67:19,

"What is it that you seek?"

"Love, and peace."

"And how do you plan on attaining those?"

"That's the thing… I don't quite know"

We were sitting by the big oak tree that you love, the one overlooking the field of dandelions. It was a beautiful day, the sun as not too warm, the breeze was light and just fresh enough. Surrounded by the beauty of nature, we were both mesmerised by the view. You were looking at the dandelions swaying in the wind, the bees and butterflies flying by. And I was looking at you. You, deep in your thoughts. I noticed how your brows were slightly furrowed. and wondered what could possibly be on that mind of yours. I wanted to tell you about my view, one of the most beautiful of all. In front of me, I saw someone who felt lost, yet was right where he was meant to be. Don't you see? Knowledge can only be found in the unknown. How could you know clarity, without tasting the bittersweet blur? How could you know, without not knowing? I want to tell you. That without asking the question, you wouldn't get the answer. That asking the question itself, is the answer. You ask for Him, Him you will get. For who is it you think made you ask in the first place anyway?

"The more I think about the way we should rely on Allah," I finally say, "the more I realise how we are far from comprehending exactly how resourceful He is."

"How do you mean? Don't we learn about Him constantly?" you ask. You prop yourself up on your elbows, and look at me. Your eyes are filled with an intense curiosity, and I can't help but smile.

"Yes, we do learn about Him. But what do we truly do with that knowledge? How far do we understand the things we learn? We know He is Ar-Razzaq, The Provider. But what does that mean? He is the Provider of it all. From the smallest to the biggest of our needs. It all comes from Him. Sometimes we forget just how simple that is. We tend to make things more complicated than they need to be. Who said we could only find Him in total isolation, in deep states of meditation, far away from the world? Who told us we need to set out on a big, adventurous journey to seek Him? Who told us that Love and Peace could only be attained by a selected few with some magical prowess?"

You looked at me intently, blinked a few times waiting for me to continue.

"Don't you see? This magical prowess we admire, the one we desire, it's already within us. Within you, within me. We just have to find its key. And I believe that a lot of us already have the key in our hands. We just have to take the step of using it, to open the door to the world of Secrets."

"But how do I go to the world where I feel Him? Where I feel the trust in Him? Where I feel the Love for Him?"

"You just open your eyes, and your heart, and your soul. The first ray of light that hits your eyes every morning when you wake up, it’s from Him. The distant songs of birds, the light gushes of wind. The air you are breathing. It’s all Him. He exists without a place, isn’t confined to the concept of space, but if you look, if you see, you’ll know. You’ll know that He has left signs of His divine love and presence everywhere."

At that moment, two little birds flew towards us, their wings nearly touching the dandelions. We both looked at them, as they flew gracefully into the air. How their wings carried them, how they let the wind guide them. Their feathers were in shades of grey and blue, and they chirped happily as they landed on one of the branches of the tree. I looked back at you, and you had a beautiful smile on your face. Your eyes shone brightly as you looked at the birds, and mine shone as I looked at you. The following words found their way to my lips,

"The Prophet Muhammad (may peace and blessings be upon him) said, “If you were to rely upon Allah with the reliance He is due, you would be given provision like the birds. They go out hungry in the morning and come back with full bellies in the evening.”

This is the reliance He is due. Go out into the world not knowing what awaits you. You will never be able to know what the future holds. But just like the birds, you’ve been given wings to fly. A wing of Faith and a wing of Love. Use them. Just like the birds, you too can fly out everyday without any certainty of what you will face. But you fly anyway. You fly, knowing He will lift you up. He is the force flowing through your wings. Your heart might shake, your soul might quaver. Go out there anyway, and embrace the confusion, the unknown, the questions and the answers. If you set out on a journey towards Him, it is Him you will find.

Just like the birds in the sky, fly high, to your Love."

Indeed, those in awe of their Lord without seeing Him will have forgiveness and a great reward. (67:12)