﷽ Confucius said: “We have two lives, and the second begins when we realize we only have one.” The appearance of this virus has inspired both FEAR and HOPE: Fear of all the known and unknown risks, but also Hope for a better future. NOW is a good time to embrace re-birth and renaissance, and to retire old habits of thought, destructive tactics of self-sabotage, and selfish, ego-driven patterns of behavior. Repentance is real, and God is truly the Turner of Hearts! May God grant us equal parts HOPE and FEAR, and make us realer than real!! In that spirit, i would like to share some happy news amidst all the sad things we are all hearing/seeing daily—may God have mercy on all of us! On Saturday, 9th November 2019 (which, at the time of scheduling, we didn’t even realize was also 12th Rabi al-Awwal 1441 AH, the Birthday (Mawlid) of the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ), God blessed my wife Jennifer Hoffman Usman (fka Jackson) (@jenusman_art) and me to host a small wedding reception for some close friends and family in Chicago, after being married by our beloved teacher Dr. Umar Faruq Abd-Allah. Jen is a world-class visual artist whose incredible artwork inspires remembrance, serenity, and tranquility of the heart. Her presence in my life has been nothing less than transformative, and i am infinitely grateful to God for a sincere companion along the journey of life. She and i are fellow travelers on the Path, sharing the same spiritual teachers, and working together to implement their simple instructions about the primary importance of Love & Service in our lives. We pray that God makes our remaining days on earth better than those that have passed, and that we assist one another in “standing up as witnesses for God, even if it be against our own selves.” May we receive a future with which God is well pleased. Here are some photos from the wedding reception. Please pray for us, all of humanity, and all of creation! God have mercy on all of us. In Love & Service, yours in Allah, —azhar ===== PHOTO CREDIT: 📸: @haleylerand