Spirituality and nature

Five times a day, Muslims must remain constantly aware of the sun’s position in the sky as it makes its gradual departure from east to west. Isn’t it so amazing that our daily prayers are so inherently intertwined with the world around us? Before the sun rises, we pray Fajr, when the sun is at a certain angle throughout the day, we pray Duhr and Asr, when it sets, we pray Maghrib. When there is a certain amount of darkness, we pray Isha. Allah is teaching us to constantly connect with nature around us while we simultaneously connect with Him, the Creator of everything, from the sun to each of us.

Nothing is created without purpose. This drives us to remember Allah in every change we see in the sun and nature around us, slowly helping us remember Him in every aspect of our lives as our lives also change. As reflected in the physical world around us, there will also be varying degrees of darkness and light in our lives and in our hearts. Through it all, Allah wants us to stay connected to Him, the one constant rope to hold on to. Our spirituality in Islam is so vitally entwined with the world around us. There is a merging, reliance, and interdependence of the unseen and intangible with the apparent and physical.

Allah says in the Quran: ‘Verily! In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of night and day, there are indeed signs for those of understanding. Those who remember Allah standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and think deeply about the creation of the heavens and the earth, (saying): “Our Lord! You have not created this without purpose, glory to You! Give us salvation from the torment of the Fire.”‘ [3:190-191]

What is beautiful about these verses is that Allah encourages us to reflect on the creation around us. Watching the sun set, the birds spread their wings and defy gravity, and lightning strike against the pitch black sky remind us of God’s amazing power and vast ability. The world around us is constantly giving us reasons to glorify His names.

Moreover, our beloved prophet (PBUH) also taught us to say certain prayers depending on changes in nature. The prophetic tradition has a specific supplication for when it rains, when the wind is strong, when lightning strikes, during a lunar eclipse, in a drought, during sunrise and sunset. Our religion teaches us to be in touch with the outer world and make it a part of our spirituality.

Being connected to nature can you help you overcome certain stages in your life. Allah says those who remember Him standing, sitting and on their sides. We don’t remember Allah when it’s merely convenient. We remember Him in times of hardship and ease, in darkness and light, in success and in failure. Allah is always there for us regardless, and the sun that is once not visible will eventually rise. Allah is teaching us to be hopeful through His creation.

In these verses, Allah describes those who reflect on His creation as those who understand. When you reflect on the nature around you, you are increasing your intellect. Allah is encouraging us not to let things around us change as we sit and watch, unaware of everything going on around us. As the world changes, so too should we reflect on how we should change; just as the clouds pour down their rain, at times, we need to let go of our grudges and bad habits; just as the moon lights a dark road, we too can light the path for others; just as the gentle breeze brings coolness on a hot summer day, we too can strive to be sources of mercy in the lives of others. These reflections transform these physical realities into meaningful, spiritual realizations that hit deep and lead to changes in our own lives.

I pray Allah grants us the understanding to use the changes of nature to reflect on our lives, build a deeper connection with our Creator and His creation, and strengthen our own spirituality.

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Originally posted at http://www.muslimamerican.com/spirituality-and-nature/

Plant a seed this Ramadan

Imagine planting a seed and carefully watering it on a daily basis. Slowly but surely, after nurturing that seed, you will see it bloom into a beautiful blossoming flower. The end result makes your effort at the beginning worth every drop of sweat you shed.

Ramadan is soon to be knocking on our doors, and as this beautiful month approaches, it is time for us to start planting our seeds. In what areas of your life do you have shortcomings? How can get you closer to God? What changes do you want to make to better yourself as a person and as a servant of your Creator? Plant those seeds now, for Ramadan is a time to water and care for them. With every fast, every sajda (prostration), every donation, every letter you read of the Quran, you are watering your seeds. And when Eid comes, God-willing you will see the fruits and blessings of those seeds come to life.

You may currently be at a low point in your life, needing something to pick you back up, and that’s why Ramadan is so essential in our lives. It’s a chance to repent, a chance to change and get closer to God. You may feel like you’ve made so many mistakes between last Ramadan and now, and that there is no more hope for your darkened heart. This is where the Quran brings out a concept so powerful.

