Ramy (2019–…): Season 2, Episode 10 - You Are Naked in Front of Your Sheikh - full transcript

Sure.

Says Ramy Hassan.

Hey. Hey. Did anybody see you?

No.
This guard was staring at me,

but I think I imagined it. Hi.

Hey.

Shh!

What the fuck?

I didn't know they actually
enforced that.

That dude had a gun.

Yeah, yeah,
they enforce it, Ramy.



Are‐‐are you okay?

Yeah, I'm fine.

You know, I'm, uh

I know‐‐I know everything
is really close,

but I'm‐‐I'm not your‐‐
your brother.

- I'm your cousin.
- No, I know.

I just‐‐I wouldn't

um, that was the only thing
I could say to make him leave.

Oh. Huh. Yeah, no, I know.

Okay, no.

Okay, uh...

A lot.

A lot.

And‐‐and‐‐and, uh‐,



and I‐‐and I really, you know

I just‐‐I just don't want us
to do anything drastic, right?

Drastic, like me
almost getting arrested

so we can fuck?

No, I‐‐I‐‐.

Okay.
Uh, what‐‐what is this to you?

Like, what‐‐what do you want?

Like, we're‐‐we're‐‐
we're connecting, you know,

so much, and‐‐and‐‐and‐‐
and exploring that is amazing.

I‐‐I just, you know

I'm figuring out a lot of stuff
right now,

and‐‐and‐‐and I still
don't know where

where life's gonna take me.

Yeah, but I guess
I didn't think you'd want

to casually fuck your cousin.

Come on, we didn't even
grow up together.

We're barely cousins.

Oh, my God. You‐‐.

No, you‐‐you just‐‐you just,
like,

swooped in when I was‐‐
when my grandpa had just died,

and I was grieving and confused.

Well, he was my grandpa too.

No, see,
if I'm barely your cousin,

then he's barely your grandpa.

Look, I just‐‐you

you came here saying
that you wanted

to find a connection and God.

Yeah. AMANI: Yeah, and now

you don't know
what you're looking for?

Like, you kept
extending your trip,

and I thought it was because
of me, but it's not, is it?

It's that you don't have
anything to go back to.

All right. Okay, um...

Amani‐‐.

No, look, I‐‐I‐‐I'm‐‐
I'm not gonna risk everything

for someone who doesn't, like,
believe in anything,

so, um, yeah, I just‐‐
I‐‐I‐‐I hope life takes you

wherever the fuck
you want it to, Ramy.

My mom would always
make my dad stop the car

whenever we drove by a cemetery

so that we could say a prayer.

That's beautiful.

Yeah, there's this one
graveyard on the way

to our house
on the nicer side of town,

and, uh, we would always
stop by it.

And one day,
we actually walked in,

and we realized
it was a pet cemetery.

All those years, we thought
we were praying for families,

and it was just a bunch of cats.

I‐‐I mean, those cats got some

really high‐quality prayers,
like‐‐like, from your family.

That's‐‐that's huge.

They're‐‐they're set.

Yeah, cemeteries reminded me
of my mom,

not 'cause she's dead
but 'cause of who she was,

how thoughtful she was.

And then I remember Surat Yasin.

It's, um, the prayer that's
a reminder to the living.

You know, we come here for us,
to remind us

to be better people
while we can.

So, um,
that's why I brought you here.

I wanted to share that with you.

Um, I want us to commit
to improving together.

Me too. I‐‐I really do.

I wish I met your mom. Mm.

She sounds like she was
as amazing as you are.

You're lucky.

Yeah, I‐‐I‐‐I am lucky.

I mean, I'm being honest,

when I was a kid,
there was always this, like,

small part of me that wished
one of my parents would die

just so I could, like, have,
like, a thing, you know?

Like, you know there's always,
like, that kid in school who,

like, "Oh, his dad died,"

and he had kind of, like,
an edge.

Everyone would see him,
and it just gave him

just gave him that cool factor.

