True Friendship

One day I was sitting on a park bench, alone. There was quiet everywhere, I looked. No movement of people, traffic, or trees’ branches swaying in the breeze; just me thinking aloud, talking to myself to relieve my loneliness. My hands were cupped in my lap. Perhaps I was making a du’a unconsciously, thankful for the peaceful moment, this segment of time turned still. I closed my eyes to cherish it without nature’s vision.

A quiet blanket of calm covered me.

I know not how long it lasted except I was awakened from this reverie by a tingle. I felt a quickening in my hands that slowly triggered a movement of joy throughout my whole body. My eyes were the last to quicken from this tingle, opening to a glorious spectacle of pink petals gracing my palms. A Delicate, delicious fragrance stimulated my senses. I looked around for the rose bush that the wind blew them from but it was no where near in my sight; nowhere at all. I smiled as I rose from the bench; careful not to lose this precious gift. There are friends to be had, if we only open ourselves to the miracle of the Friendship of Allah (SWT). We are never alone.

By Zakia Iman Shahbaz