souls is living a quarantined, lonelyexperience. You take the subway
to work and everyone reads her own novel, or rests his head against
the seat, not meeting anyone else's eyes. Each person is surrounded by
an invisible sphere of seclusion. Or you walk down a crowded downtown
street, with thousands of people intent on their own lives and
errands, disengaged from all around them…
Every one of us is the center of our own universe,living within our
own skulls, constrained by the limitations of our senses. None of us
can ever truly know the inner thoughts and feelings of another. This
awareness can be isolating and depressing.
But let me give you a different perspective:
First, there is Allah. He knows the innermost hopes and fears of each
of us. He is with us, watching us, protecting us and guiding us at all
times. He loves us and wants good for us. So in a very real sense,
none of us is alone. Allah is the unifying factor, the Master of all,
the One who created a universe that functions in harmony and symmetry;
even the chaos of nature is part of a greater pattern, and serves
Allah in its way.
In fact, check this out: Abu Huraira narrated, "The Prophet said, "If
Allah loves a person, He calls Gabriel saying, 'Allah loves so and-so;
O Gabriel! Love him.' Gabriel would love him and make an announcement
amongst the inhabitants of the Heaven. 'Allah loves so-and-so,
therefore you should love him also,' and so all the inhabitantsof the
Heaven would lovehim, and then he is granted the pleasure of the
people on the earth."
(Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 54, Hadith 431)
Wow, subhanAllah. That is a lot of love being directed your way!
That's hardly congruous with the notion of an isolated existence.
Second, there is our noble Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Regardless of our
nationalities, our schools ofthought or "sects", we are united in
honoring and revering him. We study his life, repeat his words, and
send blessings on him. We live our lives by his teachings. We look up
to him and love him as we love ourselves.
Third, there is our great deen of Islam. At any givenmoment, at this
very second, there are Muslims in the world standing shoulder to
shoulder in prayer, all facing the same location on the earth.
Islamhas brought us together in a unique and unprecedented global
brotherhood and sisterhood. Though we may be strangers to each other
in a physical sense, spiritually we are connected. We care about each
other, we feel each other's joys and fears.
Yes, we are biological beings, each living within our own limited
bodies. When you or I think, no other human hears us. When you eat, no
one else tastes it. When your head hurts, no one else feels the pain.
When you harbor private aspirations and terrors, no one else feels the
beating of your heart.
But Allah is with you, my brother, my sister. Allah hears. Allah is
always readyto comfort you, respond to your prayers, and bless youwith
His grace.
And the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) struggled so hard for you. Yes of
course, he fought foryou! You are a part of his Ummah. You are one of
his flock. His mission was for you as much as anyone else. On the Day
of Judgment he will intercedefor his Ummah; he will claim us, and
struggle for us just as he did in his earthly life.
Lastly, we Muslims all sharea spiritual bond, a commonunderstanding of
the world. We are family (even if some of us don't act like it).
When the loneliness of life feels heavy on your back, remember that
the isolation of human existence is an illusion. Youare not alone. You
are surrounded by guidance, blessings, and caring. You are loved, even
when you do not see it. You are not alone.
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:->
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