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#onenation

Today I was sitting in Jum'ah (Friday prayer), listening to the Khutbah (sermon) when I saw an Arab man enter the prayer space with both hands held out high as in prayer (dua)...I had not seen that practice before so I was a little surprised by the grandiose gesture. I wondered why he was doing that and then I saw that the family entering behind him was African American...following them was a couple of South Asian heritage, followed by a White man.
All of different heights, backgrounds, races, colors, ages. All with a hurried, busy expression on their face that said "oh snap! I am late!". All there for the love of the One God. All there to say "We submit to you, Our Lord!" All could have been doing anything else in the middle of a work day but chose to serve God the best way they knew. And that reminds me of:
"O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other (not that you may despise (each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things)." (Qur'an- chapter 49, verse 13)
Only God knows the level of Iman (faith) in their hearts. Only He knows what their true intention for being there was. Only He knows what struggles they faced while getting to that place. Only He knows what makes their hearts smile. Only He knows how 'good' or 'bad' among humans they are.
I looked at them and my heart filled up. It smiled and rejoiced. They reminded me of the One that I love because they love Him and He loves them. I wanted to go and thank them for giving me that warm, fuzzy feeling. Maybe I should've. May Allah protect them all and bring them to His mercy and blessings.
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