Subhanallah, Allhumdulilah, Allahu Akbar

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Waking up in a much more contemplative mode than usual, I found every aspect of my day hold a much more significant meaning than I might have otherwise realized.

My conscious was laying heavily on me still and my vision remained blurred.

My conscious iS laying heavily on me still and my vision remainS blurred.

I sat listening to the Jummah khutbah.

Today it was about Iman.

The lessons we can derive from the story of Prophet Ibrahim.

I silently thanked Allah for providing me with one element of the answers I sought.

Subhanallah. It was no coincidence that we were discussing the levels of Iman and taqwah the day after I truly began to feel myself loosing it.

I couldn't help but smile as I listen to the Imam describe the strength and beauty of Prophet Ibrahim.

I couldn't help but smile...

I realized then that my Iman was more alive than I thought, for it almost seemed as though Allah had handing me this opportunity to learn about the one thing that I felt I knew nothing about.

It almost seemed as though Allah had laid out his mercy and was waiting for me to take advantage of it.

I left that Jummah with invaluable knowledge.

I left that Jummah motivated and comforted by the call of Allah.

Allhumduillah.

I thought it might have ended there. So Allah gave me an opportunity to ease my mind of my former torments through the khutbah for that Jummah prayer, but I was wrong.

I later found that He was to also bestow upon me the honor of easing my pained heart through immeasurable beauty.

I attended a VCU MSA event that invited two young reciters to come and share a night of recitation and remembrance of Allah with the VCU MSA community.

These brothers recited the words of Allah with such beauty and passion that it would be impossible for one to not be affected by it.

I sat listening to their voices but I didn't hear them.

I heard through them the majesty of my Lord.

Nearing the end of the program one of the reciters recited Surah Rahman.

055.001 (God) Most Gracious!

055.002 It is He Who has taught the Qur'an.

055.003 He has created man:

055.004 He has taught him speech (and intelligence).

055.009 So establish weight with justice and fall not short in the balance.

055.077 Then which of the favours of your Lord will ye deny?

055.078 Blessed be the name of thy Lord, full of Majesty, Bounty and Honour.

These words mean more to me now than they ever did before.

Allah provided me an opportunity to ease the pangs of my heart.

I tore myself up over the feeling of loosing something as dear as Iman and I forgot to remind myself that with the mercy and barakah of Allah, loosing Iman is a hard, hard thing to do.

May Allah forgive me my sins and bestow upon me his endless barakah.

May each day be a day of reflection and betterment and may we see his signs in everything we do.

Ameen.