成人快手

Good morning.

I love books, I always have. Reading has formed me personally, professionally and spiritually. And how could it not, when the first words of revelation in Islam were, 鈥淚qra, Read, in the name of your Lord鈥�. The imperative to read is singular second person, first given to the Prophet Muhammad. But because it is eternalised in the Qur鈥檃n, it speaks to each of us as an invitation, a challenge, a responsibility.

But the Prophet was himself unlettered. He couldn鈥檛 read, and yet through him came one of the most studied, memorised, and transformative texts in history. And whilst he was riddled with doubt at this first experience of receiving revelation, he was met by the unwavering faith of his wife Khadija, who instilled confidence in him. Two things stay with me from this story.

First: Reading is personal. We each bring our own experiences, our own minds and hearts to the words before us. Whether it鈥檚 scripture, a novel, a news article, or even reading a situation, a moment, a person, we must do so with intelligence, care, confidence and integrity.

Second: We are all capable of more than we think. If an unlettered man could be the vessel for a book that continues to change the world, then what limits do we place on ourselves? And how much of our potential is revealed not by our own certainty, but by the faith others have in us?

So today I pray for the courage to embrace my agency. To read deeply. To believe in possibility. And to be blessed with companions who see my strengths even when I cannot. Ameen.