Saturday, August 6, 2011

Love and diversity.

Salam aleikum, everyone. Hope you're enjoying a relaxing weekend.

I was just thinking earlier today about how awesome the diversity of religion and people are. To paraphrase the words of a favorite song of mine, the idea that God "might love you, but I'm His favorite of all" just doesn't do Him justice. I can't imagine the extent of His love, mercy, and forgiveness for all of us who love Him and strive to obey Him, whether we're Muslims, Jews, Christians, Hindus, or whatever.

I think we need to give God more credit than that. But we'll all see Him one day. If He's not the generous, forgiving, loving God that I believe in, then I don't want to serve Him. If He is, then our faith is totally justified, whatever form it may come in.

Peace.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Ramadan.

A belated Ramadan mabrook (or kareem, if you prefer) and assalam aleikum, everyone.

I made it home safely, alhamdilullah. I'm enjoying a quiet life of staying home with my cats and working at my friend's book store. I have to look for a "real" job soon.

Ramadan started four days ago. I nearly made the first day's fasting (had just 10 minutes to go), but was quite ill after working an 8 hour shift and not eating or drinking all day. Cold sweats, severe headache, the works. It actually took me an additional 30 minutes before I could eat. Since then, I've only been fasting half days (from 5:30 am until between 12:30-1:00 PM (since I've been going to work at 1 and getting off at 7). I think that, if I slowly lengthen the amount of time I fast, by the last week of Ramadan I should be able to fast all day (without the unpleasant side effects, inshallah).

I think Allah (SWT) knows that I do want to fast the whole day but that I'm not at the point where I can do it yet without making myself ill.

Did any of you have to do it segments at first?