Moments of Quietness: Appreciation of Beauty


Assalamu ‘alaykum!

It’s in the morning, and you’re probably on your way to or back from the mosque. Or you’re possibly among the early birds who get up early to work.

While enjoying the freshness of the morning breeze, you raise your head and there you are; you are greeted by the mesmerizing beauty of the moon, surrounded and gently escorted by some dark clouds that add it more beauty and prettiness… Masha Allah!

As you prepare your breakfast, you are greeted by the amazing chirps of the birds, outside your kitchen… The beautiful tweets render you speechless… and all you can utter is…

سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ الْعَظِيمِ.ـ

“How perfect Allah is, and I praise Him; and How perfect Allah is, the Most Great.”

Although you woke up a bit moody, you’re energized and are given a refreshed hope for more beautiful happenings ahead in the day… Thanks to the divinely planned coincidences.

أَصْبَحْنَا وَأَصْبَحَ الْمُلْكُ للهِ وَالْحَمْدُ للهِ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحَدْهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ، ربِّ أَسْأَلُكَ خَيْرَ مَا فِي هَذَا الْيَومِ وَخَيْرَ مَا بَعْدَهُ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا فِي هَذَا الْيَومِ وَشَرِّ مَا بَعْدَهُ، رَبِّ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْكَسَلِ، وَسُوءِ الكِبَرِ، رَبِّ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عَذَابٍ فِي النَّارِ وَعَذَابٍ فِي الْقَبْرِ.ـ

“We have entered a new day and with it all dominion is Allah’s. Praise is to Allah. None has the right to be worshipped but Allah alone, Who has no partner. To Allah belongs the dominion, and to Him is the praise and He is Able to do all things. My Lord, I ask You for the goodness of this day and of the days that come after it, and I seek refuge in You from the evil of this day and of the days that come after it. My Lord, I seek refuge in You from laziness and helpless old age. My Lord, I seek refuge in You from the punishment of Hell-fire, and from the punishment of the grave.”

A few hours later,

As you walk through the pathways, making your way to your workstation, you can’t resist the ‘good morning’ lent to you by the flowers and roses, coated with the natural scents that were created with them.

After Working Hours…

You have enjoyed one of the most beautiful days at school, at the college, at the office or in the field, simply put; at work…

Reflecting back, you say to yourself; Masha Allah! Today was amazing… what did I do differently today? How was I isnpired to do all that?

يَا حَيُّ يَا قَيُّومُ بِرَحْمَتِكَ أَسْتَغِيثُ أَصْلِحْ لِي شَأْنِي كُلَّهُ وَلَا تَكِلْنِي إِلَى نَفْسِي طَرْفَةَ عَيْنٍ.ـ

“O Ever-Living One, O Eternal One, by Your mercy I call on You to set right all my affairs. Do not place me in charge of my soul even for the blinking of an eye.”

Back Home in the Afternoon/Evening

As you workout, you are smiled at by the beautiful sunset, the orage-coloured and the amazing natural design of the cloud. And this gives you a certain level of comfort and assurance…. Today was awesome. But tomorrow shall be better than today. Insha Allah!

رَضِيتُ باللهِ رَبَّاً، وَبِالْإِسْلَامِ دِيناً، وَبِمُحَمَّدٍ صَلَى اللهُ عَلِيهِ وَسَلَّمَ نَبِيَّاً.ـ

“I am pleased with Allah as my Lord, with Islam as my religion and with Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) as my Prophet.”

Naturally, you are attracted to anything that looks and feels beautiful. And perhaps, you find some solace when you encounter one.

The more beautiful things you see, the more inspired you become. The more beautiful souls you meet, the more beautiful things you learn. The more beautiful words you hear, the more beautiful thoughts you generate. The more beautiful thoughts you engage in, the more beautifully you articulate.

The more beautiful encounters you come across, the more hopeful you become, the happier you are, the cheerful you grow and the productive of a person you are rendered to be.

You see, each form of the beauties above is unarguably beautiful. However, the beauty of each is subjective. None of it can be measured. At least not by human. In fact, even if we collectively agree that they are beautiful, we can’t collectively agree on their extent of beauty.

The good news is each of these beauties come from one source… One source of beauty… The source of all beauties.

What if you can tap on that source and manipulate these beauties in however way will bring you comfort and pleasure?

Is that possible?

Is that even achievable?

Yes, it is… it’s possible and achievable.

And this is the good news for you.

Know that any of these beauties, no matter how charming, uplifting, refreshing or heartwarming it is, is less beautiful than another beautiful thing of its kind.

Moreover, if any of them happens to be the most beautiful of its kind, it can only occupy an insignificant portion of beauty as far as the all beauties in existence combined are concerned.

If any or all of these beauties give you tranquility and sense of pride and belonging and at many times, comfort, how will you feel if the owner of all of these beauties is to be by your side? Won’t you be more comfortable, feel more tranquil and more relaxed? That is Allah, the Creator of all that is in existence and the Creator of all forms of beauty.

ٱللَّـهُ نُورُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ مَثَلُ نُورِهِۦ كَمِشْكَوٰةٍ فِيهَا مِصْبَاحٌ ۖ ٱلْمِصْبَاحُ فِى زُجَاجَةٍ ۖ ٱلزُّجَاجَةُ كَأَنَّهَا كَوْكَبٌ دُرِّىٌّ يُوقَدُ مِن شَجَرَةٍ مُّبَـٰرَكَةٍ زَيْتُونَةٍ لَّا شَرْقِيَّةٍ وَلَا غَرْبِيَّةٍ يَكَادُ زَيْتُهَا يُضِىٓءُ وَلَوْ لَمْ تَمْسَسْهُ نَارٌ ۚ نُّورٌ عَلَىٰ نُورٍ ۗ يَهْدِى ٱللَّـهُ لِنُورِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَيَضْرِبُ ٱللَّـهُ ٱلْأَمْثَـٰلَ لِلنَّاسِ ۗ وَٱللَّـهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ ﴿٣٥﴾ـ

“Allah is the light of the heavens and the earth. His light may be compared to a niche containing a lamp, the lamp inside a crystal of star-like brilliance lit from a blessed olive tree, neither of the east nor of the west. The [luminous] oil is as if ready to burn without even touching it. Light upon light; Allah guides to His light whom He wills. Allah draws such comparisons for mankind; and Allah has full knowledge of everything.”

اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْ فِي قَلْبِي نُوراً، وَفِي بَصَرِي نُوراً، وَفِي سَمْعِي نُوراً، وَعَنْ يَـمِينيِ نُوراً، وَعَنْ يَسَارِي نوُراً، وَمِنْ فَوْقِي نُوراً، وَمِنْ تَـحْتِي نوُراً، وَمِنْ أَمَامِي نُوراً، وَمِنْ خَلْفِي نُوراً، وَاجْعَلْ لِي نُوراً.ـ

“O Allah, place in my heart light, in my sight light, in my ears light, light on my right, light on my left, above me light, below me light, light in front of me, light behind me, and grant me greater light.”

Baba Salam…
Signing off!

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