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Al-Zubair ibn al-Awwam ibn Khuwailid رضي الله عنه was one of the greatest companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

The Prophet ﷺ once said:

“Every Prophet has disciples,
and my disciple is Al-Zubair.”

Because of this,
he became known as:

“Hawari Rasulillah ﷺ”
The Disciple of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

Al-Zubair رضي الله عنه was the seventh person to accept Islam.

He accepted Islam shortly after Abu Bakr As-Siddiq رضي الله عنه,
and at that time,
he was only fifteen years old.

But accepting Islam came with severe hardship.

He had an uncle named Nawfal,
and this uncle tortured him terribly because of his faith.

Nawfal would wrap Al-Zubair رضي الله عنه tightly inside woven mats,
then set fire to the ends of those mats.

As the flames moved closer and the heat burned his body,
his uncle would shout:

“Just say that you have left Muhammad!”

But Al-Zubair رضي الله عنه would reply:

“Never.
I will never leave him.”

The fire would continue burning until it came close to his feet,
and only then would they release him.

Despite all this torture,
he remained firm upon Islam.

Because of the persecution of Quraysh,
Al-Zubair ibn al-Awwam رضي الله عنه was among those who migrated to Abyssinia.

Later,
when he returned from Abyssinia,
a rumor spread throughout Makkah that the Quraysh had captured the Prophet ﷺ and intended to kill him.

Al-Zubair رضي الله عنه was still very young,
but the moment he heard this,
he immediately unsheathed his sword and marched through the streets of Makkah searching for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

This was the very first sword ever drawn in Islam.

Eventually,
he found the Prophet ﷺ on the outskirts of Makkah.

When the Prophet ﷺ saw him carrying a sword,
he asked:

“O Zubair,
what is wrong?”

Al-Zubair رضي الله عنه replied:

“O Messenger of Allah,
I heard they wanted to kill you,
so I came to make sure you were safe.”

SubhanAllah.

At the Battle of Badr,
Al-Zubair رضي الله عنه was one of the great warriors of Islam.

The Muslims only had two horses during that battle,
and one of them belonged to Al-Zubair ibn al-Awwam رضي الله عنه.

He fought with tremendous bravery and courage.

During Badr,
he was wearing a yellow turban.

The Prophet ﷺ then saw thousands of angels descending from the heavens,
all wearing yellow turbans like Al-Zubair رضي الله عنه.

The Messenger ﷺ said:

“The angels have descended looking like Al-Zubair ibn al-Awwam.”

At the Battle of Uhud,
one fierce enemy fighter was attacking the Muslims.

The Prophet ﷺ turned to Al-Zubair رضي الله عنه and said:

“O Zubair,
deal with this man.”

Al-Zubair رضي الله عنه rushed forward and defeated him quickly.

Then came the Battle of Hunayn.

During the battle,
the enemy leaders became terrified by one fearless warrior repeatedly charging through their lines.

They began asking one another:

“Who is this man?”

They were told:

“This is Al-Zubair ibn al-Awwam.
Be careful of him.
This man fears nothing.”

Later,
during the conquest of Egypt in the time of Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه,
Amr ibn al-As رضي الله عنه requested reinforcements.

Umar رضي الله عنه sent four thousand men.

But he specifically chose four remarkable leaders for them.

Among them was Al-Zubair ibn al-Awwam رضي الله عنه.

The others were:

Ubadah ibn Samit رضي الله عنه,
Al-Miqdad ibn al-Aswad رضي الله عنه,
and Maslamah ibn Muhallad رضي الله عنه.

Umar رضي الله عنه wrote to Amr ibn al-As رضي الله عنه saying:

“I am sending you four thousand men,
and at the head of every thousand is a man equal to a thousand himself.”

Meaning,
their strength and courage made them equal to an entire army.

Al-Zubair رضي الله عنه was married to Asma bint Abu Bakr رضي الله عنها,
the noble daughter of Abu Bakr As-Siddiq رضي الله عنه.

Among his children was the famous Abdullah ibn al-Zubair رضي الله عنه,
who later became one of the leaders of the Muslims.

