Strange that I wanted to blog twice in a day after not blogging so much in so long. Tomorrow or Thursday is going to be the beginning of Ramadan. For those Muslims who read my blog, Ramadan Mubarak to you, and may this Ramadan bring you a spiritual uplifting stronger than the previous one. For me, I have been really looking forward to this year’s Ramadan. I feel that my eeman (faith) has been dropping for a while now. I am hoping that I could once again have the determination and strength to read the Holy Quran again in its entirity like last time. Last year was the first time I had really benefitted from the month. It really propelled me to a new spiritual level (and in turn reflects in my happiness) in the year before. I know for sure I am not prepared spiritually for this year’s Ramadan for there are too much distractions in the Dunya which at times makes me feel takes my thoughts away from God, although when I do I often remind myself.
What really propelled me to write this blog post…let me see. Ramadan is not all I wanted to talk about, but rather I want to take this opportunity to summarise some recent thoughts. Out of all my friend in the UK, I have perhaps left Hong Kong (or home) the least. I was having dinner with a couple of my good friends from QuGee last weekend, and there was a point where we were talking about the best times and worst times of our lives since we left home. For me, definitely the 3rd year at uni was my best year by far. I had the opportunity to work closely with my housemates who we eventually branded QuGee, hence the domain of my blog. On a sidenote, I just realised how strange it is that I thought I had known everyone who is in QuGee from the start of uni, and I just realised I had only known Jac through ICMUN. Just like YGG found YSS through ICMUN - Blah…I’m not saying anything. Just an interesting thought I never actively thought about. Wang Yan (YGG) and I were looking through some house-trips we made to Italy, Switzerland, Germany and Austria in our first 2 years of uni prior the 3rd year. Although we all (except for Vincent and to small extent Terry) looked a little bit older and wiser, the friendship between those who stayed in the UK remain as strong as before. We still meet up each week, go yum cha sometimes, go dinner sometimes, just hanging out at home sometimes. My mum said to me that we were closer than us and our extended family in Hong Kong - which is very strong already. Meh, perhaps I am just a very family-orientated person, I just need to have that security there.
Just got a text message telling me Ramadan Mubarak. I guess relating this back to the paragraph above: I have never really grown up in a truly Islamic Environment where I had the priviledge of having a lot of Muslim friends around me. This year, I have 2 really good Muslim brothers who I talk Politics with, talk religion with and to a small extent ‘talk cock’ with. They keep me sane in an insane world in many respect. I have instigated this question to them, its always easier to be a hermit, and stay within your family, your group of friends, your community without needing to mix in the wider society - in that way the deen (the practices/belief system/way of life) of Islam will/can be preserved. However, you will never really have the trials and tribulations as such - surely those who dare to get out of their comfort zone and triumph in the wider society by preserving the principles/practices/temptations will succeed to a higher level. Anyway, I am feeling I am walking a fine line in the types of things I want to acheive in my life, but it will be good if I can come up with a new appreciation for life/religion/dunya.
There is a chinese saying - Only if you have perserverance, you can turn a metal pillar into a pin - I always ponder on that saying. I think you have to have a clear goal defined, and your mind must always be set on that goal because if not, you will loose it. There are a lot of ideas out there in the world today which can mislead us although it sounds like a truth (even within the branding of Islam) - but in the day and age we live in, its very difficult to tell the truth from falsehood. All I can say is live according to the principles which is defined by the lives of the prophets and the laws in which God has given to mankind. I am too much of a sufi -> I always look for signs from God, and I believe that whatever is good your heart will tell you so. I definitely have a stronger heart than before, more pure. I just hope if I follow my heart, truth will find me. I guess we all live our own version of the truth until the truth finds us.
Ok, I need to go to the mosque and find out if Ramadan starts tomorrow. I have been procrastinating for too long. Again, Ramadan Mubarak - Blessings for the month of Ramadan.