Voice of British Muslim Women

Fateha Khawaja, Islamabad Tilford

Simply put, everywhere. As I’m sitting here writing, one of the worst storms in the past few years is happening; even now, I feel the presence of God through the rain He has sent down, blessing the Earth with its most vital needs. For me, in everything I see, I can see the quintessence of God.

In Islam, depictions of the ‘face of God’ or the Being of God are forbidden. This, I believe, is the most beneficial thing for us because no Muslim will ever have the same idea of the ‘face of God’ in their perception. There are no constraints to what God can be and there should be none; He is God Who is unique in His powers and none can compare with Him. How can one describe or even picture this ethereal, unfathomable Being Who has blessed us with everything we are and everything we have – you genuinely cannot. There are not enough words in the world to describe Him and that is why everything I see, everything I hear, and everything I am encompasses His Being.

Some people find it difficult to comprehend the concept of ‘seeing’ God when in fact, in very literal terms you can’t see God. But that is what Allah the Almighty refers to as blindness in the Holy Qur’an: ‘… whoso is blind in this world, will be blind in the Hereafter…’ (Holy Qur’an Chapter 17, verse 73). If you are unable to see the ‘face of God’ in this world and cannot appreciate the blessings He has bestowed upon you and everything He has given you, how will you be able to obtain the blessings of being in the presence of Allah in the world to come?

You can see God’s essence through His Holiness, Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the Caliph or Khalifa of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.  Every time I go to the mosque, I leave with an intense sense of peace in my heart. Even a few glimpses of His Holiness after Salat (Prayer) has finished are coveted by so many. I feel incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to be able to go to the mosque every day and have this experience.

The ‘face of God’ is always incredibly visible to me as it is a feeling I can experience and the simple pleasures of everyday life I can witness; from me being able to physically walk to the mosque every day to the sun rising in the morning, illuminating our world.

It is not your eyes that should see the ‘face of God’, it is your heart, your passion and your love for your religion and your faith. I believe that once you are able to distinguish your faith from all other parts of your being, it becomes much easier to see the ‘face of God’ and feel His presence within you. Prayer is the best way that helps me detach from the persistent and unnecessary thoughts that relentlessly circle around my head. Prayer is the one way that I can confide in God. It is the one tool that helps free my worries and bring peace to my heart. I feel no burden on myself and don’t feel the need to impress anyone. It is during Prayer in prostration, where I am my lowest in front of God that I can become the most vulnerable and truly open the walls to my heart and see the ‘face of God.’