Sadly,
Al-Zubair ibn al-Awwam رضي الله عنه was killed during the fitnah of the Battle of the Camel,
the tragic conflict that took place between the Muslims.

When Ali ibn Abi Talib رضي الله عنه heard about the death of Al-Zubair رضي الله عنه,
he cried intensely.

And when the man who killed Al-Zubair wanted permission to enter upon Ali رضي الله عنه,
Ali refused and said:

“I do not want to see this man.”

Such was the status of Al-Zubair ibn al-Awwam رضي الله عنه.

A man of courage,
loyalty,
faith,
and sacrifice.

This was Al-Zubair ibn al-Awwam ibn Khuwailid رضي الله عنه.

Some people are so soft-hearted that they cannot bear seeing others hurt, even when those same people hurt them back. They give chances too easily, forgive too quickly, and carry kindness in a world that often takes advantage of it. And because of that, they are often used, forgotten, or only remembered when someone needs something from them. But in Islam, a soft heart is not weakness. Mercy, gentleness, and sincerity are qualities beloved to Allah. The Prophet ﷺ was known for his mercy even toward those who wronged him. The world may treat kind people as temporary, but Allah never overlooks a heart that stayed pure while surviving pain.

To live with a soft heart in a harsh world is one of the most difficult forms of Sabr. It is a quiet, internal struggle to remain gentle when the world invites you to be cold. Many people believe that strength is found in building walls, in being indifferent, or in making sure that no one can ever get close enough to hurt you again. But the true strength lies in the person who has every reason to be bitter, yet chooses to remain a source of warmth. This softness is a divine light that Allah places in the hearts of those He loves.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was the embodiment of this beautiful contradiction: He ﷺ was the most powerful leader, yet He ﷺ had the softest heart. He ﷺ lived among people who plotted against Him ﷺ, who insulted His ﷺ character, and who caused Him ﷺ immense physical and emotional pain. Yet, He ﷺ never allowed their darkness to dim His ﷺ light. When He ﷺ visited the city of Ta’if and was met with stones and blood, He ﷺ did not ask for their destruction. Instead, He ﷺ raised His ﷺ hands and prayed for their guidance, hoping that from their descendants would come those who worship Allah. This was not because He ﷺ was unable to defend Himself, but because His ﷺ heart was so anchored in mercy that He ﷺ could not bear to see a soul lost to the fire.

When you find yourself being used or forgotten by the people you have helped, it is easy to feel like your kindness was a mistake. You might start to think that you are "too soft" or that you need to harden yourself to survive. But you must realize that when you do good for the sake of Allah, your reward is not with the people; it is with Him. If people forget your kindness, Allah remembers. If people take advantage of your generosity, Allah records it as a charity that will weigh heavily on your scales on the Day of Judgment. The pain of being ignored by the creation is often the very thing that drives a soul to seek intimacy with the Creator.

A soft heart is a sign of Iman. The hearts of the believers are like leaves-sensitive, responsive, and alive. A hard heart is like a stone; it doesn't feel the rain, it doesn't grow, and it eventually crumbles into dust. If your heart still feels the pain of others, if you still find it in you to forgive those who never apologized, and if you still offer your help to those who have shown you no loyalty, then know that your heart is still alive. Allah has protected you from the greatest disease of all: the hardening of the heart.

In the Akhirah, the people with the softest hearts will be the closest to Allah. He is Al-Latif, the Most Subtle and Kind, and He loves those who reflect His attributes in their dealings with people. Do not let the ingratitude of the world turn you into someone you are not. Do not let the "house inspections" of judgmental people or the betrayals of fair-weather friends make you close your doors. Your softness is your shield, even if it feels like a wound right now.

Allah sees the tears you hide when you choose to be kind instead of being right. He heard the silence you maintained when you had every right to speak out in anger. He knows the weight of the chances you gave when everyone else told you to walk away. You may be temporary to the people who use you, but you are eternal in the sight of the One who created you.

