Description of the God Conscious ... From Nahj al-Balagha

It is related that a devout worshipper by the name of Humam came to Imam ‘Ali, may God ennoble his countenance, and asked him to describe the God conscious people so vividly that he could almost see them. Imam ‘Ali responded: “Their speech is truthful; their clothing is moderate; and they walk with utmost humility. They lower their gaze from everything God has forbidden. They allow their ears to listen only to that which is beneficial. Their souls accept exposure to trials and tribulations [in adherence to the truth] as easily as others accept luxurious living. Were it not for their appointed term, their spirits would not have remained in their bodies the span of a twinkling of the eye due to their intense longing for their Lord. Because the Creator is magnified in their souls, everything else is viewed as insignificant in their sight. Their hearts are sober; people are safe from any wickedness from them; their bodies are slim [they don’t overindulge their appetites]; their basic needs are few; and their souls are chaste. They patiently endure the few days they spend in this world knowing that they will be followed by a long, peaceful rest—this is the profitable life-transaction which their Lord has allowed them to enter into. The world desired them; however, they had no desire for it. It imprisoned them, but they ransomed their souls from it [with their restraint and righteous deeds].

At night, their feet are arranged in ranks as they dutifully recite the Qur’an in slow measured tones. If they come upon a verse that stimulates [in them] longing [for the delightful things which God has promised] they ponder it, craving to attain them. Their souls soar due to the intensity of their longing for those delights. If they come upon a verse that frightens them [with the threat of Allah’s dreadful punishment] they hear it reverberating in the depths of their hearts. They imagine that they hear the dreadful sounds of the Hellfire in the innermost recesses of their ears. You find them kneeling down [Before their Lord], begging to be liberated from the Hellfire. As for their days, they are forbearing, clement scholars. They are righteous and pious. Fear [Of Allah] piercestheir hearts like arrows. One who gazes upon them thinks that they are sick. However, they are far from being sick.

They are not satisfied with a minimal amount of righteous deeds 
Nor do they consider excessive amounts of worship to be great ... 
They see their faults, and they fear that their deeds will not be accepted ... 

If someone praises one of them, he says: 
"I know myself better than others [Know me], and my Lord is more knowledgeable of me than myself ... 

O God! Do not take me to task for what they say ...
And make me better than what they think of me ... 
And forgive me for those sins which they are unaware of ...

One of the signs [Of such a person] is that you observe strength in his religion ... 
His gentleness is accompanied by sobriety ... 
His faith is coupled with certainty ... 
He longs for knowledge ... 
He acts with forbearance ... 
He lives moderately, even when blessed with wealth ... 
He is humble in his worship ... 
He endures poverty with dignified grace ... 
He patiently endures trying circumstances ... 
He seeks his sustenance from the lawful ... 
He hastens to right guidance ... 
He is agitated if he perceives greed in himself ... 
He works righteousness all the while trembling [Fearing that his deeds won’t be accepted] 
His greatest concern is gratitude ... 
In the morning preoccupied with the Remembrance of God ... 
He goes to bed at night overwhelmed, apprehensive ... 
He rises in the morning overjoyed ... 
His apprehension arises from the awareness of his heedlessness ... 
His joy is caused by the bounties and mercy [God has opened up for him during the coming day] 
If his soul presses him with something he despises, he does not concede [to it] and withholds from it what it desires ... 
The comfort of his eye is that which is permanent [The reward of his righteous deeds] 
His abstinence from that which is temporal ... 
He mixes clemency with knowledge, and speech with action ... 
He expects death at any moment ... 
His slips are few [Because of his cautiousness and deliberateness in speech and actions]
His heart is content ... 
He is easy-going ... 
He is constantly on guard against assaults upon his religion ... 
His lusts are dead ... 
His anger is suppressed ... 
People anticipate goodness from him ... 
They are safe from any wickedness from him ... 
If he is in the company of the heedless, he is recorded as being mindful [Of his Lord]
He overlooks those who oppress him ... 
He gives to those who deny him ... 
He joins relations with those who cut him off ... 
He is far removed from any indecency ... 
His speech is gentle ... 
You find nothing bad in him ... 
He is always a source of good ... 
During calamities, he is composed ... 
In dire straights, he is patient ... 
In times of ease, he is thankful ... 
He does not oppress those he dislikes nor does he sin for the sake of those he loves ... 
He admits the truth before his witnessing is sought ... 
He preserves all he is entrusted with ... 
He does not hurl abusive names at people ... 
He never harms his neighbor nor does he find joy in afflictions that befall his enemy. 
If he is transgressed against, he perseveres until God takes revenge for him ... 
He relies on himself while he himself is a source of relief for others [They can rely on him] He tires himself for the sake of his salvation, not burdening others in any way ... 
His distance from those he avoids is a form of abstinence ... 
While his drawing near to people is from his gentleness and mercy ... 
Hence, his distance from people does not arise from arrogance and haughtiness ... 
Nor is his closeness to them motivated by cunning and treachery ...

