly fond of effusive outbursts of emotion. They prefer to prove their love by their actions and expect the same of their partner. Whoever wishes to tie an Individualistic Doer to himself needs a lot of patience. It takes some time before this personality type is willing to get involved with another person.

Adjectives that describe your type
introverted, practical, logical, spontaneous, adventurous, resolved, independent, fearless, loyal, analytical, realistic, optimistic, interested, quiet, curious, circumspect, individualistic, action-loving, venturesome, cool, dispassionate, reserved, skilful, confident, independent, communicative, down-to-earth

Need for Dust

“Sometimes your heart is just broken down into dust. At times, though, it’s only dust that will put out certain fires.”

~ Imam Muhammad Abdul Latiff

Is there Love in an Argument?

Imagine a trivial incident: Your mate asks you to help clean up the house when you are watching TV or reading a book you don’t want to break away from. How do you frame this situation?

Ego frames it as “You want me to do something I prefer not to do. I’ll decide whether to give in or not.” Spirit frames it as “I see that you need me.” Notice that the outcome is not what is at stake. Whether or not the ego gives in, it is still framing the incident as a conflict. Its main concern is to keep power on its side, therefore it must win the conflict. Winning means either saying no and getting away with it or saying yes and feeling magnanimous. The aim of both outcomes is to avoid defeat.

Spirit has no such ulterior motives. It acknowledges the other person’s need, but it neither takes responsibility for that need nor opposes it. In this way the other person is seen as real, because whenever you need something, your need is your reality.

The only true need anyone has is to be seen as real.

A lot of the time we are lost in unreal needs. Your mate could be asking you to clean house for dozens of reasons. She may be angry or feel upset that household work is all left to her. She may feel demeaned, ignored, overwhelmed, anxious, compulsive, controlling – or she may just need help cleaning the house.

The absence of ulterior motives is what marks spirit. The neediness of an insecure ego doesn’t get disguised by other tactics. When you are in spirit you don’t feel the urge to manipulate, cajole, seduce, demand, beg, or insist. You simply allow, and in that you make an open space for love to flow.

Adapted from The Path to Love, by Deepak Chopra (Three Rivers Press, 1997).

Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/is-there-mutual-love-in-an-argument.html#ixzz2JKJHWgGO

Welcome 2013!

Decisions. 
They are incumbent to sane living. Sane living with no regrets. And how steadfast we must remain to our decisions or we lose sight of the horizon. 

One thing gives for another. We make priorities and convince ourselves the best decision has been made. Giving up one job for another, giving up some time for one task over another event. Life in its wisdom, only brings us forward. And fate smiles upon us time and again, with the fair chance that we have moved in the 'right' direction - Forward. 

There are times I make my decisions fast and keep to them but more often than not, I do ponder back and forth on which decision to make. Seeking guidance from the inner voice may help but what if the inner voice is faint. Then we can't hear ourselves. Yet the decisions need to be made. 

I'm at the start of 2013 and having to make some important decisions. Mainly about work, choice of where to live, get own place or not, finishing the first book, settling down... My comfort is in the birds' chirps outside - constant and telling me it's ok. All decisions made will lead you somewhere. Just embrace the path. 

Allah (Alone) is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs (for us).”

 آل عمران‎ : Surah Al ‘Imran (3:173)

"Biographical Choices"

"We are not fluent in love but spend our life learning about it. 
Its energy is pure power. We are as attracted to love as we are intimidated by it. 
We are motivated by love, controlled by it, inspired by it, healed by it and destroyed by it.
Love is the fuel of our physical and spiritual bodies.
Each of life's challenges is recorded within all our tissues: we live within the biological consequences of our biographical choices."

~ From 'Anatomy of the Spirit' by Caroline Myss. (Recommended read for anyone wanting to understand the illogical way we operate sometimes in love and life)

Be Happier: 10 Things to Stop Doing Right Now

~ From http://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/how-to-be-happier-work-10-things-stop-doing.html

Sometimes the route to happiness depends more on what you don't do.

Consider, for example, what happens when you stop doing the following 10 things: Happiness--in your business life and your personal life--is often a matter of subtraction, not addition.

