�鶹��

Available for over a year

Good morning Today marks the start of the month of Dhul Hijjah 1443 in the Islamic Calendar. A significant part of the year for Muslims across the world, with encouragement to fast, pray and remember God in our actions through good deeds and extra charity. And most notably, because it is the month in which Hajj is performed. Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam. It’s obligatory for Muslims once in their life, for those who are well enough and can afford to perform it, and it’s a test of many things. One of the hardest is how we react and cope with the actions of others. Imagine being in a place that you may never be able to visit again, you’re determined to get the best experience, the spiritual high, the closest you have ever felt to God. Prophet Muhammad mentioned all sins being wiped clean if Hajj is performed correctly. It sounds amazing. Then remember that more than two million people are there and they all want the same thing for themselves too. In her recent book, aptly named, Once In A Lifetime, Professor Amina Wadud says….”All of the next few days had to be completed in concert with millions of people and still remain intensely personal” As the saying goes, peace does not mean being in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means being in the midst of those things, and still be calm in your heart. For me, that sums up Hajj beautifully. It’s made up of a series of rituals, acknowledging the sacrifice made by Abraham and Hajar, reminding us of the teachings in the Qur’an about the need for optimism, reliance on God, and patience. Often we can get so caught up in the business and noise of our lives, that we don’t fully take in the moment or we can feel disturbed if things are not quiet. Like so many other parents this week, any calmness in the house is about to be disrupted, as two of my children return home from University with all their laundry, the contents of their kitchens and tales of a year well spent. Even in the busiest and most hectic times in our lives, it’s possible to experience special and peaceful moments, to find calm in the chaos, peace amid the noise, optimism when things feel overwhelming. We can try our best to feel things fully, embrace the messiness and chaos and through that, know that it’s our sincere intentions that matter most.