But, um‐‐but no, yeah,
I think, like,

my‐‐my parents being alive is

is cooler in the‐‐
in the long run, and...

Hmm, too short maybe.

What do you think?

Does that still fit you?

Of course it does.

Oh, I like this color.

What do you think?

Dena is helping me picking up
a dress for the katb kitab.

Yeah, that looks‐‐
it looks great.

Okay, so I'm probably
just gonna wear this one, then.

Oh, no, no, no, no, no.
You're wearing nothing.

Maybe I will wear that one.

I have to look my best, right?

It's probably the only wedding
I will get from either of you.

Yeah, probably. That's awful.

I, uh‐‐I just wanted
to say thanks, Mom,

for all the support.

You know, everything
you've done with the katb kitab,

and‐‐and just supporting me
and Zainab.

I‐‐I feel like

I was just talking to her
about it.

I just wanted to tell you
how much I love you, and...

Habibi.

You deserve it.

You're the best.

And you see,

there will be even more
family members coming

than we expected.

Wh‐‐wh‐‐what do you mean?

Your cousins are coming
from Egypt.

Wh‐‐wh‐‐which cousins?

Shadi and Amani.

No way. Cool.

S‐‐uh, wait, sorry.

You're saying that

you're saying that Amani
is‐‐is gonna be at our

at the katb kitab?

Yes, Shadi too. What's wrong?

Why? Why are they‐‐
why are they coming, Mom?

I told you it was gonna be
a small thing.

So I don't know why people
are‐‐are flying from‐‐from

from fucking Egypt right‐‐
right now.

It's easy; I was on the phone

with your aunt,
and I was telling her

about renewing your nadi card.

And I told her
about the wedding,

and she said they're coming,
so I couldn't say, "No, don't."

Mom, I don't need
a nadi card, okay?

I don't know why we‐‐
we gotta renew the nadi card

every year when I'm not going.

So I‐‐I just‐‐
I‐‐I don't get that.

And‐‐and‐‐and it's just‐‐
it's‐‐it's a space issue, okay?

Like, the‐‐the‐‐the‐‐the mosque
is new, and it's small,

and‐‐and we have a list
of people.

And now we have, you know,
Shadi and Amani

and‐‐and her‐‐her fuckin'
husband. It's‐‐.

Oh, no, they didn't last.
They broke it off.

See?
There will be only two guests.

What it‐‐it's‐‐it broke off?

They‐‐they're not even.

I didn't‐‐
I didn't‐‐no one fuck‐‐.

See, this is what I'm saying.
I don't know them, right?

They don't even‐‐ like, no one‐‐.

You're just on the fuckin'
phone and‐‐and everything‐‐.

It's not‐‐.

You know?
Like, it's not your fuckin'‐‐.

- What the fuck?
- Hey, get out.

Yallah, Dena.

Go clean his room. What?

We have to make place
for Shadi to sleep.

Why do I have to clean his room?

Because he is stressed!

And when he's stressed,
he cannot clean, okay?

Yallah!

Be useful! Come!

Okay, one more day

and he's out
of the fucking house.

So we're waiting
for your cousins so we can eat?

Our parents are
picking them up at the airport.

I haven't seen them
since I was, like, a kid.

It's crazy.

Ramy was just there, though.

Oh, yeah? How was that?

Ramy. Uh, yeah.

Yeah, it was

it was‐‐it was good.

I don't trust Arabs.

I mean, Ramy's cool,
but, you know, Arabs.

It's okay.
We don't trust the blacks.

The?

Hey.

Hey!

- Hey, hey.
- Hey, how are you?

What's good, cuz?

Dude, I've come to America.

Hi.

Amani. Do you remember me?

Wow, yes.

You were an ugly baby.
Look at you now, wow.

Yeah.

Hi. ZAINAB: Hi.

Hi, I'm Shadi. Congratulations.

Hey. AMANI: Hey.

Hey, Amani. Congratulations.

