Recommendation of poetry book for Muslim women

 Hello,

I'd like to recommend Madame Blossom's Book of Poems  as one of poetry book a muslimah should possess. 

The idea of the book was triggered when Madame Blossom was at a bookstore in Wheelock Place, Orchard Road Singapore - more or less 15 years ago.   

Browsing for a non-fiction book to read, she passed by the poetry section, and was attracted to book with an illustration of a woman in a red dress and high heels.    She picked it up and browsed the contents.  They were simple and somewhat relatable poems about daily life as a woman.   The author was American.  I pondered.

Just as how some historians read books by authors in the past, or us reading books by authors from other countries, they give us some idea or plant an image of the society where the author was or is from. 

As a minority group in this side of Asia - and during these times when Islam is often misunderstood, I felt that we need to have a representation of ourselves too, in English.   No, we are not strange, mostly, we live like other people, however how we face life or the challenges in life is or should be different as a Muslim, who believes in what God has planned for us.

I believe any inputs that goes into our systems, whether it be through sight, sound, emotions or ideas do have some impact on us or our thoughts.    So I want to inject some ideas, that hopefully have some positive influence from the Asian Muslim angle. 

So if you're a Muslim woman, and you want something relatable, this is the book.   Or even if you're not Muslims, and you want to understand how Muslim women more or less are, this is also the book.   Or, if you're a man and you want to understand the perspective of a woman - this is also the book. 

This is a book for women and men who respects women.  

Dearest Ma'an (my Christian sister)

Dearest Ma'an,

Thank you for sharing. I know you mean well. Wanting to save a fellow sister from hellfire with what you believe is right. I pray the same for you, that we all be guided to the right path to God.

Coincidentally I am in the midst of learning  the chapter brought up in the  video you shared, this is from the Chapter (surah) Mary.   What he said (that the Quran states everyone will go to Hell) is not accurate and taken out of context. We don't all go to hell. We will all pass, but only the wicked and disbelivers go into hell.  Believers with good deeds will go to Heaven. Where we don't feel any sadness or pain, no negativities and only good words and good vibes. Aamiin.

Have you ever thought about all the religions from a much bigger picture?  From a universal, out of this earth perspective.   All these people are trying to worship God in ways they think is right.  With all their perceptions of how God is, as they were taught by their parents or priests or religious heads.   But we are all just trying to worship the One God, that is the  Creator.

The biggest enemy for humankind is Satan who is always trying to misguide people and making us betray God and create havoc among family friends and generally on earth.

It does not make sense that there should be more than one God or Creator based on the different religious beliefs. There is our universe, one earth and One Creator.

As for Jesus Christ and Mary, they are also God's servants or children like us physically but unlike us in that they are much more blessed and Jesus Christ given the duty of prophethood, teaching his people about God and how to worship God.  Jesus Christ said, He is my God. And your God, so worship Him. That is the right way.  These words are mentioned in The Quran. (19:36)

Similarly, mentioned in the bible John 20:17
Don’t cling to me,” Jesus told her, “since I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them that I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”

Muslims also believe in the ascension, Jeaus Christ was saved by God and ascended to God, they did not crucify him
Jesus is safe with God, and will return to earth when it's time.

Ma'an, I believe you are a good person, a good servant of God, wanting to do good and to worship God the right way.

Which do you think is a safer belief? That GOD the Creator is One? That I only worship God alone.  Or to believe God has a human child (God forbid) who eat and breathe and go to the market like us? From the same chapter Mary (19:88-91), God says :
"And they say, God Most Gracious has taken unto Himself a son! Indeed you have  a monstrous statement. The Heavens may almost tear apart, the earth cleave asunder and the mountains fall to pieces, that they ascribed a son to God the Beneficent."

The Quran addresses all humankind, not just Muslims. And logically so, because there is only one God.

Do you want me to bring you to a session on Islam, and you can ask any questions.

Again, thanks for sharing - where I learnt all the different misconceptions and lies, others spread about God and God's Book.

poem of peace

May you be always be embraced by
the gentle breeze
Shaded by clouds and canopies of trees
Soothed by songs of birds in zikr and rustling leaves
And your heart and mind are in peace.