Hold onto your gentleness. In a generation that confuses aggression with power, be the one who proves that there is a quiet, invincible strength in a heart that refuses to hate. The desert may be dry, but the oasis is defined by its water. Be the oasis for the thirsty souls around you, and trust that Allah will never let your well run dry.

Have you ever felt like your kindness was a burden, only to realize later that it was actually your greatest blessing? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Serving your mother is greater than many voluntary acts of worship.

Standing up to help your mother can be better than giving charity.

Sitting beside your mother,
feeding her with your own hands,
serving her with love and mercy,
can outweigh many extra prayers and voluntary deeds.

One of the proofs of this is a powerful incident involving Abdullah ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه.

A man once came to Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه and asked:

“Is there any repentance for me?
I killed a woman out of jealousy because she accepted the proposal of another man.”

Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه asked him:

“Is your mother still alive?”

The man replied,

“No.”

Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه then said:

“Repent sincerely to Allah,
and draw close to Him through as many good deeds and acts of worship as you can.”

Later,
someone asked Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه:

“Why did you ask him whether his mother was alive?”

Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه replied:

“I do not know of any deed that brings a person closer to Allah more than being good to his mother.”

SubhanAllah.

Many people search for enormous acts of worship,
while opportunities for Jannah may be sitting right inside their own homes.

A mother’s dua,
a mother’s smile,
a mother’s happiness,
can become the reason for Allah’s mercy upon a person.

Never underestimate the value of serving your mother.

Perhaps one moment of kindness toward her
may weigh heavier on the scales
than years of voluntary worship.

Talha ibn Ubaydullah رضي الله عنه was born approximately fifteen years before the Prophethood of Muhammad ﷺ.

He was extremely intelligent and was known for traveling to different regions for business and trade.

One day, during one of his journeys, he arrived in Ash-Sham.

While he was there, he heard a monk calling out loudly:

“Is there anyone here from the Haram?
Anyone from Makkah?”

Talha ibn Ubaydullah رضي الله عنه replied,

“Yes, I am from Makkah.”

The monk then said,

“The time has come for a Prophet to appear.
Has this Prophet emerged yet?”

Talha replied,

“I am not sure.”

The monk then said,

“His name is Ahmad.
He is the son of Abdullah ibn Abdul Muttalib.”

Talha ibn Ubaydullah رضي الله عنه was shocked by what he heard.

He immediately gathered his camels and began his journey back to Makkah.

As soon as he arrived,
he went straight to Abu Bakr As-Siddiq رضي الله عنه and said,

“I want to tell you what happened to me in Busra in Ash-Sham.”

Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه became delighted upon hearing this and said,

“Come with me to Muhammad ﷺ.”

So they went together to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

Talha ibn Ubaydullah رضي الله عنه then said,

“O Messenger of Allah,
I bear witness that you are indeed the Messenger of Allah.”

He became approximately the eighth person to accept Islam.

But after embracing Islam,
the persecution began.

Even his own mother,
whose name was As-Sa‘bah,
became extremely angry with him.

She not only insulted him,
but she encouraged others to physically harm him.

They tied his hands behind his neck,
dragged him toward Mount Safa,
and began throwing stones at him while saying,

“You had better leave the religion of Muhammad!”

But Talha رضي الله عنه remained firm upon Islam despite all the torture and suffering.

Talha ibn Ubaydullah رضي الله عنه became especially famous for his bravery during the Battle of Uhud.

Whenever Abu Bakr As-Siddiq رضي الله عنه spoke about Uhud,
he would say:

“That was the battle of Talha.”

During the battle,
the Prophet ﷺ was surrounded by enemies.

His blessed teeth had been injured,
and many of the Mushrikin were advancing toward him.

Around the Messenger ﷺ were only a few of the Ansar and Talha ibn Ubaydullah رضي الله عنه.

The Prophet ﷺ asked:

“Who will take care of these Mushrikin?”

Talha رضي الله عنه immediately replied,

“I will.”

But the Prophet ﷺ told him to sit down.

One by one,
the Ansar went forward and were martyred,
until only Talha رضي الله عنه and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ remained.

Talha ibn Ubaydullah رضي الله عنه then rose and fought with extraordinary courage.

