At no point in history has the average person had more freedom and opportunity.

Why, then, are we more miserable than ever?

You've been conditioned to believe happiness is external.

"Once I get the promotion, I'll feel accomplished."

"Once I get my degree, I'll feel successful."

"Once I get married, I'll finally be happy."

You tell yourself: "I'll feel better when I get there."

Yet the "there" never seems to come.

You live for the weekends, the next vacation, and validation from others.

The endless scrolling consumes you.

Delaying prayer with excuses like:

"I have time."

"Allah is forgiving."

"Let me just finish this one thing."

Then you rush through your salah.

A constant chase.

An endless cycle of dissatisfaction.

"By Time, indeed mankind is in loss." [103:1-2]

The Dunya Trap

"I'm only here for a few years, so I should enjoy myself."

"Why are you so hard on yourself? Just do what makes you happy."

That's what happens when Allah is removed from the equation.

Life becomes an empty pursuit of happiness.

Allah never uses the word "happiness" in the Qur'an.

Instead, He uses the word هَوَاء (empty air).

Like air, it disappears quickly.

You take a breath, and it's gone.

You immediately need another.

Happiness in this world is fleeting.

The new car loses its shine.

The promotion becomes just another job.

The vacation ends, and life feels dull again.

Even the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, who faced hunger, hardship, and loss, was never asked by Allah, "Are you happy?"

Instead, Allah reminded him: "Do not be sad. And your Lord is going to give you, and you will be satisfied." (93:5)

Breaking Free From The Cycle

I used to be trapped in this endless cycle.

Convinced that the next achievement would fill the void:

A new job,

New friends,

More money.

But no matter what I gained, the emptiness remained.

Until I came across a book called "The Power of Now."

It opened my eyes to the illusion of time:

The past is just a memory.

The future is imagination.

All we truly have is this present moment.

And it led me to deeper questions:

Who is God?

Why am I here?

What's my purpose?

Alhamdulillah, that's when I found Islam.

Suddenly, everything made sense:

I stopped chasing happiness and started chasing Allah.

I stopped comparing myself to others and realigned my goals with Islam.

I found peace and clarity, knowing my success isn't measured by worldly standards, but by Allah.

Everyone Is a Slave to Something

Before reverting, I struggled to understand how submission to Allah could bring freedom.

I thought happiness came from doing whatever I wanted, as long as I didn't hurt anyone.

But I didn't realize I was already a slave—not to Allah, but to my own desires.

Now I can see that no one is truly free.

Submission is inevitable.

The only question is, who or what will you choose to submit to?

Some are slaves to society's expectations: Constantly chasing approval, status, and validation.

Others are slaves to their desires (nafs): Indulging in fleeting pleasures, always asking, "What's in it for me?"

Submit to society or your desires, and you'll feel:

Confusion: You don't know who you truly are or what your purpose is.

Restlessness: You're always searching for something external to make you happy.

Exhaustion: The pursuit of happiness becomes a never-ending burden.

Submit to Allah, and you'll find:

Freedom: You're no longer controlled by the world's opinions. Your worth isn't tied to wealth, status, or possessions.

Clarity: You know your purpose and how to live in alignment with it.

Inner Peace: Submission to Allah fills your heart with contentment. Even in the face of hardships you find peace, knowing your reward is with Him.

Submission to Allah brings true freedom:

Freedom from the world's judgment,

Freedom from chasing hollow success,

And freedom from seeking validation from people.

"True richness is the richness of the soul." -Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

The Qur’anic World View

You're on a boat, carrying goods and treasures you think are essential. But the boat is sinking, and your time is running out.

The person focused on reaching the shore (Paradise) continuously checks if the boat is sinking, throwing overboard anything unnecessary to stay afloat.

The person clinging to the Dunya (worldly possessions) is so focused on gathering more that they fail to notice the boat sinking—and drown with their wealth.

Everyone, whether believer or disbeliever, sees:

The sun.

The moon.

The sea.

The animals.

The same way.

Similarly, we've started to measure success by society's standards instead of Allah's:

Graduate = success.

Didn't graduate = failure.

High salary = success.

Low salary = failure.

You look at the worldly achievements (degrees, promotions, social status) and equate them with success.

But when you view success and failure through a Qur'anic lens, everything changes.

Suddenly, the homeless person can be more successful than the millionaire.

Consider Ibrahim (AS): cast out, wandering the desert with nothing to his name.

Or the Prophet ﷺ: expelled from Makkah, lived in a cave and tied stones to his belly to escape hunger.

When your definition of success aligns with the Qur'an, you stop measuring yourself against society's standards.

You stop caring if others are ahead of you because you're no longer playing by their rules.

You break free from the rat race.

Redefining Success Through Surah Al-Asr

Society teaches us to chase more and better:

More wealth = success.

Higher status = a better life.

But Allah warns us:

"The mutual rivalry for piling up worldly things diverts you." [102:1]

Here's the truth:

Your wealth won't last.

Your worldly achievements won't fulfill you.

Your time is running out.

Surah Al-Asr gives us the bare minimum to avoid loss.

Unlike fleeting self-help trends, it offers a proven framework for lasting peace and fulfillment.

Think of it as the answer key for life's test:

Believe in Allah: Realize He is the one who defines success.

Do good deeds: Prioritize worship, charity, and kindness—not just outwardly, but with sincerity.

Call to truth: Remind others and help them realign their lives.

Be patient: Trust Allah and remain consistent, even in difficulty.

These four principles are timeless.

Anything less, and we are guaranteed to be in loss.

If you neglect your faith, what is left to anchor your life?

If your actions lack sincerity, what value do they hold?

If you never encourage truth, who benefits from your knowledge?

If you lack patience, how will you endure life's inevitable tests?

The Problem Isn't Lack of Effort, It's Direction

If you're like I was, you've probably tried to fix this:

You've set goals, but they never bring fulfillment.

You've tried building better habits, but they don't last.

You've followed what society tells you to do, but it only leaves you emptier.

The problem isn't that you aren't trying, it's that your efforts are pointed in the wrong direction.

When I shifted my focus to aligning my daily habits with Allah's guidance, everything changed.

I became consistent in my daily prayers.

I built routines that centered around worship, not the world's demands.

I developed discipline, not through willpower or motivation, but through relying on Allah (tawakkul).

This transformation didn't happen overnight, but it started with simple steps:

• Reflect on what you're chasing.

• Make worship your foundation, not a distraction.

• Build small, consistent habits that bring you closer to Allah.

If you're ready to start, I've created Discipline Through Deen.

It's the roadmap I wish I had, designed to help you break free from procrastination and build a disciplined life centered around Allah.

And no, it's not like the typical self-help guru advice telling you to "try harder" and rely on motivation.

It's about building long-lasting discipline through intentions and tawakkul.

Click here to learn more.

A Final Reminder

This life is fleeting.

Everything you chase will fade.

But if you align your life with Allah's guidance, you'll f]peace in this world and eternal success in the next.

"And whoever relies upon Allah – then He is sufficient for him." [65:3]

May Allah make us among those who believe, act righteously, call to truth, and practice patience.

Ameen.

Until next time,

-Lina ♡