1. Blaming.

People make mistakes. Employees don't meet your expectations. Vendors don't deliver on time.

So you blame them for your problems. But you're also to blame. Maybe you didn't provide enough training. Maybe you didn't build in enough of a buffer. Maybe you asked too much, too soon.

Taking responsibility when things go wrong instead of blaming others isn't masochistic, it's empowering--because then you focus on doing things better or smarter next time.

And when you get better or smarter, you also get happier.

2. Impressing.

No one likes you for your clothes, your car, your possessions, your title, or your accomplishments. Those are all "things." People may like your things--but that doesn't mean they like you. Sure, superficially they might seem to, but superficial is also insubstantial, and a relationship that is not based on substance is not a real relationship. Genuine relationships make you happier, and you'll only form genuine relationships when you stop trying to impress and start trying to just be yourself.

3. Clinging.

When you're afraid or insecure, you hold on tightly to what you know, even if what you know isn't particularly good for you. An absence of fear or insecurity isn't happiness: It's just an absence of fear or insecurity. Holding on to what you think you need won't make you happier; letting go so you can reach for and try to earn what you want will. Even if you don't succeed in earning what you want, the act of trying alone will make you feel better about yourself.

4. Interrupting.

Interrupting isn't just rude. When you interrupt someone, what you're really saying is, "I'm not listening to you so I can understand what you're saying; I'm listening to you so I can decide what I want to say." Want people to like you? Listen to what they say. Focus on what they say. Ask questions to make sure you understand what they say. They'll love you for it--and you'll love how that makes you feel.

5. Whining.

Your words have power, especially over you. Whining about your problems makes you feel worse, not better. If something is wrong, don't waste time complaining. Put that effort into making the situation better. Unless you want to whine about it forever, eventually you'll have to do that. So why waste time? Fix it now. Don't talk about what's wrong. Talk about how you'll make things better, even if that conversation is only with yourself. And do the same with your friends or colleagues. Don't just be the shoulder they cry on. Friends don't let friends whine--friends help friends make their lives better.

6. Controlling.

Yeah, you're the boss. Yeah, you're the titan of industry. Yeah, you're the small tail that wags a huge dog. Still, the only thing you really control is you. If you find yourself trying hard to control other people, you've decided that you, your goals, your dreams, or even just your opinions are more important than theirs. Plus, control is short term at best, because it often requires force, or fear, or authority, or some form of pressure--none of those let you feel good about yourself.

Find people who want to go where you're going. They'll work harder, have more fun, and create better business and personal relationships. And all of you will be happier.

7. Criticizing.

Yeah, you're more educated. Yeah, you're more experienced. Yeah, you've been around more blocks and climbed more mountains and slayed more dragons. That doesn't make you smarter, or better, or more insightful. That just makes you you: unique, matchless, one of a kind, but in the end, just you. Just like everyone else--including your employees. Everyone is different: not better, not worse, just different. Appreciate the differences instead of the shortcomings and you'll see people--and yourself--in a better light.

8. Preaching.

Criticizing has a brother. His name is Preaching. They share the same father: Judging.

The higher you rise and the more you accomplish, the more likely you are to think you know everything--and to tell people everything you think you know. When you speak with more finality than foundation, people may hear you but they don't listen. Few things are sadder and leave you feeling less happy.

9. Dwelling.

The past is valuable. Learn from your mistakes. Learn from the mistakes of others.

Then let it go. The past is just training; it doesn't define you. Think about what went wrong, but only in terms of how you will make sure that, next time, you and the people around you will know how to make sure it goes right.Easier said than done? It depends on your focus. When something bad happens to you, see that as a chance to learn something you didn't know. When another person makes a mistake, see that as an opportunity to be kind, forgiving, and understanding.

10. Fearing.

We're all afraid: of what might or might not happen, of what we can't change, or what we won't be able to do, or how other people might perceive us. So it's easier to hesitate, to wait for the right moment, to decide we need to think a little longer or do some more research or explore a few more alternatives. Meanwhile days, weeks, months, and even years pass us by. And so do our dreams. Don't let your fears hold you back. Whatever you've been planning, whatever you've imagined, whatever you've dreamed of, get started on it today. If you want to start a business, take the first step. If you want to change careers, take the first step. If you want to expand or enter a new market or offer new products or services, take the first step. Put your fears aside and get started. Do something. Do anything. Otherwise, today is gone. Once tomorrow comes, today is lost forever.

