As human beings we have two modalities that we operate in. The one is the modality of witnessing, of observation, of seeing. The second is a modality of acting. These normally oscillate.

As human beings we inhabit structures. We inhabit walls. We put ourselves inside confinements and boxes. These confinements and boxes are in two senses. The walls inside ourselves are carried by our internal dialogue, the self-talk that goes on, on an ongoing basis that leeches attention out of the moment that confronts you. The external...

The qasidah which we sing in dhikr, “aheemu wahdee bi dhikri rabbee,” Shaykh Muhammad ibn al-Habib says, “I’m alone in the remembrance of my Lord. The remembrance of my Lord, it is the cure.”