Book Club

Just finished this and I highly recommend it

Richard Feynman's love letter to his deceased wife.

《 October 17, 1946

D’Arline,

I adore you, sweetheart.

I know how much you like to hear that but I don’t only write it because you like it I write it because it makes me warm all over inside to write it to you.

It is such a terribly long time since I last wrote to you almost two years but I know you’ll excuse me because you understand how I am, stubborn and realistic; and I thought there was no sense to writing.

But now I know my darling wife that it is right to do what I have delayed in doing, and that I have done so much in the past. I want to tell you I love you. I want to love you. I always will love you.

I find it hard to understand in my mind what it means to love you after you are dead but I still want to comfort and take care of you and I want you to love me and care for me. I want to have problems to discuss with you I want to do little projects with you. I never thought until just now that we can do that. What should we do. We started to learn to make clothes together or learn Chinese or getting a movie projector. Can’t I do something now? No. I am alone without you and you were the “idea-woman” and general instigator of all our wild adventures.

When you were sick you worried because you could not give me something that you wanted to and thought I needed. You needn’t have worried. Just as I told you then there was no real need because I loved you in so many ways so much. And now it is clearly even more true you can give me nothing now yet I love you so that you stand in my way of loving anyone else but I want you to stand there. You, dead, are so much better than anyone else alive.

I know you will assure me that I am foolish and that you want me to have full happiness and don’t want to be in my way. I’ll bet you are surprised that I don’t even have a girlfriend (except you, sweetheart) after two years. But you can’t help it, darling, nor can I I don’t understand it, for I have met many girls and very nice ones and I don’t want to remain alone but in two or three meetings they all seem ashes. You only are left to me. You are real.

My darling wife, I do adore you.

I love my wife. My wife is dead.

Rich.

PS Please excuse my not mailing this but I don’t know your new address. 》

Surah Al-Mulk: Why Did Allah Create Us, and Which Path Are We Choosing?????

Have you ever stopped and wondered: why did Allah create us?
Think about it. Allah already knows everything. He doesn't need us to prove anything to Him. So why create human beings? Why give us this life?

Right at the start of Surah Al-Mulk, Allah gives us the answer. He created death and life to test us, to see which of us is best in deeds. And I want you to notice something here. He doesn't say "who does the most deeds." He says "who is best in deeds." Because in Islam, it's not only about how much you do. It's about why you do it, how sincere you are, and whether you're doing it the way Allah commanded.

Two people can do the exact same thing on the outside. One's doing it to impress people. The other's doing it sincerely, to please Allah. Same action, totally different intentions. And Allah knows the difference. Two ways of moving through life.

Now, later in the surah, Allah asks us to picture two people. One is walking upright, on a clear path. The other is stumbling along with his face pointed at the ground. Which one is better guided?

It's a powerful image, right? One person can see where they're going. The other is just struggling to move forward. So here's the question we have to ask ourselves: are we actually heading toward Allah? Or are we so distracted by this world that we've lost sight of where we're going?

Group 1: The people on the straight path
Let's start with the first group. These are the people who reflect on Allah's creation. They notice His signs, they believe in Him, and they put their trust in Him. They don't look at the universe like it just exists on its own. They look at the sky, the earth, everything around them, and they see wisdom and power. They see Allah. And their faith isn't based on seeing Him with their eyes. They believe through His signs and through the truth of His revelation. And because they know who Allah is, they want to please Him.

So they do good deeds, but not just to rack up rewards or get people's admiration. They do it because they genuinely want Allah to be pleased with them. And they stay mindful of Him even when nobody's watching.
Why? Because they know Allah knows what's in the heart. Surah Al-Mulk calls Him Al-Latif and Al-Khabir. The One whose knowledge reaches the most subtle, hidden things. The One who's fully aware of everything.
You can hide your intentions from people. You can even convince everyone you're a great person. But you can never hide what's in your heart from Allah.

And here's the beautiful part. These people aren't perfect. They make mistakes. They fall short. But they know Allah is the Most Forgiving, so they turn back to Him instead of sinking into despair. Their goal isn't to look righteous. It's to become sincere servants of Allah.

