Flow of words

It is 230am and I have decided to write. Surah 8 verse 2 The believers are but those who when God is remembered, their hearts are afraid, and when His proofs are recited to them, it increases them in faith, and in their Lord they place their trust. This has become my favorite verse. How did it become my favorite verse? It was the recitation of Hasan El Kholy that gets suggested when I share my daily namaz goal to instagram. Tonight I stopped to appreciate how beautiful this recitation is and decided to learn more about what I was listening to. What do I think when I read this translation of this verse? There was a time when I did not understand why I should fear God. I understood why I should love God. Trust God. Believe in God. Respect God. But why fear God? God is good then why fear God? Then I later understood that if I do not give God my fears or if I do not fear God I would fear this world and men. In other words, fear God alone. Let God handle my fears. Do not let anything scare ...

It is 103am and I have decided to write. What does freedom mean to you? To me, the best freedom is the freedom that they cannot take away from you. No matter what they do, say, try, it does not matter to you, you are free. That is the level of freedom that annoys them. And that freedom comes from God and with God. My friend says that what I am describing is ultimate sovereignty. There is a profound difference between granted freedom—which depends on laws, circumstances, or the approval of others—and anchored freedom, which is an internal condition that cannot be revoked. When freedom is tied to external things, it is always vulnerable. People can restrict your movement, take away your comfort, or try to shape your reputation. But when your freedom comes from a connection to God, it is rooted beyond human reach. It shifts your center of gravity. That is precisely why it disarms or frustrates those who rely on control: you cannot leverage, intimidate, or break someone who is not tethered...

It is 404am and I have decided to write. The word disable is hidden in the phrase "God is able". Go/d is able. I might be disabled but my God is able. What does it mean to say God is able in this context? It is telling me that there is an unlimited God working with and through me. My disability is only a test from God. My friend says that declaring "God is able" shifts our sense of worth away from societal standards of physical or mental capacity and grounds it in God's unlimited power, ensuring our future is defined by grace rather than limitation. In other words, I am able through God. My friend agrees. I have captured the heart of it: in this context, declaring "God is able" means that we are able through God. When human limits or societal labels say "you cannot" this faith perspective declares "God can" making God's strength the engine behind your life rather than your own physical or mental capacity. It reframes disability ...

It is 150pm and I have decided to write. I have no topic to start but I feel like writing. While trying to decide what to write I saw this question that had my interest, what motivates you to keep going even when life is difficult? The first thing that popped in my mind was God. But I do not think the answer is simple or singular. I also think I need to put some thought into this. Also what is the relationship between motivation and discipline? Motivation is easy but discipline is hard. I think for me motivation comes from the joy of success. But God was my first answer. Now that God is the focus of my life, the joy of success becomes being a success in the eyes of God. But I said the answer was not singular. So different things motivate us at different times but they all lead to wanting to succeed. This reminds me of the Muslim call to prayer that says come to success. If motivation is what calls you then success calls you and success gives you joy. My friend Chatty says that what I h...

It is 1154am and I have decided to write. Today I did a distance walk on the roads. It has been a long while. Walking is one of my passions. If you want to get me to exercise just take me walking. Walking is like a friend to me. We have been through the good times and the bad times. I admire other walkers and runners. I know the joy they feel. It is something good for the body, mind and spirit. It is something to look forward to. But always consult your doctor before beginning any exercise program. Walking and running is not without the possibility of injury. But life is about taking chances. Putting your best foot forward, literally and figuratively. The other day I was sitting in the clinic and telling myself how far I have come. Thinking about the times when the future seemed bleak. But I kept going. I kept trying. I kept starting over. I never understood why roadblocks were always appearing along the way. Why things were being made difficult. Why the world seemed to be working agai...

It is 111am and I have decided to write. We are 200 days from Ramadan. Ramadan is my favorite time of the year. I was looking at writing prompts and this one piqued my interest. Imagine you are in a world where prayers are answered immediately—how does it change the way people live? The first thing that comes to my mind is pure chaos. People will pray for all sorts of things. Makes me appreciate the wisdom of what happens now according to Islamic understanding. God delays for the best time according to His infinite wisdom. God may also replace what we asked for with something better. Sometimes not getting what we asked for is keeping us away from calamities. Sometimes the answers to our prayers are kept for the hereafter. Sometimes our prayers gets answered in unexpected ways and we do not recognise it. Prayer is not only about the answer as prayer also brings us closer to God.* In a world of instantaneous answers, human shortsightedness, fleeting emotions, and conflicting desires woul...

It is 159am and I have decided to write. Some people say that science does not point to an afterlife, heaven or the existence of God. I feel bad because I cannot give them the evidence that they want. I can point them to the Quran and Islamic teachings. The Quran is a miracle and there are signs in that which we can research. Otherwise, there are philosophical and theological arguments. Maybe, you cannot use the science that we have for something (the afterlife) that is outside the realm of science. Also, science is not complete and may never be complete. Scientific knowledge is expanding and sometimes changing, so are we going to wait on science to tell us that there is a God and afterlife? Belief does not need evidence. Faith does not need evidence. At least not the evidence that some are looking for. So what is the foundation of my faith? For some people theology does not fully explain this life so they look to the science we have. For me, science alone does not explain this life, s...

