Main menu:
It was in fields of Arafah, during the Hajj season of 1979, I was not one of those who like to sit and contemplate, I like to walk around and explore, taking in the "night air". As I was walking in somewhere around edges of the tent city, I heard a lady called out the Salaam. I’d answered and went to her as she called me over. There were only 2 chairs outside the tent and nobody else was around. We sat and talk and talk and talk. After a time, she said it is was time for her to be with her friends inside the tent and for her to join her friends reading the Holy Quran. I excused myself and walked back to my tent. As I reached my tent, I found a couple of the small booklets of Surah Yasin, and intend to give to the lady as a souvenir, and I went back to the tent in question. At the tent’s entrance, I gave the Salaam, once, twice and thrice, since there was no answer, so I went in, there was no one, empty, except for the perfumed smell of musk. I ran out, pronto.
A few days later, in Mecca, as I sat there in Masjidil Haram, I raised my hands and pleaded to the One and Only Creator, Allah SWT, if that person whom I met is one who I think she is, please allow to see her one more time, for I think for me to be able to sit with her and talk and talk would be something that is beyond me, and I think I cannot handle that anymore.Just a glimse, that's all. Ya Allah, please. I pleaded. Subhanallah, once as I was performing the tawaf, my head was turned to Hijr Ismail, and there she was praying alone at the center edge (at a peak period ???), her face was so peaceful, her whole being was very enlightening and her presence was... encompassing. It was so overwhelming that I face downwards, say the Zikirallah and continue the tawaf. As I turn the corner again at at the edge of Hijr Ismail, I looked up and the whole place was crowded with pilgrims, I felt a certain warmness running through my whole body, and without much thought, just continue the tawaf with Zikirallah.
Several days later, it seemed that every other person I'd met or see, told me to go home and not to overstay the welcome. Arrangements were made for my group to leave 2 weeks earlier. Subhanallah, the date that I chose to depart Jeddah International airport was the day the Holy Mosque – was attacked and occupied by religious fanatics.
ALLAH LOVES ME
It is in remembrance of this LADY, I seek a contribution of S$ 77.77 cts per month or per year from each family participating in the Alfateha cyber-remembrance website.
I’M GOING TO DIVIDE IT into 10 portions of S$7.77 each.
The first 5 portions are going to be given to the mothers of Palestine (which I will name – Mothers of Al-Aqsa Fund) through either a local NGO or the Red Crescent. (**)
There are 4 million Palestinians living in exile, in poverty, in refugee camps, after the United States of America, Great Britain, USSR, France and the United Nations took their homes, lands and gave them to the Jews to create the state of Israel in 1946. My late mother and grandmother taught me from the age of 5 years old, that Islam is just like the Holy Ka'aba, there are four corners (cornerstone).
The 4 corners of “Living Islam“ are
i) The Holy Mosque: Baitullah in Mecca
ii) The Holy Prophet’s Mosque in Medina
iii) Al-Aqsa Mosque: Baitul Maqdis in Jerusalem
iv) Last but not the least, the 4th cornerstone, the 4th mosque … YOU and ME.
My brothers and sisters in Islam, You and Me, the individual Muslim, as the Holy Prophet had said, when you pinch one arm, the other arm will also feel the pain, that is the Islamic fabric. Lets help them, the suffering mothers of Palestine, for they are being terrorized every second of their lives by the blessed son of the United Nations, Israel. In whatever little things that we can do, it is to tell them that they are not alone, the UMMAH is with them. Please, my brothers and sisters in Islam, lets do this. Please do not close one's eyes to their plight. They are Muslims. They are defenders of the faith. They are Baitul Makdis. Lets help them till the day that the USA, Great Britain, France gave them back their lands or at least resettle them in New York, California, Washington, London or Paris, i.e. prime real estate, it is of real value to these nations.
2 portions is to setup a fund to help women-in-distress which I would call a “Hibiscus” fund. During my stint as a taxi-driver, I had one Muslim lady passenger, she saw from my taxi id card that I was a Haji. She cried, and cried. After a while, she confessed that she dreamt of her mother every night, crying and asking her to look for other lines of work. She revealed that she is a divorced mother of 2 children and works as a prostitute to support them. She would like to turnover a new leaf but had no one to turn to, as most charitable or mosque organizations asked too much questions. Lets help her and mothers like her. I gave her my telephone number. She called me twice but did not respond to my voice and at both times she switched off the phone without talking. Lets help her and mothers like her. When the fund reaches a suitable sum I’ll approach some NGO to concentrate and help mothers, women and children in this position. For us in Singapore, Batam Island is the man’s paradise, but most of these women were forced into this trade. Let this fund liberate them from this hell. This is our generation’s method of freeing the slaves... from white slavery.
The 8th portion, I was asked by the “old Man” on the hill @ Palmer Road to build a kindergarten, there or near there, for he loves children. I’d spoken to some people of that mosque and building, unfortunately, it fell on deaf ears. So this is just a first step towards that dream.
The 9th, I’d been living in sin. I’ve used and been using interest-based banks for my business and personal lives. I hope that this small portion can be an impetus to start a halal-based bank. A bank that have even its seed money from halal sources. I would like to invite any Muslims who are keen on this project to join me. Anybody else interested ???
The last portion is for the company, Messrs thankgoditshalal.com to bear this costs for the website.
A CREDIT NOTE FOR ALL THE 9 PORTIONS WILL BE ISSUED ONCE THE FUNDS ARE FORWARDED.