Vulnerable Moments
There is so much I wish I could share about my experiences working in a hospital. I have held the hand of a dying man, had existential discussions with a terminally-ill agnostic, have witnessed smudging ceremonies, heard family members share the incredible and humorous memories of loved ones they’ve lost, have had warm conversations about the value of faith with Christian patients so surprised but happy to see a Muslim visiting them at their bedside, and so many other moving experiences that remain very close to my heart.
When the subject of my working as a hospital chaplain comes up in conversation with others, it is commonly met with a look of surprise and my being asked how I could do something “so difficult.” It is not always easy for me to explain. I don’t see myself as “stronger than others.” Rather, I find strength in the sacredness and vulnerability of the moment.
Being with someone while they (or you) are emotionally vulnerable appears to have become increasingly rare in our lives; leading to fewer people experiencing them (or, at least, experiencing them less frequently). Instead, vulnerable moments have been replaced by online rants to everybody but nobody at all. Social media has been preventing us from social-izing and helping us to hide our true faces behind our latest selfie. It is as if our hearts are becoming pixelated in our increasingly virtual world.
For sure it is not easy to cope with our own mortality, grief, loss, or a sudden and unexpected illness. These thoughts and experiences challenge a very core but unfounded belief that many of us share and base our day-to-day lives on: the belief that we will be given enough time in life to do all that we hope to.
However, our time in this world (including our youth, health, and time with loved ones) is all limited. In fact, having to face the reality of our own mortality may very well be the most significant and unifying quality that we all share; but too often we refuse to talk about it.
While working as a hospital chaplain I have been privy to many vulnerable moments; each one of which is truly a rare treasure. I have come to see that it takes great strength to be vulnerable with others. In contrast, the online profiles we often create merely mask a more dynamic human being with faults, pain, humour and love.
Facebook posts and comments are but fool’s gold, it is in the sacredness of a moment where I seek that which truly enriches my life.
So, I remind myself to be vulnerable with those who I love and to all of those who have allowed me to be a part of your moments in 2016 and prior: thank you for the honour.
Resources Bank
To help support those seeking to meet the needs of Muslims within community and institutional settings, I have gathered together a variety of resources.
While it does not claim to be comprehensive, it does bring together articles, videos, books and related sources that can support those who serve Muslims in various capacities. Please share with others and also submit your own suggestions for other resources that you have found useful.
However, please note that not all links should be considered endorsements of the author, scholar or research institute. Nevertheless, I do hope that this resource bank is beneficial.
Receive Light, #GiveLight
My teachers and friends at SeekersHub are conducting a fundraising campaign to support and further expand their work spreading the light of Prophetic guidance.
Please consider learning more about SeekersHub and supporting them.
Sh. Faraz Rabbani, his fellow teachers and SeekersHub’s volunteers have been a shining beacon of light in my life. For me, SeekersHub has been a manifestation of the prophetic concern for others to know their Lord. Not only do they aspire to provide seekers of knowledge with the treasures which they seek; they also nourish the hearts of others to become seekers as well.
Like the story of the unknown man in Surah Ya-Sin who came to his people running and said, “O my people, follow the messengers” (Q36:20), SeekersHub is sprinting across the globe to call others to follow the inheritors of the Beloved of God ﷺ.
In support of their #GiveLight initiative, I have shared a brief though personal narrative of how I came to learn of and benefit from SeekersHub.
To read about my journey to light, click here.
Nurture Compassion #Ramadan2016
Join me this Ramadan for a weekly series on nurturing compassion
for ourselves, our families and our communities.
Each Sunday of Ramadan
12:30 – 1:30pm
Boyle Street Community League
9538 103A Avenue, Edmonton
Tarjuma emerges from our need to belong to a God-conscious, welcoming community that nourishes our longing for fellowship and spiritual cultivation.
To learn more, visit Tarjuma.ca
The Beauty of Islam: A Message of Mercy
If you had to summarize Islam with one word, what word would that be? What word can express for you the beauty of Islam and the comfort it brings to your heart?
For many, perhaps, that word is peace (salam). This is due, in part, to the peace in our heart that we are seeking as Muslims, but also to the fact that both islam and salam share the same Arabic tri-literal root (S-L-M).
For those who don’t know, most classical Arabic words are composed of three root letters from which we derive the primary meaning of the word. Because the words Islam and Salam are composed of a seen (S), lam (L) and meem (M), many draw a linguistic connection and say: “Islam is peace,” or “Islam means peace.” For this reason, peace (salam) may have been your chosen word. But, despite these reasons, peace is not the quality I find most striking about our faith.
When I read the ayat of the Glorious Qur’an something else stands out to me. It is something I also see when I read about the life of our Beloved Prophet (peace be upon him) and his Companions. It is something I also think about when I hear stories about the righteous women and men of Islam and when I interact with pious men and women within our community. This quality is mercy (rahma).
Outspoken: Stories on Mental Health
“Stories are…vessels for ancestors, memory, futures and laughter. They are the medium through which the divine is engaged…To state it more succinctly, stories are ceremony.”
— Mark Gonzales
The Green Room invites you to join OUTSPOKEN, a monthly storytelling series that explores the intersections of faith, identity, social issues, and well-being.
On Tuesday May 31, join us as we explore planet earth through the personal stories and narratives of local community members. All are welcome to join!