Today is the most precious asset you own--and is the one thing you should truly fear wasting.

Jeff Haden learned much of what he knows about business and technology as he worked his way up in the manufacturing industry. Everything else he picks up from ghostwriting books for some of the smartest leaders he knows in business. @jeff_haden

The Story of the Eagle

Our lives are not determined by what happens to us but by how we react to what happens, Not by what life brings to us, but by the attitude we bring to life.
A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events, and outcomes.
It is a catalyst, a spark that creates extraordinary results.
Let’s change to make a change!!!

When it rains, most birds head for shelter;

the eagle is the only bird that, in order to avoid the rain,

starts flying above the cloud. ...

"...know that often through delay are gifts received"

Should you not gain your wants, my soul, then be not grieved;
But hasten to that banquet which your Lord’s bequeathed.
And when a thing for which you ask is slow to come,
Then know that often through delay are gifts received.
Find solace in privation and respect its due,
For only by contentment is the heart relieved.
And know that when the trials of life have rendered you
Despairing of all hope, and of all joy bereaved,
Then shake yourself and rouse yourself from heedlessness,
And make pure hope a meadow that you never leave.
Your Maker’s gifts take subtle and uncounted forms.
How fine the fabric of the world His hands have weaved.
The journey done, they came to the water of life,
And all the caravan drank deep, their thirst relieved.
Far be it from the host to leave them thirsty there,
His spring pours forth all generosity received.
My Lord, my trust in all Your purposes is strong,
That trust is now my shield; I’m safe, and undeceived.
All those who hope for grace from You will feel Your rain;
Too generous are You to leave my branch unleaved.
May blessings rest upon the loved one, Muhammad {pbuh} ,
Who’s been my means to high degrees since I believed.
He is my fortress and my handhold, so my soul,
Hold fast, and travel to a joy still unconceived.

- Ali bin Husayn al-Habshi (translated by Abdal Hakim Murad)

3 Ways to Practice Patience at work (from Care2 website)

The following is an article on Care2 website that i felt was worthy of sharing :)

_________________

I sometimes think that Zen students and entrepreneurs are the most patient, and at the same time the least patient, people. Zen students spend long hours, days, and years, sitting, facing a wall, expecting nothing. Entrepreneurs spend a tremendous amount of time, energy, and money planning and working without knowing the results of their efforts. While Zen students and entrepreneurs exhibit great patience they are equally impatient when it comes to accepting anything less than perfection.

Basho, a Zen poet, wrote:

Fleas, lice

The horse pissing

Near my pillow

This poem describes the rawness of Basho’s life and his ability to describe things just the way they are. My poem for today could be something like:

Email not working

Employees out sick

Little accomplished

Our lives at work are filled with difficulty. People are late for meetings. Our ideas are not met with enthusiasm. Computers crash, restart, and crash again. Other people don’t meet our expectations. Our overnight package is lost. Relationships become impossible. Cash shortages are threatening, and businesses fail. Patience requires that we fully and directly face our difficulties, that we embrace and learn from situations and from our feelings about them. Owning and transforming our pain and disappointment can be a tremendous challenge, as well as a tremendous gift.

Patience is what connects the entrepreneurial spirit required in business with facing the truth of what is actually required in Zen practice. It takes patience to face the truth of where we are in our work lives. The truth may include the pain of not meeting expectations, a variety of messy and challenging situations facing us each day, as well the possibilities of transformation and great accomplishment.

Zen describes several kinds of patience that can be practiced at work: acceptance of difficulty and hardship, not acting hastily, and acceptance of what is true. Let’s explore these.

Acceptance of difficulty. Our lives at work can be transformed when we completely accept that difficulty is to be expected and cannot be avoided. This doesn’t mean we take the negative attitude of “what will go wrong today?” Instead, we just pay attention to our own state of mind. We make our best effort. We meet each situation as it arises.

