My Journey Through The Lens Of Quran Excerpt from RB's journal Subhan Allaah, I recently started journaling and penning down my Reflections over Quranic verses that resonate with me on another level....I shared with some closed audience and realised there are many who were comforted by my words and found solace and resonance with my feelings.... Sharing here for those who enjoy reading... It's soo therapeutic subhan Allaah ♥️

I was a completely different person back then — so much so that if I were to meet my younger self today, I would hardly recognize her. That's also the case with people who know me from that life; when they meet this version of mine; they would ask, *O, what have you done to yourself?* in a condescending tone; only if they knew that my one step towards Allaah subhana hu taala has resulted in the unimaginable bounties of Allaah that their eyes cannot see and their hearts cannot comprehend. I was the epitome of success back then in every worldly sense. Beauty, intelligence, wealth, exposure, career, dream holidays, confidence, marriage, kids - you name it. I had it all. But inwardly, I was drowning in distress, misery, and darkness. My heart was far from peace, engulfed in sin and the love of this dunya — آعوذ بالله so much so that when I made du'as, they were limited to matters of this dunya only. I had no understanding of what it truly meant to connect with Allaah, I was a Muslim by name and by heritage only... It was from the infinite mercy of Allaah subhana Hu taala that I planned my Umrah in December 2016, I didn’t even know how to make du’a or what to ask for. I wasn't even excited about that trip. Little did I know that my life was about to change for good. Alhamdulillaah I still remember that first gaze upon the Kaabah — a moment etched in my soul forever. It changed my entire being. During that Umrah, I didn't ask for any matters related to dunya; neither wealth nor success or anything. I asked only for one thing: *Guidance*.I shed tears like never before. It was an extraordinary journey, and it was through those sincere, uncertain pleas that Allaah turned my heart. That experience taught me that *Guidance is not something we receive by default — it must be asked for, longed for, and cherished.* I value this blessing more than anything, precisely because *I know what it feels like to live without it. Those years of darkness remind me of the immense mercy it is to be brought to the light.* And even now, *I realize that guidance is never guaranteed*. We can not assume that because we are rightly guided today, we will remain so tomorrow. So many have walked firmly on the straight path only to later stumble and fall into the traps of Shaytan. With every slip throughout the years, I feel the darkness that lurks inside me, still waiting for this facade to go down to make me return to my initial state. After all, the life I spent in those ugly years still haunts me, as my numbered days on this earth so far are still constituted by those pieces of me like imprints engraved on my soul. It seems as if one half of my soul is waiting for my other half to fail miserably. Subhan Allaah That’s why Surah Al-Fatihah resonates with me so deeply. The command to recite it multiple times every day is a divine reminder that we must continually ask Allah: 'اهدنا الصراط المستقيم' — Guide us to the Straight Path *This repetition isn’t a formality; it’s a spiritual lifeline.* It reminds us that guidance requires three things: knowledge, action, and above all, *Allaah’s help*. Without all three, we risk straying from the right course; we risk losing the most important treasure of our lives. May Allaah protect us all. After several years of being a joyful Muslim, I have come to the realisation that *Guidance is not a destination — it’s a journey. A lifelong journey of striving, supplicating, and staying humble before the One who holds our hearts.* O Turner of hearts, keep my heart steadfast on your Deen اهدنا الصراط المستقيم الهم مقلب القلوب ثبت قلبي على دينك