closeness

T.G.I.F.!!
T.G.I.F.!! 1200 800 Nadir Keval

I woke this morning an hour before I had to reach the Mosque (Muslim Temple), and that meant I had to leave within 5 minutes of waking up. So, I get up, get dressed, not able to freshen up any more than just brush my teeth.

I then leave the house, rushing to get to the Mosque. On my way there, I get slowed by traffic, and end up getting there just in time. It’s honestly an amazing feeling to get to the Mosque and spend some time there. The Friday prayer is like my weekly rehab session. I go to the Mosque on other days, but every Friday just comes with this incredible feeling of, “You can start fresh again starting today!”

The people sit silently, listening to the lesson, which is compulsory before every Friday prayer. They listen intently, in hopes of hearing that one thing, if not more, that will inspire them until the next week. Beginning with the words of peace, “Assalaamu alaikum” (May the peace and blessings of Allah [God] be upon you), the lecturer delivers a speech leaving us all speechless and smiling, to know that we are not alone in facing the day-to-day struggles we face as individuals.

After the speech, the prayer begins, as the call to prayer is made, praising Allah, and reminding us to, “Come to prayer, come to success!” We begin, and the meditative closeness to our souls comes to life. We all recognize the presence of our souls, but this feeling of just being completely connected to your center is incredible. It’s what keeps me balanced throughout the day.

We finished the prayer, and I walked outside to talk to my brothers. These people are not related to me by blood, but they are as close to me as my own blood. We discussed holding a BBQ for a youth group I work with, and to include a lesson at the same time. We think it should work out really well, and I’m hoping for it’s success, Insha Allah (God-willing).

Time to get back to work now. See y’all soon.

Poem: She was
Poem: She was 1600 1424 Nadir Keval

We met on a day that cannot be described,
Because I cannot remember the weather of that day.
Why? Well, I was enveloped in her eyes,
As though her every blink was a new sunrise,
Not too overwhelming, nor too dull.
She was refreshing in her presence alone.
A hidden waterfall, in the driest of deserts.
I asked her name,
And she muttered words that reminded me of dreams I’d dreamt.
But never before had I met her.
So, where had I seen her?
Time passed, and I felt a closeness to her soul,
Despite the fact that we hadn’t been in touch for so long.
The mere thought of her had me urging
To find the courage to speak to her again.
I walked towards her, with my head lowered,
But my chest held out with courage,
And that deep breath I’d taken,
To not need to gasp while speaking to her.
See, I had realized from the past,
That for some reason…she was the only one
that made me weak in my knees,
that made me stutter in my speech;
a man full of stature turned into a statue.
So, I asked,
Did you know that when you speak,
It’s as though your voice is too melodious for your mouth to hold?
Did you know that you in your entirety
are an entity reflective of the highest forms of beauty?
I promise you that,
I will rip through the clouds to find the sun,
And give it to you as a dowry.
I will take the constellations,
And use them to provide you with never-ending nourishment.
I will spend the nights, counting the stars,
To add them to the equation
I try to develop to understand how God made you.
Did you know that you stretch the abilities of mathematics?
See, you have me tongue-twisted,
With words of love dripping off my lips.
I ask you to be my diamond,
The one to be my new moon,
As I see you, the light I seek in this world of darkness.
I’ve been told that men and women have been created as cloaks of one another.
I would be pleased to cover you.
So…may I please, cover you?

Copyright © Nadir Keval
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