Be Merciful to Righteous and Sinful Souls. No Need To Choose

Nothing in this world belongs to you. Nothing.

Not even your own soul is yours, as it will be
returned to its Owner once this earthly journey of yours is complete.

And all those worldly comforts and human
relationships you thought you couldn’t live without? They were just temporary
companions on your journey home. They were divine mercies—and tests—scattered
along your path. But dear soul, understand that they have a unique path of
their own.

Don’t get so distracted by looking at someone
else’s path—even if it overlaps yours—that you forget the divinely crafted path
you are decreed to walk in this world.

Our most crucial job is to stay focused on *our* spiritual
journey, without getting addicted to the mercies we taste, or distracted and
frustrated by the tests that befall us (or others), along the way.

This is no easy task.

So how to we achieve it?

By striving our level best to remain soul-focused instead
of problem-focused on our spiritual paths.

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What is the difference between a spiritual path
that is soul-focused, and one that is problem-focused?

Simply put, a soul-focused spiritual path responds
to earthly trials by aligning one’s heart, choices, and desires with divine
guidance—even if we must sacrifice a temporary comfort or human relationship in
preserving our spiritual life in this world.

A problem-focused spiritual path responds to earthy
trials by attaching the heart to measurable results in this world, then
altering or rejecting divine guidance until it aligns with particular life
choices, preferences, or desires we imagine we need—or have the right to—during
our soul’s journey in this world.

Soul-focused believers are able to walk their
spiritual path while fully supporting the journey of *every* believing soul
seeking purity, as they know that no soul will gain anything except what it
earns—even when our hearts and eyes cannot perceive how. In their emaan
and tawakkul, they believe in the ghayb, and they trust in
Allah’s wisdom and plan.

Problem-focused believers are able to walk their
spiritual path while fully supporting the journey of only *some* believing
souls seeking purity, as they genuinely imagine that it is their job to ensure
that sinful or imperfect souls don’t get anything they don’t “deserve”—and that
“righteous” or “honorable” souls are guaranteed every single thing they do
“deserve.” In their lack of true emaan and tawakkul, they believe
mostly in what can be seen and measured by human judgment; and as a result, they
trust mainly in their own wisdom, convictions, and plans.

The greatest example of a truly soul-focused
believer is Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu’alayhi wa sallam) himself. He was
able to support *every* believing soul in their earthly journey, no matter how
righteous and obedient, and no matter how imperfect or sinful.

So while we learn of him supporting every believing
woman in having the marriage she prefers—as he did with his daughter Fatimah with
respect to her husband Ali, and with Khawlah bint Tha’labah with respect to her
husband (may Allah be pleased with them)—as discussed in Surah 58, Al-Mujaadilah
“The Woman Who Complained”—we also learn from our Prophet how a prostitute
was forgiven of all her sins after feeding a thirsty dog. 

And while we learn of the serious sin of killing
innocent people, we also learn from our Prophet how a man who killed 99 people
was forgiven all of his sins.

And while the Prophet never denied any believer
their rights in this world, he was also a source of emotional safety for the
troubled souls seeking to right the wrongs they’d done on earth—and never made
them feel humiliated, rejected, or abandoned in his presence, even as they were
made to understand in the depths of their hearts the gravity of their sins.

Because a problem-focused soul is unable to see or
appreciate the spiritual balance here (due to their addiction to guaranteeing
for themselves and others measurable worldly results), they will hyper-focus only
on how a “dishonorable woman” was able to commit major sin then (allegedly) get
“rewarded” for it, and how a “wretched man” was able to get away with murder,
literally, then move on with his life without ever paying for his crimes.

This, because their unhealthy focus on worldly
results makes them unable to *also* see that just because a “dishonorable” or
“wretched” person has full access to Allah’s mercy, forgiveness, and blessings
if they sincerely seek it—this in no way takes away from the mercy,
forgiveness, and blessings Allah will bestow on His consistently righteous,
obedient souls who are guilty of none of these sins.

If you are unable to apply the beautiful balance of
walking a soul-focused path in this world—by being a source of emotional safety
and empathy to yourself and all believing souls, whether “righteous” or
sinful—then you do not understand Islam.

You do not understand Islam.

You do not understand Islam.

But even still, do not despair, dear soul. For
Allah’s mercy and guidance are for you too.

So ask Allah to increase you in knowledge and
understanding, and in true emaan and tawakkul.

Then enjoy walking the prophetic path of a
soul-centered spiritual journey, while inviting every other believing soul—no
matter how righteous, imperfect, or sinful—to join you too.

Allah says what has been translated to mean:

“And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allah, and be not divided among yourselves. And remember Allah’s favor on you, for you were enemies to another, but He joined your hearts together, so that by His Grace, you became brethren [in faith]. And you were on the brink of a pit of Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus Allah makes His signs clear to you, that you may be guided” (Ali ‘Imraan, 3:103).

He also says:

“And say, ‘The truth is from your Lord.’ Then whosoever wills, let him believe, and whosoever wills, let him disbelieve…” (Al-Kahf, 18:29).

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Umm
Zakiyyah is the internationally acclaimed author of twenty books, including the
If I Should Speak trilogy, Muslim Girl , and His Other Wife . In 2019, she launched UZ Soul Gear , a passion project fueled by her love of both art
and inspirational reflections. UZSoulGear.com offers apparel, wall
décor, and more, aimed at supporting and inspiring the soul-centered lifestyle.

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