As Muslims we pray to God, in sourah fatiha the opening chapter of Quran ‘Guide us along the Straight Path, the Path of those You have blessed—not those You are displeased with, or those who are astray.’ ‘هْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٰطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَ ٦ صِرَٰطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا ٱلضَّآلِّينَ ‘ fatiha 6-7
I want you to do a little self awareness exercise: and ask, am I on path of those who are astray, and how do i know?
1- You have a poor sense of purpose
You feel lost, numb, going through the motions of life, trying to make the best of it. somedays are better than others, but when you silence every distraction, there is gaping lack inside you. A nagging dissatisfaction with your life and with who you are.
2-You feel disconnected from God
When you think about God, do you feel any resistance in your heart? When you hear the Quran, when someone reminds you to pray? Is there a tug on your heart?
God addresses this in the Quran ‘So woe to those whose hearts are hardened at the remembrance of Allah! It is they who are clearly astray.’ ‘أَفَمَن شَرَحَ ٱللَّهُ صَدْرَهُۥ لِلْإِسْلَـٰمِ فَهُوَ عَلَىٰ نُورٍۢ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ ۚ فَوَيْلٌۭ لِّلْقَـٰسِيَةِ قُلُوبُهُم مِّن ذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ فِى ضَلَـٰلٍۢ مُّبِينٍ’ az-zumar 22.
You were once on a righteous trail. You were focused, connected with God and progressing towards a wonderful goal that you believed in. And at the end of a long day, you went to bed with a full heart and peace of mind.
But you got distracted, you got fooled, and you left your trail. And what exactly pulled you away? Social media? Some random guy or girl? an addiction? A temptation? Whatever it was, it promised you relief and reward. Then? It underdelivered. That distraction wasted your time and is STILL wasting your time.
Now you are stuck. You’re lonely, you’re ashamed in yourself. You’re raided with guilt, fear, doubt. And you wondering, how will I ever find my way back to the straight path?
-And if I do, do I have the strength to stay on it?
-And if I stay on it, is it even worth it?
-Is the fulfillment I desire deeply even possible?
Here’s your reminder that nothing, in this planet or any other, will sustain or fulfill your soul except it’s maker. No woman or man, no money, no pills, no gym, no food and no distraction. Nothing. This is a universal law. ‘Whoever turns away from My Remembrance will certainly have a depressed life’ ‘وَمَنْ أَعْرَضَ عَن ذِكْرِى فَإِنَّ لَهُۥ مَعِيشَةًۭ ضَنكًۭا’ Taha 124
I advise you to stop thinking about how miserable you are. It’s only making you more miserable.
Instead, take a moment and remember God,
- God doesn’t want you to stay like this and suffer ‘Allah intends ease for you, not hardship’,’يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ بِكُمُ ٱلْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ ٱلْعُسْرَ’ al-baqara 185
- He doesn’t want to punish you ‘What does allah gain by punishing you if you are grateful and faithful? ‘ ‘مَّا يَفْعَلُ ٱللَّهُ بِعَذَابِكُمْ إِن شَكَرْتُمْ وَءَامَنتُمْ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ شَاكِرًا عَلِيمًۭا’ an-nisa
- What he wants is to forgive you ‘Allah wants to accept your repentance’ ‘وَٱللَّهُ يُرِيدُ أَن يَتُوبَ عَلَيْكُمْ’ an-nisa 27 and ‘Allāh promises you forgiveness from Him and bounty. ‘ ‘ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ يَعِدُكُمُ ٱلْفَقْرَ وَيَأْمُرُكُم بِٱلْفَحْشَآءِ ۖ وَٱللَّهُ يَعِدُكُم مَّغْفِرَةًۭ مِّنْهُ وَفَضْلًۭا ۗ’ al-baqara 268.
He is not only the all forgiving ‘ٱلْغَفُورُ’ ,but he is the perpetual forgiver ٱلْغَفَّارُ’.
So reach out to him.
He says ‘I am truly near. I respond to one’s prayer when they call upon Me.’ ‘وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِى عَنِّى فَإِنِّى قَرِيبٌ ۖ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ ٱلدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ ۖ’ al-baqara 186
And ask him. Doesn’t ‘Allah provides for whomever He wills without limit’ ? ‘وَٱللَّهُ يَرْزُقُ مَن يَشَآءُ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍۢ’ an-nur 38 ,
Pray for forgiveness, peace and strength. Forget about if you deserve it or not. Your prayers don’t need to reflect your own worth, they should reflect the might and mercy of God. God isn’t stingy.
‘Who has fooled you about your generous lord’ ‘يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ مَا غَرَّكَ بِرَبِّكَ ٱلْكَرِيمِ’ al-infitar 6
This is how you’ll return to your trail. To the straight path. By remembering who Allah is.
Allah knows best, but this what this next verse always meant for me ‘whoever has faith in Allah, He will ˹rightly˺ guide their hearts ‘ ‘وَمَن يُؤْمِنۢ بِٱللَّهِ يَهْدِ قَلْبَهُۥ ۚ’ at-taghabun 11.
Its not just believing that he exists. It’s remembering who he is.
The one who is capable of anything ‘ٱلْقَادِرُ’.
