Daud (David) A.S., the mountains and Tibetan Plateau

I love mountains.  No, not to hike them, but just it's view. I don't mind driving up.

Mountains are quite a majestic creation of Allaah.

"And We have set on the earth mountains standing firm, lest it should shake with them, and We have made therein broad highways (between mountains) for them to apss through that they may receive Guidance" (Al Anbiya' 21:31) Many other wonderful ayats about the mountains in the Quran.

I love the view when I was in Nagano Japan, driving on a long straight road and ahead of me, in the horizon, snow-capped mountains.  Subhanallaah. Also when I was in Mongolia endless, rolling mountains all around. Subhanallaah.

And in relation to mountains, I'm also attracted to this ayat in the Quran, about how Allaah made the mountains and the birds sing praises to Allaah, with Daud.  Such a beautiful passage, and such a beautiful image.

"To Solomon We inspired the right understanding of the matter.  To each [of them] We gave Judgment and Knowledge; And We subjected, with Daud - the mountains to celebrate Our praises, and the birds. It was We who did [all these things]. (Al-Anbiya' 21:79)

"And We certainly gave David from Us bounty. [We said] O mountains, repeat [Our] praises with him and the birds [as well]. And we made pliable for him iron -"Make full coats of mail and calculate precisely the links, and work righteousness. Indeed I, of what you do, am Seeing" (As-Saba 34:10-11)

Many years ago, I saw a video of Shila Amzah -a Malaysian singer, who has made it big in China- she sang a Chinese Folk Song - Tibetan Plateau.  I've heard this song before, but her rendition was so beautiful that it gave me goosebumps.   The video that I saw before, showed the meaning of the lyrics in English (I can't find that video already).  The meaning of the song, immediately reminded me of Daud A.S. and the mountains.





Tibetan Plateau (rough translation, I got from the original music video - Li Na)

Is it a call from a remote antiquity
If it's a prayer for ten thousand years
What if there is a song without [need for] words
or an attachment daunting forever

ah I see mountains
mountains with endless horizon
mountains standing up each other
ya la so it is the tibetan plateau

Many nights we gaze upon the sky
we dream of immortal life
isn't it an anthem
or the untouchable (unchangeable) grandeur

ah I see mountains
mountains with endless horizon
mountains standing up each other
ya la so it is the tibetan plateau


So now, when I come across this ayat, I'm reminded of the Tibetan Plateau, and every time I hear the Tibetan Plateau, I'm reminded of the ayat.  Subhanallaah, how Allaah has subjected everything on this earth to mankind.  How Great Allaah is, and how much gratitude, we owe to Allaah. Alhamdulillaah. May Allaah guide us all.

Have a fruitful Ramadan in these strange times.

Petite (17cm) Lemon Cake

90gm butter, melted
80gm flour
80gm sugar
pinch of salt
2 eggs
1tbsp lemon juice
zest from 1 lemon

1. preheat oven to 180deg Celcius, line the cake pan, melt butter in microwave, sift flour.
2. In a large bowl, add eggs, sugar and salt.  Over the double boiler (hot water around 50-60deg Cel) whisk the egg mixture until it becomes lukewarm and sugar dissolve.   Remove the bowl and whip the mixture until very thick and double in size.
3. Add sifted flour in 3 parts, fold in gently with spatula until incorporated.
4. Add melted bugger, mix well.
5. Add lemon juice and lemon zest and mix until just combined.
6. Pour batter into pan, bake for 30-35 mins.

For icing, mix well 50gm of icing sugar and 1/2 tbsp lemon juice and drizzle/spread over cake once it's out of the oven.