On Writing from the Heart Written on 2 Jan 2026 I started this journey of putting some thoughts on how I feel about something. Add the push from the people I worked with for five months in 2025. They are a publishing company. Naturally, they implanted this idea of me writing a book. I admit, the idea of writing a book and penning some of the thoughts, has been around for decades. I never actually got around to it. And if I do, I probably muster 2 -3 short write ups, and… that's it. Nothing else. Then, another 2-3 years passed, before another 2-3 write ups. Why the writer's constipation? Many reasons. One, the idea of an imposter syndrome will come and overwhelm me. Me questioning and doubting myself. Two. Sharing your thoughts, borders on making a confession of your sins and faults. As they say, confession is not good for the soul. Especially other people's soul as they read my write ups. Three. This is probably, the most single factor. What if the boo...
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On Being Good Parents Yesterday, 7 Jan 2026, I had the privilege of babysitting my no longer baby, 11 yo and 8 yo grandsons. While we were stopped at a traffic light, my older grandson noticed a spider on the windshield. Both boys got excited on seeing a spider. I told my grandsons, that spider is harmless. They looked at me like I am an arachnologist. They asked me, "how do I know it is harmless?". I told them, that when I was at their age, my friends and I would go inside some bushes somewhere, and catch spiders. We would keep them in matchboxes. Later we would put them in another bigger box with another spider to see them fight to the death. Note: Children, DO NOT do this. It is cruel and wrong. If you have children growing up in the urban areas, you will noticed, our children are not so exposed to seeing bugs and even some plants. We live in a hygienic, sanitary, antiseptic sterile world. More so, since the COVID19 epidemic of 2020. We still have sanitize...
On Go West… life is peaceful there (Go west) in the open air (Go west) where the skies are blue (Go west) this is what we're gonna do Go west, this is what we're gonna do Go west I was listening to Spotify this morning with my almost 2-year-old grandson. Since it was raining, we could only play around under covered driveway. I was putting on some 80s and 90s dancing disco beat songs. My grandson was prancing around listening to the songs. Yes, grandad is brainwashing grandson for some oldies songs. Then this song came on. Go West by Pet Shop Boys. It is a remake of the 1979 version by Village People, with a slight twist to the lyrics. When I heard the song, either by Village People or Pet Shop Boys, back then, it reminded me of my lessons in American Literature back in US. Go west is a retelling of the glorified American history and folklore called Manifest Destiny. The term was coined in 1845 by a journalist named John O'Sullivan. It describ...
On About Faith and Letting Go
On About Faith and Letting Go Written on 31 Dec 2025 I was flipping through the Quran and I perchance stopped at Surat Al-Qasas, Chapter 28, and read from verses 1-13. Specifically focusing on verses 7 - 13. What’s interesting is, yesterday, I uploaded a post to LinkedIn titled, On Time to let go and Move on. Interesting how what we thought would be an interesting coincidence, yet, a Muslims, we believe, there is no such things as, coincidence, that I came across these verses. This is the lesson for me. I am paraphrasing and summarising these verses. Imagine under the threat of your son being killed by a merciless tyrant, you had no choice but felt that the best thing to do is to put your son in a basket and float it down river. Later having mixed feelings as you see him being cared for by the wife of the tyrant. You felt relief because your son only wanted to suckle you and no one else. You are finally together with your son. The irony is, it is under the safety of the house of th...
On time to let go and move on
On time to let go and move on As the year ends and with that, the first half of the second decade of the second millennium has ended. Back in August 2024, The law of the land says, I have to retire from the workforce. Hang up my spurs. Sit on the porch. Have coffee. Watch the sunset as I see myself go off to the sunset. Unfortunately, I wasn't ready to retire. I wasn't ready to let go. "I have so many things to do. I have so much to contribute." That's what I told myself. I kept in contact with some of the people at work. Nothing ominous I tell myself. Simple and friendly like, how are you? How's work? Etc. It is not simple. It was my way of wanting to know if the company I retired from has burned to ashes. Sinked like the Titanic. Telling myself, that's what happened when I was retired and I am not around to save the company. This goes on for months. To my disappointment, the company is still around. Nobody died. Nothin...
“On Deviant Practices of Islam”
On Deviant Practices of Islam
I do not claim to know the intricacies and the legalities of what, why and how Deviant Practices of Islam is rampant and having staunch followers. I am merely a curious bystander. As a curious by stander, I need to start somewhere. I decided to use GenAI to help me with the initial information. My curiosity stemmed from my own experience observing others, and reading articles and watching videos. I guess my curiosity got the better of me.
Below is my initial research with GEMINI.
Hi Gemini (as in the Gen AI). Morning. I am interested to know, why, in the eyes of traditional Islam, why so many people are attracted to and practicing that are considered deviant Islamic teachings? Thanks
Good morning. That's a thoughtful and important question.
In the view of traditional or orthodox Islam, the attraction to and practice of teachings considered "deviant" or heterodox (often termed bid'ah or ajaran sesat) is generally attributed to...
On Reflection and Inclination A few weeks ago, I was at the wedding reception of my cousin’s son. Met some relatives, whom I have not met in a while. One in particular was sitting next to me. We sort of grew up together. She is one year older than me. Hence, it is natural to be close. Back then, during the school holidays, my parents would take my siblings and I to her parents’ house. Her dad is my mum’s elder brother. Back then, their house overlooked acres of paddy fields. I did some work in the paddy fields, even though I was still in primary school. I learned a lot about growing paddy. We wanted to do some tap the rubber trees. My Mak Lang wouldn’t hear that. My cousin and I did a lot of catching up. We talked about, her parents, my parents, kids, grandkids, and knowing I am retiring soon, she asked me a question, that no one has ever asked me before. She asked me, of all the places I worked at, and the things I have done, which place that I consider the best place I have...