…like a prayer…mat…shares the touching story of Debbie’s year long devotion to hand stitching a gift of a prayer mat for a ‘friend’ using the dramatic Japanese Sashiko embroidery technique…(tutorial here)

…visit her account of this project…where one is moved not only be her crafting talent, patience and fresh honesty, but also by the purity of generosity and love…Debbie’s selflessness also embraces being a home schooling mother…dedicated to the wholistic well being of her two boys…devoting her time and energies in establishing a solid foundation for them…unlike mothers who have ‘spare’ time when children are sent to school, she sacrifices, along with managing a humble home where wholesome alternatives to many aspects of living are addressed…wander through her archives for examples…breadmaking, chemical free detergents, healing balms, hand knits and crochet, quilting, tackling spinning, gardening, preserving produce, thrifting…with the dream of running a farm…practical revival of skills that are fast becoming extinct in the fast lane that unfortunately dominates our contemporary lifestyles…that consumes the soul and flits away valuable resources…may Allah Ta’ala fulfill her dream and more, Ameen…

…and so…after admiring Debbie’s work on this prayer mat via her blog and wondering who may be the blessed recipient…one can only guess the euphoria of having a small package handed to me to find Debbie’s ‘prayer mat’ neatly folded inside…through tears and gasps of disbelief I was holding a piece of LOVE…a love that Allah Ta’ala has manifested between sisters who have never even met!! what a unique form of love this is…a love that so often shines through with others who visit this humble space…SubhanAllah! We usually define ‘friendship’ as being between people who have met…so what of friendship with those who have never met…SubhanAllah!! Allahu Akbar…so great is the Muhabbat Allah Ta’ala has blessed us with opening hearts to allow this love to surge through…SUBHANALLAH!

…this beautiful mat IS a prayer…as if each stitch is imbued with Dhikr…as the hands touch each stitch raised on the smooth cool linen it seems buds of love burst forth…and there is a fragrance…it is not earthly…as though generosity and dedication exude an elixir…without sounding weird…or exaggerating…it’s as though the tactile sensation is already touching something otherworldly…heavenly…when actions and intentions are pure…is this what we can experience??

…the gratitude…to Allah Ta’ala for His unlimited Bounties…seems to be immeasurable…His Divine Words say:

If you are grateful, I will give you more. (14:7)

…Insha’Allah…Insha’Allah…Insha’Allah…

…Junayd Rahmatullahi alaihi said: ‘Thankfulness is that you not see yourself as deserving of the blessing’…and that is part of the emotion rippling through this grateful recipient right now…

…words seem inadequate in expressing the gratitude and thankfulness Dear Debbie…Du’a has been and will continue to flow from this meek slave for you and yours…

…The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam used to accept gifts and used to give something in return, from Sahih Bukhari, which has an entire Chapter on The Book of Gifts and Their Excellence…SubhanAllah…the infinite blessings and inspiring accounts are abundant for the Ummah of Muhammad SallAllahu alaihi wasallam to emulate and apply, Insha’Allah…

…JazakiLlahu khairan katheeran abada Dear Debbie for all that this gift means…so treasured…

All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam.  May He accept our humble efforts and grant us the capacity to be good and do good. Ameen.