Honestly speaking I started this book back in October last year but I kept taking massive breaks out of it and this has hindered my overall view of the book.
It is ; reclaim your heart by Yasmin Mogahed.
I encountered this book by chance in a London bookshop and bought it having seen Mogahed on her Facebook page. I liked the idea of freeing yourself from the burden of life by attaching yourself mentally, spiritually and emotionally to God, Allah.
The testimonials at the beginning of the book really struck me as it seemed that thepractical application of the advice to come could and was having a real impact on the lives of those taking it.
Personally, I found Mogaheds points to be good and at times inspirational but I could not truly engage with all of what she said. Maybe it felt like a lot to take in at one time, maybe her writing style was not for me, I think it was a mixture of the two.
The idea that life is deception and God the truth echoes in every chapter of the book and this is something I agree with. Mogahed tackles the main experiences of worldly life, 'love' attachment' 'hardships' and teaches us that the only thing that stays constant is God himself and everything else in life is a gift given to us. She tells us to love the giver of the gift more than the gift and to fill our hearts with the giver and not be consumed by the gift.
I didn't expect to like the poems at the end but I found them to be truly beautiful and I related to 'I prayed for peace today' as it describes the disappointments and heartache life brings which I, as most people do, understand. Then she reminds me of something i forget sometimes which is 'and then you took care of it/ of course you did'. This reminds me that God never leaves you in a state of suffering permanently. He helps us all out of situation after situation and we should remember he will help us.
I think to get a better understanding of this book, it will require a re-read and i will in sha Allah pick this up again. It's a book to be digested and understood slowly and I will end on a beautiful quote from it.
"The stab is temporary. The freedom, eternal."