Not acting hastily. Given how difficult, unpredictable, and stressful our work lives can be, it is easy to respond quickly and impatiently. In difficult situations, just stop, think, and look more carefully at what really is the cause of the difficulty. When your computer crashes you can get upset and yell at whoever is in charge of your computer systems. Or, when your computer crashes, what if you just stop, take a breath, and notice your breathing, notice what is around you.

Acceptance of what is true. Most of our impatience comes from our wanting things to be different from what they are. Our overnight package did not arrive overnight. This is just true. There is nothing we can do to change what is. We can take actions to expedite the package’s delivery, but this action includes accepting what is difficult, not acting hastily, and accepting what is true.

Some questions:

When are you patient and when you are impatient at work?

What is most difficult for you at work?

What part of this difficulty do you create?

How can you transform this difficulty?

Adapted from Z.B.A. Zen of Business Administration.

Marc Lesser is CEO of ZBA Associates LLC, a company providing executive coaching, leadership development consulting, and keynote speaking services to businesses and non-profits. He is a developer and instructor of Google’s Search Inside Yourself program. Marc was the founder and former CEO of Brush Dance publishing. Marc is a Zen teacher with an MBA degree; a former resident of the San Francisco Zen Center for 10 years, and graduate of NYU’s Stern School of Business. He is the author of Less: Accomplishing More By Doing Less and Z.B.A. Zen of Business Administration.

Fifty years of a bitter-sweet union

They did it! Fifty long years of trudging along the marital path, of putting up with one another, of biting their tongue and being patient when the tendency was to just yell out at the other, of reminding themselves the bigger picture meant holding the fabric of the family together and staying together. 


Mom and dad celebrated their 50th anniversary this past weekend (June 2011) and I felt a glowing sense of pride and pleasure as I celebrated it with them. 


Their request had been simple - just a simple chaat* outing at East Coast Park. So we packed 2 flasks of chai, grabbed two picnic mats, some of my traveller-friendly cups, and off we went to the beach. We packed our own chai because the one served in public places is so sweet and if you say 'no sugar', it's so bland and bitter. So to satiate mom and dad's chai desire, we made it at home and off we went. I was blessed to have a car in those days and with God's grace, managed to find a parking spot close to the beach area so mom needn't walk for miles. 

I had invited my cousin Sarim along and he was then newly arrived in Singapore.  So it was fun! Sarim and I went to buy all the chaat samaan from nearby Komala Vilas. And as the beach became crowded, we dug into it and had a small family circle enjoying the sunset and the evening. As dusk overtook everyone's agenda, it was mesmerising to be at the beach and watch planes take off from Changi in the distance or ships on the horizon. Lovely evening light. Kids were flying their kites and several malay and indian families were coming out of the sea after casual play in the water.


Mom and dad, I'm so proud of you two. Despite all the difficulties we have all faced as a family, you have shown by example that patience, love, acceptance are powerful tools that hold the family together. Much more than Phds, career successes or money. I remain forever grateful to your persistence at life and its challenges. May we all learn a lesson or two from your example :) Ameen. 


May you always have health, wealth (of iman and daily existence), and rewards always and always. May all your duas be accepted and my love remains with you always. 


Thank you for your dedication and sacrifice!
Much love from your daughter     


*Chaat - a collection of South-Asian snacks often eaten at late afternoon tea time.

Visions of Sham (Greater Syria)

I'm reminded of my trip to Syria (done in 2008), several times... often when I'm lost in my consciousness and out of the blue, the scenes would play themselves out, as if a button has been pressed. I had gone to Syria with a group of people gathered between the NUS Middle East & North Africa Society and the Al-Markaz Arabic Language school. I had attended a sufi music event at the Arab Association (a place I hardly step into) and was given a flier by a girl about this upcoming trip. While waiting for the music program to start, I was intrigued by this flier in my hand and the incredibly attractive cost for the 2 week trip (S$2250) including flights, shared accommodation and 2 meals a day! Even though it was with a group of people I did not know, the thought of 'when would I ever get to go to Syria' kept coming into my mind and I made a mental note to email the contact soon as I got home to see if they had any more places available.  


