"Thin" places where we connect with or feel the presence of God

i feel closest to my deen in the when facing fitnah - eg a shopping centre, the brothers know what i mean.

but I feel closest to Allah when, one some days, every desicion i make and every word i speak, I have the fear of Allah in my heart

Great thread.

My thin places are when I'm reading Qur'an in the dead of night. The stars are shining through the glass roof of the conservatory, or the rain might be hitting the roof and creating a kind of "percussion of the soul". It is like my own spiritual bubble.

I was also recently in a remote village, and would sleep on the roof of a mud hut in the middle of nowhere. The stars were just so close it was like I was in tune with the frequency of the whole universe. No noises, no cars, just silence. I love rural environments because there is so little light pollution, you can see the night sky in all its glory. Everything looks so massive and you realise just how small and insignificant we are in comparison to the Allmighty creation.

format_quote Originally Posted by Grace Seeker

And now, to follow up on myself, I would like to add another question to the conversation:

As you think about the "thin places" in your life, what does it mean to you to connect with God. What is at the core of that experience for you?

The core experience is that I feel at one with myself, the creation and God. That feeling of temporarily seeing through the facade of this temporary existence, being at peace forgetting the world for just five minutes which seem to stretch out into infinity.

What I wouldn't give for that right now!

Despite not believing in God I actually think I know what 'feeling' people are referring to. My first trigger is usually music, especially a choir doing the singing (not necessarily a church choir singing religious music btw) or gospel. A second time is sometimes when seeing animal life in action, which really triggers a sense of amazement. This can be something as simple as seeing an insect at work on a beautiful day or observing my dog acting like it is...well...alive and sentient. The mere fact that all these creatures seem intend on actually doing something just bewilders me.

If I were religious, I can imagine I would relate these experiences with God. Even now it is often a reason for me to think about the possible existence of God. At these moments I just a feel what could be best described as a sense of 'awe'. It is accompanied by a sensation of peace and happiness shortly after.

It never lasts all that long though.

[QUOTE=glo;1237486]A sense of 'oneness' with God (I know that in an Islamic forum that might sounds controversial, perhaps even blasphemous. It is not intended in such a way, it is just the only word I can think of to describe how close to God I feel at such times); of warmth and love and acceptance - despite my many flaws and faults.

Similarly I find that those feelings flow out back from me to God - my love for him, my gratitude for all his blessings and my acceptance of the tasks and tests he has for me.

In that place I would indeed love to dwell in forever![/QUOTE]

That's one of the promises about Paradise...one will feel the nearness to Allah over there, all the time. (and of course see Him too)

format_quote Originally Posted by Abdul-Raouf

Best occasion/place:
After the prayer is over...and after every one is left..When im in MASJID alone....the feeling is wonderful. (It has happened many times)

When I go to fajr or any other prayer very early before everyone else, just me and the muathin (especially an old man who has a very beautiful voice), listening to his adhan and repeating.
Best moments. Alhamdolillah

This is "kind of" inline with the topic of this particular forum.

I've recently moved from the United States to Egypt to learn Arabic, and I live about 20 minutes outside of the city of Cairo, in an area called 6th of October city. There is a very famous mosque here called the Hossary. It is Massive, beautifully decorated on the inside and the outside, and when I first moved here i was just taken by it.

But after living here for a few months, the beauty and calligraphy on the walls began to destract me, and I couldn't make dhikr [litanies] without staring at the chandelier or the decorations and just losing my focus. So, long story short, I started attending a smaller, basic mosque across the street, and I found the atmosphere to be so peaceful, and tranquil, and I've found the people ar relating to each other in a much more personal way.

After praying in the smaller, less noticed mosque, I became addicted. I felt I was closer to God, closer to my brothers, and just happier and calmer. I am reminded of the fact that the first mosque in Islam was not the massive mosque in Medina as many Muslims think, but a much smaller structure that people today wouldn't even recognize as a mosque. I think it's because the early Muslims were more obsessed with the inner beauty of things, rather than the superficial, outer beauty of things. They were much more concerned with beautifying their souls than any building. Just a thought.

Other than that, I really love the ocean, and I really love the stars on a summer night in America, as we say "out in the country" -you can't really see their granduer from a city. A lot of times I like to watch animals do their thing, so as to remember that Allah [swt] is the most Creative, and loves variety.

format_quote Originally Posted by MuslimCONVERT

This is "kind of" inline with the topic of this particular forum.

There is a very famous mosque here called the Hossary. It is Massive, beautifully decorated on the inside and the outside, and when I first moved here i was just taken by it.

But after living here for a few months ... I started attending a smaller, basic mosque across the street, and I found the atmosphere to be so peaceful, and tranquil, and I've found the people ar relating to each other in a much more personal way.

After praying in the smaller, less noticed mosque, I became addicted. I felt I was closer to God, closer to my brothers, and just happier and calmer.

Most definitely "in line". Anyplace, anything, any activity, any whatever that leads to one feeling somehow connected with God is what this thread is about.

Thanks for sharing!!

I like wide open spaces with less no. of people. It can be mountains, forests, beaches, anything...

As for activities, I feel like the best one is reciting Quran early in the morning hours....it's really very striking at that time of the day. The words and meanings seem to seep in better and a sensation of calmness descends over the mind and body. Also makes you remember your sins...