Guest Post by Nibela Asghar – What an honour!

Spring is my favourite season of the year. I adore this season as it brings me so much joy to see the miracle of re-growth; daffodils and crocuses bloom again like clockwork, symbolising the coming of longer days in this month of March. What a beautiful sign from our Lord, Most High to show us His Magnificence in the perfection and beauty of each season, Alhamdulillah!

Alhamdulillah we begin this beautiful journey of Cherished Seasons with this month’s characteristic in leadership of connecting to our purpose. It is also a timely opportunity for us to reflect, acknowledge and connect to the wisdom of our body’s cyclic rhythm, from our wombspace, to our ultimate purpose and destination, Allah, The Most Glorified, The Most High.

The wombspace and her purpose

To assist us in connecting to our purpose and be the best possible servants of Allah, we can listen to her wisdom to know how to be spiritually, emotionally and physically at our best, In Sha Allah.
Just as each year has a Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, the cyclic rhythm of our wombspace has four seasons. This knowledge can help us to adapt making the most of each season and allow us to accept each for its individuality.

As women, do we understand the importance of honouring the seasons of our cycles and how to connect this with our purpose? Are we aware how we can maximise our potential using this wise tool?

“It is He Who forms you in the wombs, however He wills. There is no deity except Him, the exalted in Might, the Wise.
Surat Al Imraan, Ayat 6.

The nourishment and protection of a new life is a creative miracle in the womb. The wombspace is a place where creativity stems from. For those women who do not have this opportunity, their wombs still serve as a means of creativity. If this is stifled, this lack of expression of a woman’s creativity may cause physical symptoms in her body. I myself do not have children, so incorporate creative activities in my routine. I nurture many plants in my home and enjoy journaling as these things enable me to express this creative element, in all my seasons.

For those of us who have children or are responsible for them, remember this blessing is to increase the progeny of the Ummah to create great servants of Allah, In Sha Allah.

Intentions

The season of spring in the menstrual cycle is the time after the bleed ceases and before ovulation, or for non-menstruating women, after their bleed would have ceased. Amazingly, women who are menopausal continue to have these seasons and a cyclic pattern, although menopausal issues may mask it.

This season of spring is generally a time of growth and renewed creative energy after the stillness of winter of a woman’s bleed. As this energy arises, renewing our intentions will make our season of spring fruitful and pure.

It is important to keep checking our activities are in line with pleasing Allah. We also remind ourselves to not be hesitant in emulating Rasool Allah ﷺ so we can make changes inwardly and outwardly and be a humble example of a leader, In Sha Allah.

In this season of leadership, we can take ownership of our ideas and plan well at this time of renewed energy, yet always remembering that this Tawfeeq, divine assistance, is only from Allah. We are always prayerful in calling upon Allah to have sincerity in reaching our full potential.

This time of spring can be a great time to do those things that require more concentration, e.g, planning new projects, memorisation of the Surat we have yearned to memorise, a habit of reciting more Salaawat, starting a new class, batch cooking for the freezer, activities with children, any needed family/friend visits. The list is endless but we are to be very realistic and gentle on ourselves. We do not want to burn out as too much exertion can potentially affect our other seasons.

Rahmah

When we may want to charge forward and action our ideas, yet we are to remember to be merciful to those around us. We learn to embody the qualities of a Leader with kindness and humility, and not abruptness, especially to those who may not have the same energy as us!

I never understood why everyone else appeared to be moving so slowly as I had a surge of energy after my bleed! Alhamdulillah when I began to chart my emotions, energy levels and noted physical observations in my body, I accepted the stillness of others and honoured the season of my spring with needed tolerance!

From Hadeeth we are told that Allah SWT named the womb after one of His divine Names, Ar-Rahmaan, Subhan Allah! This attribute of mercy lies within us, in our wombspace, whether our womb is present or not. We know the importance of mercy upon others as we emulate the best of creation, Rasool Allah ﷺ, but how much mercy do we have upon ourselves?

Our bodies are an Amaanah, a trust, from Allah. Looking after ourselves is an act of worship, which unknowingly we can often neglect.

Practical self-care

We are mindful to cherish our whole selves, approaching this season with tenderness and care as our bodies may begin to prepare for ovulation. This includes keeping ourselves hydrated and reducing caffeine, sleeping the hours we need to rejuvenate, taking any needed supplements, eating nutritious wholesome foods, and doing our best to replace sugary snacks with better choices. It may not be possible to make major life changes, yet any little action can benefit us physically and spiritually.

Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Do good deeds properly, sincerely and moderately and know that your deeds will not make you enter Paradise, and that the most beloved deed to Allah is the most regular and constant even if it were little.”

If we do not feel we have this creative energy, it is helpful to think of factors that may have resulted in this depleted energy. Had we taken on a new project in our bleed, or were unable to rest adequately during it? Do we need time to ourselves, or to talk, or a holistic therapy to help heal from a difficult time? Are we dehydrated or even indulged in too many sugary foods (sugar removal will be a repeated theme!!). Or do we need a blood test to check we are well; many women with anaemia, thyroid or menopausal issues can really feel depleted in all seasons. Listening to the inner wisdom of our bodies for signs of dis-ease is a tool we need to practise to learn for others and ourselves.

In this month of March, as we connect to our purpose and our wombspace…

• Let us renew our intentions in our activities, as a form of worship to please Allah and emulate Rasool Allah ﷺ.
• Let us reflect if we have made room for adequate creativity in our lives.
• Let us make realistic plans and be merciful to others and importantly to ourselves.
• Let us note the wisdom our bodies and wombspace gift us to enable to better our health, In Sha Allah.

Have a purposeful March In Sha Allah!

By Nibela Asghar:

Nibela has studied Biochemistry yet has always been drawn to natural approaches in health and well-being due to the wisdom of her parents and teachers. After understanding the importance of womb health for women, she was inspired to train in Mizan therapy in 2017, a traditional womb healing practise to encourage balance to the reproductive organs, digestive system and emotional health. She is passionate about reviving traditional and natural approaches in health and encouraging women to realise the need to establish self-care practises.