Yeah, yeah, thanks. Um‐‐.

Is this Zainab?

Yeah, Zainab,
it's my cousin Amani, yeah.

Hi. Hi.

Oh, my God. RAMY: Yeah.

It's so nice to meet you.

Mabruk. Mabruk!

No, it's‐‐I mean,
I'm really happy for you guys.

Thank you.

Uh, maybe we should
sit and eat, yeah?

Yeah, of course.
We'll go‐‐and we'll sit.

Yeah, we'll catch up.
Yeah, yeah, 'cause we just...

- Yeah, yeah, we just‐‐yeah.
- She's so pretty.

Yeah, yeah, she's‐‐
yeah, she's really pretty.

Damn, cuz,
this is so fuckin' dope.

Yeah, no, it's really cool, man.

I, uh‐‐I wasn't expecting
you guys to come, though.

I wouldn't miss this shit
for the world.

Yeah.

Hey, do you know
if they're, uh, playing

any cool flicks late night
in the movies?

I'm gonna try and catch
everything while I'm here.

It always takes us forever
to get any of the dope shit

in the theaters at home,
for reals.

Like,
Cairo just got "Hobbs & Shaw."

Can you believe that?

Wow. SHADI: Fuck, man.

Did those guys deserve
that spin‐off or what?

I'm so proud of them.

Yeah, no, they seem like
really cool people.

Shit.

Ramy, habibi, I need you
to go to the 7‐Eleven

and get me some stuff, please.

Ma, is‐‐is there no one else
that can go?

It's my little boy's
last night here,

so I can ask him
to do something for me, no?

And take Amani with you.

She forgot her toothbrush,
and I don't know,

she needs some other stuff.

She asked me to do it,
but I'm so tired,

and tomorrow is such a big day
for me, you know the katb kitab.

Yeah, I‐‐I know, Mom.
It's my katb kitab.

Yeah, habibi, it's mine too.

Yallah. Let's go.

Yo, could you, uh, grab me

a shatafa while you're out?

I didn't see one
in the bathroom.

Yeah, I'll check and see if they

if they have one.

Hey, um, could I also get
a pack of Merits, please?

Of course, ma'am,
anything for you.

Uh, hey, I was just
gonna have a quick smoke first

if that's okay.

Yeah.

So Zainab seems nice.

Yeah. She's, um...

She's really special.

How did you meet?

At the‐‐at the Sufi center,
actually.

Okay.

Yeah, I started going
after we, um...

Yeah.

You know, went to that hadra.

Yeah, no, I‐‐I remember.

Why'd you come?

'Cause my parents were paying

and I wasn't gonna turn down
a free trip to New York.

I mean, and then,
of course, it turns out

that it's in fuckin' Jersey.

Seriously, though.
Like, why are you here?

Uh... I don't know.

I, uh, was thinking about that

on the plane over here,

and... I mean,

'cause you're family, I guess.

But, um.

I guess I just couldn't believe

that you were getting married
so soon after us.

And I just‐‐
I needed to see it for myself.

You‐‐you got engaged
right after us,

and then‐‐
and then you broke it off,

and‐‐and I didn't know
anything about it.

I didn't know when it happened.
I didn't know when it ended.

I‐‐I‐‐I thought you moved on,
so‐,

so I did too.

Yeah, well, I guess I didn't.

I don't know. Look,
just everything with that guy

was a massive mistake, okay?

And‐‐and with you and me, I just

I started feeling like

things ended so abruptly,
you know?

And maybe it was‐‐
I just overreacted

because I was scared.

I don't know.

This is‐‐I mean, this is,

so fucking confusing.

I‐‐I can't‐‐I‐‐.

No, you're right. No, listen

I'm not‐‐ I'm sorry.

That's not what I‐‐no.

Okay, look at me.

No, we're good.

It's‐‐everything happens
for a reason.

And we are where we are,

and I am happy for you.

I am, Ramy.

