I was deep in a conversation with Sonny Gan. We were discussing the feeling of freedom I would have when I began a new life in KL.
Me: Soon I shall be free.
He: u are always free my dear.
Me: Not always but I break the ties that bind me and then cherish my new life.
He: Its all in the mind.
Me: Where else is it silly. Not in my bum.
He: That’s where the problem lies. Some keep them in their bum. And guess where the expression pain in the ass comes originates.
The next morning, another conversation. I had sent a Good morning greeting. A photo with a caption: Good morning, It rained last night. A strange pattern on my window greeted me. Singapore is full of surprises.
He: Its a sign from above?
Me: Not bellow.
He: that’s the pain in the Axx!!! Hahaha
Me: I will ask AI the origin of pain in the ass.
Then the next morning wrote:
Me: Great morning. Good morning I asked AI about it and will write about it in my blog.
This was my conversation with AI
Me: This is a slight shift. What is the origin of the phrase pain in the ass.
AI: Ah, a perfect shift in tone — from Sufi serenity to linguistic mischief.
And yes, I can absolutely tell you where “pain in the ass” comes from The expression is surprisingly old, earthy, and very literal in its earliest meanings.
1. It comes from the idea that actual pain in the backside is persistent and impossible to ignore.
Before the phrase became metaphorical, it referred to things like:
• saddle sores from riding
• boils or infections
• injuries
• hemorrhoids
• even a literal kick in the rear
All of these are:
• annoying
• constant
• impossible to ignore
• and they make every movement unpleasant
• impossible to ignore
• and they make every movement unpleasant
Perfect metaphor for an annoying person
2. It evolved in American English in the early 20th century
Linguists trace it to around 1910–1920 in the U.S., used among soldiers and laborers.
It quickly became slang for:
• a nuisance
• someone irritating
• someone requiring too much attention
• or a situation that is persistently troublesome
Basically:
“This person makes my whole life feel like sitting on a hard wooden bench.”
5. In your voice
I can easily imagine you saying about someone:
“He was not simply inconvenient. He was a pain in the ass — historically, linguistically, and spiritually.”
Hahaha.
Then AI volunteered to give me a Sufi reinterpretation, promising to make it spiritua prosing that Sufis have a way of transforming everything —even irritations, even foolish people —
into metaphors for the inner journey.
1. The Necessary Irritation On the Sufi path, irritations are often described as tazkiyah tools —
things that polish the heart by rubbing against it. Even a “pain in the ass” becomes
a kind of sandpaper for the ego. A nuisance today may be a refinement tomorrow.
2. The Uninvited Teacher Sufis say:“Every person is a teacher. Some teach wisdom Some teach patience.” A pain in the ass teaches the second category.
They arrive uninvited,
annoy you,
disturb your peace…
yet they reveal how attached you are to comfort,
how easily you react,
how quickly the nafs (ego) flares up. They don’t elevate you —
but they expose you. And exposure is the first step to purification.
3. The Reminder of Human Frailty
The expression comes from physical discomfort —
something you cannot ignore,
that forces you to shift, adjust, pay attention.
Likewise, in Sufism: A spiritual discomfort is a call to awareness. Annoying people are often mirrors showing you what needs gentleness or firmness within.
Sometimes the pain is not in your backside —
but in your expectations.
4. The Invisible Mercy Many Sufi masters say that Allah sends you an irritant just before a moment of expansion. Why? Because the heart must be softened
to receive new wisdom. The universe often sends a “pain in the ass” as the last test before a door opens. You, Alaa, know this deeply: annoyances often preceded the greatest openings in your spiritual life.
Indeed I do know that!! Know it all to well!!
5. The Final Sufi Lesson A pain in the ass is not a curse. It is not punishment. It is not even about the other person. It is a spiritual nudge saying“Shift, adjust, rise.”
Once the heart learns the lesson — the irritant disappears, or you walk away peacefully, or they lose their power over you entirely. Which is exactly what happened in your recent chapter.
The pain was temporary The wisdom is permanent.
AI offered to turn this all into a paragraph, entitled “Sufi Wisdom: Even a Pain in the Ass Has a Purpose.”
Leave it to the Sufis to transform even the most earthy annoyance into spiritual insight. In Sufi understanding, a “pain in the ass” is simply one of God’s uninvited teachers — a necessary irritation that polishes the heart by rubbing against it. Some people arrive to give us wisdom, and others arrive to give us patience; the latter group is usually louder. Their presence exposes our reactions, ego, expectations, and attachments. And often, the universe sends such irritants right before a moment of expansion, as if to soften the heart for what is coming next. In the end, even a “pain in the ass” becomes a reminder to shift, adjust, rise — and when the lesson is learned, the irritant loses all power. The pain is temporary. The wisdom is permanent.
