Za & I along with other members of the household went to the Sonu Nigam "Live in Concert" show at the National Stadium. It was a beautiful evening with the first quarter moon and a cloudless sky that made for gorgeous viewing of the stars. Za was making triangles with different stars. "Look daddy a right angle triangle with those stars!" And I loved his game. The show started an hour late (at 8:00 pm) but with Za's interruptions & my reading one line here and there on the Kindle of Cheerfulness the time flew by.

The show in itself I would give 9/10. One point deduction for at some points being too loud. I "knew" one song "Kya ho wa terde wada" or something like that. There was a huge crowd, and properly behaved. Sonu was good, spoke English well and interacted in a pleasing & pleasant manner.

Went to Essequibo On the 13th and 14th to promote the brochures & dvds. Met a brother from Imam Bacchus, a lady named Aisha that runs a spare parts store, a rice farmer (wonderful brother) who gave us dinner & breakfast, a Moulana who gave the khutbah at Affiance masjid, a brother from Toronto who bought a few Palestinian dvds, a brother who runs a restaurant in Affiance.

On the 16th, the day my son's school reopened, I had a meeting with Fazeel Feroze from CIOG. He wants to run the brochures in the newspapers and maybe restart a dinner/dvd show once a month. I am hoping that the CIOG helps financially to get a once a week one-hour TV programme going. He is supposed to get back to me in 2 weeks.

A prominent businessman gave a substantial donation for printing the brochures. Another gave his third annual donation. One can only thank them and Allah who blessed their hearts with the understanding that money should be used for promoting good here on earth. Money will have no value on the Day of Judgment or in Paradise. So the wise thing to do is to use it for good & useful causes. Storing it away in a bank is obviously not a good investment.

On Friday 20th the new principal requested a meeting with me. He wants to hear my ideas that can push the school to another level. I mentioned khanacademy.com (he never heard of it) as a website that must be used by the school.

GIT called on Friday evening to invite me to their convention at Zeeburg on May 6th. Have decided to go, inshaAllah.

Also a brother this week has pledged $50000 to purchase a booth at Guyexpo in Sep. for me to promote the brochures.

A wonderful week by the grace of the Almighty.

Watched a Hamza Yusuf video on Poetry. Very interesting ideas as usual from one so intellectually gifted. Leart that Aisha memorized 12000 lines from a poet. There are some Muslims who are against poetry because the Quran & the Prophet (p) condemned some poets & poetry. They in the unmistaken belief have then condemned ALL poetry.

A sunny morning. Aisha turned to me as I sat as normal on the school bench. "Do you have any brochures?" I reached into my bag and gave her a bundle of about 60. She was astonished. And I then engaged her in conversation of the many reasons I have put these brochures together...with God's permission. She said that the few she got from the Mall was very interesting and asked permission to reprint them and share. Like always all Praises are for The One Who has made it possible.

Another woman came to my office yesterday and bought 4 dvds and also took a bundle of brochures. Said she came into contact with them during Islam Awareness Week.

After a Long Time

Revisiting this site after 17 months...and it JUST happened. Like I opened an old diary that had all my passwords & I just entered the code to see if it was still working. So what's happened as time marched on...to use a cliche...quite a lot. Something I didn't foresee was continuing the brochures. But thru all the dark nights and emotional lightning & thunderstorms...and holding onto God I did. Or truthfully HE did. And it has brought me into contact with some amazing souls. Souls who appreciated the spiritual "gems" that helped them. One day I will share those stories. And in the last year God brought me back into contact with a stunning woman. What a reuniting we have had. Sharing our life stories from the last decade.

The "Fruits" of My Labour

So by just talking nice to clients and getting their work done with no "corporate" fuss what do you know...I was showered with gifts. The lesson for you Za is that kindness and goodwill is a million times better than "business as normal." I have always done transactions on a friendly platform. My word (and the client's) should be good enough. So these Christians (different ones not one group) brought a HUGE bag of cherries, lots of golden apples, the biggest fish I have ever seen. Money as a tip!!! Books. And all because they said I treated them specially. Haha...it was nothing...a smile, late hours, even Sundays...come on it's how we have always worked. Work should always be a pleasure. The best piece I have ever read on how to conduct business is by the Buddhists. I will publish as a brochure for the Prophet has said “Any word of wisdom is the stray of the believer, who has the better right to it wherever it may be found.” Look at things thru the prism of Islam. Never thru the jaundiced eyes of the Westerner. The US has destroyed goodwill but marches/bulldozes with blind power over simplicity. Why do we override our own sensibilities, trusting, surrendering, our authority and responsibility-and our children-to Western institutions (and their thoughts) that are not only far removed from Divine Guidance but that clearly demonstrate inherent corruptions? The US is so corrupt. God is ever Aware. And the Muslims FOLLOW them blind and blinded. Za trust the knowledge that you're acquiring now (Islam)...it's not childish cartoons to be discarded as you mature. It's meant to polish your character and for you to shine at school and in the real world of business. Be good son...even though the circumstances right now is extremely difficult for you. I pray and cry for you that my soul is swamped (deeper and wider than the Atlantic). Love, Daddy.

Just Pay it a Passing Glance

So my dear son...here's what daddy's had to endure...and so will you...it's the way of creatures of the earth...those who do not struggle to elevate the soul
This guy who has been collecting the brochures for a while at the school stopped and engaged in conversation. After several of these he opened up and said you know in talking to you I cannot seem to understand the slander I hear of you. I smiled and couldnt care to inquire. But he continued...at the mosques people are being told to beware of me and the thoughts expressed in the brochures. I laughed. He then said that he asked several of the "scholars" what they found so "wrong." And then he said whatever they came up with you perceive their small/narrow-mindedness. And most of it out-of-context. I shrugged. The reality I said is for them to better what they condemn and lets make the society sit up and become more godly. So pay slander a passing glance, Za. And just keep doing QUALITY stuff for God. He does not accept mediocrity which most of them deal in. The brochures have created a huge impact and daily people come to collect and are making copies to distribute. One ISA teacher wants to share them on UG campus. Another guy said it is helping in combating the Jehovah Witnesses. And a Hindu friend of mine shares them out at GRA. And on and on it goes. the end result is that All praises are for God...and from Him I expect the tiniest of rewards. For I am NOTHING in His sight. Be good my baby. I decided to continue publishing these thoughts for you...use them as a platform to confront the pseudo-religion that will be sure to exist in your adult life. I got tired of the "Crap" that masquerades as "Islam." May God be your Guiding Light. Peace.

Just You...Just My Clothes

So you continue, Za, to puzzle me...even your teacher. You did extremely well at mid-term exams. With you at the centre of the storm...you the only witness to the madness it is still amazing that you have maintained sanity. May God hold you in his hands for daddy's hands have fallen, been severed. After the court, the lawyers, the system...all I have left is the clothes on my back...but they CANNOT steal my love for you. Dont think they are not trying even for that...but desperately I hold on. Hagar ran between two hills ... I feel as if I'm running between several insurmountable mountains...imprisoned... and I scream, time and again... why does God allow suffering if He is so compassionate...I might have lost my religious faith...but dear God I haven't lost YOU...yet!!!