Islam is not just fluff: Accepting Islam as a whole and not cherry-picking.

Islam is not just there to pacify you when you need it.

In a time when Islamic self-help and wellbeing advice flood our feeds, the line between true guidance and mere distraction can blur. While it is encouraging that we are becoming more aware of our stressors and learning to manage them through an Islamic lens, this focus can sometimes spill over into other areas.

But if our understanding of Islam is reduced to only that—comfort alone—then it becomes a problem in itself. Islam is not simply a religion-therapist meant only to soothe or pacify. It is a comprehensive guide for all aspects of life. As much as it can offer healing, it can also challenge and correct us when we veer away from the principles of being a Muslim.

Islam is submission in its fullest.

Allah SWT mentions in the Qur’an in Surah Baqarah Verse 208: 

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱدۡخُلُواْ فِي ٱلسِّلۡمِ كَآفَّةٗ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُواْ خُطُوَٰتِ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنِۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَكُمۡ عَدُوّٞ مُّبِينٞ

O believers! Enter into Islam wholeheartedly and do not follow Satan’s footsteps. Surely he is your sworn enemy.

This verse is the very reminder that we need as Muslims. When Allah SWT mentions “Enter into Islam wholeheartedly…” He is reminding us that when we accept Islam and pledge allegiance, we must commit to it with a full heart, and our actions must be in line with the correct and sound teachings of Islam. It is not a religion in which you choose what you want and what you don’t as though you have a choice.

Islam is about seeking deep knowledge. 

Social Media is replete with superfluous content. While there is much good content out there, speaking about religion and its beauty, a conscious Muslim must be intelligent to recognise that Social Media is only an intermediary to knowledge and is not the source of it. Islam makes it obligatory for us to seek knowledge about the religion. The beauty of Islam is seen in its depth and layers of underpinnings which require time and effort. A true believer must recognise this, as Allah SWT says: 

قُلْ لَّوۡ كَانَ الۡبَحۡرُ مِدَادًا لِّـكَلِمٰتِ رَبِّىۡ لَـنَفِدَ الۡبَحۡرُ قَبۡلَ اَنۡ تَـنۡفَدَ كَلِمٰتُ رَبِّىۡ وَلَوۡ جِئۡنَا بِمِثۡلِهٖ مَدَدًا‏ 

Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “If the ocean were ink for ˹writing˺ the Words of my Lord, it would certainly run out before the Words of my Lord were finished, even if We refilled it with its equal.” 

(Surah Al-Kahf, Verse 109)

A true Muslim should devote himself to upgrading knowledge through proper means and proper people (ie people of knowledge) and not limit to social media content and influencers. This reminder is highlighted in Surah Al-Nahl Verse 43: 

فَسۡـَٔلُوٓاْ أَهۡلَ ٱلذِّكۡرِ إِن كُنتُمۡ لَا تَعۡلَمُونَ

So ask the people of the message if you do not know.

Mercy of Allah must be balanced with fear. 

We are faced with two camps that accentuate 2 polarised views on religion. One over emphasises the fear of Allah, while another undermines wrath and only sees Islam as a religion of mercy. In reality, Islam is both, and Allah is our God who is both merciful and vengeful. All over social media, we see more of an emphasis on the mercy of Allah SWT, yet forget sometimes that when we forget fear, we lose the aspect of obedience, and the punishment of persisting in evil or sin. 

Islam affirms you, and challenges you.

When relating to Islamic Therapy and healing, do not fall into the trap of being too comfortable being comforted or pacified, whilst disregarding the other parts of the religion. While Islam heals you from your trauma and difficulties, you also owe Allah SWT to fulfill your rightful duties as a Muslim and beat your desires. 

Islam is when you follow what Allah wants and not what you want.

Many forget the aspect of obedience and only have faith when they need it. Allah SWT states explicitly in the Qur’an numerous times; and one such verse is in Surah An-Nisa’ Verse 13-14: 

تِلۡكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِۚ وَمَن يُطِعِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ يُدۡخِلۡهُ جَنَّـٰتٖ تَجۡرِي مِن تَحۡتِهَا ٱلۡأَنۡهَٰرُ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَاۚ وَذَٰلِكَ ٱلۡفَوۡزُ ٱلۡعَظِيمُ * وَمَن يَعۡصِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ وَيَتَعَدَّ حُدُودَهُۥ يُدۡخِلۡهُ نَارًا خَٰلِدٗا فِيهَا وَلَهُۥ عَذَابٞ مُّهِينٞ

“These entitlements are the limits set by Allah. Whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger will be admitted into Gardens under which rivers flow, to stay there forever. That is the ultimate triumph! * But whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger and exceeds their limits will be cast into Hell, to stay there forever. And they will suffer a humiliating punishment.”

Obedience is the pillar to the religion, and disobedience is what loses one’s essence as a true Muslim.

Conformity brings blessings.

What we mean by conformity here is the act of obedience towards only what Allah SWT and His Prophet PBUH has commanded us to do. This is the best form of conformity and whoever conforms without complaints about the commandments of Allah SWT (and conforming with sound knowledge) will be given a way out from all difficulties. This is promised in Surah Al-Talaq Verse 2-3: 

وَمَن يَتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ يَجۡعَل لَّهُۥ مَخۡرَجٗا* وَيَرۡزُقۡهُ مِنۡ حَيۡثُ لَا يَحۡتَسِبُۚ وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلۡ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسۡبُهُۥٓۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بَٰلِغُ أَمۡرِهِۦۚ قَدۡ جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَيۡءٖ قَدۡرٗا

“And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty) * And will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah – then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has already set for everything a [decreed] extent.”

Do not make the religion only fluff.

In a world where the religion is only “chicken-soup-for-the-soul” or “yogafied”, there must be a revival of truth and an awakening of deep Islamic Sciences, that is based on the Qur’an and Sunnah. We have to be prepared to be “pinched” and devote our obedience to Allah even if it is a challenge and struggle.

May Allah SWT allow us to accept the religion in its entirety and submit to Him in all situations.