MADAME BLOSSOM 2026

the wind

Such a way to exist

To be noticed

when grass waves

And flowers dance 

When the trees rustles

and windmills run

When head is tilted

and eyes are closed

feeling the embrace

of the wind, soft

as it gently flows

and peace within, grows

Alhamdulillaah, for the wind.

tak nak cerita

Tak nak cakap pasal curang

Pasal keburukan orang-orang

Nak cerita pasal langit dan gunung

Cerita pasal bunga dan burung

Pretty phrases

What do you take back from travels?  

One of the things I treasure in travels is discovering or learning something good or useful or beautiful from the people in those countries.  Sometimes you chance upon them in an unlikely place or situation or person. 

Something I still recall to this day from our family trip to Bandung, more than 15 years ago is a pretty phrase.

We were supposed to make a move, but we were not done shopping.  The driver then said to us : "Masa mencemburui kita".  I was kind of awed. It was such a pretty phrase. It sounds poetic to me.  I wish we speak like that normally.

Spoken language, especially,  is no longer pure in cosmopolitan cities, like Singapore.  Sentences or phrases are a mixture of popular or used languages.  Sometimes the locals are even surprised to learn that the word they have been using is not their original language.  

Also, we are always in hurry to convey our opinions and thoughts.

Perhaps that's why we turn to poetry and books?

Let me try, to remember, to slow down in casual situations, and speak pretty phrases.  Aamiin.

* Masa mencemburui kita is Malay/Indonesian - which translates to "time is envious of us", which means 'we don't have much time'. 

Doing what we are designed to do

Got this from a screenplay for the movie 'Adapation'.   Before that, a bit about this screenplay - God inspired this man to write the screenplay in quite an amazing way.   It's not linear.    Charlie Kaufman, the screenwriter, was asked to write a screenplay based on a book 'The Orchid Thief', which is basically a documentary book about the orchid flower.   Through the screenplay and movie, we somewhat learn a bit about the screenwriter himself, as he has written his own character into the screenplay.  Crazy and amazing - masyaaAllaah.

Anyway, back to the main topic - this part (which may have come from the original book 'The Orchid Thief') is quite simple yet deep for me :

LAROCHE

Everyone of these flowers has a specific relationship with the insect that pollinates it.  There is a certain orchid looking like a certain insect, so the insect is drawn to this flower - its double, its soul mate... And neither the flower nor the insect will ever understand the significance of their [relationship]..  How could they know that because of their little dance, the world lives?  But it does.  By simply doing what they are designed to do, something large and magnificent happens.  In this sense, they show us how to live.

God tells us to learn from Nature, there are great signs for people of understanding.

God tells us, we were created to worship God, and do good.   We have our roles to play, based on how God has created us.   Playing the roles we have been designed with, to the best of our ability will be for the good of the people around us, for the society and the world at large, and most decisively for our own good in this world and the Hereafter.   

If only we understand and accept it.  Isn't this what submission to God is about?  What being Muslim means. 

Social Media is making us stagnant

A lot of people are beginning to realize that information does not equal wisdom.   You may argue that some information from the social media does add value and give us knowledge and tips.  However, it is like 10-20% out of the ocean of junk being thrown at us. 

Meantime, our mind, like sponges is absorbing all these other unnecessary contents, some weird, and some so totally not related to us.   Our minds, instead of focusing on our personal issues at hand, our family, the people around us and our lives - are distracted with thoughts and images from all those unnecessary inputs into our brains. 

The balance 10-20% of those useful tips and information we receive, needs action from our end - however we keep scrolling for 'more useful information' while constantly being bombarded with waste.

In this area, I think we should always challenge ourselves to BE BORED.  Don't take the easy way out of feeding our boredom with our phones.  It's only when we're bored, we are able to think - given the space and downtime from endless inputs.  It's only when we're bored, we can try to find OTHER things to do that does not involve our phones.  If you need information from the internet, maybe we can get it quickly and pen it down (penning things down help with studying and recalling) and refer to that instead. 

Social media has also affected our social construct.   I'm referring to the real-world society - the people actually living around us.   We are tricked into believing that our communication or reactions to social media inputs, is a form of 'socialising'.    That  constant practice has made us so attuned to just using our fingers to communicate, and not with our actual voices.   It's now normal to express how we are not comfortable talking in person, how we prefer texting.   There were some good in it, but now it is becoming more of a problem.    Even among own family members, I have become more complacent - not actually speaking to them, but just texting. 

Yesterday someone reminded me, texting is different from speaking in person.  When texting, you never know how the person truly feels.  A person can text you "I'm fine", but if you had heard the voice -  you might have detected something different. 

