This piece was inspired by a transformative experience I had while teaching at the Aga Khan Academy in Mombasa, Kenya. The academy was located near the Likoni Ferry, where the honking sounds of waiting matatus (passenger vans that jettison from lane to lane, and honk to get through traffic) are juxtaposed against the azan, and awakened my senses. At first confusing and overwhelming, this cacophony of sounds gradually revealed an inner beauty and unity that reminded me of the importance of carrying the constant remembrance of Allah in one’s heart, even within the busyness of one’s material life (represented by the honking matatu sounds). Inshallah, through this remembrance one maintains a sense of peace, awareness, and clarity in each moment of being.
