Madame Blossom's Book of Poems

Monday, November 20, 2023

Proud of the Palestinians

Palestine

A people punished perpetually.

For defending their homes.

Petty evil enemies playing with lives

Palestinian's patience inspires

The world sees their plight

And stands proud with them

Shouting #freePalestine !

Palestine will prevail.

-madameblossom-


November 2023 



Prevail  patience  play plight 

Wednesday, November 15, 2023

An alternative ending for Twinkling Watermelon

15.6 episodes were good, however the ending was bland.   It's a waste, and I feel so driven to provide an alternative ending.

After Eun Gyeol's return to 2023, Yi Chan and Chung Ah's story has a closure - where Chung Ah finds out about Yi Chan, visits him.  and Chung Ah's father agrees to send both of them to same college to atone for what his stepson did. 

Back in 2023, Eun Gyeol wakes up in his room (new house) and wonders around the house, finds a note on the dining table that the family will meet him at the guitar launch event.    He goes out to Se Gyeong's house to find her, however no one was home. 

In 2023, we find that Chung Ah is a successful art curator and Yi Chan, is that successful guitar manufacturer/distributor. 

Yi Chan and his friends will look at Eun Gyeol performing at the new guitar launch event and will discuss among one another that he really looks like their long lost friend that Yi Chan loved.    Yi Chan agrees and tells them that's why he named is son Eun Gyeol, to remember that lost friend.

Also, there is no reason that Yi Chan cannot speak,  Eun Gyeol will hug Yi Chan and ask him to call out his name.  Yi Chan does, Eun Gyeol cries from overjoy and Yi Chan will explain in sign language why he prefers not to talk.

Eun Gyeol sees Se Gyeong after that and they all come together to celebrate the event and take a picture altogether.

 


Tuesday, November 07, 2023

The greatest act of worship

In a video, a Palestinian kid (I think) was asked a few questions about Islam.  Questions like who is your God, what is our Book...which we've heard before.   But then, this question, 'what is the greatest act of worship?'  "Tawheed", the kid says.  What is the greatest sin?  "Shirk", replied the kid. 

I reflected on our learning about God and Islam in this region of the world.  Those were of course mentioned before, but more like in passing.   Mentioned but not emphasized.   This is sad, and this could be one of the reasons why more of our children are easily influenced by others. 

I asked a Muslim friend from around the region once - what she would say if someone asks her - what  Islam is about in one sentence.  After a pause she said, "that we need to pray 5 times a day and dress modestly".

I think there is a dire need to emphasize that first and foremost - Islam is about believing in ONE power, ONE God and rejecting any association of power to God's power alone. 

Shirk, is the greatest sin, as mentioned in the Quran - but we didn't learn much about shirk in madrasahs.  

Whenever we believe that there is a person or a thing - that we can depend on and ask to, to change our fate or save our life - that is shirk.  People and things are agents of cause and effect.  The power to allow anything to happen is God's alone.  This thought and understanding is not prevalent among the Muslim masses.  

May we always be in the constant awareness and act of Tawheed and may we be saved from practising any form of shirk.  Aamiin.

How to be less miserable, according to the Quran

I have mentioned before that Islam is perfect. God did not leave us alone to seek in the dark. God has given clear guidance for living in this world.

Among the recognised trending issues of the modern world is depression, categorised under mental illness.

Here I want to share some guide on how not to be depressed, from the Quran.

1.. When you have faith in God, and His message, which includes the fact that our life is a trial, and that with every hardship comes ease, and to have tawakkal (put your trust) in God - all these are tools for going through the challenges in this life. 

2.  Always be God conscious.  When you are, you remember the reason He put us on earth, his message to us about overcoming hardships and His promise of an eternal life after the tests in this life.  'And whoever turns away from My remembrance, then indeed he will have a depressed life, and we will raise them blind on the Day of Judgment (Ta Ha : 124)

I don't want to say too much, cause seriously, the message is that simple.   

Easier said than done you say.  True.  The problem is, we always FORGET.  And why we always forget is we do not remind ourselves.   How to remind ourselves? - by continously reading the Quran and it's meaning, end to end, over and over again.  There is always something new to discover, some new lessons and realisations, some new appreciation.  It's the best of reminders. 

I promise you, with your iman, and your prayers, and your constant reading of the Reminder i.e. the Quran, you will be more peaceful and very much less depressed.   InsyaaAllaah.

And in the remembrance of Allaah, do hearts find peace. 

Wednesday, September 07, 2022

Land of confusion

This ayat, reminds me of what is happening in the West, when they let their desires and lust rule the land. 

So much confusion on the ground, males raping girls in girl's toilet but the male cannot be stopped from going to the girls toilet, children identifying themselves as animals and teachers having to acknowledge them(?!?), not knowing what to call one another anymore cause grammar no longer matter - whatever pronouns the people wants, rule the language. 

Truly, our Creator's guidance is the only firm and clear guidance. We are standing on firm ground as long as we follow God's guidance.

Surah Al-Anaam, Verse 71:
قُلْ أَنَدْعُو مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ مَا لَا يَنفَعُنَا وَلَا يَضُرُّنَا وَنُرَدُّ عَلَىٰ أَعْقَابِنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَانَا اللَّهُ كَالَّذِي اسْتَهْوَتْهُ الشَّيَاطِينُ فِي الْأَرْضِ حَيْرَانَ لَهُ أَصْحَابٌ يَدْعُونَهُ إِلَى الْهُدَى ائْتِنَا قُلْ إِنَّ هُدَى اللَّهِ هُوَ الْهُدَىٰ وَأُمِرْنَا لِنُسْلِمَ لِرَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

SAY: "Shall we invoke, instead of God, something that can neither benefit us nor harm us, and [thus] turn around on our heels after God has guided us aright? -like one whom the satans have enticed into confusion on the earth,  his companions, call him to guidance, `Come to us!"' Say: "Verily, God's guidance is the only guidance: and so we have been bidden to surrender ourselves unto the Sustainer of all the worlds.