1429 After Hijrah.
January 2008 Quest Article.
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Bismiallah Ir Rahman Ir Rahim.
Just as quick as we had entered into the Islamic Year of 1428 After Hijrah, it left us just as fast and now praise be to Allah (s.w.t) we as the present nation of Muhammad (s.a.w.) have now entered into the New Islamic Year of 1429 After Hijrah. It was good idea to use the end of the previous Islamic year to mend strained relationships with others and to forgive or be forgiven by others during that time. Now the blessed month of Muharram is here and it is a beginning and a fresh start for us to approach the year with intending to make Spirituality more a part of our daily lives. For the Muslims, our New Year is 1429 A.H. and keeping this in our hearts and minds sets the tone for how we see ourselves as Muslims in relation to others around us. In the month of December in the Common Era calendar, almost anyone who is alive can hear the term “New Years Resolution.” Well I’m sorry to say; in this New Islamic Year of 1429 A.H. we as a nation of Muslims are in need of our own ‘New Years Resolution’. We need a resolution of a Islamic Spirituality in our hearts, minds, intentions and in our teaching institutions. With the advent of Muharram, we have in it a special time to complete some voluntary fasting and other acts of worship, a time to reflect on our year that lays ahead of us. Abu Huraira (Radiyallahu ‘anh) reports that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) said that after Ramadan, the fasts of Muharram have the greatest excellence. [Sahih Muslim].
About two weeks ago I had the chance to hear some inspiring words in which it was stated by this elder that spoke something to the effect of taking time to incorporate more voluntary acts of worship to help us break our spell of heedlessness, anger and spite that we have towards one another to create a sound calm and relaxed heart; and it was inspiring. We often think of exercising our bodies, but often forget to exercise our spiritual needs. ‘Path of the Heart’ first and foremost always tried to concentrate on this aspect : ”That we all have un-accessed power, love and energy flowing through us, yet is dormant” Speaking to myself first. In addition to the resolution of keeping physically fit, and the other list of resolutions that we put on ourselves, we NEED a resolution to be more ’Spiritual’. And who ever says we don’t need it, or “There is no spirituality in Islam”, than I say “What are our choices?” External learning (though it is very important and necessary) alone doesn’t bridge the gap to help us with all of our personal hang-ups, cultural issues, colonial enforcements, political troubles and mental disorders that we ALL face on some level. Maybe someone here reading this is imagining in their imagination that taking up the task to approach these issues and write about them is easy, yet I say to you it hasn’t been. Over these months a lot has occurred within the Islamic world, internationally and nationally. More and more we are seeing the results of the lack of emphasis on interpersonal Spiritual practices in our societies. In 1429 A.H. lets make it one that we will all remember in our lives and so on and so on. In a word of encouragement, to those who have been given your Awrad (daily dhikr formula) don’t abandon the Dhikr; keep on. To the new Muslim revert, keep on. To the spiritual seeker; keep on. Let this year be a year of Meditation, a year of seeing the good in what we have, a year of peace in our homes.
Lastly, just so that that there is no confusion, ‘Path of the Heart’ always represented that struggle to access that power in our hearts mainly to overcome our greatest challenge in the world, Our own self. On the outside one could look at these words as philosophy or wishful thinking. However, I hope that it is seen as a sincere attempt to write about the happy, obscure and not so glorious issues and feelings that many experience that we all feel or have felt at time or another while being Muslim in a ultra fast moving society. Inshallah, I look forward to spending more time and learning from you in the months to come.
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