25/07/2020
A spiritual comment and prayer to begin the day with Dr Myriam François, journalist and research associate at the Centre of Islamic Studies, SOAS University of London.
A spiritual comment and prayer to begin the day with Dr Myriam François, journalist and research associate at the Centre of Islamic Studies, SOAS University of London.
Good morning.
There are around 1.8 million single parents in the UK – most of them women, like myself. Like many parents, lockdown proved challenging in more ways than one – the incessant dishes, the migrating toys, home schooling, work – and somewhere, I must find time to sneak in my prayers.
Magical moments of stillness when I escape the interminable demands. The sacred bubble where worldly pressures take a back seat – when I connect with the Source.
In the Quran, Allah says “perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you.” I often return to this verse, reminded as I am that what I think is best or what I may want is still only based on a limited vantage point. I always do better when I -as Muslims say “tie my camel” – a reference to a saying of the prophet in which he advises against complacency – while ultimately trusting in the Divine plan.
And it’s when I’m in that flow that the blessings abound. The cuddles mid work call –a bike ride together in the sun – precious moments to fortify the gratitude.
As we begin to ease lockdown, tentatively for me, the challenges - much like the virus - haven’t magically disappeared. In some ways, they are greater as the pressure returns to bounce back to pre-covid productivity and children – now off school – have to be nurtured between deadlines. In these times, it’s my salah – my ritual prayer –which is the anchor tethering me through the storm.
Ya Rabbi, may you ease our difficulties, heal our hearts and make each of us a light for one another. Amin.
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