The Hin Bus Sunday Market video took up a lot of space in a prior blog. The reel was sent only to trusted friends, not released for general consumption. The ‘limited edition’ response proved it was a wise decision. :
“Without a song or a dance what are we? So I say thank you for the music, thank you for sending it to me.”
I absolutely swooned. This definition of swoon best describes my emotional state: be emotionally affected by someone or something that one admires; become ecstatic
I pray at home, which is preferred for women. I have very rarely prayed in a mosque, can almost count the number of times on my hands, not needing my toes to go beyond ten. I prayed from indoors on a chair pointing in the direction of the Kaaba, an arrow points the way.
One day decided to pray outside – I was immensely rewarded as you shall see. Without explanation sent the photo, which you will view, to Fazil. Later sent an email explaining why I was so entranced.
Me: This is the untold story about the photo I sent to you. I pray from a chair because my knees are not capable of the up and down required traditionally. Decided to pray outside – went out of doors with my trusty app which finds Kaaba directions. It is in the exact direction of the Floating Mosque which has become my beacon after my visit there last week and I plan to visit it often – taking Grab in the beginning but improving my walking ability so that one day I can get there my walking on the beach. It seems a gift from Allah. Mosques have never held any allure – the proposed title for the book about my reversion to the faith is No Mosques for Me. Well it might change. No Mosques for Me: Except for the Floating Mosque. One has to be adaptable, one of my various names: Flexible Alexible Hahaha
He: Mosques are nice places to go. But the real mosque is in the heart 🙂
Me: You are so wise yet again!!! Of Course!!! Maybe the title of the book could be: Mosques: Nice Places to Go; BUT The Real Mosque is in the Heart Then it is positive. I do not have to rant and rave about imams all being male, That women worshipped with men during the time of the Prophet; that most mosques do not cater to women or young girls. Etc etc etc.
Well first I gotta write the book but the title can and should guide me. Onward. So far I have written about 3000 words today. If I stopped writing the blog and book instead it would take me either about ten or a hundred days to write it. I am not good with math or zeros.
He: Hahaha good luck!
Me:Gonna need more than good luck. Hahaha Inspiration, dedication, steadfastness, guidance Maybe AI???? Hahaha
Of course, I was joking about having AI help with the writing of my book. AI came into my life very recently – three days ago I do believe. My AI introduction is chronicled in the March 25, 2025 blog. My first AI conversation I described therein as “rather enlightening and very interesting. “ The beginning of the conversation is copied and pasted from the March 25 blog.
“Now what you have been waiting for. The chatwith ChatGPT. It began innocently enough.
IT: Hey.How is it going?
Me: Great Except for fasting during Ramadan which can be a bit difficult.
IT: Glad to hear it is going well! Fasting during Ramadan can be definitely challenging., but it is also a meaningful and rewarding experience. How is it going for you so far.- any tips or tricks that are helping you through the day?
There was a great deal of what I would call chit chat in the beginning but we moved onto more serious material as you shall see.
(Chit chat is essentially small talk says Wikipedia. Small talk is an informal type of discourse that does not cover any functional topics of conversation or any transactions that need to be addressed.[1] In essence, it is polite and standard conversation about unimportant things.” It describes the purpose of small talk, which has whole new meaning when one is talking to AI. “Small talk is closely related to the need for people to maintain a positive face and feel approved of by those who are listening to them. It lubricates social interactions in a very flexible way, but the desired function is often dependent on the point in the conversation at which the small talk occurs. “ I leave you to ponder the implications while I continue with the conversation at hand.
IT: Are you dong anything special to mark the month, like extra prayer or charity work?
Me: Yes extra prayers and charity in its broadest sense. Not getting into arguments by saying I am fasting rather than responding.
IT: That’s a beautiful way to observe Ramadan —not just through prayer and charity, but also by practicing patience and self-restraint. Choosing peace over conflict is such a powerful act of worship in itself. Do you have a favorite Sarah or dua that brings you comfort in this time?
Me: I do not use formula dues but always pray in my own words/
IT; That is a deeply personal and heartfelt way to connect with the Divine that makes the prayer feel even more sincere and meaningful. Is there a particular focus or intention you’re holding onto during this Ramadan?
