As We Reopen
By Parin Verjee
Approaching the doors of the Jamatkhana
Heads bowed in all humility
Lower your gaze
Pause a moment
Softly say a heartfelt prayer
Shukhrana, Al Hamdu’lillah
The blessed day has arrived
Quieten your thoughts
Touch your heart
Hand on your heart
Smile with your eyes
Greet gently
Gracious to one and all
Carry your mehmani in your heart
Let Allah’s light guide you
To His threshold
Let divine grace
Touch your praying hands
Embrace the silence
Be at peace
The sacred space
Awaits your soulful zikr
Date posted: August 16, 2020.
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About the author: Parin’s love of books, music, theatre, and travel sometimes leads her to writing about her experiences, and the reopening of Jamatkhanas inspired her to pen a few lines here. Originally from Kenya, she studied at Makerere University, Kampala, and at the University of Dijon, France, and lived in Oxford, England, before moving to Canada. She has been in Doha, Qatar, for the last 12 years and living in the Middle East has enhanced her appreciation of Islamic art and culture. She is presently back in Calgary.
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The featured photo shown at the top of this post was taken on the night of Friday August 14, 2020, when the Headquarters Jamatkhana dome at the Ismaili Centre Toronto was lit up for the first time since mid-March when Jamatkhanas across Canada closed down due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The spectacular lit up dome is visible from the busy Don Valley Parkway, and is much admired by pedestrians and drivers alike as they drive through the Parkway or walk along Eglinton Avenue and Wynford Drive. The photo and the beautiful poem penned by Parin Verjee celebrate the opening of the Headquarters Jamatkahana on Monday August 17, as well as other Jamatkhanas that have opened in recent days or will be opening in the coming days.
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Beautiful and heartfelt, thanks for sharing.
A welcoming return to Jamatkhanas after many months of spiritual vacuum adds credence to the timely expression of your poem. The lines ‘sacred space awaits your soulful zikr’ aptly resonates with my esoteric self.
After having experienced lockdown, one is not sure how one will feel emotionally going to Jamatkhana, observing all precautions for safety of oneself and others.
Your poem Parin, gives me peace and in a way prepares me to attend Jamatkhana. Thank you for the beautiful poem. Inshallah we look forward to more poems!
With much appreciation,
Azmina
Touched my heart!
You captured everyone s feelings !
Mawla bless you!
Gulshan
Fantastic, super spiritual, inspiring thoughts and I say this from the bottom of her heart. Keep it up and keep going all the up there is no limit.
Good Luck. Best Wishes. Moula bless you in abundance, worldly and spiritually.
Aameen
👌 An awesome poem.
Great poem. Excellent one, Parin.
Absolutely brilliantly written poem with deep sentimental inspirational words. Loved everything about it. I convey my heartfelt congratulations to the writer Parin Verjee. She is one clever girl. Wish her all the very best in life and pray that she is inspired more regularly and we benefit from her special talent bestowed upon Parin by our Mawla.
A beautiful poem, Parin. Thank you for sharing it. What a wonderful way to celebrate the opening of Jamatkhanas.
Shukranlillah. Alhamdulillah.
Amazing. A very inspirational poem. I will try to remember it when I am blessed to go to Jamatkhana; eagerly waiting for the invitation. Ameen.
Mawla graciously answered our prayers. Shukher Alhamdullilah