Allah

A few years ago, I traveled with some fellow classmates and our teacher to Gatlinburg, TN. We decided to go on one hike to the highest point in the Smoky Mountains called Clingman's Dome. Unfortuantely, we started off in exactly the wrong direction and began heading towards another very high point at the top of Mount Leconte.

Because I had planned out the hike, the distance, and the time it would take us, I was not worried that we got started a bit late at around 11am since we had plenty of time to finish this hike and return well before dark. However, since we were going the wrong direction, all of the calculations were off.

We reached the top of Mount Leconte around 6pm, prayed 'asr, and began heading back down. When we reached a small stream (the only source of water on the trail), it was already getting dark. This was only about one quarter of the way down. We made wudu' the stream and then hiked on a little ways until we found a flat place to pray maghrib.

By this time it was quite dark. We were in the middle of the mountains of Tennessee with only two flashlights and no signs of life around. The stars were bright and abundant. Our teacher began to lead us in maghrib. After Surah al-Fatihah, he read:

الله نور السماوات والارض
Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth (24:35).

and stopped. He paused for a long time (much longer than is permissible in salah), but we knew why he was pausing. We all began to cry deeply as these verses which talk about the Light of Allah gained new depth for us. Eventually he moved on to a different surah, but this memory sticks in my mind and forces me to read this portion from Surah al-Nur whenever I'm under the bright night sky.

Colorado (part 1)

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

After the rigorous but rewarding studies at school, we had a break from school for two weeks at the beginning of this month. I considered where to stay during the break. My parents have said that if I go back to stay with them, they'll charge me rent. I coonsidered some friends' houses but I'd be too much of a burden. Thus, I thought the most logical way to take advantage of this time off would be to wander in the wilderness of the mountains of Colorado.

Several months before, I began acquring the necessary supplies to make my trip successful including:

a tent





a 20 degree sleeping bag






and a pocketrocket stove.





I departed on June 6th after Darul Hikmah Academy and was dropped off by some guy at the local airport.

Once I arrived in Denver via an aeroplane, -->
I was picked up by a very patient local whom I met on (and incidentally runs) a website called ColoradoMuslims.com. Then, after eating delicious tacos and discussing some of the finer points of fiqh in general and usool ul-fiqh specifically, I slept one mile above the level of the sea. In the morning after a wonderful breakfast, we drove to the mountains for me to being my hike.



Continued whenever I get around to it...

P.S .