Preparing for the Arrival of the Beloved

There is a #scent wafting in the #breeze. It causes a stirring deep within. #Awakening that which has been #hibernating until this time of year. The dua of the prophet that the kids are encouraged in madressa to recite, a frequent reminder to become #mindful of the impending arrival. Rajab begins the countdown, when we become aware that things are starting to shift. Our souls are #aroused in anticipation of the annual #spiritual #retreat. We start pulling back from the our obsessions, from the world that has absorbed almost all of our attention thus far. We start tying up lose ends and preparing ahead. The ladies start with the #savouries. Stocking up to help ease the preparation for the iftaar and suhur. The men refocus their attention getting as much done now to clear up their schedules for #Ramadan. Get out the #tafseer, and read over the ayaat. Renewing the message in your #heart. Read up on the Names of #Allah. Learn His attributes. Develop a dynamic personal relationship with the Lord of the #Universe. Ramadan is a special time indeed. When the devils are chained and we see how much better and more peaceful life is when we keep our desires under control. With the recent developments around the world, we should strive to make the Most out of this opportunity. Allah knows if Ramadan wasn't fard we would not take the time out on our own to see to our Spiritual needs. We are all worried and concerned about our future and our children. Use this as a means of getting closer to Allah. Tell Him your fears. Use this time to connect to Allah. Strengthen your relationship with Him. Make him your friend. This is an open invitation for all who are willing. This is when it is easiest to open up your heart to actually experience the true #contentment that comes when the slave is connected with the Master! The prospect of experiencing a reality beyond the norm can be exciting. Allah ta ala actually intended it to be so. When He designed the human mind, He indued it with built-in dissatisfaction with the physical aspect of our existence. He configured us in such a way that we are incomplete without the #spiritual component also being present in our being.

The hole He created, the void that is intended to draw us toward something greater than ourselves, can only be filled by Him and Him alone... Only He can fill it in such a way that there remains no dissatisfaction, no further yearning. If He had not placed it there, we would be content with what the physical world has to offer and we would not seek after our Allah. This is why our souls rejoice at the arrival of Ramadan.

The month where we starve our bodies to feed our souls. When the nafs becomes humbly submissive to the heart and we experience what life can be when the heart is king of our being.

Quran (57:16) I pray for peace for us all and our families. O Allah bless us in Rajab and Sha'baan and allow us to reach Ramadan in peace and safety.