I'm reflecting on myself and my connection with God, and my connection with my family and friends.  My children who will soon or someday become a part of another family, needs to be accustomed to talking in person.   May Allaah help us is improving in that area.   May Allaah make it easy for me to take that first step. 

May Allaah protect us from the negativities of social media.    Aamiin.

A splash of sunset

 As I drove up the road bend from Changi Airport towards PIE/TPE at about 7pm in the evening - I could already see the metal railings turning into gold and vehicles starting to have a yellowish aura.  Then SPLASH! I was greeted by the beautiful golden sun against the hues of orange glowing sky.  I exclaimed involuntarily "Whooooa!  subhanallaah!  ma khalaqta hazaa baTilan subhaanaka faqinaa 3azabannaar!"  What a sight! 

Alhamdulillaah for this sight, alhamdulillaah for the ability to see, alhamdulillaah for the vehicle, alhamdulillaah for being here at this precious golden hour, alhamdulillaah for all that Allaah has blessed me with.  

Ya Allaah, when I am about to die, I hope I will experience this scene, this excitement or more, as I go over to the other realm.  

The sky was beautiful throughout my drive home - I honestly forgot all the frustrations at work. oops just remembered.. arggh noo... but the beauty of the evening sky just now was overwhelming, just awesome! subhanallaah.   

alhamdulillaah, and i wanted to record this down so I can read about it later.

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 

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.

 

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. 

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.

Strength, patience and resilience

What scares me in this generation is that weakness is acknowledged and celebrated. Not much is done to promote resilience, patience, strength and resourcefulness in facing challenges. 

When there is a problem, their world easily crumbles and hope  easily lost. 

Do know that NOBODY is without any problem.  So many people have gone through worse, they overcame  and live.  

As Muslims how do we overcome challenges?  Three of many others...

1. Acknowledge that life IS a test in itself. We will always have some challenges to overcome and solve, and be rewarded for.   Yes, life is a game of challenges and rewards. 

2. Don't lose hope in Allaah's mercy upon us, Allaah's plan and help.  We earn or we learn. 

A great reward awaits us in Hereafter for our faith and patience.

3. Break our daily worldly cycles with five daily prayers. They are the anchor to keep you from getting carried away, a reminder of our purpose in life, our spiritual mental and physical break. 

God-inspired

I saw a post comment which sounded like a half-joke, but it's something to truly ponder about.

It was something to the effect of "how did people suddenly know that some 'rotten' (fermented) food are good and can be used, like yoghurt, vinegar - did they all suddenly want to taste food turned bad?"

Good question.

I thought about it, and remembered a comment about man's knowledge, in a book about Science and Islam.  As mentioned in the Quran, all knowledge comes from God.  When a man is suddenly 'inspired' or 'has an idea' or 'is moved to try something' - it came from God.    And this is no surprise and not something without clear example from Nature. 

Just like, who suddenly taught the bees to build hives that can contain honey?  Who taught the birds to pick twigs and make some amazing nests?  Who taught the trees to make it's own food out of sunlight and water source? And the list endlessly goes on.    The answer is only one - God. 

"Glorify the name of your Lord, Most High;

Who created and shaped/fashioned all;

and Who ordained precisely and inspired accordingly"

(87:1-3)

Celebrating strength

There is a novel by a Korean author, which tells the story of a woman, who went through some rough patches in her life and ended up developing a mental illness.   It is said that the book is popular, because the events or challenges in the novel are always backed by the source of the related statistics or the source of a newspaper article about the matter that was being mentioned.

So, I thought I'd give it a read, since my daughter had bought the book. 

The basic idea of the book is that, females are normally not held at high esteem like the males.   Males always get the better of everything - in that society.  And I must say, it is quite common in most societies, in this twisted mindset world. 

I was expecting, something traumatic had happened to the character.  However, the things she mentioned of, were the common woes we hear, like favoritism in a family, and guys normally having more chances of being a leader in a school organisation, and difficulties in getting a job as a female in Korea.  Then, there is the expectations of a mother in law wanting a grandchild, and the challenges of a working mother.  She quit her job to look after her child full time.  However, these are all unacceptable to the character.   When a stranger at the park commented on her 'easy life, being a mother and living off her husband's income' she broke.

People are celebrating this book, and I find it scary.   Because I truly believe most of us are stronger than that.  CAN be stronger than that - especially us Muslims.  We have tools to tackle stress and life issues.   One of them is when we put our trust in God.  Also, acknowledging everyday little things we should be grateful for.  

