Reaching for the light

Click on the image above and allow yourself a few minutes to do
nothing but gaze at it. Really think about what you are seeing. Isn't
it beautiful and astounding? SubhanAllah.
To me, the amazing thing is that it's a simple image of a small (some
might sayinsignificant) creature in Allah's universe. It's not a
big-budget film popping with special effects and designed to elicit a
cannedemotional response, or a classic novel, or a grand symphony, or
a skilled musician playing a soul-stirring solo on a guitar.
It's just a capture of the light shining on a little flower that most
of us would probably pay no attention to if we walked past it.
Rather than insert my thoughts here, I would liketo ask you:
What does this image do for you? What does it make you think? How does
it make you feel?

Beginnings from endings

Amidst the rush
of worldly comings and goings,
observe how endings
become beginnings.

Beauty All Around Us

Every Saturday I drive from Fresno, in the geographical center of
California, across the western side of the San Joaquin Valley and up
into the mountains, to Casa de Fruta. It is such beautiful country,
SubhanAllah. The San Joaquin Valley is a partof California's great
CentralValley, a vast agricultural breadbasket that runs 450 miles
(720 km) from north to south.
Right now in March, the fields are on fire with orange poppies and
yellow mustard flowers. The almond trees have been blossoming for a
month, and the white petals fall to the ground like rain. On my way
home, I sometimes pull over and park under the almond trees. I have a
snack, listen to the radio, then get out and practice martial arts
moves beneath the trees. When the irrigation pumps are running I use
the water to wash my face or perform wudu'.
The grapes are just comingup – the slender stems are like the idea of
a grape vine. Corn, cotton and lettuce are newly planted, and birds
with long white necks flock to the fields. The fields are full of huge
herds of white sheep and black cows, and our unique local cows with a
large white stripe down the middle.
The green grass sweeps upinto the mountains, whereit becomes forest
and finally snow.
The years-long drought is over. The San Luis Reservoir is setting a
new high water mark. It is normally full of islands, but now they have
all disappeared as the water is a solid sheet of deep blue from one
side to the other, with fingers of water stretching into surrounding
valleys. I've never seen it so high. The Eastside Bypass, which is a
flood control channel and is normally dry as dust, is running with
water.
The San Joaquin River is running to the Pacific Ocean for the first
time in decades. In coming years the Chinook salmon may return to the
river, Insha'Allah. This is a type of fish that swims upriver from the
sea. There has not been a Chinook run on the San Joaquin River
sincethe 1940′s.
The skies in this part of theValley are huge, with vast expanses of
clouds sweeping the sky like ships. Late in the day, the sky is a
giant palette of blue, yellow, orange and red.
The world is amazing. Never think that beauty is gone from the world.
Openyour eyes and look at the majesty around you. All this was not
created in vain. It is a miracle, a blessing, and a sign pointing to
the Most Merciful God.
SubhanAllah, glory to AllahThe Provider, The Creator, The One.

See the Beauty AroundYou

We tend to think of beautiful places as being far away. We imagine
exotic lands like the Caribbean islands, the Mediterranean coast, the
Alps or the Himalayas, or anywhere in New Zealand, ha ha.
There is glory everywhere. Right now, in this moment, there is
something beautiful within the boundaries of your vision, or very
near.
From where I am sitting, through the kitchen window I can see a rose
bush. The pink roses are blooming and reaching forthe sky, and it's
quite lovely ma-sha-Allah. I hearbirds singing outside, and through
the front window I see a birds of paradise bush, with it's angular
orange flowers.
Closer at hand, on my deskis a lovely ornate metal vase from Egypt. It
is covered in intricate Islamicpatterns with verses of theQuran
twining around the sides. There are other beautiful works of art in
the house if I take the timeto glance around – including a simple
artworkthat my daughter Salma made by sticking different kinds of
leaves to a sheet of paper.
Beauty can be found in ordinary things as well. Onthe kitchen counter
I see two lemons cut in half, and beside them a boiled egg. It reminds
me of an artist's tableau and makes me wish I were a painter. My
daughter is playing on the floor with her train set,and she is the
jewel of my eye, ma-sha-Allah.
One of the reasons we fall into depression is that we focus on what we
don't have, or what we have lost; and we fail to see the blessings and
beauty that surround us.
Right now, look around you. Quiet your mind, and focus on beauty.
Remember that life is a gift, and a miracle, and a sign.
And the grazing livestockHe has created for you; in them is warmth and
[numerous] benefits, and from them you eat.
And for you in them is beauty when you bring them in [for the
evening], and when you send them out.
And they carry your loadsto a land you could not have reached except
with difficulty to yourselves. Indeed, your Lord is Kind and Merciful.
And [He created] the horses, mules and donkeys for you to ride, and
[as] adornment. AndHe creates that which you do not know.
And upon Allah is the direction of the way, andamong the various
pathsare those deviating. And if He willed, He could have guided you
all.
It is He who sends down rain from the sky; from it is drink and from
it is foliage in which you pasture.
He causes to grow for you thereby the crops, olives, palm trees,
grapevines, and from all the fruits. Indeed in that is a sign for a
people who give thought.
And He has subjected foryou the night and day and the sun and moon,
and the stars are subjected by His command. Indeed in that are signs
for a people who reason.
And [He has subjected] whatever He multiplied for you on the earth of
varying colors. Indeed in that is a sign for a people who remember.
And it is He who subjected the sea for youto eat from it tender meat,
and to extract from it ornaments whichyou wear. And you see the ships
plowing through it, that you may seek of His bounty; and perhaps you
will be grateful.
And He has cast into the earth firmly set mountains, lest it shift
with you, and [made] rivers and roads, that you may be guided, And
landmarks. And by the stars they are [also] guided.
Then is He who creates like one who does not create? So will you not
be reminded?
And if you should count the favors of Allah, you could not enumerate
them. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
Quran, Surat an-Nahl (The Bee), 16:5-18