Reflections from Rumi’s Masnavi

This is the third week of Ramadan ,which is  also almost over and I hope all of you are doing great with packing up your energy buffers for the rest of the year, to be more precise spiritual buffers .Ramadan is not only about fasting and praying but a time to reflect upon our lives and how we can make it better both physically and spiritually.Ramadan comes as a mirror for who we are and what we are capable of doing. We pray five times diligently ,give alms to poor, fast from sunrise to sunset refrain from bad things like lying ,backbiting , hurting others, cheating etc ,this is a reflection of who we can be when we truly want and also of what we are not everyday when it is not Ramadan !!

Recently I was reading Volume 1 of Masnavi and  came across the wonderful story  about Yusuf A.S and his friend who gifted him a mirror. the conversation between them is beautiful , what I liked most  are the lines below :

“I brought you a mirror, O light (of my eyes), so that when you
look at your face you may remember me.”

then Rumi(A.S)  goes on to explain the deeper aspect of reflection.

What is the mirror of existence? Non-existence.(So) take
non-existence (as a gift), if you aren’t foolish

The existence of anything can really be felt by its non existence. While we are fasting and we feel the pain of hunger , we are nothing but reflection of food. May be that is why we go on cooking all the delicacies for our iftaar and  infact  we could hardly eat much after breaking the fast. What is the worth of  rich man’s wealth if he hasn’t suffered or realized the pain of poverty. A mere good reflection could be helping the poor. The life of duniya (world) is nothing but to give what you have be it a smile, a helping hand or a shoulder to cry upon. Give what you have to those who don’t and you will receive what you have not. Look out where you are needed , improvise solutions  of problem you have, maybe you will discover a way and   help others too.

 

Will be back soon with more of my such reflections, do tell me if you like it or want to add  your thoughts.

#WQWWC – Writers Quote Wednesday Writing Challenge – “Inspiration”

“A writer is one who is constantly looking for his inspiration in everything he feels and come across”   (My Hijab Diaries)

The colors of the sunset sky

 Becomes my inspiration

And sometimes it is the sea.

While walking down

those landscapes

Seeing but not seeing

 Opens up my inner eye!

These songs of birds too

Comfort my aching soul

 Sometimes.

Sometimes talking to people

Sometimes talking to myself

I find my inspiration to write!

And both of them can’t

Help sometimes either.

Difficult it is as it is easy

For a writer to find an inspiration.

(Taken at Kinderdijk Windmills Netherlands 5/5/16)

(Ping Back -> https://silverthreading.com/2016/06/01/wqwwc-writers-quote-wednesday-writing-challenge-inspiration/ )