Blessed New Year! First of the month of Muharram, 1438

In Allah’s All Embracing Compassion, Forgiveness and Love

Blessed New Year in the sacred cycle of life!

We have passed through twelve lunar months, through the months of Rejab, Shaban, Ramadan and Hajj. We have experienced the first Night of Rajab and the Fifteenth of Shaban, the Night of Power, the Day of Arafat and the two Eids. We have celebrated the eids of birth and the urs of passing of our beloved Pirs and Prophet, may they be showered in sublime peace. We have passed through uncountable spiritual seasons of the heart and the succession of moments marked by each heartbeat. And now we have returned to the beginning. And the beginning is always new, always filled with hope. Our hearts expand, trusting that Allah’s infinite mercy and generosity will continue to shower us and will always increase.

Our beloved Prophet, may he be showered in divine peace, offered on the first of Muharram the following prayer. May we offer it with him for the well-being of humanity.

O Allah, You are Eternal Reality, Creator of time,
And this is a new year.
I beg of you safety in it from the one who embodies all negativity.
I beg of you mastery of my limited self which inclines to negativity.
And I beg of you engagement in everything which draws me near to You.

O Generous and Merciful One!
O Lord of majesty and embracing generosity!
O Supporter of the one who has no support.
O Provider of the one who has no provision.
O Shelter of the one who has no shelter.
O Helper of the one who has no helper.
O Reliance of the one who has no one to lean on.
O Treasure of the one who has no treasure.
O You Who makes tests and trials a way of mercy.
O Ultimate Hope.
O Strength of the weak.
O Rescuer of the drowning.
O Savior from destruction.
O Benefactor! O Munificent!
O All Bestower! O All Benevolent!
Before You prostrates the blackness of the night
and the brightness of the day, the radiance of the moon and the glory of the sun, the ripple of the water, and the rustling of the trees.
You have no equal and no partner.
O Beloved Allah please make us better than what is thought of us.
Forgive us for that which remains hidden about us,
And do not blame us for what is said regarding us.
Sufficient for me is Allah, and there is no reality apart from Allah.
On Allah alone do I rely, Lord of the magnificent throne.
In this do we believe, that all comes from our Lord.
And none are aware of this except the people of insight.
O Lord and Lover of ours, do not let our hearts swerve after You have guided us!
And grant us mercy from Your own Presence, for You are the Bestower of mercy without limit.

Amin! Amin! Alhamdulillahi Rabbil Aleymin! All praises flow from every point and place of praise to the Source and Goal of all beings!

Know that these first ten days of Muharram are the period of time in which Imam Huseyn, his sister Zeinab and other family members and companions were in the desert of Karbala, may Allah be pleased with them and reward humanity for their sake. Insha'allah we will speak more about their sacrifice in another letter.

Blessed New Year!
And Blessed Rosh Hashanah, the holy new year of the Jewish cycle of creation.

Heart in heart, hand in hand, light in light, Fariha

Remember that the 10th day of Muharram is the day of Ashura.