Finding Solace and Strength in Times of Despair: A Piece About Palestine

The past few days have truly been heavy ones for our Ummah. From the earthquakes in Afghanistan to the injustice and brutalization of innocents in Palestine, our hearts are aching with sadness, despair, and frustration.

The situation in Gaza has particularly brought with it anger, discouragement, and shock, largely due to the immense double-standards and hypocrisy blatantly blaring itself in front of our eyes.

The repeating of history, with the employment of dirty and dishonorable tactics by the oppressors has left many of us miserable.

The misinformation, unfairness of one side over the other, and the profound lack of critical thinking and awareness from the general masses have ultimately collided into a ball of vehement power, and is being hurled right at us.

However, with all of this pain and suffering our brothers and sisters are going through, they are showing us strength and reminding us about the power of Imaan. They are the banners of our faith, unyielding to oppression, and yielding only to Allah’s decree.

They know that while the oppressors may scheme, torture, and fly above the blessed land with its blessed people, dropping bombs and destruction, Allah is far above them all.

And the greatest sign of faith is trust in Allah’s plan.

Because as He reminds us in the Quran,

“They planned, but Allah also planned. And Allah is the best of planners.”

(Al-Anfal 8:30)

Transgressors have always wreaked havoc on earth, overestimating their strength and underestimating Allah’s.

Surely, their time of judgment will come. And we shall see who will rejoice.

Am I Wealthy?

It is no secret that a lot of us equate having an abundance of blessings as a sign of Allah’s love. It’s a quite natural comparison -- a reward-like manifestation from the One Who rewards.

However, this comparison oftentimes is not reflective of reality, and is furthered by the materialistic nature of the world around us.

For example, someone who is blessed with a large house, a beautiful family, and a lucrative job may be automatically highlighted as someone whom Allah loves.

The Quran contains a fascinating story that exemplifies this delusion and the true nature of this situation, in Surah Kahf, with the story of the man and his two beautiful gardens:

And he entered his property, while wronging his soul, saying, “I do not think this will ever perish, nor do I think the Hour will ˹ever˺ come. And if in fact I am returned to my Lord, I will definitely get a far better outcome than ˹all˺ this.”

His ˹believing˺ companion replied, while conversing with him, “Do you disbelieve in the One Who created you from dust, then ˹developed you˺ from a sperm-drop, then formed you into a man? But as for me: He is Allah, my Lord, and I will never associate anyone with my Lord ˹in worship˺.

(Al-Kahf 18: 35-38)

We know how the story goes, with the rich man not heeding his less-affluent friend’s words, and eventually waking up to destroyed gardens.

However, the message that I would like to focus on within this story is that the signs of Allah's love are not manifested in the wealth and material blessings one has. Rather, they are reflected in one’s actions and heart.

Earthly pleasures and blessings are given to both believers and non-believers, as well as to those whom Allah loves and favors and to those Who He does not. This is not an attestation to His love, but rather, it is a test for the love of Him in our hearts.

We see in this story, that the richer man fell into delusion and automatically assumed that because he was showered with worldly bounties, he was favored by God, and would equally be showered with rewards in the Hereafter. And so Allah showed him the truth his friend had tried to remind him of.

True wealth is faith. If we all strive to have rich hearts and souls, the treasure within them will surely arrive filled to the brim on the Day of Judgement, inshaAllah!

Journey to Jannah: Patience During Tribulation

This entire life is a test, riddled with caves of struggles, hardship, and tough choices. We have seen great calamity just in the past few weeks, with the Morocco earthquake and the devastating floods in Libya.

May Allah grant all of those who lost their lives the highest place in Paradise, and heal those who have lived the horrors through His Mercy. Ameen.

While we are constantly reminded about the tribulations and adversity falling upon our brothers and sisters around the globe, as well as problems that we come across in our lives, it is easy to descend into hopelessness and fear.

However, calling to Allah in moments like these and consciously remaining patient, however hard it may be, is a promise for reward in the hereafter.

These ayaat unequivocally evoke the splendor that is waiting for those who suffered, but endured. In times such as this, the reminder is much needed, at least for myself.

