True to my word, as always, I continued to read Fasting for Ramadan: Notes From a Spiritual Practice. I am now where I am supposed to be, on the proper day – on the same day as Kazim Ali in his fast.
True to your word means that you keep a sincere promise, do what one said one would do. Synonyms are loyal. steadfast. staunch, faithful. If a person is true to one’s word, they have integrity. .
The following comes from what I view an unusual source: Rolling Stone magazine. Its words are golden.
“Keeping your word is about more than just doing what you say you will. It is about showing you have someone’s back. It doesn’t matter if the task is menial; if you say you will get it done, do it because that builds credibility, trust and self-accountability. Acting in an honorable and trustworthy way will help you stand out in any company or friendship group. While it should be the norm, it often isn’t.”
“Keeping your word is not only about respecting others; it is also about respecting yourself and leading by example. Almost everyone has a personal history of breaking promises they’ve made to themselves — whether it’s about quitting smoking, losing weight or going to the gym. We should not only keep the promises we make to others but also the promises we make ourselves. Your word is golden — don’t break it. After all, if we don’t follow our own word, why should someone else trust it?”
Steadfast is a synonym of being true to one’s word. Being steadfast is encouraged throughout the Quran and also in Hadiths.
Say your prayers morning and evening, and during parts of the day and night; surely good makes amends for evil.This is a reminder for those who pay heed. Be steadfast; for surely, god does not let the righteous of the be wasted. Quran Hud 11: 114-115.
Then this Hadith:
On the authority of Sufyan bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said:
“I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, tell me something about Islam which I can ask of no one but you.’ He (peace be upon him) said, ‘Say “I believe in Allah” — and then be steadfast.’”
My March 23, 2024 blog sincerely promised I would continue to read Fasting for Ramadan, I kept my word, reading on.
However, in doing so found that Kazim Ali, whom I had placed on a pedestal, may actually have feet of clay, there may be chinks in his armor. First I will explain the terms.
Feet of clay is an idiom that refers to a weakness or character flaw, especially in people of prominence and power. It can also be used to refer to larger groups, such as societies, businesses, and empire. The origin of the idiom is not Rolling Stone magazine but the Bible.
Wikipedia informs:
“The phrase originates from the Book of Daniel in the Bible. In it, Daniel interprets a dream of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. In that dream, a magnificent statue is seen with a head of gold, but weaker and less valuable metals beneath, until finally having feet of clay mixed with iron. Daniel predicts that the glorious statue shall be smashed by a stone into pieces, like chaff on the threshing floor, and blown to the winds. The image of the expensive statue laid low has resonated as an analogy for seemingly powerful figures with substantial weaknesses.
Wikipedia discusses the use of feet of clay by the poet Byron, the rock group ABBA and Albert Camus. “In the French philosopher Albert Camus’ 1938 lyrical essay The Desert in the collection Nuptials:
In this great temple deserted by the gods, all my idols have feet of clay.”
It could also be said that a well respected and idolized person has a chink in their armor. Again, it is Wikipedia to the rescue telling us
The idiom “chink in one’s armor” refers to an area of vulnerability. It has traditionally been used to refer to a weak spot in a figurative suit of armor. The standard meaning is similar to that of Achilles’ heel. The phrase “chink in one’s armor” has been used idiomatically since the mid-17th century. It is based on a definition of chink meaning “a crack or gap,” dating back to around 1400.
Hopefully you are not completely bored and are impatiently waiting to hear what Kazim Ali wrote to bring forth this reaction.
“…and besides I have not been very good at keeping up my darling prayers. Although that’s odd because daily prayers are an easy practice whereas the month of fasting is arduous yet I have chosen the more difficult one to be faithful to.” (Ali pg. 56.)
Huh??? Since when did Muslims have a choice between daily prayers and Ramadan? Both are obligatory.
Kazim Ali continues.
“Is it because I think I have something to prove? At any rate I have not prayed Jammah for nearly fifty years. I have a hard time with prayer because when I pray I want to believe God will see me.”
