On The Quran

Image by Mohamad mmk

I get an extraordinary amount of peace from the Quran these days. I've been fortunate enough to have access to a Teacher who takes me weekly for Quran lessons where I'm slowly learning how to recite the Arabic words with correct pronounciation, in the same way the Prophet (peace be upon him) recited the words that the Angel Gabriel revealed to him.

In the past few months something has clicked for me. My fluency has improved and I'm no longer stumbling over the letters like I used to. I can hear the melody in my voice when I recite, and I'm appreciating the sounds so much more.

I don't understand the majority of what I am reciting (I read the translation in English afterwards) but I still find peace in it.

When I recite I concentrate on each letter. I recite slowly, paying attention to the sounds, the rhythm, the melody. It's this focus that relaxes me - it calms me down.

I've struggled for years with managing my emotions, and I admit that I've had some unhealthy ways of dealing with them. 

But since I've made the practice of Quran a higher priority in my daily life I've discovered that I'm better handling my more intense emotions. When I get sad or angry or overwhelmed, it's easier now for me to slow myself down and breathe.

I have a Quran app on my phone that I use regularly throughout the day, just to recite a few verses when I have some spare moments. The simple act of stopping everything and focusing for a few minutes has become so helpful to me. I can feel the effects of those few moments lasting longer and longer, even after I've put away my Quran and gone back to work.

I'm working hard to keep up this habit by committing to short but consistent moments of recitation. I want this serenity to stay.

Assalamu Alaikum - Peace To You

Art Print by Stephanie Ryan

Today a man said Assalamu alaikum to me, as he walked by. Assalamu alaikum is an Islamic greeting in Arabic that is essentially wishing peace on the other person. I smiled and responded, Wa alaikum assalam - and peace to you too.  I didn't know this man, I'd never met him before. I don't even know if he was Muslim. 

It's a beautiful thing, to have strangers wish you peace. When that greeting is exchanged I feel as though a small connection is made - there's something in our souls that just responds to it. We crave peace. 

This happens to me quite often. It's one of the many blessings of wearing hijab - I am recognisable as a Muslim, and strangers will greet me as such when we pass each other by.

It's in those small, quick moments that I am reminded of God. 

With each greeting I feel as though God saying to me: 

I am here. 

In amongst all your rushing. I am here. 

I am As-Salam. I am the Source of Peace.

Peace to all of you.

There Is Beauty In the Differences

Illustration by Grounded On The Daily

The other night I went to dinner at a friend's house. There was 12 of us in total - we varied in age from early 20s to early 80s, and we all came from a variety of cultural backgrounds. 

Part way through the dinner my Mum phoned, and I'm sure from all the laughter and background noise that she thought I was at a party! We sat around the table and shared food, conversation, and laughter, and I had such a wonderful time. 

Since becoming Muslim I've had the opportunity to bond with so many different women, all of whom come from a variety of cultures, and many of whom aren't the same age as me. There are cultural gaps and generational gaps - logic tells me it shouldn't work, but it does. 

Sometimes the only thing we have in common is a shared faith, but it seems as though that one thing means everything. Because of that shared faith those cultural and generational differences melt away, and I'm always met with love. So much love.

I've come to realise that when we only spend time with people who are just like us - people who look like us, think like us, and act like us - we become sheltered. We can get tricked into thinking that there's one way in the world, one way that things can be done, one way how things should be. 

But when we come into contact with people who are different from us and we step away from that line of thinking, we have the opportunity to grow so much, to become so much more aware. We can learn so much from people, if we just open ourselves up to these moments.

On Fasting

Since the month of Ramadan, I've been attempting to fast a few days a month. Although fasting in the month of Ramadan is obligatory, it is encouraged to fast regularly outside of Ramadan as well. Not to the same extent, but a day a week, or a few days a month. 

Fasting is considered an act of worship in Islam; it is a way to cultivate self-control, by abstaining from food and drink during the daylight hours. It also increases gratitude - gratitude for the sustenance that we have and an increased feeling of love and care for those who are without. 

Today I am fasting. As it is almost Summer, the days are much longer - fasting today is from 3.46am until 9.05pm (dawn til dusk). 

Being On The Job Hunt means that my schedule is flexible and I am able to work around my fasting hours to make things easier. I am somewhat out of practice with fasting long days, so I'm doing my best to go easy on myself.

Last night I decided to stay awake until dawn - I had a late dinner, an early breakfast around 2.30am, and made sure to keep up my water intake during the night. I then slept from dawn until midday. Since then I've kept physical activity to a minimum and used this as a time to slow down and reflect.

From the outside, the idea of deliberately abstaining from food and water sounds a bit weird. But you know what? The more I fast, the more I love it (and the easier it gets). Somehow fasting brings me a sense of peace - I move slower, I contemplate my actions more, I appreciate more.

And honestly, that first sip of water after a day-long fast tastes absolutely divine - and that's when my gratitude reaches an all-time high!

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