And ˹they are˺ those who endure patiently, seeking their Lord’s pleasure, establish prayer, donate from what We have provided for them—secretly and openly—and respond to evil with good. It is they who will have the ultimate abode:

the Gardens of Eternity, which they will enter along with the righteous among their parents, spouses, and descendants. And the angels will enter upon them from every gate, ˹saying,˺

“Peace be upon you for your perseverance. How excellent is the ultimate abode!

(Ar-Ra’d 13:22-24)

How splendid is this description, painted so sublimely, and embedded with hope and reassurance?

This is solace for those who have lost dear ones, a reminder that a beautiful reunion is awaiting with open arms. Imagine, as we enter into Paradise, the weight of the struggles we have faced and endured with patience, falling off, as angels flow from every gates, greeting you with salaams and acclamation.

In fact, our imagination will never be able to envisage this scene, but our hearts and words can pray for this magnificent end.

The road to paradise is not one filled with sunlight and sparkles -- the mere existence of light commands the presence of dark, as does ease with hardship. It is not something we can control; rather it is our duty to accept. What we can control is the way we handle ourselves in these times and situations.

Every step we take through this arduous journey of life, we do so with patience and remembrance of God. And Insha'Allah, our travels will lead us to the destination we pray for.

The True Meaning of Justice

Oftentimes, when we hear the word justice, we tend to conjure up images of stern court judges or brawny war heroes clad in armor or maybe even scenarios of revenge and retribution.

This conceptualization is not surprising, as most of the events where justice is seen as a primary force tends to be within that sphere, further enhanced by movies, careers, and stereotypes.

However, as Muslims, each and every one of us has a duty to further justice within our own lives. Initially, it may seem hard to envision where exactly this can be done, but the Allah gives us the guidance in a beautiful way, when He says in Surah Hujuraat:

“And if two groups of believers fight each other, then make peace between them. But if one of them transgresses against the other, then fight against the transgressing group until they ˹are willing to˺ submit to the rule of Allah. If they do so, then make peace between both ˹groups˺ in all fairness and act justly. Surely Allah loves those who uphold justice.

The believers are but one brotherhood, so make peace between your brothers. And be mindful of Allah so you may be shown mercy.”

(Hujuraat 49:9-10)

At first glance, you may again see that justice is coupled with attaining it through means of fighting. But with a closer look, we notice that Allah has emphasized another characteristic far more in these two ayaat: peace.

When two groups of Muslims are in disagreement or hostility with one another, it is our duty to do our best to make peace, rather than initially choosing a side, and flaring up emotions. This in of itself, is a test to the human nature: assessing a scenario with a levelheaded view, and making peace a priority. If a side is unreasonable and is clearly crossing boundaries, then we fight to make it right in order to make peace, not to prove them wrong or get revenge.

This is true justice. Impassioned by the love of Allah, but maintaining fairness and peace.

Allah again reiterates the importance of making peace, when He reminds us that all believers are all under the canopy of brotherhood and sisterhood, and that striving for peacefulness is a duty.

So the next time, you’re stuck between friends or family arguing, or even on a larger scale, remember that justice is peace, and truly, those who show mercy and softness to the creation, will be shown the pinnacle of mercy and love by Allah.

Reflections on the Parable of Good Words in the Quran

Good speech is a rather common trait that comes to mind when someone thinks about a nice individual, let alone a righteous one. It’s an innate feeling that someone who speaks good words is probably a pretty good person.

However, we often forget the heavy weight good speech has in our faith, due to it being hard to maintain during times of frustration, anger, or even in playful speech.

Allah reminds us of the significance of this simple characteristic in Surah Ibrahim through a tangible metaphor:

Do you not see how Allah compares a good word to a good tree? Its root is firm and its branches reach the sky, ˹always˺ yielding its fruit in every season by the Will of its Lord. This is how Allah sets forth parables for the people, so perhaps they will be mindful. And the parable of an evil word is that of an evil tree, uprooted from the earth, having no stability. Allah makes the believers steadfast with the firm Word ˹of faith˺in this worldly life and the Hereafter. And Allah leaves the wrongdoers to stray. For Allah does what He wills.

