A dear Muslim Sister and friend sent a message suggesting we attend a KL convention that promised the following: Join the Straight Path INFLUENCE and discover how to become the influence that leads to Allah; featuring renowned international and local speakers.
Remembering a recent the rather dehumanizing KL Subha Convention I quickly demurred – saying I had confidence in her choices but I learned best from books and I had made the intention to reread The Straight Path written by Dr. Nazir Khan and published by Yaqueen Institute. How convenient because the conference had the same name as the book. Hahaha. So it was with particular vigor I began my reread.
The epigraph of The Straight Path
For ever child in Gaza whose smile was stolen from the cruelty of oppressors. For every person of conscience who yearns for a just future
May Allah Guide Us on the Straight Path
The book’s cover, which shall be pictured at the conclusion of the blog contains the following: The Straight Path: How Sūrah al Fātihah addresses modern ideologies.
The Straight Path is authored by Dr. Nazir Khan. He brings exceptional credentials to The Straight Path. His scholarly background, and life experiences, span a remarkable range of disciplines. I am not completely star-struck and in awe of him because he is a Canadian. (as I am) and I have known many Canadian MDs, But neither myself, nor any Canadian doctors of my vast acquaintance, memorized the Quran as a youth and was certified in all ten readings of the Quran and certification in the six books of Hadiths. Dr. Khan is a senior fellow at Yaqueen Institute who published this book. He is super well-qualified to write about faith, reason and science. – that is all I have to say about that.
I am rereading the book to ground, to enhance and to sustain me in the faith. It was a decidedly educational and inspirational read during Ramadan 2026. Completing it t was one of my intentions and I could say that I met my intention, with a sense of accomplishment. .The book needs to be savored and reflected upon in the same manner as I did with my four-month read of The Sufis I cannot recall weather or not I shared my Straight Path reading with my readers – will go back and check at some time. .
I am, of course, not there yet in my revisitation, however I will quote from the last two paragraphs, written (of course) by the author Dr, Nazir Khan “Our faith is our greatest source of strength and resilience and our most trusted guide through the hardest ties. Times. In the face of overwhelming darkness, Sūrah al Fātihah reminds us that Allah’s mercy is always near and that He is the final and ultimate Judge before whom all will be summoned for reckoning. Reflecting upon the meaning of these short but profound verses is the beginning of a project to rebuild the moral order that our souls and the world desperately need.
May Allah, the most Compassionate and Most Just, guide us in fulfilling this aim, and help us walk upon the straight path., āmīn.”
I do sometimes stray from the Straight Path – do have to admit. I repent; both for my sins and my heedlessness and Allah restores me to the Straight Path. How do I know??? When one is on the Straight Path, everything works out, everything is made easy. I am there again. I am traveling to Kuching, making my hotel and airplane reservations today. My necessary appointments with the bank and with immigration already made. After all the necessary protocols and appointments have been met I fly to KL. I have chosen the hotel in which I shall stay – not the hotel in which the wedding will be held. Shall stay in that hotel the night of the wedding. The next day Sandman will come and drive me back to my home in Penang Lyf. It will be so good to be back. No more tortuous visa runs every ninety days. No more Bali, no more Singapore, nor Jakarta and bye bye Raffles Singapore. I can now choose when and where to go. I have some great ideas in mind – two actually. Both Malaysian tours – one luxurious and one educational.
Glancing at the book, pg. 115. The title of the section is Levels of Faith. The first box lists Deficient Faith which is falling short of one’s obligatory duties or engaging in major sins.
Then a box entitled Required Faith. Preforming the obligatory duties. Then Complete Faith. Performing both the obligatory duties and recommended actions.
All rather simple when you look it that way. I have met many Muslims in recent years. Many down-right deficient in their faith. Some ritualistically performing the required faith. Very, very rarely have I come across those with complete faith. Sad, but true. But there his hope for all of us because Allah is All Merciful. I do remind myself that all faiths have adherents that a good, bad and indifferent – to use a different terminology. Hahaha
I am now in the Lyf lobby listening on my iPads to classical music waiting for me room to be cleaned. I am part of, but also not part of life here. The music most serene in the midst of this business. People of all nations come and go. The other day I met a couple from Russia. Told them of my trip to Russia so many years ago, about thirty. A very different time in my life – and in Russia’s. Hahaha It is always amusing to consider that the next czar of Russia was to be Alexis – but the Bolsheviks shot him and his family. My visit there was much later, at the time of the overthrow of the Communist party – villagers were voting for the first time in their lives. What a moment to be there! I have led such an interesting life. The cruise ended in Moscow – it was a vibrant city even back them. I remember riding on the metro in the middle of the night feeling perfectly safe – contrasting it with the USA – when even back then it would have been dangerous at that time of night. People from foreign lands bring back fond memories, otherwise forgotten.
August 9, 2026
Now a total surprise to all. I soon to be singing praises to Artificial Intelligence. No one is more surprised that I am. Catastrophe struck this morning. My computer Safari refused to open and I (stupidly) use it as a portal for my blog, also for Google and also for my banking app. I was totally helpless. Out of sheer and absolute desperation got in touch with Artificial Intelligence who offered an absolute and utter solution and more. The AI I first reached got my Safari back on my computer. Somehow lost the first helper but in jumped the second AI. I decided to use its services to put the blog, google and the bank on the dock without having to access it through Safari. That would be a giant step in the right direction. Perhaps AI can and could be useful after all. Not only that, but we had an amusing conversation, concluding in the following manner.
Me: Victory is mine!
AI: Victory is yours
Blog on the dock✅
Banks Shortcut ✅
Perseverance ✅
Sense of humor Dangerously strong
AI Assistant thoroughly entertained
I concede defeat gracefully 😂
Long live the victorious
Gentle readers know, that as a former lawyer I love ❤️ winning. Moreover I did make the experience more fun. So here I am at with my blog on the dock, my banking within reach and my faith in technology restored. Victory was mine. Modesty prevents me from saying how many times I have announced that fact. Bringing AI to their knees is no small matter.
Miriam Webster informs that to bring someone to their knees means to to completely defeat or overwhelm (someone). Used in a sentence: Trump keeps vowing he will bring his enemy Iran to their knees.
“Bring (someone) to his/her knees.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bring%20%28someone%29%20to%20his%2Fher%20knees. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026
The following photos are taken from Tatreez: Reclaiming Palestine Through Embroidery. The exhibit book was a gift. I will be going to KL at the end of August and will visit the exhibit at the Islamic Art Museum when I am in KL. The book is heavy so I plan on reading it before I leave for Kuching. I will be the best prepared viewer they have ever had, or probably will every have. . My motto unfortunately continued: “Anything worth doing is worth overdoing.” My blogs may get a bit sparse this coming week. I am a fast reader, however it is a thick book with many colorful illustrations.
