Shaken

This morning, I was woken with " Earthquake hits Islamabad" and found members of the family all gathered around the telly. Relatives and friends living in the hit areas where called and found well. Sighs of relief all around, till focusing on the news, the plight of the people, our people was brought to our doorsteps. Realising that the areas hit in India were majorily Muslim settlements was even more heart-wrenching.

I know scientifically its all proven, plates moving, blah, blah, blah, blah...but then the thought that, the Holy Quran does say about Earthquakes, Storms, other natural disasters as God's Wrath on the disbelievers holds more credibility.

Thus, have we then fallen in that category? Have our lives become so self involved that we forget where we have to return. What awaits us in the HereAfter?I know Im not as religious or practise Islam the way it needs to be but, from time to time, my conscience gives me a nudge. This is one of those times.

Please pray for those who are lost in the rubbles of what once were abodes of the living. And pray for those who are left behind.

Feast for the Senses

Yesterday afternoon I walked in the door and smelled Ramadan. The house smelled of blessings and peace. I knew Mom would be in the kitchen making magic, brewing this, stirring that, a dash of spice, the sizzling of oil. My heart smiled. Although, exhausted from work, I made a beeline for Mom’s domain and lent a hand.

For me Ramadan is a month for peace, for blessings, for happiness, for constant supplication to Allah (S.W.T) be it in any form. I know that whatever I do this month will be rewarded even if it means bestowing a smile to ease someone’s grief. It’s not about satisfying hunger when you’ve gone without for the last 10-12 hours. It’s more about a spiritual connection between you and your Maker. I simply love it.

Having spent the last few Ramadans in Karachi with my grandparents, I’ve come to appreciate and miss the Ramadans in Dubai. I know a place shouldn’t matter in the larger scheme of things, but then I’m a shallow person who puts more stock in being with family. Being able to walk down to the mosque for taraweeh prayers, standing shoulder to shoulder with sisters of different nationalities, waking my siblings for ismak(sehr), going for tahajud prayers, discussing religion, bonding over iftari with family and friends, dad leading fajr and maghrib prayers, mom’s exceptional feasts, seeing, hearing, smelling, Ramadan all around me. For me Ramadan is a feast for the senses.

I’ve been reading a book by Nai’ma B. Roberts – a revert to Islam and the following extracts are from there. Thought they were worth sharing.

“…But some of our best iftars were spent at mosques around the capital where they would lay on a spread for the congregation and visitors. On of the best things about visiting different mosques for iftar, also known as ‘mosque hopping’, was that we got to meet so many Muslims from so many different backgrounds – Pakistanis, Bengalis, Moroccans, Algerians, Somalis, Nigerians, Caribbean, English and Irish reverts. I never tired of hearing how different sisters had come to embrace Islam and, with each account, my faith increased tenfold. Ramadhan is a special time for all Muslims who take the time to immerse themselves in it – but your first Ramadhan is unlike any other.

Sara shared her feelings about Ramadhan with me: ‘ I loved the fasting. I was on such a high from that! I loved waking up early in the morning while it was still dark; having that discipline to get up and eat something while the rest of the world was sleeping, knowing that you were setting to do something really special for the day and there were Muslims all over the world that were doing this: a silent solidarity.’”

RAMADAN KAREEM TO ALL MUSLIMS