God says in the Quran, chapter 57, verse 16: “Isn’t it time for the hearts of the believers to humble themselves to the remembrance of God…”. Isn’t it time for you and I to prioritize God in our daily lives? The verse continues and says not to become like those whose hearts hardened with time. When you’re lacking in remembrance of your Creator, when you stop praying to Him and asking Him for your needs, a hardened heart is almost inevitable. But this is why the next verse is so pertinent.

God says next: “Know that God brings life to the earth after it was dead. We’ve made Our proofs clear to you so you can understand.” God shows us that a dead land, a land we deemed absolutely lifeless, can come to life once again. A seed you assumed would never be sown now has a chance of becoming a beautiful blossoming flower. When you feel so far from Allah, filled with mistakes, with a heart so dark, know that God can bring light back into your heart, just as He gave life back to the dead land. There is always hope. And God starts off this verse by saying “Know”. Know it like nothing else, believe it, embody it, and let that be your motivation to plant a seed this Ramadan.

Start today and ask yourself : What will you harvest out of Ramadan?

Key to success

Just linked these two together for the first time and not sure if everyone knew this and I'm just now figuring it out or what, but when the Athan (Muslim's call to prayer) is called, it says "Come to success". Then in Surah Almuminoon, chapter 23 of the Quran, the first verse says "The believers are successful", and the very next verse describes them as being humble in their PRAYERS! So here in these two examples are two correlations between prayer and success. When you are so hungry for success but are struggling to attain it, look at your prayers. There's the key to your success and mine. 

رَبِّ اجْعَلْنِي مُقِيمَ الصَّلَاةِ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِي رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَاءِ

"O my Lord! make me one who establishes regular Prayer, and also raise such among my offspring, Lord, and accept my Prayer". Ameen. 

Darkness and light

What I love so much about the first verse of the 6th chapter in the Quran, Surah Alan'aam, is that it starts off thanking and praising God, the One who created the earth and the One who made darkness and light. 

Whenever I read this chapter, this first verse gets me every time. We thank Allah for darkness as much as we thank Him for light. We need both to exist, and both are essential to our fundamental growth as worshippers of God. Without the dark gloomy sky, we wouldn't appreciate the bright lively light. 

As hard as we have it in times of darkness, we thank Him for that opportunity to get closer to Him, and to grow and realize our potential. No one would strive harder if they hadn't reached rock bottom at some point. And without experiencing such a tough point in our lives, we would not appreciate being in a place of peace and stability. Both shape us and give us the energy we need to realize everything we have is an opportunity to get closer to our Creator, the One who blessed us with both darkness and light. 

"الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَجَعَلَ الظُّلُمَاتِ وَالنُّورَ 

All praises and thanks be to Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth, and originated the darkness and the light..."

Why our hearts have hardened

Reading the Quran often evokes many different emotions: fear, happiness, joy, anticipation, hope, etc. It's not often that a verse evokes a sense of sadness. However, every time I read the following verse in Surah Maryam, I feel an overwhelming sense of sadness.

Surah Maryam, verses 58:

أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ النَّبِيِّينَ مِن ذُرِّيَّةِ آدَمَ وَمِمَّنْ حَمَلْنَا مَعَ نُوحٍ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّةِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْرَائِيلَ وَمِمَّنْ هَدَيْنَا وَاجْتَبَيْنَا إِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُ الرَّحْمَٰنِ خَرُّوا سُجَّدًا وَبُكِيًّا

"Those were whom Allah bestowed His Grace from among the Prophets, of the offspring of Adam, and of those whom We carried with Noah, and of the offspring of Abraham and Israel and from among those whom We guided and chose. When the Verses of the Most Merciful were recited unto them, they fell down prostrating and weeping."

The verse talks about how the righteous and guided, upon hearing the verses of God, fell in prostration and would begin weeping. Hearing the words of God would move them to their core. They couldn't help but be in awe when verses would be recited. 

This saddens me because when I hear this verse, I cannot help but think, "what happened to us"? Why am I often not emotionally moved by the words of God? Perhaps our hearts have hardened to the point where verses of God do not affect us as they affected those before us. 

As I read this verse and kept questioning myself, searching for an answer to why we are not emotionally moved by His words, I came across the very next verse in the chapter. And there lies the answer to my very own question. 

فَخَلَفَ مِن بَعْدِهِمْ خَلْفٌ أَضَاعُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَاتَّبَعُوا الشَّهَوَات

"Then, there a generation came after them who had given up Salah (the prayers) and followed desires..."

