By Nicole Chen

Life is similar to the waves of ocean
It never stops.
When I look at it, it reminds me of you. You never rest.
If you are there, show me the way.
Show me the goodness and your love.
I am looking for you to bring me out of the ocean and into your arms.
Please do not let me caught up in the waves and drown me.
Save me.
I don’t want the words of the layman.
I only want yours through my heart.
Guide me back to the shore of sweetness.
Lift the veil between us.
For only I feel the ecstasy and intoxicated of real living through you.
Because only through you, I know life.
And I shall remind your student forever.

Re: 2017, Krabi Travel

*P.S. Looking back retrospectively now on what / written, I’ve provided the thought process on this poem.

It was a time before I took the shahadah formally. I was doing comparative
studies among the religions in the world.

Notably, with all due respect to the other religions, in some of religion
teachings, it was mentioned that God created the earth in 6 days and rest on the 7th day. But, as I was looking at the ocean, God couldn’t just rest on any other days like human.

And also, the words of layman refer to each religion (including Islam) claims that it is the true religion and / was struggling if my non-muslims loved ones have the opportunity to enter to Jannah. (May Allah continues to guide my non-muslims loved ones, Aamin!)

I was searching for the answer.

AND I FOUND IT BY HIS GRACE. WE DO NOT ENTER JANNAH BECAUSE WE ARE MUSLIMS. AND INSHAALLAH, IT IS THROUGH HIS MERCY.

We are only responsible and accountable for our deeds but the outcome is not up to us but Allah.

Abstractly, we, human performs the religiosity actions outwardly in any
religions, but if we search deep within, with sincere intention of finding the
truth (but not for argument’s sake to satisfy our nafs), faith is the one that will call on to the truth.

Therefore, until this day, I still believe, in the beginning, there is only one faith (that’s why when doing comparative studies of religious, it doesn’t surprise me to find many similarities)

Thus, I can embrace other religious (and the word is not tolerance), because I am looking through the lens of tiny bits and pieces of my beloved.

When you love someone, you can appreciate every small parts of what is have of him. But my heart can only attach to the one true faith.

While the Quran does not explicitly mention the word love but the message
that is send is all about love.

Our words of our beloved. I long to unlock the mysteries of his words entering my heart. May Allah gives me patience, strength and a lot of hidayah in my journey of learning his words in order to know him.

Love requires sacrifice (when the Prophet Musa (pbuh)’s mother puts him on the river. Courage. Lady Maryam as a single mother brought up the Prophet Isa. Commitment. Lady Khadijah stood by the Prophet Muhmmad (pbuh) when others do not believe him.

And there are many others stories that I have not yet to learn. That why I believe we should always start with love for all human kind first before spreading negative feelings then Allah will open his door of mercy on our hearts.

I believe the journey of faith can be found through reasoning and logical and lastly, hidayah. It is open to anyone who seek, like what Rumi says, “What you seek is seeking you”.

Our intellect is given by Allah, whether if you are muslim or non-muslims,
because it is his mercy for all mankind.

That why in Islam, knowledge is important, whether secular or Islamic studies, because it expands our critical thinking to get us closer to the truth.

We need the hidayah of our heart and we have no control over our hearts. It belongs to the one that create it. I once read it somewhere, hidayah means more than guidance. It means showing the way and leading in a gentle and kind way.

Therefore, hidayah is a gift from Allah and we need a health heart in hope to receive hidayah from him.

Because once you found it, you will never want to return- “Call unto Me and I shall respond to you. (Whenever you need guidance, turn to My Laws in the Qur’an and you will find an answer)”.

I’m no scholar, it is my journey to faith. I only a humble servant constantly
seeking a glimpse of his light.

Do You Believe in One God
& Ready to [Re]start your Journey of Faith & Gratitude as a Muslim?