The next chapter found within The Heart of Makkah is Hajj and Umrah -Acts of Incomparable Devotion. The verse from the Quran begins the chapter: “Pilgrims thereto is a duty Men owe to God, Those can afford the…
Today is April Fool’s Day, which I find laughable. It seemed a silly, meaningless day of ‘celebration’ when living in the West. From this vantage point in the KSA during Ramadan, it is completely ludicrous. …
My three previous Ramadans were predictable – my daily habits, thoughts, and actions were preplanned. One could say they were cast in stone. Daily I would review my original intentions, writing not only about their…
Out of a sense of despair, searching for direction, realized that I have let myself be trivialized, disrespected by people who, because they could not respect themselves, thus were unable to respect anyone. I repented….
Yesterday I took a day off fasting, such a practice allowed if one makes up the day by fasting after Eid. Some purists attempt to make one feel guilty about the practice but that is…
Fasting in Islam speaks of the benefits of fasting, saying it can teach you the worth of blessing, quoting the “Should you attempt to count Allah’s blessings you cannot calculate them. But humankind is innately…
This Ramadan has seen my stumbling about, looking for direction and meaning. Initially there was a plan in place but it was abandoned for another and that one was abandoned when I learned I was…
This was an extremely unusual day, yet again. I awoke to a glorious day, the sky was brilliantly blue, both Ithra and the Kohbar Water Tower were where they always were. Such a relief that…
Today is an utterly unusual day in every way. I shall include a photograph of the view outside my window. It is white, with zero visibility. If I was in Edmonton, the cause would be…
True to my word, as always, I continued to read Fasting for Ramadan: Notes From a Spiritual Practice. I am now where I am supposed to be, on the proper day – on the same…