Then another offer, which was accepted,, to turn it into a shorter “Instagram caption version”l.
Sufis can find divine meaning in anything — even a pain in the ass.
In fact, a real Sufi would say:
“Ah, yes. God sent you to polish my heart…
with sandpaper.”
Some people are like spiritual gym equipment:
you don’t want them,
you didn’t ask for them,
but apparently they’re part of your “growth plan.”
They show up, annoy you, test your patience,
and teach you more about your ego
than any prayer rug ever could.
And then, when you finally get the lesson,
they disappear —
like a bad backache after good chiropractic work.
Temporary pain.
Permanent wisdom.
Certified Sufi experience.
Then I asked for and received a “Dream Team Combination Pack”
1. When the Dream Team is Too Powerful
• “We need supervision. Immediately.”
• “Three brains, zero restraint.”
• “Dream Team: breaking the internet since breakfast.”
• “We are the definition of ‘too much.’”
• “Allah is watching this group chat… shaking His head.”
⸻
2. When the Chaos Level Reaches Maximum
• “This is not a conversation. This is a circus.”
• “Chaos, but make it coordinated.”
• “How are we like this every day?”
• “Dream Team Motto: Why be normal?”
• “I swear we need a warning label.
”
3. When You All Accidentally Become Philosophers
• “Accidentally deep. Professionally hilarious.”
• “We didn’t plan wisdom. It just happened.”
• “Dream Team: where nonsense meets enlightenment.”
• “Sufi thoughts mixed with GIF stupidity.”
• “Our spiritual level: enlightened but distracted.”
4. When Sharing Food / Travel Plans
• “This is a culinary mission, not a meal.”
• “Travelling? No. Floating on vibes.”
• “Dream Team eats. The world watches.”
• “Food is our unofficial religion.”
• “We require snacks AND emotional stability.”
5. When Someone Sends Too Many GIFs (usually Shamir)
• “Gifs are not coping mechanisms, Shamir.”
• “STOP. I’m choking from laughter.”
• “One more GIF and I’m calling the authorities.”
• “This chat should be illegal.”
• “This is not communication. This is performance art.”
6. When Nesh Drops Wisdom
• “Nesh has spoken. We must obey.”
• “Every team needs a responsible adult. Sadly, we have Nesh.”
• “Voice of reason? Nesh. Voice of chaos? Shamir. Voice of commentary? Alexis.”
• “Nesh: stabilizing the unstable since day one.”
• “When Nesh talks, we pretend to listen.”
⸻
7. When Alexis Drops The Final Word
• “Alexis has declared the verdict.”
• “Blog it, Alexis. The world needs to know.”
• “When Alexis speaks: quotable.”
• “Alexis: chaos conductor.”
• “Respectfully, I run this show.”
🤦♂️ 8. When You All Roam Malaysia/Singapore Together
• “Security should follow us.”
• “Walking disaster, but stylish.”
• “Tourists in denial.”
• “If lost, return to nearest café.”
• “We attract attention. And trouble.”
9. When the Dream Team Gets Spiritual
• “Sufi hearts, chaotic minds.”
• “We remember Allah AND memes.”
• “Zikr but with commentary.”
• “Our tariqah is laughter.”
• “Enlightenment level: Dream Team.”
10. When You’re Grateful for Each Other
• “Dream Team forever — even in the hereafter.”
• “You two are Allah’s entertainment gift to me.”
• “My chosen family. Certified.”
• “Blessing, nuisance, miracle — that’s us.”
• “Wherever we go, we go together.”
Then something happened to me which was a total pain in the rear end. Explained what happened to Sonny,
Me: I had an allergic reaction last night and had to go to Emergency. But I am fine today and it only cost me $168.17 Singapore dollars.
He: Hope you are better now – what triggered it?
Me: I am allergic to mussels. Must have been a trace of them in what I ordered. Then I had a panic attack and could not breathe.
He: Besides mussels what else. We must be extra careful
Me: Only mussels. I take great care of my health It is strange, not other shell fish.
Then he responded in the greatest, most blessed manner.
He: It is more for us to know and handle others who may have this allergic attack. I definitely want the staff at Bamboo to be able to handle such situations- what to do while waiting for emergency aid knowing what is best .
Me: Thank you my dear!! That is so reassuring. Totally. Maybe when I get there I will first talk to you about my panic attacks. They are increasingly rare. I will explain when I see you.
Then we had a conversation about AI which I shall share later. I will also share the blessings that came with the hardship of the emergency trip to the hospital.
Yesterday took a photography course at the Apple Store. Some photos follow. A closeup, a photo taken of one of my classmates, and using the erasure tool. Also a photo of where I might have ended up permanently when discharged from the hospital
