UEFA 031 – Arab Institute

UEFA 031 – Arab Institute

Next morning, around 1100hrs, we followed my sister to fetch her children from school. Then she brought us to a huge shopping complex.

I had forgotten the name of the complex but only remember a name ‘castorama’, one of the big shop inside it.

From there, she dropped us at a place where we can catch a bus to the city of Paris. We alighted at The Institute of Arab World. I supposed it was a building of an Arab Organization. We went to the roof-top and had lunch in a restaurant.

The windows of that building had a uniquely designed shutter like the shutter-blades of a camera. I read a notice stating that the larger middle shutter blades will automatically adjust the size of its opening according to the amount of sunlight that fall on it.

From there we walked by the famous river Seine, and I felt the vibrant of its historical artistic fame, such names as Voltaire, Lewis, Monalisa, Picasso, Leonardo da Vinci, Satre and Victor Hugo.

The walk brought us to the famous Louvre Arts Museum. I was dying to go in and see with my own eyes the grandeur of its fame.

Unfortunately, we do not have that extra French Franc to afford the entrance fee for both of us. On the other hand, as a loving husband, I do not have the heart to leave my dear wife wandering alone at the shopping mall, while I admire Monalisa in the Louvre.

Even, if she agrees, I still would not have the heart to do so, because, I know me very well that, I would take a very long time to admire every stroke of Monalisa. Doesn’t that sound awkward to you?

Well that is what we call 'Arts'. One who appreciate Arts can be a strange person, and sometimes look like crazy.

I am one of those crazy people who appreciate Arts, especially, in short stories and novels. In painting, I scored a proud P5 in my 1969 GCE 'O' Level Arts.

By 1994, while searching for new direction in life, I had been reading alot of novels and short stories.

My favorite was malay novels by A Samad Said, who had won many Writer's Award. In his writings, he introduced me a lot awas malay novels by bout Paris Arts scene and its writers, such as Voltaire, Lewis and Jean Paul Satre.

I also admire Anton Chehkov, a prolific Russian short-story writer. Born in Rostov, Russia, he did not write in English, but I managed to admire him from the translations of his works.

Next afternoon, my sister, brought us to Eiffel Tower. The entrance fee was Ffr56.00 each. My wife and I went up, while my sister and Paula waited downstairs. My sister was afraid of heights.

The last time in 1986, we did not have the chance to go up, because, the queue was too long. It was a magnificent experience. Although it was already 8pm, the view of Paris from Eiffel Tower was very clear, as it was in the end of May.

From the top of Eiffel Tower.

You wouldn’t believe it if I say that the tower was moving, shaking and always tilting left and right, like the swerving of trees when blown by strong wind. Like you, I had always thought that,

“the Eiffel Tower is made of stainless steel. It must be firm and will not be moved even an inch by the wind.”

To my surprise, you and I are wrong.

There were gadgets installed, to measure the movements of the tower. I observed that the movements and the tilting of the tower is way more than an inch.

The most enthralling experience was to see the city of Paris from the sky. It was fascinating to see how the narrow lanes were winding like a maze and to see the amazing River Seine flowing lazily through the city, carrying on it hundreds of boats with thousands of tourists and century load of history.

605 words

Drafted on 07.04.2007

Edited on 22.07.2007 at 0855hrs

At Woodlands Avenue 5

009-5 The Cave 18:29 - Boiling water will scald the faces

Translation, Commentary & Explanation of Chapter 18 Al-Kahfi.

The meaning of Verse 29

Say, "The Truth is from your Lord. Who wants to believe, let them believe. And who wants to reject, let them reject."

We have prepare for those who reject The Truth, fire, which will surround them from all sides like a wall.

And when they beg for drinking water, they will be given drinking water hot like molten lead, or boiling oil, which will scald their faces.

How dreadful is the drink! How miserable is that resting place (Hell).

====================================================

Imam Jalalain commented that :-

1) the sentence,

"And who wants to reject, let them reject." is a warning from God. It is not an option.

2) the word 'resting place' in this verse has a negatif meaning. It is an opposite to Verse 31 later in this same Chapter 18, which means;

"And Paradise is the most pleasant resting place"

It must be understood in this way, as it is not appropiate to say that Hell is a 'resting place'.


=====to be continued if GOD's will========

UEFA 030 – Viva Parie

UEFA 030 – Viva Parie


I arrived at Gare-de-East train station in Paris early next morning.


The morning crowd was rushing to work. Many commuters were jumping over the entrance and exit, indicating that many of them had free rides. I snatched some bread and a cup of coffee at a café to get some coins.


There were guide maps and instructions on how to go places with the public transport, but, all were in French. I could figure out somehow, that there was a bus service direct from the train station to Charles de Gaulle Airport. European has adopted sign languages for their directions and public instructions, that more pictures and logo and less words.


It seemed that the arrival hall of Charles de Gaulle Airport was a huge circular corridor. In the middle you can see escalator going up and down. I checked at the monitor and go straight to the Arrival Sortie, where my wife will be arriving. As soon as I reached there, my sister greeted me, as she was already waiting.


