Have you ever noticed that you’re being pulled from all directions? That everything seems to be fighting for your attention? Your school, your work, your family. And whatever little time you have left is constantly demanded by social media, ads, games, movies, etc.
Your focus is undoubtedly one of the strongest assets you have. And where you sow it, you reap the benefit or the loss.
Do you wonder what the best place to invest your attention is? Where will you reap true success? Well, wonder no more.
“He is Allah—there is no god ˹worthy of worship˺ except Him: Knower of the seen and unseen. He is the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful. He is Allah—there is no god except Him: the King, the Most Holy, the All-Perfect, the Source of Serenity, the Watcher ˹of all˺, the Almighty, the Supreme in Might, the Majestic. Glorified is Allah far above what they associate with Him ˹in worship˺! He is Allah: the Creator, the Inventor, the Shaper. He ˹alone˺ has the Most Beautiful Names. Whatever is in the heavens and the earth ˹constantly˺ glorifies Him. And He is the Almighty, All-Wise.” Surah al-Hashr 22–24
This beautiful verse amazes me. I read it and understand that nothing deserves my remembrance more. And yet understanding isn’t enough.
Because at a certain point, we all know the glory and power of Allah. He’s created us, bestowed blessings upon us, guided us and provided for us our sustenance. And yet how many of us long to dedicate our attention to him? To talk to him in prayer? Are our hearts moved when we reflect?
“Has the time not yet come for believers’ hearts to be humbled at the remembrance of Allah and what has been revealed of the truth” “أَلَمْ يَأْنِ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَن تَخْشَعَ قُلُوبُهُمْ لِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا نَزَلَ مِنَ ٱلْحَقِّ” Surah Al-Hadid 16
Don’t we have souls who long and belong to our maker and shaper? Only with him do we prosper. Without him we are fooled, we despair and forget our true selves.
“But whoever turns away from my remembrance will certainly have a miserable life.” “وَمَنْ أَعْرَضَ عَن ذِكْرِى فَإِنَّ لَهُۥ مَعِيشَةًۭ ضَنكًۭا” Surah Taha 123
“And do not be like those who forgot Allah, so He made them forget themselves. It is they who are ˹truly˺ rebellious.” “وَلَا تَكُونُوا۟ كَٱلَّذِينَ نَسُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ فَأَنسَىٰهُمْ أَنفُسَهُمْ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْفَـٰسِقُونَ ” Surah Al-Hashr 19
Dikr or remembrance, is a practice we can establish through the use of our senses, the focus of our minds until we connect our hearts to the ultimate source.
And today, I want to share with you the benefit of utilizing your senses in the most meaningful way possible.
- When you look upon a sky and see a cloud that usually weighs around 500,000 kg or 100 elephants, remember that it’s God that holds them aloft.
- When you hear the pouring of the rain, or smell the scent of dirt that follows, remember that it’s God who brought down water from the sky to create and sustain life.
- When you hold your spouse’s hand or touch their hair, remember that it’s Allah who created spouses for us to find tranquility in each other.
In so many verses of the Quran, Allah urges us to look at the world He has created. And during my first extended mountain hike, I discovered how spiritual an experience it is. Because in the righteous wielding of my senses, I felt close and connected. I could relish in the beauty, power and goodness of Allah the Most magnificent.
“Have they not then looked at the sky above them: how We built it and adorned it ˹with stars˺, leaving it flawless? As for the earth, We spread it out and placed upon it firm mountains, and produced in it every type of pleasant plant– ˹all as˺ an insight and a reminder to every servant who turns ˹to Allah˺. And We send down blessed rain from the sky, bringing forth gardens and grains for harvest, and towering palm trees ˹loaded˺ with clustered fruit, ˹as˺ a provision for ˹Our˺ servants. And with this ˹rain˺ We revive a lifeless land. Similar is the emergence ˹from the graves˺.” “أَفَلَمْ يَنظُرُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱلسَّمَآءِ فَوْقَهُمْ كَيْفَ بَنَيْنَـٰهَا وَزَيَّنَّـٰهَا وَمَا لَهَا مِن فُرُوجٍۢ وَٱلْأَرْضَ مَدَدْنَـٰهَا وَأَلْقَيْنَا فِيهَا رَوَٰسِىَ وَأَنۢبَتْنَا فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ زَوْجٍۭ بَهِيجٍۢ تَبْصِرَةًۭ وَذِكْرَىٰ لِكُلِّ عَبْدٍۢ مُّنِيبٍۢ وَنَزَّلْنَا مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءًۭ مُّبَـٰرَكًۭا فَأَنۢبَتْنَا بِهِۦ جَنَّـٰتٍۢ وَحَبَّ ٱلْحَصِيدِ وَٱلنَّخْلَ بَاسِقَـٰتٍۢ لَّهَا طَلْعٌۭ نَّضِيدٌۭ رِّزْقًۭا لِّلْعِبَادِ ۖ وَأَحْيَيْنَا بِهِۦ بَلْدَةًۭ مَّيْتًۭا ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ ٱلْخُرُوجُ” Surah Qaf 6-11
Experiencing one’s senses in such a God-focused manner expands my heart with gratitude. It puts everything into perspective. My attachments and aches become less relevant. My worries become futile. I recall that I was bestowed the gift of existence.
And within this dependent existence, I may have many wants, but I only have one true transcendent need. To worship him. Or in other terms, to know, obey, and love him. And when I do so, I am in complete harmony and surrender.
So I urge you to sow your focus where it is deserved. Where you will harvest peace instead of fear, plenty instead of lack, and being remembered by God himself instead of being forsaken.
“Remember Me; I will remember you” “فَٱذْكُرُونِىٓ أَذْكُرْكُمْ” Surah Al-Baqarah 152.