Group 2: The people who stumble:

These people go through life without ever seriously asking why they're here. They use their eyes, their ears, their minds to get around in the world, but never to recognize the One who made them. They see the signs, and they just don't learn from them. They'll ask things like, "So when's the Day of Judgment going to happen?" But the exact timing? That's with Allah alone. And when it finally comes, the people who denied it will realize it was never something they could escape.

Surah Al-Mulk describes what's waiting for those who reject their Lord. When they're thrown into the Fire, they'll hear its terrifying roar. And its keepers will ask, "Didn't a warner come to you?" And they'll say, "Yes. A warner did come. But we denied it." Then they'll admit that if only they'd listened and used their reason, they wouldn't be among the people of the Blaze.

Think about that regret for a second. They won't say, "We didn't have eyes. We didn't have ears. We weren't smart enough." They'll regret that they didn't use what Allah gave them to recognize the truth.

And honestly, the tragedy isn't always that people never heard the truth. Sometimes it's that they heard it and just didn't take it seriously.
Eyes, ears, and a mind. Are we using them? So look up at the sky. Allah says the heavens are layered above us, and He challenges us to look again, and again. Do you see any flaw? Any disorder? You can look as carefully as you want. You won't get away from the signs of His power.
Then think about birds. They spread their wings, fold them back, and stay up in the air. What's holding them up? Who created their bodies, their wings, and the laws of physics that make flight possible? Allah says nothing holds them up except Him.

Now, that doesn't mean we shouldn't study how flight works. Science can explain the mechanics, and that's great. But the deeper question is: where did the universe come from? Where did its laws come from? Where did all these incredible systems come from in the first place?

Allah invites us to reflect. Not to stop thinking. So here's the thing. Our eyes see. Our ears hear. Our minds reason. But are we using all of that just to make money, build a career, gain status, and get comfortable? Or are we also using it to understand our purpose and get closer to our Creator?

The world we depend on isn't under our control, Now look at the ground under your feet. We build homes, grow crops, develop technology, lay down roads, build whole civilizations. And over time, we get comfortable. We start to feel secure, like everything we've built will just always be there.
But Surah Al-Mulk shakes that feeling. What if Allah made the earth swallow you up? Who could protect you? What if He sent a storm of stones down on you? Who could save you?

We put so much confidence in technology, money, institutions, and human strength. And look, those things can be useful. But none of them gives us total control over the world. Take water. We can build machines to collect it and systems to deliver it. But we didn't create the water cycle. And we can't guarantee every source will always be there. And water is behind almost everything. Drinking, farming, sanitation, industry, life itself.
So Allah asks: what if your water just disappeared into the earth? Who could bring you flowing water if Allah held it back?

We might have the tools to reach a blessing. That doesn't mean we own the blessing. And there's a difference between using the resources Allah has given us, and believing we don't need Him at all. True faith doesn't mean rejecting technology or refusing to plan ahead. It means knowing our abilities and resources are limited, and that our real dependence is on Allah.
Who can protect us against Allah?
Allah reminds us that He alone is the Lord of all dominion. So if He controls the heavens and the earth, who could protect us if He wanted to bring us to account? Who could help us against Him?
No army. No government. No institution. No amount of money.

Now, that doesn't mean human protection or practical precautions are worthless. It means none of them gives us absolute security. None of them puts us beyond Allah's reach. And this surah keeps challenging the false confidence of people who reject their Creator. They see the world, they enjoy its resources, they benefit from its blessings, and they still don't recognize the One their existence depends on.

And the same warning applies to us. We can feel safe because there's money in the bank, a stable job, a comfortable home, a strong network. But none of that guarantees we'll be safe from every hardship, let alone death and judgment.

The question isn't whether we should enjoy the blessings of this world. Of course we should. The question is: do those blessings bring us closer to Allah, or make us forget Him?

Believers and rejecters
All through the surah, Allah reminds us that faith and disbelief don't lead to the same place. Those who believe in their Lord, who stay mindful of Him even when they can't see Him, who strive to obey Him? They have real reason to hope for forgiveness and a great reward.

