Testimonials from Students
Reflections from a Student
at the Winter Deen Intensive Retreat
You can
tell by someone's voice the peace they have in their heart, the
faith they have, the connection they have with their Lord. This
past week I was blessed to be in the presence of so many
wonderful people who reminded me of my purpose in this dunya and
the preparation I need to make for the Akhira. This dunya in
reality is so short, it's said to be like a dream, because
honestly, how much do we really remember about our past? And
yet, it is so easy to get caught up in the dunya, to forget our
greater duties to our Lord and for that which we will be held
accountable for.
This week I met humble individuals who have
chosen to put their Deen first and strengthen their souls for
the tests they will face. Coming back, I feel more at peace and
I already miss those who I spent such a short time with. A
teacher of mine said that those with knowledge are like
batteries and by being around them, it's like we all get
charged. The people of knowledge are what keep this world going
and as a consequence, we all benefit. They say that when one
embarks on a journey to seek knowledge, the fish in the sea make
dua for him. The fish make dua because they know that by that
person seeking the Deen, they achieve Allah's mercy and when
Allah's mercy is attained, even the fish in the sea benefit.
I
think the hardest thing about leaving such a wonderful
environment is realizing that there's a dunya out there to deal
with. And yet Alhamdulilah, there are people out there who have
their priorities straight, who live in this dunya but work
towards seeking the means to attain pleasure in the Hereafter. I
want to be one of those people and I pray that Allah keep us all
on the steadfast path towards achieving that. I guess this sort
of sums up what the DIP was for me: It was a reminder and a
clarifier.
Poems:
moments away from the mundane...
usually we write from the depth within us
but the intertwined deep roots that produce new phases of
enlightenment
aren't ever grasped in words and last only seconds within years
the one's in which you can't describe what's come over you
what's made your heart sink to another level
where it's crushed, but lit up with new spirit
because what it contains is untouchable
an emotion indescribable, a feeling irremovable
these are the moments which we live for
the one's that define our existence
our hearts, our times and our state
where we grow, climb and finally stop
in awe as we're shattered through experiences
shattered to where we must gather ourselves
post-enlightenment and see through a new beauty
another vision, another uplifting
that carries us on and creates that bridge
mundane realities work against us
these moments of ecstasy create us
and we search and search for them
despite societal restraints,
despite our outer selves, we run
with binoculars for new beginnings
new surroundings and most importantly
those moments, the one's
that within 15 lines are still indescribable
an ode to navasota
i like you dear navasota
you to me are texas
a place in which i have lived for
seven and something years \
and haven't experienced the
same scent of release
of freedom, of greenery
and scenery by the lake
at camp named allen
where our states now elated
all sat together and related
in the name of Him, The Most High
to you i owe a lot,
the greenery which i love
the trees which refreshed my days
the scholars who i came to praise
at the camp, at the town
where there were no frowns
where green grass and pond
swished and crickled
at our toes, at our sight
with the morning dew
and star lit nights
away from society
so i thank you Navasota, the woods
which made me feel like texas
was really texas, where country
was really beauty, where beauty
was really only Mercy, from
him the most Merciful
whom you brought me close to
Whose trees brushed with my spirit
and water swam with my heartbeats
and cold frosted days and rainy
nights didn't stop us or me or them
from enlightenment, from regaining spirits