In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Dispenser of Grace.
This Ramadhan has passed by so fast...tonight will be the 28th night and soon Ramadhan will be over. Each Ramadhan takes on a different hue and tone. It is the same and yet different. I guess it is like Doctor Who in a sense...the same 'person' but with different characteristics. And I am its companion on this journey...like any companion of Doctor Who, I have been transformed by its visitation every time.
This time, it is no different. Last Ramadhan inculcated a sense of gratefulness into me. This Ramadhan has brought me something different...a sense of purpose and resolve. I reconnected with the Qur'an and rediscovered the joy of reading. In the first half, it was the book entitled 'Imam Shatibi's Theory of the Higher Objectives of Islamic Law" that became my constant companion other than the Qur'an. From it, I learnt the need to understand the underlying purpose of the Shari'ah and to evaluate Islamic Law based on these higher objectives. The law no longer feels like a mechanical imposition...its beauty and complexity is starting to shine through. The second half is filled with several books as my companions, one of them that I finished in a few hours is a little gem by Jonas Slaats (his page: http://www.jonasyunus.net/) entitled 'Ego-removal: The way of prophets and sages.' It touched on the various religious traditions and the common theme of divesting oneself of one's ego to either reconnect with God or to attain nothingness (in Buddhism). There are a few more books calling to me to finish them...but all in all, my readings have taken me to a resolution that I need to master Arabic and get on a learning program. So, I have signed up for an advance diploma (bridge to a Masters) in Islamic Studies.
The plan for these last ten days of Ramadhan was to go into i'tiqaf and I had booked my leave from last Friday to Thursday. Unfortunately, God had other plans and I was not able to fulfill my plan for i'tiqaf. I pondered and asked Him to give me knowledge of the wisdom behind that. Let's just say, the weather since Friday has been lovely, even if today it is overcast and with slight drizzle. Definitely not a weather to be cooped up indoors. So, away I went heading five minutes up the road to Blackford Hill the last four days, spending 3 to 4 hours by myself in contemplation of nature. Sitting the first two days amidst the tall grass, I found shelter from the winds along with numerous others - bees and insects and mice...I even got scolded by a field mouse for co-opting its place for my hideout.
My silence only highlighted the rhythmic sounds of nature...the rustling of the grass and leaves, the chirping of the birds, the buzz of the bees and flies, the chittering of the mice. There is such peace and tranquility amidst all that sound...everything in its place and time. God has created everything in perfect harmony and with purpose even if it is not orderly. Under the movement of the clouds and their formation, showered by the droplet of life-giving rain, in the warmth of the sun, I sat and wondered at my own purpose. I was the anomaly in the landscape...where do I fit into the picture, into the world of nature, in this cycle of life?
My retreat is not yet complete. Two more days to go...in my silent contemplation of nature hopefully is the remembrance of God and 'in the remembrance of God do hearts find peace.'
God knows best.
PS. Some photos I took during my wandering on Blackford Hill.
This Ramadhan has passed by so fast...tonight will be the 28th night and soon Ramadhan will be over. Each Ramadhan takes on a different hue and tone. It is the same and yet different. I guess it is like Doctor Who in a sense...the same 'person' but with different characteristics. And I am its companion on this journey...like any companion of Doctor Who, I have been transformed by its visitation every time.
This time, it is no different. Last Ramadhan inculcated a sense of gratefulness into me. This Ramadhan has brought me something different...a sense of purpose and resolve. I reconnected with the Qur'an and rediscovered the joy of reading. In the first half, it was the book entitled 'Imam Shatibi's Theory of the Higher Objectives of Islamic Law" that became my constant companion other than the Qur'an. From it, I learnt the need to understand the underlying purpose of the Shari'ah and to evaluate Islamic Law based on these higher objectives. The law no longer feels like a mechanical imposition...its beauty and complexity is starting to shine through. The second half is filled with several books as my companions, one of them that I finished in a few hours is a little gem by Jonas Slaats (his page: http://www.jonasyunus.net/) entitled 'Ego-removal: The way of prophets and sages.' It touched on the various religious traditions and the common theme of divesting oneself of one's ego to either reconnect with God or to attain nothingness (in Buddhism). There are a few more books calling to me to finish them...but all in all, my readings have taken me to a resolution that I need to master Arabic and get on a learning program. So, I have signed up for an advance diploma (bridge to a Masters) in Islamic Studies.
The plan for these last ten days of Ramadhan was to go into i'tiqaf and I had booked my leave from last Friday to Thursday. Unfortunately, God had other plans and I was not able to fulfill my plan for i'tiqaf. I pondered and asked Him to give me knowledge of the wisdom behind that. Let's just say, the weather since Friday has been lovely, even if today it is overcast and with slight drizzle. Definitely not a weather to be cooped up indoors. So, away I went heading five minutes up the road to Blackford Hill the last four days, spending 3 to 4 hours by myself in contemplation of nature. Sitting the first two days amidst the tall grass, I found shelter from the winds along with numerous others - bees and insects and mice...I even got scolded by a field mouse for co-opting its place for my hideout.
My silence only highlighted the rhythmic sounds of nature...the rustling of the grass and leaves, the chirping of the birds, the buzz of the bees and flies, the chittering of the mice. There is such peace and tranquility amidst all that sound...everything in its place and time. God has created everything in perfect harmony and with purpose even if it is not orderly. Under the movement of the clouds and their formation, showered by the droplet of life-giving rain, in the warmth of the sun, I sat and wondered at my own purpose. I was the anomaly in the landscape...where do I fit into the picture, into the world of nature, in this cycle of life?
My retreat is not yet complete. Two more days to go...in my silent contemplation of nature hopefully is the remembrance of God and 'in the remembrance of God do hearts find peace.'
God knows best.
PS. Some photos I took during my wandering on Blackford Hill.
