As the lights go out, our town falls into darkness for the nth time. Well, it would have had it not been for the moonlight silently peeking through the casement.

I can’t sleep tonight so I sit near the window and gaze at the starry sky above. The new moon is looking exceptionally beautiful. A silent breeze takes me back to a place of sand and serenity – back to Arabia 1400 years ago.

A caravan of peaceful faces sit intently listening to their Prophet (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). The seriousness of purpose stands still in the air – they have to leave behind a legacy for the Ummah till the end of times. Seated there is also a companion (may Allah be pleased with him) of Blessed Prophet (sws), contemplating over a thought of his own.

“I looked at the moon then looked at his (sws) face, and then the moon and then his (sws) face again.” he narrated later. 

Finally he came to the conclusion that his (sws) face was more radiant and beautiful than the full moon. Subhaan Allah!

My heart is filled with warm fuzzies. I sigh silently and smile to myself. I can’t believe I’m looking at the same moon that that companion (ra) had looked at. It’s the same moon that Hadrat Ibrahim (peace be upon him) used to look at and wonder about Allah (glorified and exalted be He). It’s the same moon that the blessed Prophet (sws) must have looked at.

So Merciful is Allah (glorified and exalted be He) to allow me – a sinner – to gaze at the same moon with my sinful eyes that the Blessed Prophet (sws) used to watch with his own pure untainted sight!

How dare then I complain about not going to Makkah or not going to Madina when Allah (glorified and exalted be He) has blessed me with such a precious gift which I can gaze upon every night and think about the Blessed Prophet (sws) and his companions – and their Lord – The Most Merciful, the Most Beneficent.

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