بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
The real work needs to be done, and it is always done outside the classroom. It is the time when knowledge must be internalized, realized, and implemented, but when I ask myself what I know now, I can hardly find two words in response. For me, the knowledge is still contained in books and I have to discipline myself to take a share of it. I do, however, feel an internal change where I'm less agitated by my ignorance. I now know a bit more about myself and the world that I didn't know before. I know where I need to go, though I'm still figuring out the details of how, and I know that the road will be that much more challenging without proper companionship to transverse it. But companionship is a gift and can't be expected. Nonetheless, we hope for it.
From those souls who walked with me, I noted and hope to learn:
- "life is too short to feign chemistry"
- "closed mouths don't get fed"
- to display an outward agreement in terms of respecting the other's opinion even if I don't necessarily agree
- to share food, specifically
- to at least attempt to understand significant historical and political happenings
- to joke with truthfulness
- to take the time to find the wise way of doing something
..and so much more.
The work must now begin. May Allah guide us to live our lives for His sake, to strive for His sake, to work and improve ourselves for His sake, to live the legacy of the Prophet Muhammad - peace be upon him - for His sake, to nurture the young with food for the heart and soul, to be merciful in our dealings, and to constantly connect ourselves with the Quran and the blessed Prophetic Sunnah, ameen.