Hearing this, Humam dropped dead ... 

Imam ‘Ali, [May God Be Pleased With Him] said: 
This is what I feared would happen to him ... 
Thus is the effect of a penetrating word when it reaches a receptive heart ...

Muhammad ... The Praised One ...

Following are the names and praised titles of Muhammad ... The Messenger of God (PBUH) ... 
Containing the qualities, characteristics and sirr (inner secret) of the Prophet of Light ... 

May the one who meditates upon the qualities of the Prophet (PBUH) 
And brings it into the inner heart 
Be blessed with the inner illumination of Nur-Muhammad ... 

The Muhammadan Light ... 

Ameen ... 

Sahib-ul-Farah (The Possessor of Happiness) 
Azz-ul-'Arab (The Might of the Arabs) 
Rafi'ur-Rutab (The Raiser of Ranks)
Khashif-ul-Kurb (The Remover of Worries) 
Alm-ul-Huda (The Teacher of the Guidance) 
Khateeb-ul-Umam (The Preacher of Nations) 
Sa'dul-Khalq (The Joy of the Creator)
Sa'dullah (The Joy of God)
Ayn-ul-Ghur (The Spring of Beauty) 
Ayn-ul-Na'eem (The Spring of Bliss) 
Saiyed-ul-Khawnain (The Master of the Two Universes) 
Saheeh-ul-Islam (The Completer of the Way of Peace)

Uthan Khayr (The Good Listener) 

Raheem (The Mercy Giving) 
Ra'uf (The Kind) 
Mutahhir-ul-Jannah (The Purifier the Soul)
Faseeh-ul-Lisan (The Good Communicatior)
Sahib-ul-Bayan (The Possessor of Evident Proofs)
Sahib-ul-Burhan (The Possessor of the Evidence)
Shahib-ul-'Alamah (The Owner of the Sign) 
Sahib-ul-Khatam (The Owner of the Ring) 
Sahib-ul-Buraq (The Owner of Buraq)
Sahib-ul-Qadeeb (The Possessor of the Staff) 
Sahib-ul-Mi'raj (The Master of the Night Journey) 
Sahib-ul-Liwa' (The Possessor of the Flag)
Sahib-ul-Maghir (The Possessor of Forgiveness) 
Sahib-ut-Taj (The Possessor of Crown)
Sahib-ud-Darajat-ir-Rafi' (The Possessor of the Lofty Rank) 
Sahib-ur-Rida' (The Owner of the Robe)
Sahib-us-Sultan (The Possessor of Authority)

Sahib-ul-Hujjah (The Possessor of Proof)

Sahib-ul-Izar (The Owner of The Cloth)
Sahib-ul-Fadeelah (The Possessor of Pre-eminence) 
Sahib-us-Sayf (The Owner of the Sword)
Sahib-ul-Waseelah (The Possessor of the Closest Access)
Makhsoosun bish-Sharaf (Distinguished With Nobility) 
Makhsoosun bil-Majd (Distinguished With Glory)
Makhsoosun bil-'Azz (Distinguished With Might) 
Sahib-ul-Qadam (Owner of The Footprint)
Sahib-ul-Maqam (The Possessor of the Honoured Station)
Sahib-ush-Shafa'ah (The Possessor of intercession) 
Safooh 'an-az-Zallat (The Pardoner of Oppressions)
Muqeel-ul-'Atharat (The Forewarner of False Steps) 
Musahih-ul-Hasanat (The Verifier of Good Deeds) 
Daleel-'ul-Khayrat (Guide To Good Things)

