12th Rabi al Awwal - My Spiritual Journey

12th Rabi al Awwal, one of the most auspicious day for the entire humanity that existed or are existing or would ever exist. Yes, I am not limiting the beauty of this day for Muslims but it is expanded for the whole human kind whatsoever be their religious believes. This is the day when we Muslims celebrate the birth of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (May Peace Be Upon Him), who was born to Hazrat Abdullah and Bibi Aaminah on the 12th of the month Rabi al Awwal i.e. approximately August 570 C.E. This day is celebrated by praying, reciting Quran and Durood Shareef as much as possible. Prophet Muhammad (May Peace Be Upon Him) was the one for whom the entire universe was created, all gifts from Allah, His Divine Mercy, Peace, Love, Knowledge, Wisdom, Discernment were first showered upon Prophet Muhammad (May Peace Be Upon Him) and then those gifts were distributed through him to others, to us.

If you would like to enhance your knowledge about Prophet Muhammad (May Peace Be Upon Him) Quran and Sunnahs are the best and primary sources; but we shall always need additional information to help us understand the true essence of the teachings of Quran and Sunnahs.

A well-known book named “Muhammad- Prophet of our time: by Karen Armstrong”, is amongst the significant research conducted on the life and teachings Prophet Muhammad (May Peace Be Upon Him).

To gain true and authentic spiritual knowledge, best-selling book "New Earth, by Eckhart Tolle” is highly recommended.

If you would like to see how you thoughts work and mental state effect your life, please watch the DVD of “The Secret, by Rhonda Byrne”. There is also its book available by the same name.

And so the love of God be with all of us.

Sonya. (Day 41)

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Far but not too far from my humble dwelling I hear subtle sounds of recitation of Naats (which means the recitals of Eulogium in the praise of Prophet Muhammad), the silence of night glorifies the peace outside with the only distraction of few vehicles occasionally passing by. No place could ever match up to the peace of home, you go anywhere in world regardless of its beauty and luxury in the end one could not resist the desire to go back, to return home. Life is similar to this no matter how beautiful the world becomes for you, one always desire to return to the roots from where we began our journey. This returning does not mean death but it’s a wish to return to that state of mind and spirit where all is peace, love and in complete harmony with our Creator.

How much of our precious time we waste on accumulating false means which we with our mortal and tiny mind belief could give us joy and peace. We collect wealth, power, big houses, expensive cars, branded accessories, ideal life partners, with the sole purpose that all this would be able to fill the hole, to make us happy. The irony is even if we acquire them, they do make us happy but only for a little while and then we start searching for more valuable possession to enhance our self worth, to be happy. Sometimes we also go for pilgrimages because we get peace from those spiritual journeys and then as we return to our routine lives the same old cacophony of mind, anxiety, stress and fear come back to us in full throttle. 

I am by no means implying that in order to be peaceful and joyous we should not get wealthy or shouldn’t buy beautiful things but we need to understand that no wealth or person in this world can ever make us happy. It just doesn’t work like that. But first we need to become connected with the Higher Power, become peaceful and truly joyous from within then the outside world would be organized by God in such a way that all our desires and wishes would be met. Now the question is how do we do that?

For me it happened after immense praying; my emotional pain, my fear of the world, my attachment to the mortal beings when took its toll on me became my motivators to return to God, to return to love. When I decided that I need to get out of this pain, when I thought that enough is enough.

I prayed to become independent of the attachments, fears and anxieties of this world and after perseverance a door was opened for me and my journey began. Although I am still on my way and I am still a seeker but I have a fairly good idea about the ways to get peace, love and joy because I have had glimpses of them. Believe me once you get there, there is no looking back.

The one person through whom and by whose teachings all this has been made possible and easier is none other than Prophet Muhammad (May Peace Be Upon Him), my second love after God. Yes I am in love with him and I am sure that in the eternity I would be able to meet and express my reverence to him and to thank God for making Prophet Muhammad (May Peace Be Upon Him) a true blessing for all of us.

As Rumi said in one his discourses that, God’s way was extremely terrifying and blocked by snow. Since the Prophet risked his life first to drive his horse forward in order to clear the way, whoever wants to reach God could only approach Him because of the guidance of Prophet. He first discovered the way, leaving sign posts everywhere saying, “Do not go this way!”, “ Do not go that way!”, “If you go that way, you will perish like the people of Ad and Thamud” and “If you go this way, you will find salvation like the believers.”

Love & blessings

Sonya. (Day 41a)