Ishq

So I came across this prompt on Instagram and shared it with our bi-weekly writing club: What title would you give to a book that was written about you?

If I were to pick a title for a book on myself, I would pick: Ishq. 

The thing that separates Ishq from other definitions of love - mohabbat, pyar- is that Ishq denotes unconditional, non-transactional love. Love that does not wait for it to be reciprocated - it seeks no validation and understands no reason. And in its wholeness, in its bravery, Ishq surpasses all forms of love. 

Nothing describes my life better than this word, in fact I believe everything in nature reflects Ishq… 

Oceans dancing to the rhythm of the mystical moon,

Birds chirping delightfully at that first break of dawn,

Sparkling fireflies transforming the night into a beautiful, radiant bride

An exhausted mother relishing her baby’s angelic smile when she/he has just had their tummy full after being breastfed…

A lover’s kiss long after the honeymoon’s over. 

Ishq is the dua you send out to the vast sky - knowing that someone up there is listening. 

Ishq is believing your love for the Almighty is not restricted to bowing your head down a certain number of times only.

Ishq is knowing you matter to your Creator, no matter how many times your people tell you otherwise. 

Ishq is the belief that everything will be alright. 

Ishq symbolizes divine madness - the madness my stubborn heart refuses to give up on.  

It is that deep but blind faith in the existence of the Unseen. 

Ishq is that unshakeable belief in the universe. In people. In love. In my work. Despite all the heartbreaks. Ishq is a relentless hope. 

Ishq is me. I am Ishq.

I leave you with a picture of my henna this last Eid that had the word Ishq in Urdu, scribed on my hand. 

So, if you had a book written after you, what would you call it? I would love to read about it in the comments.