zulhijjah gifts

i was in class/work when Ustazah told her students to reach into their bags and take out something, and then gift it to the person next to them. “an act of kindness, a good action”, she said, encouraging it to be done in Zulhijjah.

i rummaged into my bag and found a brand new solid perfume i bought, and i also unhooked a new keychain with a reminder that i love: “Whoever is consistent will grow”.

i reached out to one sister on my right and handed the perfume. and then handed the reminder keychain to a makcik on the left.

the makcik’s face fell, she said she didn’t have anything to give me. and i said its okay! i really just wanted to give something and didnt expect anything in return.

at the end of the class, she turned to me, and to my biggest surprise, she handed me the quran she was holding. and i was dumbfounded and i said no i could not accept it. but she insisted, saying, “it’s a women’s quran, and because i love it.”

and my heart just.. burst. subhanAllah this person did not want to leave without gifting me something, and when she didn’t have anything to spare, she gave me something that she loves so much, even though she loves it and it might be difficult for her to part with it!

and that in itself is true gifting, because you gift what you love, instead of what you could spare. subhanAllah!

we hugged and made beautiful doas for each other before we parted. here, two strangers, wanting to do goodness in Zulhijjah, exchanged gifts that they love for themselves, for each other, for Allah’s sake!

truly this was such a beautiful encounter 😢💝

let’s race for goodness, in these early days of Zulhijjah! strive to do goodness, even the smallest of acts. try to insert great intentions in the smallest of actions, try to keep your heart and mind occupied with His remembrance, try your best to guard yourself from doing sins and His prohibitions.

this is the time to do good, and to ask for forgiveness. and to forgive is also part of doing good, so forgive others, as how you would want Allah to forgive you.

make these the best early Zulhijjah days you could ever live in, because we are not promised another Zulhijjah, or even another day.