We are canvases.⁣

⁣

We can become beautiful works of art or pieces that never make it out of the garage. ⁣

⁣

However, we were meant to be beautiful.⁣

⁣

𝘞𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘏𝘪𝘨𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘦. ⁣

⁣

That’s why God revealed to us Divine scripture; that’s why we have Islamic Law as a means of actualizing the beautiful pieces we were created to become. ⁣

⁣

This is why we avoid certain sins, why we surround ourselves with beautiful, like-minded and God-fearing people. This is why we practice good manners and submit ourselves to the Divine through our obligatory prayers.⁣

⁣

This is why we go on the Hajj when we are able, circling around a stone meanwhile creating a picture that the heavens above look down upon with awe. ⁣

⁣

It’s why we declare the testimony of faith,⁣

𝘓𝘢 𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘩𝘢 𝘪𝘭 𝘈𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘩 ⁣

𝘔𝘶𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘥 𝘙𝘢𝘴𝘶𝘭 𝘈𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘩⁣

⁣

Words that leave the lips with such ease and settle like dew on the heart of the believer.⁣

⁣

Beautiful. ⁣

⁣

This is why we have the month of Ramadan. A month to erase all of the bad brush strokes, the colors that were never meant to be, the smudges from trying to do two things at once, all of them are gone with every growl of the stomach and awakening of the passions that we dismiss for His sake. ⁣

⁣

But to get this painting, to achieve this beauty we have to apply ourselves in this month. ⁣

⁣

We have to lock ourselves away from the crowd, the noise, the plethora of distractions and focus on the canvas,⁣

⁣

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴. ⁣

⁣

This work of art will take time, and you may not see it completed in your lifetime. Your job is to start it, to find the colors, to prop up the easel, to prepare the brushes and begin to stroke.⁣

⁣

If for some reason you are unable to finish. ⁣

⁣

If for some reason you fail,⁣

⁣

If for some reason you become distracted,⁣

⁣

If for some reason you fail to complete the work of art… God will. ⁣

⁣

𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘏𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘏𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘺…⁣

⁣

and He created you to reflect it.