With all luck, there was space and i joined this eager-beaver crowd of mainly 20somethings on what probably remains one of my most memorable trips. 

Below are some notes i took while on our group bus and as we traversed through different terrains in our 2 weeks there. 


"There is a certain truth that seems deep rooted in these (pre)-Abrahamic lands, a truth that speaks to you. You may not even know what it is but it speaks to you. The mesmerizing landscapes evoke a chord that may have laid dormant for a while and as you traverse through the desert, you witness the sights, sounds, smells, and are subjected to an exercise that definitely 'wakes up' the soul. 

We go through our lives feeding our minds and bodies, inadvertently forgetting or neglecting the soul. The nourishment for which is often aroused when it visits ancient lands strewn liberally with a universal historical heritage spanning centuries of livelihoods and existence. 

The faint sounds of qasidah which is humbling and touching -- Allahu-allahu-allahu-Allah (the incantation that goes up in pitch) and then Allahu-allahu-allahu-Allah (Going down in pitch) -- resonates with the temporarily forgotten chords residing deep within the heart. Now awakened ofcourse on no effort of mine; just by visual sights that awakens and speaks to the soul. Amazing. 
Credits to the handsome voice of Yusuf Islam telling us about the beauty of 'badru alaina' (the full moon appears up on us).


We visit the Castle of the Knights, locally known as Crac de Chevaliers and are amazed by the sturdy and overbearing architecture of centuries past. We become like little kids on a school trip examining the crevices, curves and texture of the columns, walls, fort platforms and wonder how war was carried out in the days of the past. We do this all in silence as each has their own mind working away trying to figure out meaning from what we saw. 


In our two weeks putting up near the Old City, we would frequent Ammara Souq* for food, and to buy things and to see the life of the locals. It led to Umayyad Mosque and the Al-Hamidiyah Souq. We visited the maqams (tombs) of the Prophet's (peace be upon him) wives, of Hazrat Bilal the famous first muezzin (the one who calls others to Prayer), of the Prophet's cousins, second cousins etc. 


We witness the marked site which reminds us of the Karbala Tragedy where in memory of the 19 heads which were sent back to the Muslims, there are 19 prayer skull-caps with Arabic inscriptions sewed into them. They are arranged in a neat display and looking at it, you are transformed to a time on how they must have been at the time of the Karbala Tragedy. It sends a chill through us. 


An image that stayed in our minds is the one outside Sayyida Ruqaiyah's Mosque. Everyday, we would see groups of shia muslims standing outside giving duas and observing a mini matam (breast-beating) sometimes. The women would be in all-black burqas and there were always more women and than men visible at this maqam. This is the site where the infant of Hazrat Husain was killed in the Karbala Tragedy and more information is at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sayyidah_Ruqayya_Mosque


The visit to the black and white tiled Khalid bin Walid's tomb inside the mosque was another visual treat. The mosque was beautiful and the asymmetrical designs left us speechless. Beautiful clean outdoor courtyards where you could easily imagine the spill over of the ummah (congregation/followers) praying during prayer times and doves in conversation and flight creating a stunning scene.  


An interesting encounter that i witnessed in this mosque was when I was about to pray, there was a lady praying such that the tomb was right in front of her. It was purposely situated right at the back of the mosque so that people would not pray behind the tomb. A mosque official pointed her out to me as she was in prayer and I was about to begin mine and I wondered what he was doing in the ladies section so I was a bit alert in case the curtain barrier was being removed etc. But he just pointed towards her, shaking his head and when I let out an unintentional sigh, he briefly laughed and kept shaking his head. The point was, prayer is offered to God, not tombs but people have colluded the practice over the years, especially in countries where mosques house the tombs. If a person without Islamic understanding were to witness the lady praying exactly behind the tomb, they may think ancestor worship is condoned in Islam. 


Tombs are places for the dead where we give fatiha (short prayer used for several occasions). Prayer to God is in a mosque but without obstruction preferably; not in front of tombs.   
_____________

At the Souq...
What pleased me when I went to the souqs was the kind of respectful looks we received as we walked through the marketplace. Not cheap, not leary, not trying to thrust a sale down your throat. I felt if this was because not many international tourists came to Damascus, majority were from the Saudi and Gulf states. So the shopkeepers were not money minded.  