(Ibrahim 14:24-27)

In these beautiful ayaat, Allah tells us that a good word is like a good tree, and similarly, an evil word is like an evil one.

Words that are rooted in faith and in goodness are enough to keep a tree standing tall and prosperously. The one who leans on this tree does not have to worry about it falling on him or her, and instead reaps the fruit of its blessings and is content under its shade.

On the other hand, a word rooted in falsehood and evil will uproot a tree and consequently, lead to its death, leaving with it either falling on top of the one who leans against it, or forcing him or her to carry the burden of keeping the tree superficially standing.

Imagine having an unstable tree for every evil word spoken -- how burdensome will that be for the ones under them?

Eventually, the person will be unable to keep them all upright, and at least one will crush them.

These ayaat are reminders that only those who speak words rooted with the “Word of faith” will remain steadfast and strong like the good tree both in this world and the next.

May Allah protect us from being like the straying, burdened wrongdoers, and allow us to grow in our faith, steadfast and upright, reaching towards the heavens. Ameen!!

How Strong is YOUR Web?

An intricate weaving of glistening threads hidden amongst leaves, corners, and sometimes so hidden you run right into it, cueing frantic swiping at your face and praying its creator hasn’t entered the abyss of your mouth.

Yup, the web of our favorite arachnid -- the spider.

The spider has a whole chapter in the Quran named after it (Ankabut), with a single ayah in which a metaphorical comparison is made to this creature, more specifically its web:

{مَثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ أَوْلِيَآءَ كَمَثَلِ ٱلْعَنكَبُوتِ ٱتَّخَذَتْ بَيْتًۭا ۖ وَإِنَّ أَوْهَنَ ٱلْبُيُوتِ لَبَيْتُ ٱلْعَنكَبُوتِ ۖ لَوْ كَانُوا۟ يَعْلَمُونَ}

“The parable of those who take protectors other than Allah is that of a spider spinning a shelter. And the flimsiest of all shelters is certainly that of a spider, if only they knew.” (Surah Ankabut 29:41)

Why does Allah make this comparison?

The spider, we know, takes an immense amount of time and effort to create such a fragile but incredibly complex structure. However, with a strong enough gust of wind, heavy rain, or the plowing through of an unwieldy creature (*cough*), it is destroyed, and the spider begins again, and again, and again.

But what is fascinating is that spider silk is actually one of the strongest natural materials to exist, due to its high strength-to-weight ratio and its characteristic stretchiness, malleability, and stickiness.

Perhaps this is a message that even though one is blessed with strength and the best of skills, it is possible to use these talents and features to fashion something so weak and flimsy, yet seemingly intricate and perfect.

To put it another way, what is one thing that humans are blessed with, that other creations are not? Free will. Or in other words, our minds.

We live our life as if we are the ones who mold the web of our existence, not realizing that there are far more powerful entities that can destroy us in a split second. That what we frantically plan, obsess over, and sacrifice for the sake of the Dunya, can be as easily collapsed and entangled as the spider’s web is from a mere flurry of wind.

Our minds, our intellect, our free will, are all profound blessings from the Almighty. If we place our trust in Him, and truly understand that it is only Him who can protect us from the millions of things that could go wrong, our webs will remain strong and beautiful - scintillating in the sun with the light of faith and protection.

What Really is Sacrifice?

We are amongst the blessed days of Dhul Hijjah, and rapidly approaching Eid-ul-Adha. Usually when asked about the symbolism of this Eid, our minds instantly turn to the story of Prophet Ibrahim and his son Ismaeel. This story touches upon so many vital facets of the human experience, but I’d like to focus on a core theme of this beautiful narration that should have a deeper application in our lives: the essence of sacrifice.

In the story of Ibrahim (AS), we explore the origin of the sacrificing tradition we practice every year. However, although we hear it every Eid, it is easy to overlook the greatness of Ibrahim’s faith and the lesson we all can take from it. The sacrifice of Ibrahim is not one to be taken lightly -- he was willing to give up Ismaeel, his son, whom he prayed for years for, and was blessed with his birth while being 86 years of age! Ismaeel represented something very dear to Ibrahim, and is at the essence of what sacrifice really is.