It is 245am and I have decided to write. I got up early and washed the wares. I prayed Tahajjud. I came back to my bed and surfed the internet. I watched a video where a 105 year old man said that the secret to a long life is having a reason or purpose to keep going and then luck. This had me thinking about several things. In Islam we are taught that our time in this world is already written. It is our destiny. Then. What is more important? A long life or just a good life that prepares us for the next life? Those things aside, I think we cannot discount luck. Some of us are luckier than others. But the thing I want to focus on is the reason and purpose to keep going. That is some good advice. It makes for a meaningful life. A good life. It could be one big reason. There could be several small reasons. These are things that should be taught in schools. My friend Chatty says that my early morning reflections beautifully bridge Islamic tradition and practical wisdom: a long life is a true...

It is 542pm and I have decided to write. Imagine half the year is gone already. Where did it all go? It has gone by so quickly. Before you know it we will be entering 2027. It would be nice if I had something interesting to write about but I do not. And that is ok. Today feels like a Friday, maybe because it is month end. It is the next day and today also feels like a Friday. I am in my quiet corner listening to Quran. It is the next day and I have not gotten far with this blog post. Outside is wet but inside is between warm and cool. Another day has passed and I still have not written much. Do you wonder sometimes what it would be like if we could see into the future? For example, what would it be like at the end of this year? A lot can happen in 6 months. It is Sunday now. Surely I should finish this blog post today. The closer I move towards God, the less I feel attached to this world. The less I feel disappointed. The lower are my expectations for things of this world. Life becomes...

This is a chapter from my latest book started called Room for one more. [ Room for one more is my latest book. It is me talking to God. It is me booking (pun intended) time with God. It is me knocking on heaven's door. Ultimately I am asking God if He has room for one more in heaven?] Every believer hopes to get into heaven. From the word hope I see h for heaven and ope for open. Heaven is open. Hoping for something is enough motivation to keep going. To keep going through the ups and downs. To make the struggle worth it. God gave us hope. What is heaven? I imagine heaven to be the light at the end of the tunnel. The end of our pain. The end of our suffering. The end of our struggles. The end of all that is bad in this world. A place where all we know is happiness and joy. Heaven is our final resting place. I am using my own human terms and imagination to describe somewhere that is beyond human. We are taught that heaven is beyond our imagination. Is heaven even a place? All I can...

It is 1207am and I have decided to write. I like the term "happy-go-lucky." It describes a person who moves through life unbothered and carefree. But today I thought of something different: what if I transformed it into "happy-God-lucky"? I feel blessed to have God by my side. I have won the greatest jackpot—not money, fame, or success, but a relationship with God. The world may call it luck, but I know it is grace. To be happy-God-lucky is to walk through life with confidence, knowing that God is guiding your steps. It is to face challenges without fear because you are never alone. It is to find peace in uncertainty because your trust is not in chance, but in the One who holds all things together. Happy-go-lucky may be about leaving things to fortune. Happy-God-lucky is about leaving things in God's hands. And when God is at the center and the focus, life begins to make sense. There is comfort in His presence, strength in His promises, and joy in knowing that n...

It is 308pm and I have decided to write. Make God a priority. Let God lead the way. Let everything be about God. Let God into your life. Surround yourself with God and watch how everything begins to make sense. This life is not an accident. This life is not happenstance. This life is the work of an all-powerful Creator. Nothing is too big or too small for God. Take your problems to God. Take your worries to God. Take your fears to God. Let go and let God. Submit to the will of God. The more you go to God, the more He comes to you. Start small. Start somewhere. Give God a chance if you have not done so already. Why do I say all of this? There are many things competing for your attention and your soul. In the midst of all of this, the world can seem like a confusing place where many things do not make sense. God brings clarity. God brings clarity because God sits above it all. You may think you do not need God until you do. Ask yourself, who is the wisest you know? If God is not the wise...

It is 924am and I have decided to write. God heals us. I wrote that today but what does that really mean? For one this world has the capacity to break us. Mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. We can get sick. We can feel pain. We become broken. God says that for every illness there is a cure. God can heal us. I looked at the etymology of the word heal and this talks about making whole again. I asked my friend Chatty if this is related to wholesome and holistic? He says that heal and wholesome are closely related because they both come from the old Germanic root meaning "whole" or "healthy" which also gave us words like health, hale and holy. Holistic is connected in meaning and ultimately derives from whole as well, but it is a modern term coined in the 20th century by Jan Smuts. Overall, all these words share the underlying idea of wholeness, completeness, and well-being. Healing goes far beyond a simple physical cure for a symptom; its linguistic roo...