Palmyra was another stunning place we went to - ruins dating back to 1st and 2nd Century A.D. The stories that accompany the structures were vivid and alive. For a comprehensive reading on this heritage site, please refer to http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/23 "


There were so many other experiences but I can't list them all here. The kind people we met, the hospitality we experienced, the simplicity we witnessed and the purity of the souls in places which provide little entertainment, were all rich experiences for us. I am so thankful to the invite I received to go to the Arab Association for the sufi programme (Prof Syed Farid Alattas) and to the girl who thrust the flier in my hand and to the organisers who fit me in - so I was able to make this trip. SubhanAllah - you all were part of making this journey for me. Thank you. 


 * souq is a reference to a marketplace
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Some pics can be viewed at
http://picasaweb.google.com/fmukri/SyriaTheSights02# and 
http://picasaweb.google.com/fmukri/SyriaTheLocals# and http://picasaweb.google.com/fmukri/SyriaTheSuakuVisitors#
 

from Rumi's Mathnawi

"When the full moon shines on a clear night
What would it have to fear of the dogs or their barking?
The dogs continue to do what they are supposed to do
And the moon continues to beautify the face of the night.

A bit of weed floats on water
Yet the water does not lose its purity
Mustafa* splits the moon in half
While Abu Lahab utters silly curses.

Jesus revives the dead
While his enemies pull their beards put of hatred.
The sound of the dog never reaches the ear of the Moon
If that moon is a friend of God."


* Referring to prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, whose other name is Mustafa, or the chosen one, and to his miracle of splitting the moon in half, as mentioned in the chapter 'The Moon' (Sura Al Qamar: 54) of the Quran.



From M J Rumi, Mathnawi "The Candy Seller Child (The Debtor Sheikh)".

A traveller's farewell

a thousand words written
a thousand miles travelled
a thousand faces scanned
a thousand smiles felt
the heart records these
tacitly -
securely fastened by
the seatbelt of time

alas it is the hour
for the soul in flight
to fly... and
to return - inshaAllah
determined only by
the hands of fate
yet the written word of
the writer within
leaves beautiful memories
to safeguard and behold
farewell sweet land
i leave -
with a kiss of thanks.

~ Copyrighted by Fern

The Leaf that Refuses to Fall

Your gentle smile, your softest of sighs
your quiet but steady footedness
the impatience to love boldly
the rebellion to behold...

the tinge of regret in me
announces a desire unmet
to live frivolously
as you often voiced
to not be afraid of
what anyone thinks

to live upon the wave of adventure
to dare to dream to take on
I take these lessons from you m'dear
in the hope of extraditing all fear

and as I choose to walk on my path
I fondly recall you, my tender half
for in my heart remains
a leaf refusing to fold
to the colour of fall
cos it stubbornly loves
your presence so and prays
in every similitude of hope
that your heart's mind
may chance this way again

alas alas a mortal wishes
mortal ends
for infinite Love is
beyond a beginning
and beyond an end
if only, if ONLY
our hearts' vision bends.

Thoughts of a 20 yr old

This is from a journal entry written in uni days.

"There she was sitting on the edge
of the lowly built well -
whose curvature slightly resembling
the soft turns of her humble anatomy.

Peering intensely down
the depth of darkness
she feels desolate and disillusioned
weighed down to a hundredth of a fraction.

Conscience, her constant companion
had suddenly deserted her
and its rival- the unconscious
had impetously taken over

so there she sat
wide-eyed
throwing small round pebbles
watching the circular whirls -
a fixed gaze
not understanding
not wanting to understand...
those concentric circles
Make her head spin
round and round
and round... and round
Snap!
The monotony of the concentricity
is disturbed lavishly
a mynah has come to
quench her thirsty desire
and a soft feather falls -

the scent of the lush green grass
and the musical cacophony
of delicate creatures
emerge magically

The lively misé-en-scene
confronts her silence
how nature is so gay and free
displaces her desolation
and she wanders to another plane."

~ farheen Mukri

Time passing - A Bunch of Rocks

I just loved this :) hehee