To all ladies out there

O you know how beautiful You are?
I think not, my dear.
For as you talk of God,
I see great parades with wildly colorful bands
Streaming from your mind and heart,
Carrying wonderful and secret messages
To every corner of this world.
I see saints bowing in the mountains
Hundreds of miles away
To the wonder of sounds
That break into light
From your most common words.
— Hafez (1329 – 1385)

This poem is beautiful. Every word of it embraces the notion of kalimah toyyibah – an invitation to Allah.

A series of encounters these past few days had me thinking on what constitutes beauty.
Is it the shell that we live in?
Is it the string of words one utters?
Is it the masks of cosmetics we bathe in?
Is it the knowledge we pride in?

What truly matters?
What really lasts?

Last Friday marked my maiden attendance to Ustazah Shameem’s class after hearing very good reviews. I had to rope in others to cover my duties at Muhajirin just for the class. Responsibilities, I feel, shall be kept as a topic of its own for another day.

This season, the class reviews on the book “Reclaim Your Heart” by Yasmin Mogahed. The first topic touches on a crucial but sidelined issue of “attachments”. MashaAllah, after reviewing, there are so many types of attachments one can have! Some things like smart gadgets, beauty products and people’s opinions are issues I sympathise with as I deal directly/indirectly on it. Close relatives, friends and mostly the people I observe from a myopic angle delve in such. Like, Hey the latest gadget is here! Or Have you gotten this lip gloss from 123456789 it’s super cheap?! At times, Do I look good in this?

Guess what?
It is perfectly fine to want such things, to think of such things.

But guess again, it is sad that it is for the wrong reasons.

1. Gadgets that make one stray away from the remembrance of Allah.

2. Dolled up to look good in the eyes of mortals. Keeping wudhu’ just because it is hard to remove one’s makeup. Looking astonishingly pretty in the eyes of many, grabbing their attention when the purpose of hijaab is for us to be protected, to avoid the straying eyes of men…

3. Succumbing to a mortal’s opinion when Allah’s redha is the one we should seek for.

It is hard. But there is always a way to overcome hardships. One of it is through the power of detachment. Detachment through constant self talk. Which if we reflect on, is what Islaam teaches us to practise via Muhaasabah – reflection.

I remember how my 5 daily prayers became very dear to me the moment I stepped into an unislamic environment. Having to attend a compulsory university orientation camp made me work my schedule around the 5 daily prayers, constantly revisiting the timings and ensuring I did not miss any.

When you finally take the step to be out of your comfort zone, will you then understand what truly and really matters.
When you feel the loss of something you take for granted, you learn to cherish.
When you are alone in the journey despite the numerous mortals around you, you find the comfort in God – Allah.

Let’s try this with our smart gadgets, limiting its usage per day.
Let’s try this with the foundation, eyebrow marker (?), mascara and whatnot, embrace natural beauty.
Let’s try this by taking in opinions that bring us closer to Allah.

One step at a time.

Dear, you are beautiful, when you come back to Allah.