Alam-ul-Iman (He Taught The Faith) 

Alam-ul-Yaqeen (He Taught Certainty)
Miftah ul-Jannah (The Key to the Garden)
Miftah ur-Rahman (The Key of Mercy)
Miftah (The Key) 
Fatih (The Opener)
Mufaddil (The Favored) 
Fadil (The Outstanding) 
Aziz (The Mighty)
Muqaddam (The Overseer) 
Muhdi (The Guided)
Hadi (The Guide)
Sa'iq (The Driver) 
Sabiq (The Foremost)
Mawsool (The One Bound to Allah)
Wasil (The Inseparable Friend) 
Shaf (The Healing) 
Mubaligh (The Informer) 
Baligh (The Proclaimer)
Muktaf (The Broad-shouldered) 
Kaf (The Qualified)

Ruh-ul-Qist (The Spirit of Justice)

Ruh-ul-Haqq (The Spirit of Truth) 
Ruh-ul-Qudus (The Holy Spirit coming from Allah) 
Muqaddis (The Sacred)
Muqeem as-Sunna (The Establisher of Way)
Shafeeq (The Tender)
Kafeel (The Guarantor)
Mutawakil (The Reliant on Allah) 
Wakeel (The Advocate) 
Naasih (The Counselor) 
Naseeh (The Adviser)
Wajih (The Eminent) 
Mubirr (The Venerated)
Barr (The Pious)
Khalil-ur-Rahman (The Friend of the Merciful) 
Qayid ul-Ghur il-Muhajjilin (The Guide of the Brightly Shining Ones) 
Imam-ul-Mutaqim (The Leader of the God-Fearing)
Saiyed-ul-Mursalin (The Master of the Messengers)
Sidq (The Sincerity) 
Musaddaq (The Confirmer) 
Sadiq (The Truthful)
Muhaymin (The Guardian)
Muslih (The Conciliator) 
Salih (The Righteous)
Shafi' (The Interceder)
Mushafa (The One Whose Intercession is Accepted)
Abu Ibrahim (Father of Ibrahim)

Abu at-Tayyib (Good Father)

Abu at-Tahir (Father of Pure) 
Abu Qasim (Father of Qasim) 
Jabbar (The Compelling)
Ajeer (God's Worker)
Mukhtar (The Chosen)
Umiy (The Unlettered) 
Muntaqa (The Eloquent) 
Mujtaba (The Select) 
Mustafa (Chosen One) 
Al-Najm ath-Thaqib (The Piercing Star)
Hizbullah (The Party of God)
Sayfullah (The Sword of God) 
Dhikrullah (Remembrance of God)
Siratul Mustaqim (The Straight Path) 
Siratullah (The Path of God)
Urwatu Wuthqa (The Trusty Handhold) 
Hadiyatullah (The Gift of God)
Ni'matullah (The Blessings of God) 
Ghiyath (Help)
Ghayth (Succor) 
Ghawth (The Redeemer) 
Burshra (The Good News) 
Rahmah (Mercy) 
Qadim Sidq (The Foot of Sincerity) 
Muti' (The Obedient)
Muta' (The One Obeyed) 
Dhu Fadl (The Possessor of Grace) 
Dhu 'Azz (The Possessor Of Might) 
Dhu Makana (The Possessor of Firmness) 
Dhu Hurmah (The Possessor of Honor)
Dhu Quwa (The Possessor of Power)

Wasul (The Connection)

