Deen Intensive Foundation

Reflections from a Student at the Winter Deen Intensive Retreat

You can tell by someone's voice the peace they have in their heart, the faith they have, the connection they have with their Lord. This past week I was blessed to be in the presence of so many wonderful people who reminded me of my purpose in this dunya and the preparation I need to make for the Akhira. This dunya in reality is so short, it's said to be like a dream, because honestly, how much do we really remember about our past? And yet, it is so easy to get caught up in the dunya, to forget our greater duties to our Lord and for that which we will be held accountable for.

This week I met humble individuals who have chosen to put their Deen first and strengthen their souls for the tests they will face. Coming back, I feel more at peace and I already miss those who I spent such a short time with. A teacher of mine said that those with knowledge are like batteries and by being around them, it's like we all get charged. The people of knowledge are what keep this world going and as a consequence, we all benefit. They say that when one embarks on a journey to seek knowledge, the fish in the sea make dua for him. The fish make dua because they know that by that person seeking the Deen, they achieve Allah's mercy and when Allah's mercy is attained, even the fish in the sea benefit.

I think the hardest thing about leaving such a wonderful environment is realizing that there's a dunya out there to deal with. And yet Alhamdulilah, there are people out there who have their priorities straight, who live in this dunya but work towards seeking the means to attain pleasure in the Hereafter. I want to be one of those people and I pray that Allah keep us all on the steadfast path towards achieving that. I guess this sort of sums up what the DIP was for me: It was a reminder and a clarifier.