Back to Basics

I felt so serene while watching this video. The apparent sincerity in the host's voice is so soothing and of course the message he conveys is very inspiring. While I was watching, I wondered why isn't this message clear and present in the minds of many Muslims I know. Why didn't most of us grasp this same message while reading our holy book Qur'an. Why didn't we do our best to showcase this other yet forgotten aspect of our holy book: beautiful verses inciting believers to seek for knowledge, to learn from the beauty of nature, to be present and do not worry about what went or what is yet t o come. Why do we only see Qur'an as a book of DO and Do not, heaven and hell? while it is a beautiful inspiring piece of wisdom and art. I do not want to go through any socio-political explanation here..All I want to say is that Qur'an is worth reading and rereading. It calls for love of nature, love of life, love of humans, love of knowledge, love of God, love......

"The universe is made up of experiences that are designed to burn out your attachment, your clinging, to pleasure, to pain, to fear to all of it. And as long as there is a place where you’re vulnerable, the universe will find a way to confront you with it." RAM DASS It reminds me of this verse: "And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits , but give good tidings to the patient, Who, when disaster strikes them, say, "Indeed we belong to Allah , and indeed to Him we will return."Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy. And it is those who are the [rightly] guided." AlBaqarah: 155/156/157 وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ بِشَيْءٍ مِنَ الْخَوْفِ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِنَ الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَنْفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَاتِ وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ * الَّذِينَ إِذَا أَصَابَتْهُمْ مُصِيبَةٌ قَالُوا إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ أُولَئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَلَوَاتٌ مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ وَرَحْمَ...

Qur'an started meaning more than just verses read in funerals when I turned 20. I started feeling its psychological effect on me. Since then, my religious journey transformed into a spiritual and richer one.. Of course, there were ups and downs, nevertheless, Qur'an never ceased to empower me.  This particular verse has a tremendous effect on me, it always gives me hope:) In the name of God , the  Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. By the morning brightness, And [by] the night when it covers with darkness, Your Lord has not taken leave of you, or has He detested [you].And the Hereafter is better for you than the first [life].And your Lord is going to give you, and you will be satisfied.Did He not find you an orphan and give [you] refuge?And He found you lost and guided [you],And He found you poor and made [you] self-sufficient.So as for the orphan, do not oppress [him].And as for the petitioner, do not repel [him].But as for the favor of your Lord, report [it].

"And march forth in the way to forgiveness from your Lord, and for a Paradise as wide as the heavens and the earth, prepared for the righteous; those who spend in prosperity and in adversity, repress anger, and pardon men. Verily, Allah loves the good-doers." Qur'an [Sourate N°3 The Family of Imran Al 'Imran Aya n°134]  The Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said: "He is not strong and powerful, who throws people down, but he is strong who withholds himself from anger." "The Messenger of Allah passed by some people who were wrestling. He asked: "What is this?" They said: "So-and-so is the strongest; he can beat anybody." The Messenger of Allah then said: "Shall I not tell you who is even stronger then him? The man who, when he is mistreated by another, controls his anger, has defeated his own devil and the devil of the one who made him angry." ['Fath al-Bari'; 10/519] Imam Ali (as) said: "The most powe...

Whenever I feel that my life situation is taking over my awareness, my inner space, my inner peace...whenever I start complaining and thinking about what doesn't work and why it didn't work and what I should have done...I read this verse and reread it..I meditate while repeating each and every word and gradually I restart enjoying the basics of my life..not taking anything for granted. It is my secret weapon, my psychological tiramisu..:) I am sharing it with you:) بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ أَلَمۡ نَشۡرَحۡ لَكَ صَدۡرَكَ (١) وَوَضَعۡنَا عَنكَ وِزۡرَكَ (٢) ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنقَضَ ظَهۡرَكَ (٣) وَرَفَعۡنَا لَكَ ذِكۡرَكَ (٤) فَإِنَّ مَعَ ٱلۡعُسۡرِ يُسۡرًا (٥) إِنَّ مَعَ ٱلۡعُسۡرِ يُسۡرً۬ا (٦) فَإِذَا فَرَغۡتَ فَٱنصَبۡ (٧) وَإِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ فَٱرۡغَب (٨) Surah Ash-Sharh In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful Have We not caused thy bosom to dilate, (1)  And eased thee of the burden (2)  Which weighed down thy back; (3)  And exalted thy fame? (4)  ...

Imam  Ali Ibn Abi Talib  - may God be pleased  with him -;  the beloved cousin of my beloved prophet Mohammad- prayer and peace of Allah be upon him and his family-  is considered to be the "gate to the city of -Ilm-knowledge" -The city of knowledge being the prophet himself-  by all Islamic schools of thought. He understood the real message of Islam; the religion that is unfortunately hijacked by mercenaries whose only aim is to feed sectarianism !  With all these supposedly "scholars" asking for "sacred war" against other Muslims, this saying by Imam Ali is here to remind us that the problem is not in or with Islam...It is indeed with many of those who pretend to talk in its name. Imam Ali said: “Hate no one, no matter how much they've wronged you. Live humbly, no matter how wealthy you become. Think positively, no matter how hard life is. Give much, even if you've been given little. Keep in touch with the ones who have forgot...

 A bright and inspiring young lady called me yesterday and we had an interesting conversation that went on for almost one hour, although she was calling from a different continent:) Amal, is 18 then and feels an emptiness inside..an emptiness that is no more filled by what she calls "the rituals"-  i-e, praying, fasting- she has to perform as a form of belonging to a religion..Amal actually feels related to Islam as to any other "Moroccan tradition".. She does not feel spiritually connected and she is questioning everything. Amal is also very smart and realizes that switching to a different religion is not -yet- the answer; for what she is lacking is much deeper than "a belief", she needs "a faith". She needs to feel a connection that can eventually lead her to  inner peace. At the same time, she believes she needs to give "her religion" a second chance by trying to learn more than what is widely spread about Islam nowadays. "A...

وستة قد غسلوا نبينا، صلى وسلم عليه ربنا.  وهم علي, قثم والفضل ثم أبو العباس وهو يتلو ثم أسامة وهو إبن زيد ثم مولى النبي وهو السعدي .من عرف الست لا يعذب، ولو كان في الدنيا عصيا مذنبا:) That was the way my Nanna - grand mo -  thaught me  the names  of the six men who remained next to the prophet and washed his blessed body ، while many others were busy "doing politics ". It sounds  even better when you read it "the Moroccan way ":)      

Assalam Alaykoum, Peace, Shalom, Namaste.. I am back to blogging:) This is going to be my personal corner, where I'll share my two cents.. I will appreciate your feedbacks. Remember, let us appreciate our differences and allow each other to be. Let's be , and let be! Tanmirt -Thanks in Tamazight, the native language of North Africa- :) Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and right doing, there is a field.  I'll meet you there