☀️ Vitamin Deen #4 - Take a step back, you need it to grow

If you're complaining about things you're not granted with, this is for you

Assalamu Aleykum loves,

It’s been a while! I pray you’re all doing amazing 🤎

I think most of you saw on Instagram that I decided to go on a break for an undetermined time. It wasn’t an easy decision to take, but it had been on my mind for some time and I knew that if I actually wanted to remain true to myself and my community, I had to do it.

I didn’t feel inspired anymore, felt like the content I was investing a lot of time and energy in wasn’t reaching you guys and I started to compare myself a lot. I never used to do it at all but I started to feel guilty about experiencing what scholars often tell us: the more one shares how beautiful their life is, the more envy you’ll feel and all it will led you to is question Allah on why you don’t get as much as them when you feel like you’re a good person too.

Think of Prophet Yusuf (as) and his brothers

A few weeks ago, Nouman Ali Khan did a talk here in Paris where he shared with us new perspectives on Surah Yusuf. At one point

, he said that most people identify to Prophet Yusuf (as), he identified to his brothers, and although I thought it was maybe a little harsh to go about the first ones saying they victimised themselves, his point did make sense.

This led me to read the blog post I shared a while back about the lessons I got from this surah and Subhan’Allah while I did mention how social media can make you envious, I didn’t think about how indeed, we prefer to complain, forgetting that Yusuf (as) never did, despite going through things we probably would have never been able to bear. So yes, technically, we sometimes pity ourselves instead of focusing on what Allah (swt) gave us, but also, that what He didn’t give to us is still a blessing that we should be grateful for because that’s how we become stronger in character and in faith. Isn’t that what being Muslim is actually about?

What I got from this

Ultimately, this comforted me in my decision: I wanted to find peace of mind, reflect upon what worked for me and what didn’t during these past 4 years, what I really want The Mizaan to be, purify my intentions with it so it can be blessed with the Barakah of Allah (swt). The fact that this passion project, because of the space it grew in and the type of content I was exposed to, made me question myself and why I wasn’t earning enough money when other influencers were living a comfortable wage, why I wasn’t married when everyone seemed to be, why would people not appreciate authenticity and values as much as beauty privilege and online trends, made me really sad and I am certain that taking a break is the best way to protect it and come back to it the best way possible insha’Allah.

Take a break too!

If you feel that way about social media too, don’t be afraid on going on a little detox. The dopamine addiction many are getting from it is insane and worrying, because it has so many bad consequences, including not being able to stay focus on one specific thing for a longer period of time, which is naturally conflicting with learning the Quran, reading Islamic books, spending time at the mosque and anything that might help us strengthening our relationship to Allah.

Don’t get me wrong, I think social media has a positive side too and I’m sure that you’ve found people online that made you fall in love with Islam all over again! But it shouldn’t be our main source of knowledge and definitely not our main source of distraction, gratification, or worse, validation.

The Prophet Muhammad (saws) said: "Whoever seeks the pleasure of Allah even though it is displeasing to people, then Allah becomes pleased with him and will make the people pleased with him. And whoever seeks the pleasure of the people even though it is displeasing to Allah, then Allah becomes displeased with him and will make the people displeased with him." Sunan Ibn Majah

I would love to know about your relationship with social media: what are the things you appreciate the most about it? Who are the people you love on there? Why would you like to change about the way you use it?

May Allah protect us from anything that distance us from Him and keep us steadfast on His path 🤎

Love and du’as,

Assia