There is no faith without sacrifice. Oftentimes, we become too used to taking the benefits our faith gives us, and gloss over the importance of sacrificing for the sake of our Deen. The ability to wholeheartedly sacrifice is a litmus test for the believer.

But how does sacrifice look today? How can we implement this core tenet of our tradition and faith into our everyday lives?

It is quite simple really. Instead of serving only ourselves and our desires, we sacrifice our time, wealth, sleep, intellect, (and the list goes on) for others! In other words, we use the blessings Allah has given us in the path of serving His creation.

I’ll leave you all with a message that was an enormous wakeup call for me when I first heard it, and I’d love to share it with you.

“Sacrifice is not sacrifice until it hurts you.”

How profound. True sacrifice is being able to step out of our comfort zones to the point that we feel an ache as we give up certain things for the sake of Allah.

Sacrifice is never easy. But it is an adornment for the faith of a believer. As it was for Ibrahim (AS). May we all reach his level of love for Allah. Ameen!

We Made AI, Now Can We Make a Fly?

Note: Reconciliation of AI and Islam is a much heavier topic and requires a deeper analysis by experienced individuals.

Within just the past couple of years, and especially months, we’ve seen an enormous jump in technological advancements, with artificial intelligence being in vogue. While the many posts and theories of the profound impact and ingenuity this domain carries is circulating all over the web and conversations (no doubt, it’s seriously mind-blowing), it is important to continue to reflect and remain conscious about implications and interactions with reality.

In other words, while appreciating the astonishing complexity and immense potential these tools are bringing into the world by human minds just like ours, reminders of our limitations are vital in this day and age.

Why? Because at the end of the day, the definition of artificial intelligence at its core is to use technology to imitate the abilities of the human mind. In essence, reaching the peak of human innovation is coming back to the tangible creation of God. In this case, it is the human mind. Subhanallah!

This ayah from Surah Hajj comes to mind amongst similar reflections, where Allah gives us a reminder of our constraints through an example:

{يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ ضُرِبَ مَثَلٌۭ فَٱسْتَمِعُوا۟ لَهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ لَن يَخْلُقُوا۟ ذُبَابًۭا وَلَوِ ٱجْتَمَعُوا۟ لَهُۥ ۖ وَإِن يَسْلُبْهُمُ ٱلذُّبَابُ شَيْـًۭٔا لَّا يَسْتَنقِذُوهُ مِنْهُ ۚ ضَعُفَ ٱلطَّالِبُ وَٱلْمَطْلُوبُ}

“O humanity! A lesson is set forth, so listen to it ˹carefully˺: those ˹idols˺ you invoke besides Allah can never create ˹so much as˺ a fly, even if they ˹all˺ were to come together for that. And if a fly were to snatch anything away from them, they cannot ˹even˺ retrieve it from the fly. How powerless are those who invoke and those invoked!” (Surah Hajj 22:73)

At first glance, the common deduction may be, “oh, Allah isn’t talking about us in general, He is specifically referring to the idols that people used to carve and worship. Obviously, no matter how many of them are put together to create anything, let alone a fly, they wouldn’t be able to do it!”

But there’s a wisdom underlying this ayah. When Allah refers to those invoked (the idols), He doesn’t necessarily mean the type of stone idols the Makkans used to worship before Islam.

An idol is something one worships. We know that it is just as easy (if not more common) to worship abstract ideas than actual things. Take money, or power, or even the idea that there is no God, and the list goes on.

In our case, we can take this idol or thing that is being invoked, as human intelligence. Do we see human intelligence as the pinnacle of society and creation? So much so that we slowly forget who gave us this intelligence in the first place?

That is what we can take away from this ayah. Even if all the brightest of human minds put their efforts and lives together to create a single fly, it will never happen. Similarly, with all of the inventions and innovations human society is able to come up with, the real test is always remaining cognizant that this is nothing compared to Allah’s ability.

Appreciation and reverence are two very different things. We can appreciate artificial intelligence and other remarkable advancements and those who created them. But we can never revere them to the point of overshadowing reality.

