EST

The cafe’s name is Starwich. A cute play on words, and the embodiment of a typical corner cafe in New York on the Upper-ish East Side. Two middle-aged women friends sit together at the table in front of me, one telling the other about her wedding ring with a sapphire and two diamonds – not that she wears it; she lost it for three years before discovering it in a trinket box in her apartment somewhere on her birthday. At the table diagonally across from me, a man surfs the internet on his Apple laptop – toggling back and forth between his facebook account, yahoo account, and singles adverts on Craigslist. Three mothers sit speaking in Spanish to each other in another corner of the cafe, a child in its stroller and half-covered by a plastic sheet.

It is a terrible day outside – dreary, misty and raining. My pants are wet almost to my knees, and thankfully I was not splashed when walking on the streets. What a horrible last memory of New York as I embark on my travels, I think to myself – but then I stop. The rain, it’s a blessing from Allah (swt). I repeat softly to myself Ya Rahman! Shower Your Blessings upon me, as you shower us with these rain drops! Ya Razzaq! Provide me with what is best for me!

I am surrounded by people as I leave the cafe, hot chocolate with whipped cream in my hand, and walk the streets, an umbrella in the hands of every person walking by me in a fast pace, but it is only the remembrance of Allah (swt) that prevents me from feeling incredibly lonely.  

The Asma ul Husna, my favorite nasheed these days, is oddly comforting as I write this entry: the sombrous tone is a reflection of the weather outside, His Names reminding me of His wonder, even as I now look outside and all I see are high-rise buildings – over fifty rooftops – for miles in front of me, from the 29th floor, and wonder at the capabilities of human beings to build such buildings.

For verily, it is in the remembrance of God that hearts find rest . . .