A new moon glimmers above us.
Bearing us back to a Ramadan no Muslim remembers.
To fast its days. Then pray its nights.
Alone.
Like the Prophet, on him be peace.
One step outside his simple sackcloth door.
Or his saintly Companions. Humbled at home.
Hallowing holy nights. Deep, in the “Prayer of Intervals.” Salat at-Tarawih.
Heaven has brought us to telling days.
A virus roves free. We shelter in place.
What, then, is God reminding us?
That He is One.
And we, His earthly creation.
That He alone is the Self-Sufficient.
And we, the poor in need of Him.
That He set Earth in balance for all
and we have offset it, with the avarice of our souls.
Vying in wealth. Adornments. Boasting
though the life of this world is fleeting. Distracting. Beguiling.
Vanishing.
Our real life is the one to come. With God.
And it is far better. And everlasting.
But after what?
Earthly accountability: What we do here matters there.
Moral responsibility: For every single human heart. We are Adam’s children.
Humanity is one. And every soul shall taste death … then
Divine Judgment: Did we take the steep road?
And do you realize what is the steep road?
It is offering food on a day of starvation.
Giving to an orphan, who is a relative.
Or a poor one, down in the dust.