Allah is al-Khaaliq (the Creator) and remaining aware of His dominance is a beautiful representation of remaining conscious in a world where worship of the creation is the norm.

Oh and a (relevant?) note: I did not chat-GPT this article.

An Islamic View on Goal-Setting (and Achieving)

I don’t know about the rest of you, but summer is usually the time of year I make the most resolutions for myself. Sure, there’s New Years, but we all kind of know that that’s only for writing down lists. Lot’s of them. And shoving them into a drawer.

However, summer, with the school year coming to a close for many (with that comes along final grades…ouch), as well as the beginning of a season that our culture always presents with “new beginnings” or “insane personal transformations,” the feeling kinda rubs off on me, and I’m sure on many others.

So, the common sentiment is that goal-setting is easy, but achieving them is the tough part.

However, this is usually not the case! This can be understood through both reasoning, and more easily, by using an Islamic lens of introspection.

In fact, it is the forming of the goals that hold the most weight in our ability to pursue them.

In order to create a solid goal, the first and foremost motivation behind them should be strong as well. As Muslims, the best way to set goals is choosing those that are in harmony with our life’s purpose, which is clearly stated in the Quran where Allah says:

{ وَمَا خَلَقْتُ ٱلْجِنَّ وَٱلْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ }

“I did not create jinn and humans except to worship Me.” (Adh-Dhariyat 51:56)

Once we spearhead our resolutions with this intention, not only will we feel reassured, but the divine beauty of Barakah comes into play. As we humble ourselves towards our Creator, acknowledging that the successful pursuing of these well-intentioned goals are (1) for His sake and (2) impossible without His help, Allah will bless us with a beautiful journey, contentment, and inshaAllah, results of Khair (goodness).

If you notice, this is the first time that I have mentioned the results of these goals with respect to Islamic goal-setting.

This leads me to my next point…

In Islamic tradition, getting to the goal isn’t the main part.

Huh?

Read on!

Contrary to the workings of this world, where everyone’s success is measured by the number of goals they’re able to knock out (that six-figure salary, 4.0 GPA, owning a home by 25, etc. to infinity), the workings of the Hereafter is very different. Allah measures our successes through how we worked towards our goals. The effort we took. The struggle. The resolve. The persistence.

If Allah was looking for us to achieve the goal of this life in full perfection, we would all be done for. Literally.

Because humans are not perfect. But that is what makes us special. What really matters is the journey we took to reach our goal. Our growth.

The problem is that in our current society, a goal-centric view is almost a set-up for mental failure, ironically. Achieving goals is usually tied to hard-core hyper-focusing, or else it is not worth it, hence our giving up. So, when one does attempt to seriously try, it is done with an overwhelming fear of failure.

When we approach our resolutions with an Islamic-centric focus, we innately also accept that the true result is not necessarily achieving the goal itself, for a failure of it may also be for Khair. Rather, the actual success is the effort itself.

Allah is the only one with control over the outcome, and we only have control of our efforts.

And that, my friends, is the answer.

How to Complain the Right Way

It is human nature to constantly be in the midst of a turmoil of dissatisfaction, complaints, and objections to what life brings us, and other times, feeling full of bliss and contentment.

However, the former is usually what we tend to focus on, and hence what we express the most passionately, whether it be to our friends, families, a random stranger at the bus stop, or your well-worn journal (bless that bundle of paper).

Let’s be real, we’ve all ranted to someone about that one abhorrent professor, or our unforgiving boss, or a neighbor that just doesn’t understand the concept of basic sound transmission, and the list goes on…

And for me, and I’m sure is the case with many, there often comes the guilt during these lower times, labeling it as a blaring sign of ungratefulness. That the synonym of having complaints is ingratitude.

But that made me think: if having times of overwhelm or grievances are so common, does that mean every time we go through these phases, we are demonstrating ingratitude?

And I found the answer in the Quran, as I read through the stories of Maryam (RA), Nuh (AS), Yaqub (AS), and so many others. All of these honorable individuals did not hide their pain from the One that Hears and Sees everything; rather they sought comfort in His presence and called out to Him with their problems and tests.