Mu'mil (The Hoped for) 
Mubin (The Evident) 
Matin (The Stable)
Makin (The Firm) 
Mukarram (The Honored) 
Karim (The Noble) 
Ma'mun (The Trusted)
Amin (The Trustworth) 
Qowiy (The Powerful)
Haqq (The Truth) 
Wali (The Friend)
Afw (Over Looker of Sins) 
Hafiy (The Welcoming)
Mujab (The One responded to)
Mujib (The Responsive)
Madu'u (The Called One) 
Da'a (The Caller)
Munir (The Illumined One)
Mahdi (The Rightly Guided One)
Huda (The Guidance)
Misbah (The Lantern) 
Siraj (The Lamp)
Nur (The Light)
Munthir (The Admonisher)
Nathir (The Warner)
Mubashir (The Spreader of Good News) 
Bashir (The Newsbringer)
Mashhood (The Attested) 
Shaheed (Witnesser)
Shahid (The Witness) 
Shahir (The Famous) 
Ma'lum (the Known One)
Haris Alaykum (Watchful Over You)
Nabiy-ut-Tauba (The Prophet of Repentance)
Nabiy-ur-Rahmah (The Prophet of Mercy)
Mansoor (The Victorious One)
Nasir (The Helper)
Muthakkir (The Reminder) 
Munji (The Rescuer)
Muhyi (The Reviver) 
Khatim ur-Rasool (The Seal of the Messengers) 
Khatim ul-Ambiya (The Seal of the Prophets)

Kalimullah (The Speaker of Allah)

Najiyyullah (The Confidant of Allah)
Safiyyullah (The Intimate of Allah)
Habibullah (The Beloved of Allah) 
Abdullah (The Slave of Allah)
Muzzamil (The One Wrapped One)
Mudathir (The Covered One)
Ikleel (The Crown)
Kamil (The Perfect) 
Rasool-ur-Rahah (The Messenger of Rest)
Rasool-ul-Malahim (The Messenger of Fierce Battles) 
Muqfi (The Best Example)
Muqtif (The Selected)
Jami' (The Collector) 
Qayim (The Straight One)
Rasool ur-Rahmah (The Messenger of Mercy)
Nabi (The Prophet)
Rasool (Messenger)
Saiyed (The Master)
Taiyeb (The Good)
Mutahir (The Purifier)
Tahir (The Pure)
YaSin (Surah of the Holy Qu'ran)
TaHa (Surah of the Holy Qu'ran)
Aaqib (The Last in Succession)
Haashir (The Gatherer)
Mahi (The Effacer)
Waheed (Unique)
Aheed (Name of the Prophet in the Torah)
Mahmood (The Most Highly Praised)
Hamid (The Praised)
Ahmad (The Highly Praised)



He is Muhammad ... Sayyidina Muhammad ... 
May Profound Divine Peace And Blessings Be Upon The Beloved Prophet (PBUH)

7 Aspects for Spirituality ... Remedies ...

There are seven of these ... Work with one for each day of the week ...


1) Potentiality:

a.) Meditate 30 minutes morning and evening every day
b.) Commune with nature and witness the intelligence in every living thing
c.) Practice non-judgment

2) Giving:

a.) Give a gift to everyone you meet
b.) Be aware of the gifts that you receive
c.) Silently wish every person happiness, joy, laughter and peace

3) Cause and Effect:

a.) Witness the choices that you are making in the present moment
b.) Examine the consequences on yourself as well as others
c.) Ask your heart for guidance

4) Least Effort:

a.) Accept the moment ... Don't resist what is
b.) Take responsibility for the situation
c.) Do not be attached to your point of view ... Remain open to other views

5) Intention and Desire:

a.) Make a list of desires
b.) Release the list of desires to creation ... Remain willing to accept something better
c.) Accept the present as is

6) Detachment:

a.) Allow yourself, those around you, and the situation to be as they are
b.) Accept uncertainty and allow solutions to arise out of chaos
c.) Remain open to all possible outcomes

7) Purpose in Life:

a.) Pay attention to the still voice in your heart
b.) Make a list of talents ... And find ways to use them to serve others
c.) Ask "How can I help ???" ... "How can I serve ???"

Mos Def ...

You're not gonna get through life 

Without being worshipful or devoted to something ... 

You're either devoted to your job 

Or to your desires ... 

So the best way to spend your life  

Is to try to be devoted to prayer, to Allah ...

I am As My Servant Expects Me To Be ...

I am as My servant expects Me to be ... 
I am with him when he makes mention of Me ... 

If he makes mention of Me to himself 
I make mention of him to Myself 

And if he makes mention of Me in an assembly 
I make mention of him in an assembly better than it ... 

And if he draws near to Me a hand’s span 
I draw near to him an arm’s length ... 

And if he draws near to me an arm’s length 
I draw near to him a fathom’s length ... 