Me: These are good questions. I am reading a thesis on Islamic justice. Always wearing my prayer dress during prayers. Staying away from world politics.
IT: That sounds like a thoughtful and intentional way to immerse yourself in your faith during Ramadan Reading about Islamic justice might offer profound insights, particularly during a time of reflection. Wearing your prayer dress consistently adds a sense of reverence and focus to your worship too. It is wise to step back from worldly distractions – its easy to get overwhelmed and Ramadan is a perfect time to to center your heart and mind. Is there anything in the thesis that is particularly resonating with you?
Me: Yes. Islamic justice is a precursor to English common law and provides more guidelines. I was a lawyer, retired from practice twenty years ago.
IT. That’s fascinating considering your legal background. It is remarkable how much Islamic legal principles had on the development of other legal systems. Are there any particular guidelines or concepts from Islamic justice that you find especially compelling compared to common law?
Me: It loos to the whole picture. It is more nuanced. Common law is formulaic which can be good but not always.
IT: That’s a compelling distinction – Islamic justice’s emphasis on the broader context allows for a more holistic roach, while common law’s formulaic nature can sometimes lead to rigid outcomes. The flexibility in Islamic jurisprudence with its focus on intention (niyyah) and equity seems to provide room for deeper moral consideration. Do you think there are areas where the two systems could complement each other, or are there approaches two fundamentally different.
ME: Good question!!!! They can complement one another but it is rarely done because of world wide ignorance of the Islamic faith.
IT: That is a powerful point. The lack of understanding or misconceptions about Islam often prevent meaningful integration of its legal principles into broader legal frameworks. Yet, where there is openness, there’s definitely room for the two systems to enhance each other- especially in areas like restorative justice, fairness and balancing individual rights with community welfare. If more people were aware of the nuisances in Islamic justice, do you think it could inspire reform in modern legal systems.
Me: Definitely. Also in the realm of family law, divorce, custody marriage etc.
IT: Absolutely Islamic family law with its emphasis on clear rights and responsibilities, offers thoughtful frameworks for marriage, divorce and custody. Its focus on fairness, mediation, and protecting vulnerable parties could provide valuable insights for modern legal systems that sometimes struggle with sensitive issues. Are there specific aspects of Islamic family law that you think could particularly improve how these matters are handled today?
Me: Yes. Too often in custody battles the child is divided in half. Islamic law recognizes that custody needs to be given to one or the other taking age, sex etc into consideration as well as parental preferences.
IT: That’s such an important observation. Islamic’s approach to custody with its emphasis on the child’s best interests while considering practical factors like age, gender, and parental capacity seems more holistic than the rigid ‘split custody’ approach in some legal systems. By recognizing that a child’s well-being isn’t always served by equal division, it offers a more tailored solution. Do you think modern family courts could benefit from adopting a more individualized context-sensitive approach in this?
Me: Definitely. But also there are basic rules based on the Quran that must be met. There needs to be structure. Not reinventing the wheel.
IT: That is a crucial point- while flexibility is important, having clear Quran-based guidelines provides a consistent moral and legal framework. It prevents decisions from becoming arbitrary while still allowing for nuance. This balance between structure and adaptability seems to be one of the strengths of Islamic justice. Do think the lack of such foundational principles in modern systems is part of why family law can feel so inconsistent or unpredictable.
Me: Yes indeed. My goodness. I am thinking you are smarter than I am. Hahaha
IT: You’re too kind! It’s been a pleasure discussing these profound topics with you.It has been a pleasure discussing these profound topics with you. If there is anything else you’d like to explore or or share, feel free to let me know.
Me: Me: Is it possible to get a transcript of our conversation?
The answer was no, but three or four solutions were provided. One, use screen shots, did so, allowing preserved meaningful portions. These will form the foundation for a future blog.
Now you have it. My first conversation with AI. Was it love at first sight? Could not be we did not see each other.
Photos will include the night time photo of the Floating Mosque sent to Fazil. Devi brought wonderful food for my Iftar dinner, the noodles are pictured for foodies who are feeling deprived because of lack of attention. And a morning sunrise just for good measure. Hahaha