It was in this particular ayah in Surah Yusuf, that the solution was nestled in, where Allah recounts the story of Yaqub (AS), His servant, who, while grieving the loss of his son, says:

{قَالَ إِنَّمَآ أَشْكُوا۟ بَثِّى وَحُزْنِىٓ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَأَعْلَمُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ}

“I only complain of my suffering and my grief to Allah, and I know from Allah that which you do not know.” (Yusuf 12:86)

There it is. In the beautiful example of a righteous slave of God, we see the answer.

Rather than berating ourselves for being unable to be whole-heartedly grateful for hardships and pain, we accept the test for what it is, and understand that Allah acknowledges our perseverance and struggle, and He knows that it is not easy. In fact, we should exemplify this understanding through complaining TO Allah.

There is nowhere in the stories of the Quran where Allah admonishes the servants who turn to him with their lamentations, problems, and complaints. He embraces our call with His light and knowledge. He already knows what is in our hearts. So why are we afraid to tell Him?

Why is it so easy to complain to people about God?

If we switch the norm to complaining TO God about the tests we face in this world, how much lighter our souls will feel!

When we let out our concerns, worries, and anguish through the remembrance of Allah, our minds will feel that comfort, and will allow our hearts to feel the contentment we desire.

Don’t be afraid to complain to Allah. He will listen, and our hearts will be open, a perfect harbor for the ship of guidance and ease.

This isn’t to say that we cannot talk about our problems with others. It is extremely important to have a close circle of grounded individuals who you know will listen to you with compassion, and advise you with intentions rooted in the understanding that Allah is the Greatest of Planners.

But remember, we all struggle and we all have complaints. But we also all have Allah to turn to, with His radiant Light ready to embrace you with all the darkness you feel you are carrying.

Your complaints do not dull the Light of Allah.

InshaAllah, with every word of remembrance as we talk to Him, our souls will brighten and pave the way of conviction, contentment, and clarity.

Surah Rahman: Reminders in Repetition?

Allah reminds us about His mercy, bounty, and creations, interlaced and embedded throughout the holy Quran, within stories, reminders, and messages. While there are different surahs or ayaat that come to mind for each of us, Surah Rahman is at the forefront, for me personally.

One of the largest reasons is because of its unique repetitive pattern, and its soul-touching verses. More so, the repetition of a particular ayah, and its connection to Allah’s gifts and creation:

{فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ}

Then which of your Lord's favors will you both deny?

Surah Rahman is beautifully distinct with respect to this repetition paired with the varying themes explored in this chapter. He begins with the mention of the Quran itself, and then to various worldly bounties surrounding us, to the Day of Judgement, to the description of the Hellfire and Paradise. Throughout all of these massively deep topics, Allah centers the surah around the idea of the marvels of His favors. This alone is a large attestation to the significance of appreciation of these blessings.

More beautifully, the continuous anchoring of this verse throughout these themes largely emphasizes a myriad of facets of Allah’s Rahma (mercy).

Naturally, the mercy of Allah with respect to Paradise, is emphasized, with the mention of the rewards of gardens, beauty, and eternal bliss.

And against the backdrop of the description of Hellfire, the mercy of Allah is highlighted tremendously as well.

Although that sounds counter-intuitive, hear me out.

Firstly, the mere fact that Allah has described the torment of the Hellfire is a gift to us. Why?

Because, Allah is giving us the chance to KNOW about the punishment, so we strive to do our best to protect ourselves from it. And not only does He do that, He gives us the very shield to do so: remembrance of His favors, and following His commands.

SubhanAllah!

And finally, us humans are forgetful beings. It is easy to get blinded by our troubles and worldly affairs. But Allah again and again, gently gives us sight through this surah. We only need to open our hearts with appreciation and the rest of our way will be opened up by our Lord, inshaAllah.

May we be adorned with the mercy of Allah in this life and the next. Ameen!

Looking Within: Reflection of the Self

With the bombardment of news, circulation of social media trends, and an overload of information, it is easy to get lost in the whirling chaos of celebrity gossip, personal lives of acquaintances on Instagram, and the bajillion Netflix shows to keep up with. Especially today, there is an enormous emphasis on the ability to accumulate large masses of information, which just a couple of decades ago, would have been nearly impossible.