God says in the next verse that another generation will come that will neglect their prayers and follow their desires. This verse accurately described problems in our day today. 

I began thinking about my daily routine, my regimen, my prayers, my priorities. Do I pray on time? Do I focus in prayer? What is the status of my relationship with God? Am I in control of my desires? What are my intentions in every action I take? The answer to these questions also answers why we are not moved by the verses of God. We have disconnected from our prayers, our connection to God. We live for life, while our faith is placed on the back burner. Our prayers have become merely an exercise of movements and words we place no thought to. Our prayers are the foundation that puts our life in check. And we have neglected them. 

Reading these verses, comparing the older generation to ours, and contemplating on the state of our affairs, shook me to the core. May God help you and I be in control of our worldly desires, and may He help us build a righteous life with prayers being our priority and center of our daily lives. Perhaps after we do exactly that, we will be able to taste the sweetness of His words as those before us did. 

An Eternal friend

Have you ever had an extremely close friend become a very distant one years later? You may miss the relationship you had with that person so much that you just want to talk to them and pick up where you were last were. Every time you see them, you almost feel guilty for growing so distant from such a great friend. Yet at the same time you know that as time changes, people change, and that person may be someone totally different from who you knew them to be. Therefore, you don't do anything about it but just continuously reminisce about the good friendship you had back in the day.  

Throughout my high school, college and university life, I had built such a strong bond with the Quran. It was literally my best friend. It was the friend that would always be there when times were down. Reading, memorizing and reflecting the Quran would be my only solace for the next few years. 

Unfortunately, things change and as I became busy with moving to a new city, forming new friends and eventually becoming a mother to two girls, I had very little time with the Quran. Our relationship that was once so strong didn't seem that special anymore. Every time I went to open the Quran and read, guilt overcame me. I questioned myself why didn't I know the Quran so well as I once did? I missed the bond we had so much but didn't know where to start. I wanted that best friend back more than ever. 

Today, I'm still working on strengthening my relationship and hope to be where I once was. But I did realize something throughout this process. People may change but the Quran never will. If you have lost touch with the Quran, the good thing is you know it's you who needs to work on your relationship. You are the one with shortcomings. Instead of reminiscing, pick it back up and know that the relationship you once had will undoubtedly come back, only from a little effort from your side. Open its pages, read it daily and prioritize it in your life. You will see the friendship you once had mend back together and flourish once again. 

May Allah help us make the Quran a dear friend for all of us and make it a reason we enter Jannah with flying colors. 

Here is a short article I wrote a few years ago about why the Quran should be a best friend: http://myquranicreflections.blogspot.com/2014/03/quran-friend.html?m=1

Mom: A universal language

(1) O people, be conscious of your Lord. The quaking of the Hour is a tremendous thing.

(2) On the Day when you will see it: every nursing mother will pay no attention to her infant, and every pregnant woman will abort her load, and you will see the people drunk, even though they are not drunk, but the punishment of God is severe.

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمْ إِنَّ زَلْزَلَةَ السَّاعَةِ شَيْءٌ عَظِيمٌ

يَوْمَ تَرَوْنَهَا تَذْهَلُ كُلُّ مُرْضِعَةٍ عَمَّا أَرْضَعَتْ وَتَضَعُ كُلُّ ذَاتِ حَمْلٍ حَمْلَهَا وَتَرَى النَّاسَ سُكَارَىٰ وَمَا هُم بِسُكَارَىٰ وَلَٰكِنَّ عَذَابَ اللَّهِ شَدِيدٌ

You know what amazes me about these first two verses of Surah Alhajj? The fact that Allah is talking about the severity and the craziness of the day of judgement and in order for us to grasp how crazy that day will be He uses no other scenario than the scenario of a nursing mother leaving her baby and of a pregnant woman not caring for what she is carrying inside. To show us what that day will look like or just to give us even a glimpse, Allah uses the scene of that mom and that baby. Imagine all the different scenarios that could have been used here. What does that say about the immense amount of love, care and mercy a mom has for her child? To focus all our attention to these two scenes, what does that say to a woman's unwavering compassion to her child?! In order for us to even slightly understand what that day will be like, we are forced to think of a nursing mom neglecting her baby. The immense love moms have is a universal fact and how appropriate that Allah proves that in these 2 verses. May Allah help us on that day and may we be from those who enter Paradise with the prophets and the righteous. Ameen.