Guilt-shaming for simply being born into today’s world feels like the national sport of an average Muslim family. Everything wrong with the world gets traced back, somehow, to the actions of Muslims. It’s as though just existing is enough to doom us. And before you know it, this guilt spirals into a black hole—a suffocating void with no light, no escape. It’s as if being a Muslim means you’re destined to live in the dark, and eventually, you’ll be thrown into the deepest pits of the Fire. Because there’s no way out, right? Except there is. The way out isn’t about escaping the Fire (because, well, you don’t get to decide what happens in the Akhirah). It’s about escaping this —this crushing, self-inflicted mentality. The real escape begins when a believer realizes one thing: you were created exclusively by Allah . For Allah. And in His infinite wisdom, He designed every single one of us differently. My fingerprints aren’t like yours. My deeds won’t be judged like yours. It’s hum...
Escape. Over time and with experience, I’ve come to believe that escaping is convenient. Of course, not when you’re in a hostage situation or caught in a toxic, three-ring-circus relationship. Let’s be specific: it’s convenient to escape pain. More specific: it’s easier—or, I’d say, more expected—to grab hold of religion as a way to let go of suffering. Because, why not? Why should I give a damn about the Duniya when Deen is all I need? But… but—is this really Deen you’re holding on to? Let’s take a teenager as an example to make things more relatable. This teenager is going through a serious half-of-quarter-life crisis. He just had a breakup, his friends are getting acceptance letters for international student exchange programs, he’s doing just okay academically, and his best friend apparently has a rich uncle who brings him the latest PS5 games. So, yeah, he’s existentially exhausted and wants a way out—or, more precisely, a source of validation for his feelings. Now comes the a...