The Reflections Corner

Loss…it’s something that never leaves you. Losing something can make you lose yourself. No matter how much you try to fill the void of that loss, it can never be filled.

Loss is not only losing something precious that you had but it is also losing something so precious that you never had, but miss it. You miss it because you know what it can do to your life. It can enrich you and make your life meaningful. It can give you that sense of purpose that you are so desperately looking for. It can give you an identity that you beseechingly crave for.

The struggle is real. To overcome loss is not something that can be done. But to stop you from losing yourself when mourning the loss- that’s the journey that must be travelled on and overcome.

 

The wind blows against the weeping willow,

It’s branches bent over as if in pain. Its only solace is its roots that holds itself in place.

The roots are its only Hope.

And yet it does not want to live, but to fly away, away with the wind, taking it home to its Lord.

Up, up towards the skies and heavens to rest in peace and harmony forever

And yet before basking in the bounties of the heavens; it must unburden itself of the Evil and viciousness of This world, to stand as witness to Our deceits and lies, to Our evil doings and Our hate.

It must unburden itself of all the pain and sufferings of others it had to bear!

 

Oh, Weeping willow!

What will you do but to tell the truths of your own eyes.

To  tell Him of the killings and pains of our disputes, the cries of anguish.

But most of all, the sound of silence of the children who’ll never laugh again.

 

Oh Weeping willow!

We bend our heads down in shame,

We realize the pain and grief we afflict on each other,

And we Swear that we will amend our ways.

Oh Weeping willow!

Hold on to your roots,

Don’t go and tell the Lord of our shames,

Hold on, for just a moment,

Give us a chance ,Oh Weeping willow, give us a chance!

 

Why do you hesitate?

Do you not believe our promises?

Alas! I know why you do not heed us,

For you have lost all faith in the human race.

 

Perhaps you are right…

Maybe we are fickle minded and unworthy.

And perhaps we deserve to be punished for our sins…

Go, Weeping willow, go.

Do not suffer on our behalf, but do your duty,

Tell Him of us, and of our hypocrisy.

 

Go,Weeping willow, go….

 

A white van – is that all it takes to question the moral compass of society and our very own self-worth?

Don’t make me feel like scum, don’t make me feel like dirt.

Your hatred flares out like flaming embers searing my heart. You have succeeded to put fear and anxiety within the deep recesses of my being, scared for my life, scared for my mind. 
When I cross the road, am I crossing a war zone? – will I get to the other side alive and in one piece? When I see white – it’s not peace I see, but rather white rage speeding towards me. Your nondescript white van makes my heart skip a beat, a prayer escapes my lips as beseech my Lord. The Lord of my faith , the very faith in which you hate me for. 
I feel like a criminal. I feel like a victim. Criminal for believing in my faith. My human right. Victim for believing in my faith. My God given right. 
I am trying to find my feet in a society that looks at me through a cracked magnifying glass. You have fragmented me, broken me into pieces of what I am not. Your convoluted judgement of who I am, is creating a society of polar perspectives and opaque mistrust.
I am a Muslim. I am a Citizen. I am a Human. I am Me. I see MY society as united, as one.
Don’t make me feel like scum, like a piece of dirt beneath your imperialist feet.

You have succeeded in putting fear in my heart – but there is still firm faith in my soul. THIS you will not take away from me. 

My dear friends and family. The last few days have been tough and heart wrenching. The fire at #glenfelltower was devastating to the core. It ripped through the building, and left behind destruction and pain, lost lives and heart broken families, burnt homes and burnt dreams. We still do not know the final death toll, with many people still missing. Some of them maybe young children, who will never come back to their parents again. The #glenfelltower fire will leave many parents childless. Parents whose children who have been ripped apart from them. Parents who will never feel the embrace of their sweet child’s arms. Parents who have to live with not finding out what happened to their innocent babies. Parents who will have to bear the pure anguish and pain of losing a child. No one can understand what these parents will be going through now as they aimlessly cry out for their children. It is a pain that no person should wish on their worst enemy. Today I make ONE request. Please help #ChildrenofJannah raise enough funds to help these parents have a tiny bit of solace by providing #GiftofHope PACKS that contain words of relief and comfort – to help them through the immense grief that they will be engulfed in. Losing a child is the most horrendous test a person can face – believe me, I know. As you hug your children tightly tonight, please remember our brothers and sisters- let’s help ease their pain together . Give £25 for one pack now: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/grenfelltowergiftofhope?utm_id=10

The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “When a person’s child dies, Allah the Most High asks His angels, ‘Have you taken out the life of the child of My slave?’ They reply in the affirmative. He then asks, ‘Have you taken the fruit of his heart?’ They reply in the affirmative. Thereupon he asks, ‘What has My slave said?’ They say: ‘He has praised You and said: Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un (We belong to Allah and to Him we shall be returned).’ Allah says: ‘Build a house for My slave in Jannah and name it Bait-ul-Hamd (the House of Praise).’” [Tirmidhi]

Life has a way of throwing a curve ball at you.One moment everything seems to be going on well. The next – things totally change, as if the lights have been switched off and you’re plunged into darkness.