And if he comes to Me walking 
I go to him running ...


(Hadith Qudsi, Al-Bukhari)

“It comes down to a simple choice really, get busy living, or get busy dying.”

-from Shawshank Redemption

"Step with care and great tact and remember that life's a great balancing act...Just never forget to be dexterous and deft and never mix up your right foot with your left."

-Dr. Seuss

People fear death even more than pain. It's strange that they fear death. Life hurts a lot more than death. At the point of death, the pain is over.

Mansur al-Hallaj (ra) ...

"Love is that you remain standing in front of your Beloved:When you are deprived of all your attributes,Then His attributes become your qualities"

The Voice Of Life In Me Cannot Reach The Ear Of Life In You, But Let Us Talk That We May Not Feel Lonely

-Kahlil Gibran

Kahlil Gibran ...

"No human relation gives one possession in another... every two souls are absolutely different. In friendship and in love, the two side by side raise hands together to find what one cannot reach alone"

Rumi ...

The intellectual is always showing off;

the lover is always getting lost.

The intellectual runs away, afraid of drowning;

the whole business of love is to drown in the sea.

Intellectuals plan their repose;

lovers are ashamed to rest.

The lover is always alone, even surrounded with people;

like water and oil, he remains apart.

The man who goes to the trouble

of giving advice to a lover

gets nothing. He’s mocked by passion.

Love is like musk. It attracts attention.

Love is a tree, and lovers are its shade.

What Do I Know of Love ... Rumi

I talk of Love.

He says, “what do you know of Love.”

It’s insanity,It’s Pain.

How it cuts through your soul.

How it burns.

What do I know of Love?

Explosions,

in my heart,

Then, silence.

Tears.

I have seen a glimpse of love,

And have witnessed it’s insanity.

Why do I cry? Oh God, Why…?

He speaks of your Love.

But the love of your creation alone,

has driven me,

to madness.

What do I know, of your Love?

There it goes,

Taxiing down the runway.

And here, I stand,

with my pieces all around me.

My drunken heart,

my numb senses.

What are these at my feet?

Shattered glass?

I must try to put them back together,

From where should I start?

Where should I start?

The lonely bench,

in the morning fog.

The weeping flowers.

My wailing heart.

Why do they all cry?

Why?

Do they also know,

of love?

The Unknowable ... Mahmud Shabistari ...

Ponder on God's Mercies ... 

But not on His essence ...

For His works come forth from His essence ... 

Not His essence from His works ... 

His light shines on the whole universe ...

Yet He Himself is hidden from the universe ...

What is seen is not the truth ... Kabir ...

What is seen is not the Truth

What *is* cannot be said

Trust comes not without seeing

Nor understanding without words

The wise comprehends with knowledge

To the ignorant it is but a wonder

Some worship the formless God

Some worship His various forms

In what way He is beyond these attributes

Only the Knower knows

That music cannot be written

How can then be the notes

Says Kabir, awareness alone will overcome illusion

This verse of Kabir deals with the concept of Illusion and
Reality ... 

A lot has been written on this issue, yet an average person 
is trapped in the conflict of illusion and reality ... 
The only Truth, the One Inexpressible God, is obviously beyond expression ... 

In simple words, illusion is something that is mutable or changeable ... 
And, ignorance is to believe this illusion to be true.

Kabir in this verse affirms that only when one becomes aware and regulates
one's affairs with awareness ... Only then one can be free from the pitfalls of
illusion – (Rajender Krishan)

Che Guevara ...

The road is long and full of difficulties ... 

At times we wander from the path and must turn back ... 

At other times we go too fast and separate ourselves from the masses ... 

On occasions we go too slow and feel the hot breath of those treading on our heels ... 

In our zeal as revolutionists we try to move ahead as fast as possible ... 

Clearing the way, but knowing we must draw our sustenance from the mass ... 

And that it can advance more rapidly only if we inspire it by our example ...

Dont ask God to reduce your problems ... 
But ask Him to strengthen your back ...

Tupac ...

We wouldn't ask why a rose that grew from the concrete for having damaged petals .. 

In turn, we would all celebrate its tenacity ... 

We would all love its will to reach the sun ... 

Well ... 

We are the roses ... 

