“Among the lessons I learned on Hajj was that I needed to be mindful and keep the inner connection with God at… — Kristiane Backer Copy Share Image
“But I comforted myself with the thought that the reward for every discomfort I suffered for God was a spiritual blessing.” — Kristiane Backer Copy Share Image
“The way we experience the pilgrimage is a reflection of our inner state,’ the imam said. ‘To some of us it will… — Kristiane Backer Copy Share Image
“When you see that earthly powers are not listening to you, that you are under siege in this city for four years… — Kristiane Backer Copy Share Image
“When you accept Islam, you don’t cease to be the person you were before in your identity and culture,’ he told me.… — Kristiane Backer Copy Share Image
Living a lie - pretending everything is fine when we are actually discontented - is hard work and, in the long run,… — Kristiane Backer Copy Share Image
Sometimes I was too tired, other times just lazy. Now and then, I was frustrated because nothing seemed to be happening -… — Kristiane Backer Copy Share Image
“You have returned from the lesser jihad to the greater jihad (jihad alakbar).” His followers asked him what that greater jihad was.… — Kristiane Backer Copy Share Image
“Religion is also a process of healing, I discovered – a healing of the soul. Even our language points to this relation.… — Kristiane Backer Copy Share Image
“Then Gai told me about the famous cup of the heart, which I should now begin to empty. The Sufis compare our… — Kristiane Backer Copy Share Image
“According to Islam, whenever we are struck by illness or misfortune or someone hurts us, there is a higher purpose behind it,… — Kristiane Backer Copy Share Image
“the essence of the Hajj is Arafat. On the ninth day of the Hajj month all pilgrims gather on the great Plain of Arafat… — Kristiane Backer Copy Share
“Boys will always be boys,’ he said. ‘The relationship obviously wasn’t meant to be.’ He told me I should trust that the break-up was… — Kristiane Backer Copy Share
“You’ve been tested.’ He advised me to try and ‘forgive and pardon, and this way seek to become beloved by God’ without my forgiveness… — Kristiane Backer Copy Share
Living a lie - pretending everything is fine when we are actually discontented - is hard work and, in the long run, even bad… — Kristiane Backer Copy Share
A sick person is Allah's guest for as long as he is ill. Every day he is sick, God gives him countless rewards, as… — Kristiane Backer Copy Share
“God was inviting me to go on Hajj, but before that I needed to settle my debts. Muslims may only embark on their pilgrimage… — Kristiane Backer Copy Share
“Religion is also a process of healing, I discovered – a healing of the soul. Even our language points to this relation. The words… — Kristiane Backer Copy Share
“everything that is in the world, there is a correspondence on every level of existence. The macrocosm is a reflection of the microcosm, and… — Kristiane Backer Copy Share
“It was clear to me by now that studying Islam was one thing – and absolutely worthwhile, because it helped me grasp the meaning… — Kristiane Backer Copy Share
“The words of the Quran all seemed strangely familiar yet so unlike anything I had ever read before,’ he told us. He embraced Islam… — Kristiane Backer Copy Share
“Purify your intentions, your inner being, your heart and be sincere in your actions,’ he wrote. ‘God looks into your heart, not at your… — Kristiane Backer Copy Share
“You have returned from the lesser jihad to the greater jihad (jihad alakbar).” His followers asked him what that greater jihad was. “The struggle… — Kristiane Backer Copy Share
“Of course I’d like to marry a practising Muslim, someone I can share my life and also my religion with, but I just haven’t… — Kristiane Backer Copy Share
“Nothing happens without God’s will, and life doesn’t always go according to plan. Man proposes, God disposes. And it is God’s will that we… — Kristiane Backer Copy Share
“Anyone seeking to draw closer to God needs to curb the horizontal and ascend to God vertically,’ he said. ‘And this means giving oneself… — Kristiane Backer Copy Share
