Salaams to all.

Allah created us in toil, we are told this in the Quran. Sometimes that struggle includes toiling to understand the basic sense of what is happening in times of no sense. At times like this toil takes on many meanings and with that so does trust, and resilience, these are strengths we must hold on to in our hearts as we hold on to the rope of Allah. As said before with this we must protect our hearts in all the ways we can including seeking refuge in Allah. We are tested by our intentions, they and who we are, our being not what we have, or even what by the mercy of Allah we have done (as that is His mercy) will carry us beyond this life.

So, in the middle of the current unrest and upheaval across the UK, I ask you as I ask myself to trust Allah, to protect your hearts, knowing your situation make the best of intentions in trust of Him.I ask you to hope, to hold on to hope, to live in the knowledge that we have already won through our continued faith in the divine in this moment of uncertainty. In this state I ask you to look upon yourself with compassion, to look upon your family with compassion, and to look upon your neighbour with compassion.

Looking upon yourself in compassion and protecting your heart do what is right for you in your relationship with your Lord that may enable you to be safe and strong. Knowing as Rumi said that ‘there are a thousand ways to kiss the ground’ find your way the way that does not make your heart brittle we are feeling so many strong and complex things at this time even if we do not recognise this.

Looking upon your family with compassion, understand them, as each of them steer a course through this madness, and where you can help them to protect their hearts.

Looking upon your neighbour with compassion, some of our hearts are big enough like the Imam of the Abdullah Quilliam Mosque, to meet what appears as a tide of hate and see it with humanity see the humanity in the hearts and eye of those who come to us in hate, greeting them with tea, burgers, chips, reason, and compassion. Knowing our capacity, knowing our hearts, in trust of God let us be as good as we can with those around us, providing care if we can to those who need it, and understanding if we can to those who need it.

Finally, if we can if our trust is this strong with joy in our hearts let’s go forward in victory

Insh’Allah.