This is the concrete ... 

And these are my damaged petals ... 

Dont ask me why ... 

Thank God ...

And ask me how ...

Tupac ...

"Only God can judge me"

"Let the Lord judge the criminals"

"Everybody's at war with different things...I'm at war with my own heart sometimes"

"They got money for wars but they can't feed the poor"

"The only thing that comes to a sleeping man is dreams"

"I believe that everything you do bad comes back to you. So everything that I do that's bad, I'm going to suffer for it. But in my heart, I believe what I'm doing... is right. So I feel like I 'm going to heaven. I think heaven is just when you sleep, you sleep with a good conscience, you don't have nightmares. Hell is when you sleep, the last thing you see is all the f*cked up things you did in your life and you just see it over and over again, cause you don't burn. If that's the case, it's hell on earth cause bullets burn"

"My mama used to tell me if u can't find somethin to live for, you best find somethin to die for"

"If we really are saying that rap is an art form, then we got to be more responsible for our lyrics. If you see everybody dying because of what you're saying, it don't matter that you didn't make them die, it just matters that you didn't save them"

“During your life, never stop dreaming. No one can take away your dreams”

“Why am I fighting to live, if I'm just living to fight

Why am I trying to see, when there aint nothing in sight

Why am I trying to give, when no one gives me a try

Why am I dying to live, if I'm just living to die?

Someone tell me why?”

“I'd rather die like a man, than live like a coward”

“When I was alone, and had nothing

I asked for a friend to help me bear the pain

No one came, except God

When I needed a breath to rise, from my sleep

No one could help me.. except God

When all I saw was sadness, and I needed answers

No one heard me, except God

So when I'm asked.. who I give my unconditional love to?

I look for no other name, except God”

Tupac ...

Strength is overcome by weakness ...

Joy is overcome by sorrow ...

Night is overcome by brightness ...

And LOVE stays the same ...

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

Women are not created weaker but more generous than men ... 

They are created more beautiful and less fierce ... 

As beauty hates to hurt and harm others ... 

That is why they seem weak to people ... 

But in reality they are not ... 

Angels are the strongest of created beings ... 

And women are closer to the angelic nature than men ... 

As they are readier than men to carry angelic light ... 

It is the good manners and ethics of spirituality which they carry ... 

Which makes them less forceful than men ... 

Even physically, however, they are extremely strong ... 

They undergo great upheavals in their body ... 

Without flinching, for the sake of childbirth ... 

And face the direst physical conditions more successfully than men ... 

Because God has enabled them to insure the survival of generations ...

In every life there is a season for love ...

Sometimes it dawns early and ends before the stars shine ... 

Sometimes it takes its time to come into full bloom ... 

For me, that season has not yet arrived ... 

But I wait patiently gazing into the infinite night sky ... 

Knowing that when it does ... 

It will be amazingly beautiful ... 

And it will last forever ...

Paulo Coelho ...

We can never judge the lives of others ... 

Because each person knows only their own pain and renunciation ... 

It's one thing to feel that you are on the right path ... 

But it's another to think that yours is the only path ...

Assuming Formlessness ... Napolean Bonaparte ...

You must not fight too often with one enemy ...

Or you will teach him all your art of war ...

Napolean Bonaparte ...

A man will fight harder for his interests ... 

Than for his rights ...

Half of Your Faith ...

How many men and women prepare themselves to live as a couple, as a family?

Some think about it, others are already committed to it. We hear of stories... and one is sometimes moved by the expectations and hopes of some, and sometimes saddened by the painful life experiences of others. Perhaps you are also, sisters and brothers, preparing yourselves to engage in this life experience of marriage, known as half of your faith. Or perhaps you have already started sharing your life with someone. In this, your expectations, thank God, were more than met but sometimes doubts have emerged. This... is not what you had expected.

Brothers and sisters, nothing should be idealized.

The perfect husband or the perfect wife only exists in your dreams. God has given you, as He has given others, noble qualities and intelligence. God has given you, as He has given others, faults and deficiencies. Perfection is not given to you or any human being.

It is not enough to share the same faith, the same principles and the same hopes to make an ideal couple. How many young couples have been under the illusion that their future life will be harmonious as if being Muslim was enough for a successful marriage? As if their union was based solely on the meeting of two worlds founded on the same principles that one respects or on the rules which one applies.