In the book itself, she spoke of how she went to school, her parents - thanks to her mother -  were able to start a food business which did well.  She attended and completed university, she got married a to good man, and she did get a job in the end, but she quit to look after the child, and her husband is okay with it.   

Why, why did she not look at all the good things that did happen in her life?  

I know it's just a novel - but my concern is how people seem to look up to that story and agree that yes, it is normal and okay to be that weak, our life MUST be better or we cannot survive.

The reality is, life IS going to be full of challenges.  This is one fact we cannot escape from.  We need stories that motivates us to be strong, and resilient.  

Honestly, I have been through worse than what happened to that character, but alhamdulillaah, I'm OKAY.  I'm stronger and hopefully wiser than before, by Allaah's will.  I survived and will survive insyaaAllaah.   

So I do hope that people reading this book do not think that that kind of weakness is normal.  We are stronger than that.  With Allah's help, WE WILL BE FINE.

"... and endure patiently whatever befalls you. Surely this is a resolve to aspire to."  31:17

Simple Egg Fried Rice

*Note : This recipe for my own reference, as such the unplugged text, in case anyone is reading for ideas.

2 full cups rice (enough for 5 pax for this household).   cook and let cool.

 3-4 eggs  fried, scrambled put aside.

2-3 tbsp olive oil, generous.

1 medium onion cubed

4 chilli padi chopped

Carrot cubed and whatever vegetables la.. long beans, peas etc.

Chicken cubed mixed with white pepper powder and sesame oil (optional if available) 

1 cube chicken stock

2 tbsp light soy sauce

2 tbsp kicap manis (Malay sweet soy sauce)

sauté onion till soft in that olive oil, then add chilli padi, mix mix mix

add the chicken cubes, mix  mix mix.. 5 mins or till chicken cooked

add the veges.  add light soy sauce and chicken stock.  mix until chicken stock well mixed.

put in the rice, mix well,

and then put in the scrambled egg.. mix well and add the kicap manis as desired.   

mix well and serve

An employee in an MNC

 I guess this is how it is in every MNCs

Because everyone there is just an employee

Management competing with each other

To earn even more money and borrowed power.

To control others under their eye

Waste productivity for their KPIs

Doesn't matter if it's of no real value

Just as long as they get their due.

The real performers are kept at bay

So that the superiors can claim that name

of achievements under his 'supervision'

Plagiarising contributions of individual persons

So, work, if you need the money, just be aware

Do your best during work hours, but don't ignore self care 

You're not contracted to work twenty four by seven

The company will still run without your presence.

May God guide and support you.

Is eating vegetarian 'pork' permissable?

Impossible, first came out with the impossible burger meat, which tasted much like meat, even though it is purely vegetarian.  Apparently, what gives the meat the smell and taste of real meat, is the molecule heme, which can be found in hemoglobin, which exists in living plants and animals - according to their website. 

Now they are coming up with a new product which is the vegetarian 'pork'.   

So in Singapore, the Muslims have asked advice from the Islamic authority if it's permissable to eat the vegetarian 'pork'.   The answer, simplified by me here, is - if the materials are truly plant based, it is technically permissable.  However, Muslims are advised to abstain from it. 

I would agree fully with the authorities.   

Why I believe we should abstain from it are two. 

1. It is to remove the possibilities of earning God's displeasure without you realising.   

 Because according to the concept that might be familiar to most Muslims, the reward of a deed  depends on your intention. (Hadith Sahih, Bukhari)

You and your friend might both be eating it, but one of you may be earning God's displeasure and the other is not.  The one that is not, if perhaps, having it, because they primarily assume it to be vegetable based product, regardless of what you call it.    While the other person, is eating it, because they want to know how it feels like to eat like the non-Muslims.    We want to avoid the possibility of being considered as 'one of them'

2. To avoid possibilities of confusion. 

If you become familiar with eating the 'impossible' pork,  you may more likely to be confused or not know when you're actually eating real pork in some ignorant situations.  Eg. if another company sells actual pork, and calls them impossible, and you assume them to be the 'vegetarian' one.     Whereas the person who in the first place, abstains from all those, will not fall into this possibility at all. 

Alhamdulillaah, there is an abundance of food variety in Singapore and around the world that are clearly halal, delicious and good too.    So, one should abstain from unnecessary confusions and imitating non-Muslims diet, as such. 

May God guide us all.