She's‐‐she's great.

Thank you.

Yeah.

Everything's gonna be fine.

Inshallah.

Inshallah.

Why do you look depressed?

Ramy, we gotta go upstairs, man.

They're taking pictures soon.

Yeah, um, I don't

I don't know if I'm making
the right choice right now.

Yeah, of course you're not.

You met her, like, last week.

I mean, have you even taken her
for a test‐drive?

What?

How is she in bed?

Steve,
this is the sheikh's daughter.

What? You don't test‐drive.

You just get in the car
and alhamdulillah!

Look, are you all right, man?

Uh, Zainab's amazing, and‐‐and

and‐‐and everything's
been great.

I just started having some
thoughts about somebody else.

What kind of thoughts?

Did you act on them?

No.

Okay, you didn't act on it.
You're fine.

Let's just go upstairs.

It's just, I was‐‐
I was just so confident

that Zainab's the one,
and‐‐and now I‐‐.

The one?

Come on, man.

Just take a deep breath,
okay, recalibrate.

You're marrying Zainab today,
all right?

It's happening, all right?

And if you meet somebody else,
then you can marry her too.

Westerners have the wrong idea
about how marriage works.

You gotta look at the way
of the Prophet.

I get it.
You're a complicated man.

You have different parts of you
for different women.

I get it. You need it.

You can do it.
It's part of our tradition.

So you're‐‐you're saying
I should have multiple wives?

Yes, I'm saying exactly that.

You can have multiple wives.

Yeah, it's a phenomenal
hidden feature in our religion.

Being a fuckboy
is a hidden feature?

It's not a fuckboy, Steve, okay?

The woman has rights over you.

There's a contractual agreement.

You're keeping it real with
your God and family, all right?

Fuckboy doesn't even buy you
a sandwich.

I read in New York State
that over 80% of marriages

involve three or more partners.

That doesn't sound like
a real stat.

Ramy, you're going to regret
not taking that test‐drive.

I'm gonna take you out
for a test‐drive.

I'm gonna fuck you up.

Steve, I'm not kidding you.

What planet are you on?
Okay, guys, look,

let's just‐‐.

You're right.
I'm‐‐I'm marrying Zainab today.

I've been with other people,

and this is the best
my life's ever been,

so I'm‐‐I'm just gonna
go with that.

Let's go.

Let's go. Steve‐‐.

I can't go if he doesn't go.

Steve, you gotta back up
a little bit.

Steve,
please let them pass by you.

Step over. MO: I'm not‐‐.

Nobody's stepping over.
Step over.

My trousers are too tight.

This is tailor‐made. Step over.

Hey.

Hi.

We're married.

Yeah.

Yeah, we're...

Mm.

I'm actually kind of glad

that you weren't a virgin.

Uh.

Really?

Yeah, I think knowing that
allowed me to actually relax.

I know I'm not supposed
to say that,

but I'm just glad that
one of us had some experience.

Uh, I mean, that's‐‐that's‐‐
that's great,

'cause I‐‐I was
really nervous to‐‐to tell you,

you know, about things
that I've done before.

Yeah, I know.

And I really appreciated
your honesty.

I mean, some guys
would've lied or, you know,

not said anything at all,
so thank you.

Yeah, yeah, and‐‐'cause I‐‐
I‐‐that's the thing.

I‐‐I don't want to lie,

and‐‐and‐‐and I think in‐‐
in just being honest, you know,

you know I have had a past...

Mm‐hmm. You know?

I‐‐I've‐‐I've had sex that I‐‐
that I regret, you know,

um, sex that wasn't halal.

I mean, it really
never was halal until,

you know, tonight,

and‐‐and that's just why
I feel like Allah just

just sent you to‐‐
to make me better.

I think Allah sent you
to make me better.

Yeah.

It's just amazing that we

we just connect on‐‐
on our faith, right?

Yeah, mm‐hmm.
That's what's so important.

'Cause then we don't get
caught up in all these ideas

of‐‐of marriage that‐‐
that Westerners have, you know?

We know that Allah wants us
to be true to our nature.

Oh, okay, what do you mean,
"true to our nature"?

You know, like‐‐
you know how Westerners

are just so caught up
in this whole, like, uh,

"I'm only gonna get married
once and to one person,

and this person is gonna fill
all parts of me"?

You know, just, like,
that, like...

Mm‐hmm. That‐‐that, uh,

just that, like, Hallmark shit,
you know?

Like, just that, like,
it's fuckin'

it's, like,
corporate brainwashing, yeah?

So you want more than one wife,

and that's brainwash...

No, no, no, I'm

I'm saying that I want to be

like the Prophet.

And‐‐and the Prophet
had multiple wives,

so I'm just looking at the‐‐
just the whole path.

So you‐‐
you want multiple wives?

What I'm saying is that we're

we're allowed to have
up to four,

but‐‐but I wouldn't, like,
I would just

I would be, like‐‐like, two.

Like, I would just be at that,
like‐‐like, at a two.

You know what I mean?
Like‐‐like, I wouldn't

uh.

I think‐‐I think that some
of this is coming out wrong

because I feel guilty
about something that, um,

I'm now realizing maybe‐‐
maybe I should've told you.

Uh, just‐‐it was‐‐
it was just something, like,

part of my history that‐‐
that happened kind of recently.

How recently?

Uh, it was‐‐it was, like,
last night, I think.

- What?
- Yeah, it‐‐it was, like,

yeah, like‐‐like, la‐‐yeah,
but‐‐but I think the

the important thing is that
it happened, you know,

before we got married, and‐‐
and so I know technically,

like,
I don't have to say anything,

but I‐‐I wanted to.

What does that mean?

Look, I got‐‐I got, like,
ambushed, all right?

Like‐‐like, an ex of mine just

just came out of nowhere
into town

for the wedding, and I‐‐.

Your ex was at our katb kitab?

I didn't inv‐‐ ZAINAB: An ex?

I didn't invite her, okay?
It was my mom.

My mom fuckin' invited, like,
all of Cairo like

like we were having, like‐‐
like, a festival or something,

and‐‐and she told everybody,
and‐‐and I didn't want that.

Amani?

Amani, your cousin?

Yeah.

Amani, who was in
our wedding photos?

Well, yeah, she's‐‐
she's family.

Your ex is your cousin.

You had sex with your cousin,
who is your ex?

Yeah, you see,
you're really hitting "cousin,"

like, kind of hard, and I

I just want to again
say that's, like

that's some, like, West shit.

Like, that's not, like

like, principally, um‐,

and I know I broke
some principles.

I'm just saying,

just while we're here
in the area, there's‐‐.

Okay, not dealing with this
right now.

Okay, like, Zai‐‐.

Look, I‐‐I think you're‐‐.

Let's just, um‐‐.

We'll just‐‐ we'll just sleep,

and then inshallah
in the morning, we'll

we'll figure out, you know...

Mm. Zainab?

Z‐‐Zainab?

Uh... Sheikh

uh, where's, uh

where's‐‐where's Zainab at?

Zainab's gone.

Um, Sh‐‐Sheikh, um.

I blame myself.

I let you into my world...

- Into my daughter's world.
- No, this is

this is‐‐it's not‐‐it's not‐‐
um, listen.

Okay, it was‐‐ it was my fault.

It was‐‐
it was a misunderstanding.

It's‐‐it's not your fault.

It's‐‐it's not Zainab's fault.

No one's blaming Zainab.

No, no, no, of course,
of course, I‐‐I know that.

I just wanted you to know
that‐‐that I know that

so that we can‐‐
we can kind of just be on the,

uh‐‐ the same page about it.

Um...

Sheikh, look, maybe, uh,
what if‐‐what if I just

I'm just gonna put
some clothes on, yeah?

