大象传媒

Good Morning

鈥淔riday the 13th. Unlucky for Some!鈥� Yes! I can still remember the spine-tingling horror of watching the movie way back in 1980. Quite why I was allowed to watch this film when I was a mere 9 years old is a question that should be asked鈥� but that鈥檚 not my issue today 鈥� Friday the 13th of September.

I have a more general concern about the maze of superstitions that live within cultures. For reasons unknown, Friday the 13th is considered unlucky. Some root the superstition in Christian culture, others in Norse legends. Regardless of its origins, the day somehow persists as a harbinger of bad luck. I guess such ideas persist because they are deeply rooted in our fears, our uncertainties. Some superstitions can become ways to help us control our world, to cope with chaos, to channel and to soothe our anxieties.

In Islam, superstitions are most definitely frowned upon. They are considered a distraction from having complete reliance on our Divine Source. 鈥淧ut your trust in God鈥� reminds the Qur鈥檃n, and such trust should help us remove the need for irrational fear, and provide us with peace of mind. Trust in God should give me confidence that my purpose and meaning in the world is grounded in knowledge and understanding.

For me, I strive for the peace of mind found in trusting in God. It鈥檚 not always easy. Whilst I have no concerns about Friday the 13th, I am not completely free of fear and doubt. I consider knowing that however, a positive in my journey towards a profound and intimate connection with the Divine.

I pray that I can know peace of mind, and to reach a state of harmony with people, and with the Divine. Ameen