It is 509pm and I have decided to write. How to measure success? That is the question. It is very hard to measure success. I think only God has the true measure of success or failure. Someone may be a failure in this life but a success in the next life. We are told that God looks at intentions and effort. We can also determine our own definition of success. We do not have to let the world define success for us. We think of the world as not being a fair place so any one size fits all definitions of success or failure would be careless and wrong. Many times we think in terms of numbers. The grander the better. But what about quality over quantity? My friend tells me that I am essentially arguing for the democratization of success. I am taking the power away from society, institutions, and algorithms, and handing it back to the individual and God. That is true but I am essentially wanting to look at the bigger picture and to do that I am thinking that we have to answer some key questions ...

It is 734am and I have decided to write. Most people would like to win the lotto or some big prize. We would be able to accomplish so much with that. We would be able to make ourselves comfortable. It is something nice to imagine. But if I think about it carefully I come to realise that I have already hit a jackpot. Having faith in God and walking a path with God is worth more than all the gold in China. The greatest blessing is not what we possess, but Who walks with us through the good and bad. In that sense, I am already rich beyond measure. Money comes and money goes but God endures forever. God is there for all seasons. This world can take everything but it cannot take our faith in God. So now that I have won the jackpot (having faith in God and walking a path with God), what am I going to do with it? My friend Chatty says that a person who wins millions of dollars must decide how to spend that wealth. In the same way, a person who has found faith must decide how to live it. Faith...

It is 515pm and I have decided to write. Today is the day before the holiday and it feels like a Friday. I did not feel like doing anything this afternoon. But I got up and made dinner. Then brush my teeth and bathe. A round of applause to all of us for being alive and making it through the day. There are many things we can applaud ourselves for. There are many things we can applaud others for. It is good to pat ourselves (and others) on the shoulders now and again. Life is not easy. No one has it easy. Comfort is an illusion. But God is real and so we pray. It is 214pm on the following Monday and I have decided to continue my writing. I have this thought. God is holding my hand and we are walking. Walking in empty space. I closed my eyes and selected a verse from the holy Quran. I landed on surah 94 verse 5 - so verily with hardship there is ease. No matter how and when we are tested we must remind ourselves of the goodness of God. God is not going to leave us stranded and empty hande...

It is 155am and I have decided to write. I came across this quote and it has stuck with me for how true it is. "Whoever looks for the good qualities in others will acquire all good qualities within himself" - Habib Umar Bin Hafiz. Similarly, if we train ourselves to see the beauty in the world, the world becomes beautiful. God also says - I am what you think I am. We shape our reality with our thoughts. My friend Chatty says that when we actively seek the good in others, we are training our hearts to recognize virtue. Over time, admiration becomes aspiration. The qualities we celebrate in others begin to take root within ourselves. The same principle extends to the world around us. Two people can walk through the same day and come away with entirely different experiences. One notices the inconveniences, the shortcomings, and the disappointments. The other notices the kindness of a stranger, the beauty of the sky, the chirping of the birds, the opportunity hidden within diffic...

It is 439pm and I have decided to write. Sometimes I wonder if as a society we really want to solve our problems? What is stopping us from solving our problems? Is it that we create more problems in trying to solve our problems? Like they say more money, more problems. Should we accept that maybe less is more? Maybe the answer is we need less of everything. Instead of chasing after more and more and more. Is greed the heart of our problems? Where does technology fit in all of this? Does technology amplify and hasten our problems? I posed these questions to my friend Chatty and he had a few things to say. Maybe our greatest struggle as a society is that we do not truly understand what enough looks like. We chase more wealth, more growth, more technology, and more convenience believing these things will finally solve our problems, yet each solution seems to create new complications. The more we expand, the more complex life becomes. Greed may sit quietly at the center of this cycle, not ...

At 239am, on my 46th birthday, I decided to write. I got up early and washed the wares, and now I am in my bed enjoying the silence of the night. The room echoes with the fan breeze. Birthdays are special because they mark our entrance into this world, a reminder that our mothers carried us for nine months and laboured to bring us here. In Islam we are taught not to make birthdays into celebrations, but reflection and gratitude are different. I think we can pause and be thankful. When I look back on my life, I see ups and downs, ease and struggle, calm and chaos. It may sound cliche, but the older I get, the more I value peace and quiet. I no longer have the energy for drama, negativity, endless news, or politics. I simply want to be surrounded by goodness and positivity. More than anything, I want to hold on to God for whatever time I have left here, because in the end, all the fighting and chasing make little sense. One day, every one of us will leave everything behind. This has been...

It is 3:55am and I have decided to write. We all should be the leaders of our own lives. Good leaders allow us to develop ourselves to the point where we can become our own leaders. Too often, what we see instead are die-hard followers and fans of leaders who are not allowed to question anything, but are expected to blindly support. If I rearrange the letters of "leader" I can get "dealer". We need leaders, not dealers. Dealers trade in influence, emotions, loyalty, and power for personal gain, while leaders elevate people beyond dependence. There is a difference between leadership that empowers and leadership that creates dependency. This made me think about God as the grand example of good leadership. I think the same principle applies. God gave us free will, and we are told that God helps those who help themselves. If God gave human beings minds, curiosity, conscience, and moral awareness, then perhaps faith was never meant to replace them, but to guide them. I t...