Perspective

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Daylight savings is in effect. Shortly after noting the clock change from 2 AM to 3 AM, I noticed that the birds had already started whistling their morning tunes. I suppose their songs marked the last third of the night.

Spring is in effect here, and it gives me a savoury feeling of renewal and rejuvenation. I dreamt last night that I was back in the last city that I called home, surprising myself with my return there. The dream, as usual, had strange aspects, but it also allowed me to meet one dear sister with whom I spent the entirety of my working hours. Memories of it almost feels like a lifetime away, and so too will be my life here when it becomes a part of my history, and so will life in general when we all leave it and meet the world of destined eternity. 

Life is a collection of historical moments, their worth being encapsulated by both the insights that reflections bring forth from them and the effects that immediately reflect back onto us in our lives. Am I a better me because of the last menial choice that I made? Declaring vs. concealing, sharing vs. hoarding, acknowledging vs. denying, praising vs. chastising, waiting vs. advancing, thanking vs. whining? Yet each possibility is more excellent when the situation demands it. I suppose that's the meaning of wisdom حكمة: putting things in their proper place. 

I have decisions to make about what I might want to do or should do. I think I've stopped chasing most of my created illusions, and yet I can't be certain that I don't continue to conjure up new nafsi falsehoods. I struggle to put things in their proper place these days. The Farzeen I see today is one who I would have swiftly rejected six months ago. Does it mean I was less tolerant or does it mean I am now too liberal? The difference between them can only be determined by the Quran and authentic sunnah. It is our exclusive guide, and it is only from there that confusion becomes clarity, and clarity becomes the reality for which we start striving.

Shaykh Muhammad An-Ninowy (الله يحفظه) has started teaching the Hikam of Ibn 'Ata Illah - one of my most favoured books because it helps us put reality back into perspective. There is much to be taken from each aphorism and its explanation, but I'll close with this one as a straightforward reminder for myself, inshaAllah.

"الأعمال: صور قائمة، وأرواحها: وجود سر الإخلاص فيها"

"Actions are but external forms, only given life by having true sincerity in them."

اللهم لك كل الحمد والشكر. اغفرل لنا و ارحمنا و تب علينا. يا حميد يا مجيد يا ودود يا كريم اهدنا إليك وإلى ما تحب ويرضاك. اللهم اجعلنا من المخلصين والمتوكليلن والتوابين وعبادك الصالحين برحمتك يا أرحم الراحيم وصلى الله على سيدنا محمد وآله وصبحه وسلم والحمد لله رب العالمين، آمين يا رب.