However, along with the potential of these resources at our fingertips, has also come an increased shift in perspective and processing. We all find ourselves constantly interacting with and revolving around this incessant outer world, and slowly, we forget an equally, if not more crucial, part of our minds: the self.

Just as we engage with the superficial world, deeply engaging within our own selves is vital.

It is now incredibly easy to gloss over our own shortcomings when there are so many of others’ displayed, posted, and effortlessly accessed. Desensitization of personal weaknesses not only stunts our spiritual self-growth, but it also creates a world of unnecessary judgment, animosity, and an inflated-boost to the ego: not a pleasant combination.

Through understanding the self, the awareness of the presence of both our strengths and weaknesses will lead to self-improvement, and ultimately, will ground us to the reality of human nature, and the truth of ourselves, rather than the presumed truth of others and their shortcomings.

I’ll leave you all with an incredibly powerful ayah.

Allah (swt) says in Surah Rum:

{أَوَلَمْ يَتَفَكَّرُوا۟ فِىٓ أَنفُسِهِم ۗ مَّا خَلَقَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَآ إِلَّا بِٱلْحَقِّ وَأَجَلٍۢ مُّسَمًّۭى ۗ وَإِنَّ كَثِيرًۭا مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ بِلِقَآئِ رَبِّهِمْ لَكَـٰفِرُونَ}

“Have they not reflected upon their own being? Allah only created the heavens and the earth and everything in between for a purpose and an appointed term. Yet most people are truly in denial of the meeting with their Lord!” (Ar-Rum 30:8)

Subhanallah. As we consume the depth of the world, let us also reach into the depth of our souls, and find a path illuminated by the reflected light of Tafakkur, leading us to a successful meeting with our Lord, inshaAllah.

Are We Really Free?

It is no secret that today’s lifestyle, weight of accomplishment, and overall success as a person, essentially runs on the reverence for the idea of “hustle-culture,” or to be more frank, “workaholism.” The glorification of the idea that one must be in constant pursuit of their professional goals to achieve some personal fulfillment has surpassed absurdity, and crossed the playing field, into a norm.

Whether it be fellow university students burning out while attempting to secure their fifth internship by sophomore year, or a colleague working 25 hours a day at a corporate job, in the hopes of landing that promotion, it is absolutely confounding.

And yet, the appeal of “something better” is always lingering on the horizon -- the slowly setting sun of brilliant success, as you frantically sail towards it, on unrelenting waters, but watch it disappear in front of your eyes…until it rises again…on the other side of the sky. A continuous cycle of toxic striving, a non-existent work-life balance, and competition.

At first glance from inside this cyclic cage, it seems impossible to leave, but little do we know that the key is in there with us. And the lock is within us.

Allah (swt) gives us the key, the solution, in a myriad of places in the Qur’an, and it can be simplified to one concept: Tafakkur. Tadabbur. Reflection. Contemplation. Pondering.

Allah says in Surah Muhammad:

{أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ أَمْ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبٍ أَقْفَالُهَا}

What, do they not ponder the Holy Qur’an? Or is it that there are locks upon their hearts?

(Muhammad 47:24)

SubhanAllah. Within the literal text of our scripture, the answer is right there.

While the act of reflection can be expanded into various types (literal text, signs within the creation, etc.), which I hope to expand on in future pieces, the understanding of the basic essence of purposeful contemplation is the most pivotal tool to wield for an escape from the toxic lifestyle society has created.

Allah has made humans special from His other creations in the fact that we have the innate ability to reason, to reflect, and to choose our paths.

The million-dollar question is this: Will we choose to employ this gift Allah has blessed us with in the physical pursuit of only the dunya? Drowning our ability to reason in the grind of advancements, killer-exams, high-range salaries, and promotions?

Or will we use our intellect to create a healthy balance, a life where we pursue the spiritual light alongside the physical for the sake of our Lord, where we reflect on our boundaries, limits, and goals, and prioritize what really matters?

Reflection is the intrinsic key.

We can choose to be free, with the will of God.