Thursday is a unique day for me. As a university student, it represents the last day before the weekend and the day of family gathering. It’s the time to relieve, renew my relations, and gain power for the coming week.
Praying & Athkar Impact
After getting up early on Thursday, I start my day with praying al-Fajr (Dawn) Prayer. As Muslims, we have to perform five prayers a day. Each has its specific time to be performed wherever we are. Then I recite morning athkar (remembrance of Allah) before going out to the university. These are two fortifying steps in my day. I used to have problems in going out of my home. I used to be afraid of transportation, possible accident, or any danger. My life was about to deteriorate. Once I knew that Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him (PBUH)) says,
“He who recites three times every morning and evening: ‘Bismillahil-ladhi la yadurru ma’as-mihi shai’un fil-ardi wa la fis-sama’i, wa Huwas-Sami’ul-‘Alim (In the Name of Allah with Whose Name there is protection against every kind of harm in the earth or in the heaven, and He is the All-Hearing and All-Knowing),’ nothing will harm him,”
I started to apply this with full certainty. It was a turning point. The result is that my thoughts and feelings while going out become different. I turn calm and active to continue. I only feel problematic when I don’t recite the athkar.
Transportation
I started to think positively about this time. Instead of consuming it in negative feelings, I turn to plan for making good use of them. I put a plan to improve myself during transportation; listening to religious lectures and English lessons to improve my language, as it is my specialization. Finally, I become motivated by the achievements.
University & Lectures
In general, I’m an introverted person. Going out and dealing with people represent a challenge for me. But I try to engage, help people, and gain experience. I try to be a good representative of Islam by my behavior and appearance as much as possible. I try to exert effort to get high grades and to deliver what I have learned. Some lectures are interesting, while others are very boring, but everything is not totally pink. I want to achieve a balance between secular and eternal life because Islam tells me to do so. Sometimes I feel motivated and successful, while others I feel the contrast. I am a human being full of shortcomings, and life is a struggle. My only hope is to continue, regardless of any interim failure.
Family Weekly Gathering
In the evening, I accompany my mother to go to my grandma. It is the weekly time to meet my uncle, aunt and cousins. It is the time for enjoying, laughing, and exchanging knowledge. If I don’t go for more than one week, I feel that I miss something. In general, we gather on every occasion to help and support each other physically and emotionally. In Islam, keeping a good relationship with relatives is highly recommended.
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) says,
“Whoever loves that he be granted more wealth and that his lease of life be prolonged then he should keep good relations with his Kith and kin,”
[ Sahih al-Bukhari ]
Qur’an
After returning home, I read in a book for interpreting the meanings of the Noble Qur’an. After that, I recite the verses which I read their interpretation. With the Book of Allah, I can understand the meaning of life, its purpose, the attributes of the Creator, and some events of the eternal life and how to deal with. I try to deal with this Book as Allah the Almighty asks me. Allah the Almighty says,
“[This is] a blessed Book which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded,”
If I don’t recite Qur’an one day, I feel empty and go astray.
End of the Day
At the end of the day, I make an evaluation for my day and plan for the near future. As I am about to be a graduate, I have to look for my potentials to create my own end!