Does not everyone want to believe that God will see them when they pray? I definitely do want to Believe that God will see me when I pray. So I pray and am thoroughly convinced that I am seen when by God when I pray. Ali continues:
“Somewhat like speaking out loud to an empty room hoping that you are overheard.”
He did finally go to Friday prayers , the prayer leader seemed glad to see him.
“I also noticed two women who who laid their rugs behind the row of men. I wished that this could be different that we could be interspersed, and if not interspersed then in the same line. Everything is not equal in the room, I thought to myself as I recited verses quickly to myself but there I am, at least, here I am. “
Women are not required to attend Friday prayers, but men are. I too chafe at the inequity found in mosques. Therefore, I pray at home, in my room and privately. But I DO pray.
I am somewhat shaken at reading this. Wondering if I should be following this man as he seems a bit astray. Perhaps he is not on the Straight Path despite the praise emanating from the blurbs. If he is not on the straight path I should not be following his lead.
On the fifteenth day of his fast he cooked, without tasting, and invited Muslim Association students to Iftar. (Break Fast). When asked for a place they could pray he ushered them into the room he practiced yoga – removing the statues of Buddha and Ganesh, explaining to them that he room was used for meditation and yoga with the sudden insight that “yoga was for me a form of prayer.” Then went onto say about his explanation:
“I wonder why I felt the responsibility to explain myself. I who was fasting, who am offering Iftar to students, providing them a place to pray and pray rugs as well.” The icons on the alter are not objects of worship they are arrows pointing in a new direction.”
I am struck by the arrogance of this and the Irreverence of it all. Muslims do not pray to alters and must pray facing Mecca. That is so basic. I keep reading, giving him a chance to redeem himself.
He did in a sense absolve himself by writing about the feelings when finishing a novel. And finishing writing knowing you are at the end of such a project – is like crossing a border as well, seeking asylum. You come into a country without any of your belongings, quite unaware of of the customs or language of the new place you find yourself.”
Now THAT I could identify with – that is me, seeking asylum in Saudi Arabia, with very few belongs, unaware of the language, slowly learning the customs. .
I have set Kazim Ali free of blame and responsibility, but there is a chink in his armor. He seems not to be the knowledge seeker and knowledge lover I originally thought. My intention is to read further but not allow his lackadaisical observances affect my traditional ones, and perhaps seek greater knowledge elsewhere. I am not trying to please him, his followers, his publishers instead Allah (SWT)
There is some time for play. Noor and I sharing our Ramadan day, hers in Malaysia, mine in Saudi Arabia. Told her of a compliment received.
Me: He said the nicest thing “ You are so clever, blue eyed Queen.
She: Oh yeaaaaaa U r Baby!!!
Me: Thank you my sister. This is what I said to him. “ I love you for saying that. Makes me happy, happy, Funny is my favorite trait. Second: Clever Third: Royalty. He said: Aww my lovely friend you should always be happy because you deserve to be happy.
She: You do.
Me: I said to him “Everybody does . Or better still, peace of mind until they reach their destiny. I pray that for all people. I would be most interested to know what my destiny is. I suppose we all would.
How are others observing Ramadan? `Instagram informed me that Medina is teeming with people, millions of them. I replied to a Medina friend’s reel.
Me: Way too crowded for me. I much prefer solitary worship. I am not alone in that. Double meaning in that sentence.
Then a Medina friend who I have not heard from in awhile WhatsApped me, we talked about missing one another but were glad for one another because we are each doing well. She is no longer at the Oberio so I would not be able to visit her so frequently anyway. She, a Saudi by birth, knows her way around KSA, said she liked Kohbar.
She: I like Kohbar. It is a small city but organized.
Me: Perfectly described. It is very organized.
Today you shall see photographs of Medina, taken on prior visits when it was.not quite so crowded. Writing about conditions in Medina is still on my blog list of To Dos. The time is not ripe. If you say the time is ripe (an idiom) , you mean that a suitable time has arrived for something to be done. It is the right moment for something. Martin Luther Kind Jr. famously said: “The time is always ripe to do something right.” More later.
