Illustration by: ayeina.com
So...we agreed to have a weekly list of the things we are grateful for this Ramadhan. This first week was on basic necessities and the following is what I came up with.
DAY 1: This year is perhaps the toughest for many people. We lost so many of our friends, colleagues, relatives. Some died from Dengu fever while others died from Hepatitis. Some died in accidents while others had sudden deaths. This is my first year where I feared my own death more than any other. It is still my first time to see so many of my age mates go to Allah all of a sudden. It scared me that I wouldn't live to see Ramadhan or even repent properly. It scared me to have to face Allah with so many faults still inscribed in my book. Today I look at this day as a gift from Allah. So many thought they would live to today. So many wished they witnessed another Ramadhan...but unfortunately they didn't. How then can I not say alhamdulilah for breathing? For being alive? Alhamdulilah for the gift of life. It is only by Allah's mercy that He granted me another chance to repent and get closer to Him.May Allah shower His mercy upon all those who left us and may He grant them and us too, His highest level of jannah. May He grant us many more Ramadhans in shaa Allah 🙏
DAY 2: As I sat on the table during iftar, I looked at my plate full of food. Not just food; a variety of it. From the sweet stuff to the salty to the main food. I looked at it and remembered how many years now so many Muslims in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Libnan and many other countries have NOTHING to break their fast. Not even a morsel of bread. Not even a drop of water or a single date. As I keep filling my stomach each and every other day, these people do not even remember the smell of food let alone of it's taste. Yet they still fast, yet they still wake up for suhoor; not to eat but to pray to Allah. Yet they still worship Allah day and night. The old amongst them and the children too. Ya Allah, thank you for the blessing of food that you give us in abundance.
DAY 3: I read a book on fatawas on Muslim women today. It was enlightening and I learnt some notable things. Being able to get education is another blessing of it's own. Many wish they could understand the qur'an and the deen yet they lack the basic knowledge to do so. Alhamdulilah for this ne3ma. May He make us amongst those who seek His knowledge (of deen...and dunya too).
DAY 4: Swalatul Taraweh has it's own wonderful feeling. The tranquility, the amazing recitation of the qur'an, seeing the many people in the masjid lined up all praying to one Lord. All this I can just watch at the comfort of my own home, under a nice shelter as I am seated on a comfortable coach. Alhamdulilah for our humble homes. Alhamdulilah for a roof that doesn't leak, for a house that is filled with furniture to make us relax better. Alhamdulilah for all that we have that others don't.
DAY 5: Alhamdulilah foe electricity. I consider electricity a basic necessity because the modern world depends on it a lot. I imagine how it would be like if we lived many years back; breaking the fast in total darkness or partial. Right now we have so much light everywhere alhamdulilah. On the streets, in our homes, in our neighbourhoods. We can eat peacefully and in a more comfortable way. We can pray taraweh and tahajjud using the speakers in the masjids and come back home safely. We can wake up for suhoor and eat without a problem. Alhamdulilah for this noor in our lives.
DAY 6: Mashallah as early as now, some people have already bought eid dresses and kanzus. I look into my wardrobe and I see abundance. I have what to wear today and tomorrow and the next day and the next next. Alhamdulilah. We are privileged. I am privileged and blessed for the variety of clothing for both warm and cold seasons. For eid and for weddings. For all kind of events. Alhamdulilah.
DAY 7: Alhamdulilah...it is already the end of the first week. Subhanallah how time flies. But I am grateful to have experienced the end of the first week. That I have my sight and my hearing that are guiding me to publish my #Alhamdulilah list right now. That I am healthy and all my body parts are functioning. Alhamdulilah for all my physical parts.
As we begin the second week I would like to remind you that it is not too late to write your own list. This following week in shaa Allah we are writing on: #Alhamdulilah For Family ties
I hope you will try and participate this time round. You don't have to post it if you don't wish to. You can as well thank Allah directly every single day for a different thing. Don't miss out on this amazing mini-project! Till end of next week in shaa Allah, stay blessed 😊