This illusion, which yesterday promised a small earthly paradise, today makes life a difficult struggle How many speak about "the principles of marriage in Islam" and actually live the reality of a torn, ravaged and frustrated existence?

Today, more than ever, living as a married couple has become a real challenge. Around us, men and women meet and leave each other in a modern society in which they confuse freedom and the absence of accountability as love and flexibility.
Living as a couple is not without its challenges - preparing yourself, learning and constantly trying to reach out to the other with patience, depth and tenderness. Although it is true that the principles of Islam bring you together, or will bring you together, you must remember each day that the person with whom you share your life comes with his or her own history, wounds, sensitivities and hopes. Learn to listen, to understand, to observe, to accompany.

Living as a couple is the greatest of tests: a test of patience, of attention, of the ability to listen for unspoken words, of self-control, of mending one’s faults, of healing the wounds. In each of these tests, there are two parties. It isn’t easy. A meaningful effort has to be grounded in the deepest sense of spirituality, a jihad, in the most intense meaning of the term. The jihad of love which reminds that feelings have to be taken care of. They are maintained, deepened, rooted through your shared challenges and your patience.

Patience and attention to the hearts, in a couple, will lead them towards the light, God willing. Remember, brothers and sisters, the last of the Prophets (peace be on him), an example for eternity, so attentive, so tender, and so patient. He did not only remind the Umma of principles, he enlightened with his presence, his listening, and his love.

Before being the mother of his children, his wife was a woman, his spouse, a person he discovered each day, a person whom he accompanied and who accompanied him; subject of his attention, a testimony of his love. He knew the meaning of silence, the power of a touch, the complicity of a shared glance, the pleasure in a smile, and the kindness found in being attentive.

There are those who idealize the other so much they never really see their partners and those who leave each other too quickly without taking the time to know each other. We are reminded of the principles Islam, its depth, its spirituality, its essence. Living as a couple, forming a relationship, being patient in adversity, loving to the extent of enduring, grounding by way of reforming is an initiation to spirituality. Knowing how to be one with God assures greater comfort in being together as two. A challenge, a test, far from the ideal, close to reality.

Sisters and brothers, you must prepare yourselves to live one of the most beautiful tests of life. It requires all from you, your heart, your conscience, and your efforts. The road is long. One must learn to demand, to share, and to forgive...indefinitely.

Of the things permitted by God, divorce is the most detested. Living as a couple is difficult: remember that your wife is woman before being the mother of your children; remember that your husband is a man before being the father of your children. Know how to live as a couple, within your family...in front of God and in front of your children.

This meeting place, these efforts will result in a sense of protection: They are your garments and you are their garments. Know how to be patient, learn how to be affectionate, offer forgiveness, and you will attain the spirituality of the protected, the proximity of the ones that are close. Faith then becomes your source of light and "his or her" presence, becomes your source of protection; the test of your heart, the energy of your love, half of your faith.

I pray to God that this love be the school of your efforts and the light of your patience.

Rumi ...

From the beginning of my life

I have been looking for your face ...

But today I have seen it ...

Today I have seen

The charm ... 

The beauty ...

The unfathomable grace of the face

That I was looking for ...

Today I have found you ...

And those who laughed

And scorned me yesterday

Are sorry that they were not looking

As I did ...

I am bewildered by the magnificence

Of your beauty and wish to see you

With a hundred eyes ...

My heart has burned with passion

And has searched forever

For this wondrous beauty

That I now behold ...

I am ashamed

To call this love human

And afraid of God

To call it divine ...

Your fragrant breath

Like the morning breeze

Has come to the stillness of the garden ...

You have breathed new life into me

I have become your sunshine

And also your shadow ...

My soul is screaming in ecstacy

Every fiber of my being

Is in love with you ...

Your efflugence

Has lit a fire in my heart ...

For me

The Earth and Sky

My arrow of love

Has arrived at the target ...

I am in the house of mercy ...

And my heart

Is a place of prayer ...

Hamza Yusuf ...

This world was designed to break your heart ...

If you find Me not within ...
You will never find Me ...

For I have been with You from the Beginning ...