Care and Consideration

Alhamdulillah many of us are putting care and consideration into how we prepare for Ramadan. We have different abilities and priorities according to how Allah made us physically, in nature, through conditioning, and due to our ages.

In terms of our seeing and hearing, what is most important is not how we see and hear with our eyes but how we see and hear with our hearts: how we recognise the truth that there is none worthy of worship except Allah.

Different Consideration

Today’s rhyme is about a fictional old lady. She usually chooses to wear yellow shoes. Not to attract attention to her feet. Rather, to give herself ease in finding her shoes, among several other pairs, at the mosque or at events. Her eyes do not see as well as they used to.

Her decision is between her and her Lord. And if she hears sisters enter the mosque and complain at seeing shoes they deem unsuitable for hijab, she prays to Allah to guide them to be more considerate, less judging, and to busy themselves with their own affairs.

However, this fictional old lady makes itikaf at regular intervals in the mosque. And on these occasions, she wears black shoes. She desires to keep her worship private between herself and her Lord as much as she can. And therefore she pushes herself to bear the ordeal of spending half an hour to hunt out her shoes when she is ready to go home. Sometimes sisters help her, and then she prays to Allah to forgive them, and to reward them abundantly in this life and the next, for their care, consideration, and action.

Itikaf in Glasgow

(There was an Old Woman of Gloucester)

There was an old woman of Glasgow

who mostly wore kicks coloured yellow.

She lived next to a masjid,

where regularly she hid,

choosing black pumps to blend in and not show.

© 2018 Elizabeth Lymer

Care for Our Goals

Alhamdulillah, through constant connecting to Allah by worshipping Him, we purify our intentions and set better goals. And we concern ourselves more with what we can improve upon, rather than what others ‘could’, ‘might’, or ‘should’ be doing.

Allah will grant whoever recites this [the following remembrance of Allah] seven times in the morning or evening whatever he desires from this life or the next.
Ibn As-Sunni, 71
Abu Dawud 4/321
Sahih (genuine / authentic / sound) chain of transmission.
Fortress of a Muslim

“Allah is sufficient for me.
There is none worthy of worship but Him.
I have placed my trust in Him.
He is Lord of the Majestic Throne.”

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PRAISE ALLAH ALWAYS! All praises to Allah; there is none worthy of worship but Him. May He guide us to take care and practice consideration which pleases Him, and benefits us eternally, ameen.