Haal

In many Muslim cultures, when you want to ask them how they’re doing, you ask: in Arabic, ‘Kayf haal-ik?’ or, in Persian, ‘Haal-e shomaa chetoreh?’ How is your haal?

What is this haal that you inquire about? It is the transient state of one’s heart. In reality, we ask, ‘How is your heart doing at this very moment, at this breath?’ When I ask, ‘How are you?’ that is really what I want to know.

via Omid Safi at On Being's Tumblr