السلام عليكم ورحمة الله
This is the Home of the thoughts that roam my mind when I ponder upon the horizon ahead of me, and when i glimpse into the horizon within me – using the eye of contemplation.
“We will show them our signs in the horizons, and in themselves until it becomes clear to them that this is the truth…”
Quran- Surah Fussilat 41:53
The essence of reflection is in two ways. Either to reflect on that which is outside of you, or to look deeply into yourself and to reflect internally. Through these two highways to reflection, much is stumbled upon. Much is discovered.
Know that the signs of your Lord are everywhere. If you look ahead with an eye that is reflective and a heart that is alive, you will perceive his signs without needing to look far. And if you glimpse into your own self, you will no sooner realise that the horizon that sits within you, is more enticing, more intriguing and more captivating than any other horizon. I read a sentence once that captured me. It said “man has an inner landscape of beauty” and I deeply resonated with that. We’ve become obsessed with looking out, never looking within. Indeed the heart of an Insaan is a horizon of its own, in it there is love, there is understanding, there is mercy and there is a yearning to recognise and call out to the one who fashioned it.
The horizons of earth have so much beauty to offer to the naked eye, such as the sunsets and sunrises that we marvel at, but really it is the intricacies that we cannot see with the naked eye that make it most beautiful. Those that become visible to us when we look with the eye of contemplation.
Like when Allaah said to the heavens and the earth after their creation – “Come willingly or by compulsion, they said we come willingly”
“Then He directed Himself to the heavens while it was a smoke, and He said to it and the earth - come willingly or by compulsion. They said we come willingly”- Surah Fussilat 41:11
And so the heavens and the earth, in all their splendour and magnificence, in all their breathtaking scenery, terrains, sunsets and sunrises -were not compelled to show such beauty. Rather, they came willingly for their Lord. The sun rises and sets each day – willingly for its Lord.
So what then do we think about the Insaan, who was created with free will, yet chooses to come willingly over and over again for His Lord. Surely the horizon that sits within him, and the landscape of his heart will be most captivating and beautiful – because it submitted without perceiving it’s Lord, it loved Him truly, and it spent its waking hours trying to draw nearer to Him.
So when you Marvel at the creation that lies outside of you, know that it is beautiful. But also know, that each time you come to your Lord in worship, there is a horizon deep within you, that is much more endearing, much more captivating.
Surely there is much blessing in that which is started with Dua, and that which ends with Dua. So firstly, All praise is due to Al-Haqq, whom by His kindness and blessings, all good things are achieved.
Secondly, I ask Allaah O’reader, to guide you with a guidance that is not followed by loss or confusion. I ask Him to place in your heart, true baseerah (insight), so that you may live a happy and purposeful life upon His obedience. And, i ask Him, to give you the insight and strength, to look deeply into yourself, so you may really see who you are, so you may recognise your worth and what you possess of personal gifts and qualities. And I ask Him, to forgive you for the mistakes, regrets and shortcomings that keep you awake under the darknesses of the night, or that creep upon your heart from time to time. And, i ask Him to place your home of paradise in your heart, and to make it known to you, so you may tirelessly seek it. And lastly, i ask Him to place you under His love, shade and care. May you be nurtured there – in life, in death and in paradise.
Welcome O’reader – Let us reflect together.
b.Mahmuud 