Spiritual Elation

Far beyond excitement...

Friday is the day! Talk about nervous, my hands are already shaking just thinking about it. Lol... not really - but I know it's an important step in my journey. It's really super important to let the community know that they have a new Muslim joining them, and so this Friday is my big day, I suppose :D

It's a bit surreal feeling to me though - because the whole shabang is literally like 3 minutes at the most. Then, as I have overheard, A ton of congratulations and affection from the sisters, and then I can go home, knowing that I have completed just one more pillar of my faith. I think it's truly symbolic to call them pillars - because in a way doing these the obligatory acts of faith support you so much in your endeavor to live your life in a manner that pleases Allah.

For example:

Shahada: This helps get you community support and networking, and it solidifies your covenant in a very public manner
Zakat: this is a way for us to support those who are less fortunate for whatever reason and to realize that the bounty given to us from Allah is not one just for selfish consumption, but that we all have a part in it. Zakat is more then just giving to the poor, its also for the betterment of our community.
Prayer: Who would question this one? As-salat is of the utmost importance. It is our daily connection with God and spirituality. It is our avenue with which Allah has ordained for us to humble ourselves, ask for guidance, support and remembrance of why we are here, and what we are striving towards.
Ramadan: It's much more then just self restraint from food: the food which God has made permissible for us to eat is such a blessing in itself, and the willpower that goes into refraining from eating from sunrise to sunset for one month truly serves as a reminder of what luxuries we have in the form of sustenance. It also serves as a time for deep contemplation as we are refraining from much more then just food and the hope is that whatever improvements you can make for yourself during Ramadan can be maintained and improved upon year after year.
Hajj: The great pilgrimage - obligatory upon any able-bodied person who can also afford to go. From what I have heard, it's just simply a gleaming pinnacle in one's spiritual journey to go, and the unity and focus during Hajj - all for the sake of Allah - has been described to me as incomparable. I would have to do this one first before I can say much more about it.

Hanging Rock
Hang of the Rock

What a blast! A full day of hiking and miles of scenery to be viewed from the top of the rock - plus going with the MSA always proves to be fun times :D Alhamdulillah!