One of the beautiful things about Islam is that it is more than a religion. For many faith followers, it is a complete way of life. We infuse ritual practices (i.e., salah, wudu, etc.) du’as (supplications), and Quran into every aspect of our lives, during good and trying times.

The Quran continues to be a vibrant book for Muslims. All over the world, believers recite the holy words in prayer and readings to draw themselves closer to Allah (S) and to find spiritual and emotional solace. Reading Quran provides a way to seek guidance, comfort and strength. Reading Quran can also take many forms, such as reciting aloud from memory, reciting while reading the mushaf (book) or listening to someone else recite.

I asked the Haute Hijab team to share a verse of the Quran that inspired them in 2022 and that which they hope to carry with them into 2023. They (we are missing a few team members) came with the Islamic heat, sharing their favorite du’as and verses and why these were meaningful to them.

There are so many I can't think of just one, but the one that resonated most with me this past year was:

This year I've had to let go of any and all unhealthy attachments to any person, place or thing in my life. In doing that I had to hold firmly to the rope of Allah (S) and realize that time and again, with each thing that was removed from my life, Allah (S) filled its place. His mercy, His love, His light. And, in turn it allowed me to have mercy for myself. Love for myself. It allowed me to access my own inner light.

I learned how to trust God in a way I never had before. I thought I trusted God. But I had all these "safety nets" I constructed that served as my crutch, to catch me when I fall, to be my safety and protection. When in truth, only God can do those things for me. No one and nothing else. Alhamdulillah, God is the Greatest. Sufficient for me is God. I need no one but Him. <3

This past year certainly had its high moments and low moments, as I know is the case for almost everyone. My eldest son, who is profoundly autistic, graduated from his school at the age of 22, which meant he stepped off the proverbial cliff into the void. But he didn't step off alone. We held hands together and jumped.

With the end of his school life came the start of his adult life, and that transition can be hard. He gained admission to an Adult Day program, but it took several months for that to start. And the transition into that program was rough as well. At home, my in-laws and parents continued to deal with different health issues, and my husband and I both faced challenges at work. But as the verse from Surah ar-Rahman says – what favors of your Lord would you deny?

How can I deny that as a family, we are together? We have a home, we have food, we are all relatively well. There are always blessings in our everyday existence, including discovering the strength to press on and figure out these next stages in life. There's love in my life, and that comes from Allah's (S) blessings. Alhamdulillah.

There is something so beautiful and yet so powerful about Ayat Al Kursi, Subhan’Allah.

I saw a video a while back of a girl who said that whenever she gets pulled over, she says Ayat al Kursi and not once has she received a ticket because of the protection it provided her, Alhamdulillah. It also reminds me of a story I heard when I was younger, where a girl walked through an alleyway and was assaulted by two men whereas another woman walked through the same alleyway after reading Ayat Al Kursi and came out untouched. When they asked the two men why they didn’t bother the second girl, they told them that it was because she had two men walking beside her. Subhan’Allah, Allah (S) sent two angels in the form of men to walk alongside her because she read the ayah of protection from Surat Al Baqarah.

If you’re reading this and you don’t already have it memorized, I highly recommend finding a reciter you like, having it on repeat and memorizing it, Insha’Allah. I recommend using this video, recited by Sheikh Saad Al Ghamidi. He recites it so that it’s almost like a melody, making it easier to memorize.

In every bad situation I was in, there was always something I would be grateful for. With hardship, Allah also gave me the strength and patience to bear it.

This is one of the first surahs I ever learned, making it close to my heart. As a perpetual procrastinator, the verses in this surah are a constant reminder to make the most of every minute. This message hits me hard when I contemplate the verses with the additional context of this surah's name.

I chose to share some verses that are also du’as, each beginning with calling on Allah (S) as our Lord. Forty verses in the Quran start with “Rabbana,” meaning “Our Lord.” I selected five to which I turn to on a constant basis.

For me, du’as from the Quran are special because they show us how Allah (S) wants us to call on him and how the Prophets (as) supplicated to Him (SWT). Raising my palms and calling to Allah (S), using His words, is not only comforting but feels like a double blessing, one of prayer and one of recitation.

As we move into the coming year, Insha'Allah we all can enjoy a relationship with Allah (S) words of revelation. The Quran serves as a reminder to receive the Creator’s guidance and gain internal peace.