The Lesson Taught by a Rose

Posted by Yasmin Mogahed on Mar 15, 2010 in Islamic Character, Islamic Studies, Overcoming Hardships, Reflections, Spiritual Purification | 2 comments

Roses have always been my favorite flower. I’m always struck by how perfect they are—for a moment. But in that moment, and even more so the moments that follow, roses have taught me an invaluable lesson. And I don’t mean a lesson in botany or horticulture. I mean a lesson in life. What happens to the rose’s perfectly defined petals even days after it blooms? What becomes of the brilliant red that makes a rose breathtakingly beautiful? Those petals wither. That brilliant red turns brown. And the rose that was once so full of beauty and life turns into dried up scraps that crumble at...