By Sara Alqera

I have been fortunate to receive all the worldly blessings, for which I am truly grateful. However, my soul was in search of peace, there was something missing.

It was an emptiness in my heart that there is so much more to be accomplished in life! This quest for the unknown brought me to QUEST and here, started the most beautiful journey of my life.

Every Thursday, I would look forward to rushing to Quest straight from school, since I am a teacher, to attend my classes which always acted as a weekly tonic. It lifted me up spiritually and I enjoyed every minute of my time at Quest.

My friends used to ask how I took time out for another class after school, and I used to tell them this was my time and place to relax n unwind.

I would sometimes wonder, 3 hours in a week for the book of  Allah swt, our provider, our sustainer, our only true friend… am I giving it what it is due ?

Quest was the place where I was never judged for being myself, it was my comfort zone where I could keep my guard down. It was as if Allah swt was talking to me through the words of the Quran. Miraculously every time I was going through any situation, it felt like I was getting all the answers to my concerns, it was just beautiful.

Someone once told me that joining a Quran class doesn’t make you free from troubles in your life. We might be facing trials, obstacles and problems but I realized that this made me strong enough to face challenges with more wisdom and strength. Along with the realization that nothing happens without the will of Allah swt and if we are put through trials, it is because we are the chosen ones. Isn’t that a consolation? Like the saying goes, “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.”

I made the best of friends here, who are all genuine and God fearing people, this is where the true meaning of ayat 200 of Surah Al Imran dawned on me.

“ O you who have believed, persevere and endure and remain stationed and fear Allah swt that you may be successful.”

My whole perspective on life has changed. I now see it with a completely different outlook, and the best part is  I’ve found my calm and an unexplainable serenity that I’ve never experienced anywhere else.

Now, my only goal is to please Allah swt and my favorite dua are the last 2 verses of Surah Fajr

Aameen Yaa Rabb.