This Whirling of Galaxies

Peace, one and all…

Sometimes, the heart is stirred and all unknowing, it reaches towards its Beloved; or rather, the Beloved’s hand reaches out and sets the heart spinning.  And, in these all too brief times, to place my face upon the floor in prayer is like lowering my innermost soul into a pool of water, translucent as silver glass, in which thought becomes as still and as deep as a subterranean stream flowing silently amidst the living heart of earth. 

As I lay my face upon this water, my heart envisions itself as an entire world, moving in awe-struck orbit around the wondrous light of the Beloved’s love.  Planets and stars, entire galaxies of light, dance their way around the Beloved’s face – happy merely to shine in the presence of that love.

This whirling of galaxies is life’s sacred dance, moving through each interconnected fibre of being and each pearl-like moment of existence, in a universe that lives, breathes and moves beneath the glorious throne of the Beloved’s radiance.

Image credit: Space Photos

Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman

Ramadan Events

Peace, one and all…

With Ramadan a week or so away, a number of organisations are running courses/holding events of interest.  These include the following, all in London:

• IIDR: Fiqh of Fasting (Sat 23rd August)
• Azhar Academy: Ramadan: a Month of Blessings and Greatness (Sat 23rd August)
• Hounslow Mosque: Preparing for Ramadan (with Shaykh Muhammad al-Yaqoobi) (Tues 26th August)
• Wharf Muslim Association: Preparing for Ramadan – a Women’s Perspective (Weds 27th August)

Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman

My Favourite Foods

Peace, one and all…

 

Following on from sister Aaminah’s Grateful to Allah Blog Carnival, here are a few things I am sincerely grateful to God for.  As you will soon notice, given that Ramadan is fast approaching, this particular list consists of all my favourite foods!  Allah!

• Clean, cold water on a hot day
• Milk
• Lassi/Laban: produced in many parts of the world, this is a drink made from milk and yoghurt.  Sometimes with sugar (yum), sometimes with salt (yuck) and often with fruit (double yum)!
• Olives and olive oil: I truly, madly, deeply love olives and olive oil.  Olives come in all shapes and sizes, and all of them are lovely!
• Cherries, apples and grapes: these are 3 of my favourite fruits.  We don’t get cherries all of the time and so when we do, they don’t last long!  My children love apples, as do I.  I grew up in London with a small apple tree in the garden.  My in-laws have a huge apple tree in their garden.  Grapes are delicious and the occasion for much humour in our house: both of my daughters enjoy biting them, sucking the juice out of them and passing me the remnants!
• Mangos: my wife’s family say that Pakistani mangos are the best in the world, ever!  Based on my own experience, I would probably agree (though I’ve not had many from elsewhere).  Mango eating is a delicately crafted ritual in my in-laws home: my wife and mother-in-law sit down, out comes a wickedly sharp knife and before you can say ‘bismillah’, a plate of neatly sliced mango pieces are produced.  I like to eat the skin – though my wife says that it’s disgusting.
• Humous and taramasalata: I love both and so does my wife.  Fortunately, neither seem to be very popular in Merthyr and so there’s often lots of it in the reduced section of Tescos.
• Freshly cooked, warm crusty bread: Allah!  What can I say!
• A traditional sunday roast dinner: a childhood favourite and great on any day of the week!
• Cawl: a traditional Welsh soup/stew (often made with lamb).  My beloved wife makes a really lovely cawl.
• Achar Gosht (Pickled Meat, approximately): fiery, spicy and the cause of much chili-induced pain/pleasure
• My mother-in-law’s chicken curry
• Porridge
• Supermalt: a malt-based, alcohol-free drink.  I really do love supermalt (and I can now buy it in Merthyr Tydfil).  Not loved by everyone (and loathed by my wife and sister).  But, hey!  I like it.
• Coffee: I drink too much coffee, but there’s nothing quite like it.
• Tea: I love all kinds of tea – although I especially love Earl Grey and Mint Tea.
• Family barbecues: another much-loved family ritual, also involving much care, effort and attention to detail; my wife’s family tell me that Pakistani barbecues are the best in the world.
• Eating food (of any kind) with my wife and three children

Sometimes, we spend so much time thinking about other things that we forget to thank God for the simple things – for the food we eat, and the water we drink.  Allah!  I have so much to be grateful for.

Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman