Golden Orange Morning and Wings of Discipline

Today, February 24, 2026, the 6th day of Ramadan, the morning greeted us with a soft golden-orange hue, as if the sky were whispering promises of new hope. I, the phoenix who has risen countless times from the ashes of exhaustion, flew toward the Paradise Garden as my sacred daily routine. The city streets began to bustle with fasting people, yet that never made me late—discipline is the wing that lets me soar on time.

Jamaluddin al-Afghani & The Message of Discipline

In the Paradise Garden, the nation's children were already waiting with sparkling eyes. Today was their turn to present the legendary figure of Islamic reform, Jamaluddin al-Afghani. With great enthusiasm, they outlined his grand ideas: uniting the entire Muslim world through Pan-Islamism, resisting Western colonialism (which they viewed as a modern continuation of the Crusades), rejecting blind taqlid (imitation), reopening the gates of ijtihad (independent reasoning), and adopting modern science and technology without abandoning the pure roots of Islam. They spoke of how al-Afghani wanted Muslims to be united, strong, and advanced—not divided and left behind.

I listened with pride, then at the end of the session, I delivered the core message like a phoenix's flame igniting passion: “Children of the nation, if you wish to succeed like these reformers, be disciplined. Arrive at the Paradise Garden on time, don’t procrastinate, and don’t extend vacation time with trivial excuses. Discipline is the key to greatness, just as al-Afghani taught unity and ceaseless struggle

 Grief for the Scholar & The Mourning Sky

When break time came, I sat in my work chair, enjoying a moment of silence. Suddenly, a heartbreaking post appeared on my feed. A scholar in a distant small town had passed away. This scholar was no stranger to me—he was the witness at my marriage ceremony, the one who prayed for the blessings of my household. Tears nearly fell as I read the news. In a soft voice, I offered my best prayers: may Allah forgive him, have mercy on him, and place him in the highest paradise among the righteous.

I looked out the window. The sky, once bright and golden, now began to cloud over gently in shades of gray, as if nature itself shared in the sorrow. A gentle breeze carried a sense of melancholy, as though the clouds were quietly weeping over the departure of a pious servant.

Collaboration & Ramadan Family Love

Soon after, the parents of one of the nation's children came to see me. They wanted to discuss their child who had been absent from the Paradise Garden the previous day. We had a warm discussion, full of mutual understanding. In the end, we agreed: I as the phoenix educator and they as parents would work closely together. We would guide the child so that discipline grows strong within him—small steps today toward greatness tomorrow.

After teaching ended, I flew home tired but full of gratitude. Not long after, the phone rang. It was from Mother. She was at my sibling-in-law’s house, just 20 minutes from mine. I hurried over. There, Mother greeted me with a warm smile and gave me some bread for breaking the fast later—the sweetness of a mother’s love is always more delicious than anything else.

Then, Mother asked to be taken to the airport. She wanted to meet my youngest sibling. The trip was short but filled with stories. After dropping her off, I returned home, and together with my beloved wife, we delivered iftar food to our two children who are studying religion at a Qur'an education institution. We took an evening stroll together, hand in hand, enjoying the cool Ramadan breeze while chatting about this meaningful day.

The 6th day of Ramadan passed with a blend of light and sorrow, lessons and affection. Like a phoenix, I continue to fly—carrying the fire of knowledge, discipline, and prayers for the nation's children, for family, and for the ummah. May our fasts be accepted, and may we all return better. Happy iftar, everyone. 🌅🕊

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