Human life, as busy and organized as it appears on the surface, can be just as chaotic within. In today's world, every convenience is available, every comfort exists, but peace is nowhere to be found. There's a smile on the face, but turmoil in the heart.
Where does this turmoil come from?
Why isn't the heart at peace?
The reason for this isn't just circumstances, but the distance from spirituality that has unsettled the heart. Spirituality is essentially the heart's connection that links it to its Creator. When this connection is strong, even the harshness of circumstances cannot break a person. But when this relationship weakens, even a minor thing can unleash a storm in the heart.
In the Holy Quran, Allah Almighty says:
" ألا بذكر الله تطمئن القلوب "
Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.
This is not just a verse but a complete code of life. It's as if the real cure for the heart's restlessness isn't in any worldly thing but is hidden in the remembrance of Allah.
In today's world, the glitter of social media, the display of others' lives, comparison, envy, and competition—all these put pressure on the heart in an imperceptible way. We begin to consider our own lives inferior by looking at the happiness of others. This feeling of inferiority gradually turns into anxiety. Although we forget that every life has a different test, every face hides an untold story.
One reason for the distance from spirituality is that we have made worship a ritual. Prayers are offered, but the heart is not present. Recitation is done, but no effort is made to understand. Supplication is made, but belief is weak. When the soul is no longer present in worship, it becomes a physical movement but not nourishment for the heart. And when the heart doesn't get nourishment, it becomes weak and falls prey to anxiety.
The heart's anxiety is not just a religious issue but also has a psychological aspect. Modern psychology tells us that it is necessary for a person to be associated with a greater purpose for inner peace. When a person's life has no spiritual goal, they feel a void. This void is the root of restlessness. Spirituality gives a person the awareness that they are not merely a material being but possess an eternal soul. When a person forgets their true identity, they seek peace in temporary pleasures, but these pleasures are fleeting, and as soon as they end, the heart feels even emptier than before.
We often think that everything must be right to achieve peace Circumstances should be favorable, people should be loyal, resources should be sufficient. In reality, peace is not dependent on circumstances but on relationships. When the relationship becomes strong, even the harsh winds of time cannot harm you.
History is witness that Muhammad (peace be upon him) faced the most severe trials, but the peace of his heart remained intact! Why?
Because his relationship with his Lord was strong!
Today, mental stress, depression, and insomnia have become common. People stay awake all night, keep thinking, keep explaining to their hearts. But the heart believes not with reason but with faith, and spirituality gives hope to a person, and hope is the greatest cure for anxiety. When a person is certain that their Lord is with them in every situation, watching them, listening to them, and making the best decision for them, this certainty holds the heart in such a way, as if spring suddenly descends on a withered branch.
One sign of distance from spirituality is that we have learned to suppress the voice within us. When conscience draws attention, we busy ourselves. When the heart wants silence, we take refuge in noise. We are afraid of solitude because in solitude we see our weaknesses, although if solitude is accompanied by remembrance and reflection, this very solitude makes a person strong.
The heart's anxiety intensifies when a person is trapped in the fear of the future and the regret of the past. Spirituality teaches a person to live in the present. In the state of prayer, a person disconnects from the world for a few moments and stands only before their Lord. If these moments are spent with awareness, they give such coolness to the heart that is not possible with anything else.
It is not correct to say that spirituality means abandoning the world. Islam is a religion of balance. The Holy Quran teaches us to prepare for the afterlife while living in the world. The real problem is not being in the world, but the world residing in the heart. When the world takes place in the heart, spirituality weakens. And when the soul is weak, the heart becomes restless.
So, what is the solution?
First, rectify the intention. Consider worship not as a burden but as a meeting. Instead of offering prayers in haste, reflect on their meaning. Sit in silence for a few minutes each day and examine your heart. Make gratitude a habit. Remember Allah consciously at least once a day. These small actions can change the world of the heart.
Returning to spirituality is not a one-day journey but a continuous struggle. Sometimes the heart will be engaged, sometimes it won't. Sometimes the eyes will be wet, sometimes they will remain dry. But the real success is in the effort. When a person calls upon their Lord sincerely, they will surely receive a response, even if not immediately.
Ultimately, the heart's anxiety gives us the message that there is a void somewhere. This restlessness is actually an invitation—an invitation to return to our origin. If we listen to this invitation, heed the voice of our heart, and step onto the path of spirituality, it is possible that the same heart that is restless today may become a cradle of peace tomorrow.
Because when the land of the heart is irrigated with remembrance, flowers of contentment begin to bloom there. And the heart that has contentment is truly a living heart.
From the pen of: Fatima Abul Kalam 🥀