My sister moved to France in 1987. She had a boy named Frank and a girl named Paula.
Though a housewife, she was involved in some voluntary social works, such as, a committee member in the Association of Singaporean living in France. She wrote to me quite often after moving to France.


After a short wait, my wife arrived. She looked tired but managed to smile.


My sister drove us to her beautiful French cottage, located just at the outskirt of Paris. It was a village town named Quermoy-Viller, in the district of Creteil. Quermoy-Viller is pronounced as “Oma Villa”.



It was a 2-storey bungalow with basement.

The front yard was green turf. In the stroller was baby Paula, while Frank was sneaking from the front door.

The rear view of her house. In the stroller was baby Paula.

the backyard was a mini garden bordered by a bushy vacant land.

The basement was a garage, boiler-room for the heating system and storage of bulky items. The handyman would have their DIY workshop in there and the wine lover will turn some of it into a cellar. In short, it is a multi-purpose basement hall.

Of course my wife loved the kitchen and the luxurious dining hall.

Frank was a little shy, as he had not seen us for 6 years.

Paula looked at us a strangers, as she was born in France, and that was our first visit.

That night we had a nice delicious dinner, especially for me,

after a month of butter and cheese in Heerbrugg.

My sister is a fantastic good cook.

523 words

Drafted on 07.04.2007

Edited on 22.07.2007 at 0845hrs

At Woodlands Avenue 5

007-2e The Cave 18:28 Do not be influenced by pride and desire

Translation, Commentary & Explanation of Chapter 18 Al-Kahfi.

Literal Translation of verse 28.

Be patient in the company of those who call their Lord

in the morning and evening in seeking HIS pleasure.

Do not turn away from them,

in seeking the luxury of this worldly life,

and do not follow those people whom

WE have made their hearts forget to remember US,

and who only follow their desire.

Such are acts of extremely over the limits.

Commentary by Jalalain.

Be patient with the company of your poor followers,

as they are unable to give you any worldly benefit.

Do not leave them for the sake of worldly luxury

and do not join those who were not interested in the Quran,

i.e. Uyaynah ibnu Hishn and his friends,

who do things as they please, especially in idol worship,

which is an act of extremely beyond limit.

Commentary by Abdullah Yusuf Ali.

The true servants of GOD are those whose hearts are

turned to HIM morning, noon and night.

They seek only GOD's Grace and HIS Nearness.

The poor followers are rich in spiritual satisfaction than

worldly grandeur.

GOD's Grace is always satisfying.

On the other hand, resisting the Quran and following your own lust

will left you abandoned and hopeless in false pride.

Commentary by Muhammad Asad.

And contained yourself in patience by the side of

all who at morning and at evening invoke their Sustainer,

seeking His countenance,

and let not your eyes pass beyond them

in quest of the beauties of this world's life [36],

and pay no heed to any, whose heart,

We have rendered heedless of all remembrance of US [37]

because he had always follow only his own desires,

abandoning all that is good and true [38]

[Footnote by Muhammad Asad]

[36] Several years before the Muslims exodus to Medina, some of the the pagan chieftains at Mecca wanted to accept Islam on condition that Prophet Muhammad dissociate himself from the company of the former slaves and other poor people among his followers.

[37] The well-knowned commentators, Zamakhshari and Razi explainthe Arabic verb 'aghfalna' is agreeable with the Quranic doctrine and means "whom WE have found to be heedless".

[38] Rejecting all bounds of what is right.

Translation, Commentary & Explanation of Chapter 18 Al-Kahfi.
Asbabun Nuzul of verse 28

In the name of The God Most Compassionate Most Merciful

Ibnu Murdawih brought forward a hadis from the chain of narration of Juwaibir from Dhahhak from the companion Ibnu Abbas that is related to His commandments:

"and do not follow those people whom WE have made their hearts forget to remember US"

[Al-Kahfi 18:28]

Ibnu Abbas said that the above verse 28 was revealed in relation to Umayyah ibnu Khalaf Al Jumahiy.

That is because Umayyah suggested to ProphetMuhammad to do things that the Prophet did not like to do, that is, to ask his poor followers to go away from him, so that, the leaders of the pagan Meccan people will be attracted to come near to the Prophet.

After that incident the above verse was revealed.

Ibnu Abu Hatim brought forward a hadis from Ar Rabi' who narrated that, Prophet Muhammad narrated to us, that one day he met Umayyah ibnu Khalaf who persuaded him, while the Prophet, at that time, was not paying attention to what was meant by Umayyah; thus the above verse was revealed.

Ibnu Abu Hatim brought forward another hadis from the chain of Abu Hurairah who narrated that, one dayUyainah ibnu Hishn came to Prophet Muhammad, while Salman, the Prophet's companion was by his side.Uyainah said,

"When we come, ask this person to go away, and then invite us to come in"

Thus the above verse was revealed.

[Apparently, Salman, is one of the 70 poor companions of Prophet Muhammad.]



===will be continued with the grace of GOD===