Spirituality & Robotic Rituals

The sweetness of faith can be intoxicating, giving us emotional highs and tears of pure love. Those moments when we fall into prostration, sincerely crying and connecting to our An-Nur, the Light, God.

Think about the times you were reciting Quran and felt it in your heart, really felt it. I love those moments when we open Quran and read a verse that seems to speak to us as if Allah (the Most Honored and Exalted) was responding. However, just as we have spiritual highs, we have spiritual lows.

A heart lacking the divine connection while in worship begins to perform like a robot. We have to pray, this is obligatory, but sometimes the one in worship is functioning like a cold robot going through the motions but they lack focus and sincerity. They are performing on auto-pilot.

If you would like to continue reading about spiritual poverty and robotic rituals, including but not limited to practical steps you can take TODAY to improve your spiritual wealth, Click here on Muslim Matters to read the original piece.

Qur'anic Love and Tranquility

You must learn the meaning of the Qur’an. Every verse or chapter you currently have memorized needs to be actualized through sound understanding and application.

Start by learning the meaning word for word of the small chapters you know. Each time you hear/recite it, the impact becomes more real and sincere actions will likely follow.

“Knowing the meaning of one verse of the Qur’an is like owning a string of pearls. Having the whole Qur’an memorized without actualized knowledge is like carrying around a locked heavy treasure chest!” - (K.S.)

How can you fall in love with someone if you don’t pay attention to their communication? If you don’t care about what is important and meaningful to them? You disregard their advice and wishes for you to be better? Will you have tranquility in your heart with this person? Is this a healthy and thriving relationship?

Love needs curiosity, intrigue, effort and investment to connect, know and grow with the person. So how can we love Allah or deserve His love if we treat our relationship like a burden or after thought?

Still there are some who take others as Allah’s equal—they love them as they should love Allah—but the ˹true˺ believers love Allah even more. (2:165)

Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “If you ˹sincerely˺ love Allah, then follow me; Allah will love you and forgive your sins. For Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (3:31)

When you sincerely interact and reflect on the Qur’an and apply its meanings your heart will find ease, vision, tranquility and the doors of His heavenly treasures become accessible to you.

Allah will not call you to account for thoughtlessness in your oaths, but for the intention in your hearts, and He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Forbearing. (2:225)

But the sincere servants of Allah—for them is a sustenance determined. (37:40-41)