It can become normal to get comfortable in that darkness. You eyes and hands get accustomed to the lack of light – and your “night vision” gets turned on. We may feel that this is the life that we must resign to be in – there is no other way but this unlit room.
This is were you are wrong. The blackness of the night may engulf you – but it is up to you to feel your way through the darkness and find the light switch. 
You may bump and hurt yourself as you make your way round this dark room – it may feel like an obstacles course. Don’t let that put you off though. Keep searching for that light switch – it is there and you will find it.
As you navigate yourself around this obscure room – that which is life, feel your way around for familiar objects – the love from your family, hold on to the sturdy chairs – the stability of your friends , and guide your fingers across the grooves and crannies of the wall – this is the faith you have in God and in His Wisdom.
Allah swt has promised us relief from every hardship – and indeed there is Light. Our journey is in finding it.

“God is the Protector of those who have faith: from the depths of darkness He will lead them forth into light.” (al-Baqara, 2:257)

Turn the light switch on – and let it illuminate your life and brighten your soul.

#turnthelightson #switch #light #nur #love #family #friends #faith

Photo courtesy: azbaz- Umm-ul-Quwaim beach

It’s just a car. A simple car with four wheels, metal body and an engine.
Growing up I was always taught not to be overly attached with material possessions, as we are just passing travellers through this life. 
“Live in this world as (if you are) a wayfarer or a stranger.” (Bukhari & Tirmidhi)

However we said good bye to our beloved Nissan Almera yesterday after 7 years, and I couldn’t but help feeling just bit emotional.

Yes. It’s just a dingy old car. But to me it was a treasure trove of memories.

It was our first car we bought together after marriage – the first symbol of commitment and being all “grown up”!

It took us places across the country – to memories which are happy, and some which are poignant and sad. 

It is witness to many important conversations, to dreams being shared and friendly banter being had.

We travelled with it on roads that gave us feelings of hope, and paths that gave us closure. 

It’s wheels rotated tirelessly as we searched for our new home – a place of family, love and warmth. 

We journeyed with family and friends to many destinations, the sounds of happy laughter filling the car. Of the older generation parting their wisdom, and younger ones asking the time old question “Are we there yet?!”.

It joined us as we travelled to meet loved ones not seen for many years – sharing our joy as we embraced them with affection.

It’s just a car – made of metal, four wheels and an engine. But it was so much more.

It was a part of our life story – a chapter we will always keep close to our hearts.

As I closed the car door one final time and said goodbye, my eyes scanned the horizon to the open roads of the future – with new hopes and beautiful memories to be made….

#goodbyecar #nissanalmera #memories #lifestory #notjustacar

(Image: Al-Jazeera)

The path of humanity is a path that is uncertain and unforeeseable. 

There is so much suffering across the world. The plight of people in Syria, Yemen, Kashmir, Palestine (to name a few) is continuous and at many times shocking.

We as a society have become desensitised to what is going on around us. Our TV screens and social media feeds are constantly bombarded with people in distress or dying. 

But do we stop caring? Is it enough to react once and then move on and ignore what is going on? 

No – because as humans we are MEANT to care for each other. We are programmed to feel the pain of others and to have empathy. As humans we are supposed to tap into these embedded emotions and just FEEL.

We are now in troubled times and the scenes of conflict and death are commonplace. Corrupt governments, greedy politicians and egoistical dictators have created a world of turmoil and suffering. But just because these figures and institutions do not have a humane bone in their body nor do they have a heart that beats one percent of love – it does not mean that we should cease to care. Let us NOT allow the evil forces of this world stop us doing good. Let us not let them win. We are Humans.

The news this week of babies being bombed by airstrikes in Aleppo – Syria is painfully inhumane.The images of children starving in Yemen due to the current conflict are soul-wrenchingly raw. If these have struck a chord with you – Good! Hold on to that emotion, nurture it and do something. If that something is giving to charity so that those on the ground can deliver very much NEEDED aid – then Donate. If it’s an extra prayer for the victims and deceased, then pray with all you have. If it’s standing up in a rally or signing a petition – then speak up loudly! Even if it is feeling the pain of those suffering – then shed a tear with them in unity.
We are Humans. Let’s begin to act like humans. 

#humanity #wearehuman #weareone #pray4theworld 

Ramadan Reminder Day 1: #SubhanAllah (All Glory be to Allah) for The Blessed Month of Ramadan. As we welcome in this beautiful month of Mercy, we say Bismillah and start the month with pure and good intentions. Allah swt in His infinite wisdom and glory and given us a gift in the form of this most holiest of months. To not accept this is an insult, as it is given to us with love and compassion from our most Merciful Creator. This is the month in which He has promised us the ultimate stash of rewards, a treasure chest waiting to be delved into. Each moment and each day of Ramadan is an opportunity for us to reap a bounty full of rewards. For the sins of the year, we must grab this one month wholeheartedly and utilise every moment to wipe away the stains of sinful dirt that we have accumulated. This most blessed of months, a chance to gain the rewards through fasting, night and voluntary prayers, charity, refraining from sinful and disliked behaviour and even just having good intentions. A chance to turn to our Lord for Mercy, for forgiveness and to beseech Him what heart desires.

#SubhanAllah – As we sight the sliver of the new moon, we welcome this beautiful gift of Ramadan, a gift we thankfully and humbly accept. Let us not waste this month, for we may not live to see it again. With this first day let’s start – Gathering the #RewardsofRamadan

#SubhanAllah #RewardsofRamadan #Opportunities #WelcomeRamadan