I'll put‐‐I'll put something on,

and then we could all
get together,

like, me and you
and‐‐and Zainab.

We can just, like,
maybe say a dua

about‐‐about forgiveness,

right, just‐‐just as a family.

Or, uh,

or if‐‐or if there's
something else that

that you recommend.

Sh‐‐Sh...

Ohh.

Ohh.

Sheikh.

I'm trying to calm myself.

I'm making wudu.

Okay, yeah. Yeah, maybe I'll

I'll make wudu, too.

I, uh‐‐I just‐‐
I might have to shower.

Like, uh, I think
there might be, like, a.

Uh, situation

because of last night, but.

Nico Asimini is dead.

Who?

The man your friend Dennis

beat to a pulp outside
of our masjid.

He died.

Um...

Wow, that's‐‐that's terrible.

I mean‐‐I mean, the guy did
want all Muslims to die.

Like, he‐‐he kind of‐‐
he said that,

but‐‐ but that doesn't mean that

that he that he should've...

See, I, um...

Sh‐‐Sheikh,

like, this could be, like,

a place to grow from, you know?

Like, we‐‐we started somewhere,
and then we‐‐we just

kind of

we‐‐we‐‐we grow.

You broke my baby girl's heart.

Look, I‐‐I was just

I was just trying
to tell her the truth.

That's what you told me to do.

You said, "Tell her everything."

You said, "Tell her everything
that‐‐that you've done."

And‐‐and I did that, and...

Look, I don't‐‐I don't know
why I'm like this, okay?

I‐‐I don't, and‐‐and that's why
I need you.

I‐‐I need you to‐‐to help me.

That's why you're my sheikh.

It's not about you and
your precious self‐improvement.

The rest of the world exists
so that you can reflect

on it and perfect yourself.

Is that it?

No, I don't‐‐
I don't think that.

Allah sent you to me
for a reason.

There has to be a reason.

Yeah, so‐‐so let's figure out
that reason, right?

We‐‐we'll get to the bottom
of it.

We‐‐we could just kind of, like

like‐‐like‐‐like, you know,
pray it out, talk it out,

get‐‐get‐‐get, um,

like, uh

you know, like,
I feel like we'll feel it.

Like, we'll just be like,
"That was the reason."

Like, I think if we just‐‐
we'll just be like, "That."

Maybe Allah sent you to see

if I would give in to my nafs,

if I would revert back
to my old ways.

Um, I don't‐‐I don't know

I don't know
what your old ways were,

but I‐‐I don't think you should
revert to them.

I really think where you're at
is‐‐is beautiful.

And‐‐and I think
that we're, uh, just, like,

we're testing each other,
maybe, through Allah.

But we don't know, right?

'Cause we don't know
Allah's will.

But you know the will
of the Prophet, right?

You told Zainab the Prophet
wants you to be true

to your nature,

the nature that guided you
to have sex

with your cousin
the night before marriage?

Look, it's actually‐‐
it's my friend Mo's theory,

and he explained it
a lot better than me, and‐‐.

Fuck you, Ramy.

Fuck you, you little fuck.

You little fuckin' boy.

Fuck you, Ramy.

You hurt people.

- I don't‐‐I don't want to.
- Fuck you.

Is that how I have to talk to
you to get you to understand?

You're dangerous.

Oh, fuck you.

Humility.

Humility is understanding
when something

is beyond your capacity.

I'm sorry.

I don't think I can help you.

Um, Sheikh, it's‐‐it's‐‐
it's time to pray, yeah?

You should do that.

Please stay. Please stay.

I'm gonna make wudu,
please, okay?

Please just let me make wudu.

Ramy, habibi!

Hey!

Hey, I‐‐I just, uh‐‐
I just came back to get,

um, uh,
some stuff that I forgot.

Where is Zainab?

She's‐‐she's at hers‐‐
uh, at our place,

uh, resting, you know,
after last night.

Maybe you should come
with her to eat dinner tonight?

They need to eat, no?