But those who knowingly reject the truth and keep denying it? They face a terrible warning. The surah also describes the punishment prepared for the devils who rebel against Allah. It talks about the lowest heaven being decorated with lamps, which are used as missiles against the devils, and a blazing punishment waiting for them. A wretched destination.

And the bigger message is this: no creature can rebel against Allah and somehow become independent of Him. Everything belongs to Him. Nobody escapes His ultimate authority.

That should make us humble. It should make us careful about our choices. And it should remind us not to mistake temporary worldly success for proof that we're on the right path.

So, what is Surah Al-Mulk asking us to do?

Honestly? It's asking us to wake up.
To look at the sky and reflect. To think about the earth beneath our feet. To notice the blessings we depend on every single day. To actually use our hearing, our sight, our minds, instead of drifting through life carelessly. To remember that Allah knows what's hidden in our hearts. To do our best deeds sincerely, not just put on a show. And above all, to realize this life is a test.
We don't know how much time we have left. We don't know when we'll die. We don't know the exact moment the Day of Judgment will begin. But we do know our time here is limited, and we're accountable for how we use it.
So let's not spend our whole lives building a comfortable life in this world while ignoring the one to come.

Let's learn the Qur'an. Reflect on it. Remember Allah. Ask for His forgiveness. And keep striving to obey Him. We will make mistakes, but we can always turn back to Him while we're still alive. One day, everything we depend on here gets left behind. And when that day comes, our wealth, our status, our achievements, none of it can take the place of faith, sincerity, and righteous deeds.

Inspired by Sura Al-Mulk

~Arzina Ponny

Did you know that if you die, you'll think you only lived for an hour or two? So why do things you might regret, because it was only for an hour or two and it will be over? https://jil-almaerifa.blogspot.com/2026/10/ibn-taymiyya-sheikh-of-islam-who-never.html

Hi

Anyone read sunrise on the reaping? Finished it and my bookclub wont discuss it until the movie comes out and I just can't wait that long tbh. Lots of thoughts and feelings about this and would love to share.

I’m so happy about this

I finished the big mama earlier this week; Jane Eyre. Checked her out at the school library at the end of September. It was a really good read and actually gave me a lot of introspection for how I should navigate my life, sticking to virtue, and what is important to me. Jane is also an admirable character.

Anywaysssss, I just checked out The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, by her sister, Anne Brontë. The book is a beauty physically. Online, the library catalog said this was printed in 1908. I have no idea why they are letting me check out and take home a 120+ year old book.

The Jane eyre copy I had was from the 1960s, so that was okay. But 1908? Anyways, she’s still pretty. I need to get some kind of bag or protection for these books if I’m carrying them around in my bag.

✨ TO BELONG AMONG THE STARS 🌌

The Poem

I reached for the stars, but the fall taught me reaching for the stars is never a transgression nor a fault, but a journey of resilience.

To be among the stars and shine with them, you must carry scars, scars that light the sky, that show you your path when darkness consumes you, and brighten the way for others to find theirs.

This is how you learn that being with the stars is not easy. They, too, have their journey, and you must walk yours to truly belong among them.

The Inspiration Behind the Poem ✍️

I came across a speech that mentioned the stars, and something about it stayed with me. It got me thinking, and eventually, I found myself writing this poem.

As someone who loves fantasy, fanfiction, and superhero stories, I’m drawn to the journeys of characters who dream of becoming something extraordinary, even when everything around them makes that dream seem impossible.

I wanted to explore what it means to look at the people we admire and wonder whether we’ll ever reach their heights. To carry the weight of our beginnings, our doubts, and our scars, yet still choose to pursue something greater than the life we’ve known.

Because the people we look up to have their own stories, too. They didn’t simply appear among the stars. They had journeys of their own, and we must be willing to walk ours. The dream is only the beginning; the discipline, the growth, and the determination to keep going are part of what brings us closer to it.

And perhaps, when we finally find our place among the stars, our journey will mean something to someone still looking up from where we once stood. They might see a part of themselves in our story and begin to believe that their own dreams aren’t so impossible after all.

That’s what inspired me to write this poem: the journey from wondering whether you could ever belong among the stars to discovering your own light, earning your place, and perhaps helping someone else find theirs. 🌠

Can you recommend a good book to read in the weekend