"Bismillah," I whisper.  Grasping the fluorescent orange, forked tip, careful not to crush the fletching with my palm, I draw an arrow from the quiver at my side.  Still clumsily, although gradually more gracefully, I slide the arrow into its resting place on the bow and nock it onto the bowstring.  With only a couple of lessons under my belt, I raise the bow, draw the string to my chin, take aim, and release letting the arrow fly.  The arrow shoots forward and strikes the target off center as the bowstring resonates with the sound of a shot lacking skill and concentration.

Considering where my deficiencies might be, I analyze the shot as I draw out another arrow.  Recognizing one of the many errors I probably made, I visualize the shot without it.  Taking a breath, saying "bismillah", and trying again, I struggle to achieve fluidity in controlled movements, depth in concentration, and consistency in the accuracy of my shot.

Initially as a novice onlooker, the vast details of the exquisite moment I am now trying to attain escaped me.  Only with taking the bow and arrow in hand does one realize the mental and physical self control that a master of archery possess to portray their skill with such grace.  The union of archer, bow, and arrow has an aesthetic appeal that is indescribable.  It must be lived.

Amazingly, I probably never would have pursued this had it not been for the words of Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) like those narrated by Uqbah ibn Amir:

I heard the Apostle of Allah (pbuh) say: Allah, Most High, will cause three persons to enter Paradise for one arrow: the maker when he has a good motive in making it, the one who shoots it, and the one who hands it; so shoot and ride, but your shooting is dearer to me than your riding. Everything with which a man amuses himself is vain except three (things): a man's training of his horse, his playing with his wife, and his shooting with his bow and arrow. If anyone abandons archery after becoming an adept through distaste for it, it is a blessing he has abandoned; or he said: for which he has been ungrateful.

Abu Dawud ...Book 14, Number 2507

From such encouragement, I sought out this healthy and beneficial amusement.

With only meager exposure, I began to realize an influence upon my life and parallels I never anticipated.  The physical aspects of strengthened muscles, improved posture, and care in movements may be obvious, but the mental and furthermore spiritual benefits took me by surprise.  First, I was intrigued by my discovery that the callous on my right middle finger from holding my pen is in the same place as a callous from pulling the arrow nocked bowstring.  This made me wonder if the use of the bow and arrow also bore similarities in the development of the mind and soul like the constant usage of the pen does.  Second, during the several hours of each practice, I had an increased longing for silence to enable more reflection upon my actions.  This consequently influenced the other arenas of my life in the same manner.  Third, and most amazing, I found myself striving for greater concentration and giving more care to purposefully completing and knowing the value of each position of my prayers.  The benefits were astonishing.

By taking up archery, I not only intended to fulfill a physical need for regular exercise but also to gain the reward of practicing a tradition of the Prophet.  SubhanAllah, I got so much more.  With each draw of the bow, I can feel an increasing ease in the pursuit of the resonation of harmony among all aspects of my self.  All praise is due to Allah for only He could know that in adding archery to one's life flickering rays of an even deeper inner peace could begin to stretch forth from one's soul.