You come have dinner, habibi,

and then you stay the night
with us.

I'll‐‐I'll run it by her.

I'm‐‐I'm not sure. MAYSA: Okay.

Um, and I think I'm just
gonna grab Boomer

while‐‐while I'm here.

Uh, Ramy, can I talk to you
for a second while you're

before you go?

Yeah.

Yeah, thanks, man.

Um, okay, so I've

I've been having some feelings,
uh, lately.

But I don't want to do
anything about it

if it's gonna make you upset.

I don't know if I'm fucked up
or if it's normal,

or maybe it's normal
but I still shouldn't do it.

What? What's‐‐what happened,
Shadi? What's going on?

Um, I think I have feelings
for your sister.

No, you know what?
I don't. It's disgusting.

She's my cousin. Shit.

What the fuck is wrong with me?

Shit.

What did Shadi want?

Uh, he was just asking
where the, uh,

Apple store is,
so I‐‐I told him where to go.

Cool.
Uh, I'm just gonna grab her.

Bye.

‐ Bye‐bye, Boomer. ‐ Bye.

See ya, man.

Hey, Shadi,

if you want to go to the Apple
store later, I can take you.

Um, yeah, yeah, sure, I guess.

Cool. Yeah.

Hey. Hey.

Yeah, what's, um‐‐ what's up?

Uh, okay, I just

I just want to say I‐‐
I made a mistake.

Yeah.

No, I mean, we‐‐ we both did.

You don't have to‐‐ it's fine.

No, I'm not talking
about what we did.

What we did, that's‐‐
that's not a mistake.

That‐‐it was

it was what
was supposed to happen, right?

Like maktub, you know?

Like,
I shouldn't have married Zainab

when we have
what we have between us.

No, we don't have anything.

No, Amani, we're‐‐
we're supposed to be together.

No, no, no, no. Okay.

We're not supposed
to be together, okay?

We're not.

You can't keep coming back
to me every time

you want run away, okay?

I'm‐‐no, I

I'm not gonna be with someone

who makes me do stuff
that's insane

and, like, impulsive
and destructive, man.

Like, I‐‐I do things with you
that make me hate myself.

Just‐‐just go back
to your wife, okay?

Make sure to clean
outside and inside the ears.

Then the final step of the wudu

is washing your feet

three times on the right foot,
three times on the left,

making sure the water fills
the gaps between the toes.

This level of detail
is prescribed to us

for a clean body, which
is the path to a clean heart.

This is what Allah asks of us
after our time on this Earth,

to come with a clean heart.

The Prophet, peace be upon Him,

tells us that cleanliness
is half of our faith.

In the Quran, we read,

"Truly, God loves those

"who turn unto Him in repentance

and loves those
who purify themselves."

Prophet Muhammad, prayers
upon him and his family,

quotes Allah, saying,

"I was a hidden treasure,
loving to be known,

so I created creation
so they knew Me."

We learn from this
that Allah created creation

out of love.

So when the Muslim stands
and prostrates before Allah,

these are acts of obedience,
but more importantly,

these are acts of love.

Just as intention is the head
of any good thing,

love is the heart
of every good thing.

Creation.

An intelligent person
must ask herself,

"How did I get here?

How did the universe
come into being?"

Since you know with certainty

that you did not
create yourself,

just as the universe could not
have created itself,

your heart already knows

that behind the mirage
of the world is God,

the uncreated Creator

who brought forth
all of existence

from a prior state
of nonexistence.

Your heart, your soul,
your spirit,

and indeed, even your mind
know this fact with certainty.

The modern world
and all its noise

breed confusion,
skepticism, agnosticism,

and myriad forms of atheism

that sew an infinite variety
of doubts.

And yet, these doubts
can never overcome certainty.

God created the universe
out of nothing,

and no amount of doubt
can undo one's certainty

about this fact.

Know that it is the devil's
main objective

to get you to doubt
your certainty

in the necessary being of God.