麻豆约拍

A spiritual comment and prayer to start the day with Rania Hafez, senior lecturer at the University of Greenwich.

Good morning and a happy new year to you!

I know it鈥檚 not the first of January, but for me, a teacher, the beginning of the school year has always felt like New Year鈥檚 Day. Likewise for many out there, it鈥檒l be a start of sorts, as the summer comes to an end, and we resume the usual routine of work and school.

A few days ago Muslims marked the end of the lunar year, which completes with the month of pilgrimage. It鈥檚 interesting how the Islamic year ends with a quest that brings us back right to the start again. A year that culminates in a sacred journey back to oneself. It also gives us a chance to reset and start afresh. Islamic tradition holds that the one who completes the pilgrimage in true faith, returns like the day she was born; slate wiped clean to be written on with new resolve and hopefully more piety.

And although many of us have yet to undertake a pilgrimage, we can use the occasion of the new year, whether academic or lunar, to take a journey of the heart, and resolve to start anew.

So what are my new year鈥檚 resolutions? Well like many I always resolve to do more exercise and eat healthy, though seldom keep to that. So this year I鈥檝e decided I鈥檓 going to be more forgiving and kind; to myself to start with, but to others too. Kindness is much underrated, and we could all do with more magnanimity. I鈥檓 guided by the wise words of Baba Farid, a Muslim Sufi mystic who鈥檚 also a Sikh saint, who tells us:
鈥淒on鈥檛 utter even one harsh word, For the Beloved abides in all鈥�

Beloved, help us always to see ourselves and others with your benevolent merciful eyes.

Amen.