- in the name of Allah -


The Meadow

As her hair billowed in the breeze about her face, far removed from any hustle and bustle, she knew that this was the meaning of 'relaxation'. She had no worries, no urgent needs to attend to, nothing to pull her attention away. Except, of course, whenever she might prefer diversion. What a welcome change; in her past life, this was just about never the case. She couldn't recall a time she hadn't been working, hadn't been striving in some tangible sense, where stress and concern always seemed to be lurking around every corner. Regardless, with fearless determination she had accepted each hurdle as it came, helping pave the way for where she found herself now.

Of anywhere she might have chosen to be, that she found enjoyment most in the forest greenery was not lost on her. After all, it was a setting she'd scarcely had time for in the past. The quietude, surrounded by the ambiance of nature that itself seemed to whisper on the wind, "This is how it should be", these were simple treasures she could never tire of. It wasn't something everyone would understand. With so many choices of pleasure and contentment, of all the breathless scenery and landscapes, most would have thought her current relaxed state a trifle bland. But what did they know? As there was no hurry, no haste in anything, no appointments of necessity, no pending deadlines, the only thing that awaited her was what she wished for, and even more than that of continually pleasant blessings from her Maker.

Pondering like this had become second nature for her, just like it was innately a part of his. After their departure early on in her past life, she'd never expected their paths to cross again. But then, who could predict the qadr of Allah? She knew it was only His mercy that had saved her, His light that had shone for her darker moments. While nearing the end of this train of thought, she'd reached one of the riverbanks in her Meadow. "Ah, perfect timing." Just the river she'd wanted to drink from. She took the gold cup waiting beside her and filled it with an exquisite wine, whose flavor changed with every sip. After the first, she couldn't help grinning from ear to ear. The endless variety of blessings, serenity and peace in every respect, freedom from every hardship, such joys that built each one on top of the other, from the simplest to the most profound, she began to realize the immensity of what Allah had gifted her and it left her speechless. What words of shukr could she offer that might come close? Nothing would quite suffice, but something escaped from her lips as naturally as air, "Glory and praise are for Allah alone, Who guided us to this most perfect abode".