Ramadan Reflections, Day 19: The Gift of Rest Within Rest

Somebody asked me today what epiphanies I had during Ramadan. Although I loved the question and the open-minded curiosity that prompted it, I was also a little speechless. It felt like a big responsibility to answer that question; to try and distil in a succinct, comprehensive way how Ramadan provided a crank turn in my …

Ramadan Reflections, Day 13: A Small P.S. on Forgiveness

I once wrote an article for the wonderful platform Amaliah about forgiveness. You can read it here. Actually, please do read it for it, for on re-reading it I still find it to be true and relevant to me now. And it is more eloquent than I in my fatigued and slightly scattered state am …

Ramadan Reflections, Day 12: The Humanity of the Prophets

The Expulsion of Adam and Eve by Masaccio Somewhere amongst the many Renaissance gems in Florence lie the Brancacci frescoes. Decorating the chapel of Santa Maria del Carmine, the frescoes depict numerous Biblical scenes, including the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden. There are actually two depictions of this scene, one by the …

Ramadan Reflections, Day 10: Walls and the Universe

I am alive. Alive. I wake up in the morning and want to get out of bed. The day doesn’t seem threatening; it’s a space I want to be in. Ramadan is acting as an anti-inflammatory and de-risking my day. I feel like I am in a recovery home, a retreat, where slowly I am …

Ramadan Reflections, Day 9: A Small Act

The other day I was serving a customer (I’m a part-time barista, didn’t you know?) who came in for a coffee. She also picked up a couple of pastries, and as I was preparing everything another customer came in and waited his turn. I asked him for his order. A cappuccino, he said. I continued …

Eid Mubarak! And…my Eid gift

There is a word in Urdu that is wonderfully rich in meaning: 'barkat'. It means 'abundance', or 'bounty'; 'plenty'. Somehow, I always associate it with the Divine, for God is the source of all abundance. That is the Eid we have had: one of barkat and joy. Eid is characterised by fun, food, and festivities. Children …

Ramadan Reflections, Day 29: Farewell…

Part of the adventure of Ramadan is the benign drama around when Eid will fall. Although the lunar cycle can be scientifically calculated with razor-sharp accuracy, most Islamic scholarship has maintained the traditional view that the new moon must be sighted with the naked eye - within certain conditions - before Eid can be announced. …

Ramadan Reflections, Day 27: A Parable

'“One day Moses was walking in the mountains on his own when he saw a shepherd in the distance. The man was on his knees with his hands spread out to the sky, praying. Moses was delighted. But when he got closer, he was equally stunned to hear the shepherd’s prayer. “Oh, my beloved God, I love …

Ramadan Reflections, Day 26: The Night of Power

'We have indeed revealed this (Message) in the Night of Power: And what will explain to thee what the Night of Power is? The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. Therein come down the angels and the Spirit by Allah’s permission on every errand: Peace!… This until the rise of Morn!' (Surah …

Ramadan Reflections, Day 25: My Money Story, and God’s Response

I didn't do anything because I was scared. The root of my fear was the story I have about money, which is soaked into my human being. It's not unlike an '80s US drama series: love, fear, guilt, pain, desire, and deception all feature. And a lot of heat. I have been run by this …