He defended the Prophet ﷺ so fiercely that he did not allow the enemies to come close to him.

During the battle,
he suffered more than seventy wounds while protecting the Messenger ﷺ.

His hand was severely damaged,
and he lost the use of part of his palm.

Eventually,
he fell to the ground in a pool of blood,
covered with deep wounds and injuries.

Because of this,
the Prophet ﷺ used to call him:

“Ash-Shahidul-Hayy”
“The Living Martyr.”

Talha رضي الله عنه also had an incredibly generous heart.

One evening,
a caravan arrived from Hadhramaut carrying merchandise worth seven hundred thousand dirhams.

Despite this enormous wealth,
Talha رضي الله عنه looked worried and disturbed.

His wife,
Umm Kulthum bint Abu Bakr As-Siddiq رضي الله عنها,
noticed his concern and said:

“My beloved husband,
have I done something to upset you?
You seem very worried today.”

Talha رضي الله عنه replied,

“No, not at all.”

She then said,

“I think I know what is troubling you.
You are worried because there is so much wealth inside your home while there are poor people outside.
Perhaps you are thinking about what answer you will give to Allah regarding this wealth.”

Talha رضي الله عنه replied,

“Yes, that is exactly what is troubling me.”

She then said,

“Why don’t you distribute it?”

Talha رضي الله عنه said,

“No problem.”

So they began making small bundles and distributed all of that wealth among the poor and needy.

Sadly,
Talha ibn Ubaydullah رضي الله عنه was later killed during the Battle of Jamal,
during the difficult fitnah that occurred between the Muslims.

When Ali ibn Abi Talib رضي الله عنه saw what had happened to Talha,
he began to cry and weep.

Talha رضي الله عنه was also among the great companions whom Umar ibn Al-Khattab رضي الله عنه had chosen to be part of the committee responsible for selecting the next leader of the Muslims after him.

This was Talha ibn Ubaydullah رضي الله عنه.

Uqbat Ibn Amer رضي الله عنه asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ,

“What will give me success?
What will give me safety?”

And the Prophet ﷺ gave three very brief but powerful pieces of advice.

The Messenger ﷺ said:

“Control your tongue.”

One day, Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه walked into the masjid and saw Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه holding his own tongue.

So Umar asked him,

“What are you doing?”

Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه replied:

“This thing has caused me so much trouble.”

How many homes have been destroyed because of the tongue?

How many friendships?

How many communities?

Imam Ash-Shafi‘i رحمه الله had a poem in which he said:

“How many people are lying in their graves because of their tongues?”

So the Prophet ﷺ said:

“Control your tongue.”

What is beautiful about the Arabic wording is that the Prophet ﷺ said:

“Control it against yourself,”

as if the tongue itself is something dangerous against you.

Protect yourself from it,
because if you do not control it,
it can ruin your life.

Imam Ash-Shafi‘i رحمه الله also said:

“If there is anything that deserves to be imprisoned for a long time, it is the tongue.”

The intellect should come before the tongue.

But many times the tongue speaks first,
and only afterwards we think:

“What did I just say?”

Words are like arrows.

Once they leave,
you cannot take them back.

You may say one hurtful sentence to your wife,
your husband,
your child,
your friend,
your brother,
or your sister,

and they may remember it for the rest of their lives.

You may apologize for ten years,
but the wound can remain.

That is why Imam Ash-Shafi‘i رحمه الله said:

“The wound caused by a sword may heal,
but the wound caused by the tongue may never heal.”

We spend so much time learning how to speak,
but we rarely learn silence.

When children are small,
we put them in timeout and tell them:

“Sit quietly.”

Honestly,
many adults today also need timeout.

Learn how to stay quiet more often.

That was the first advice.

The second advice of the Prophet ﷺ was:

“Let your home be enough for you.”

Meaning,
make your home a place where you are comfortable.

Be comfortable being with your family,
your spouse,
your children.

Do not always feel the need to be outside.

Stay home more often.

There is less fitnah at home.

Go to the masjid,
then return home.

Be present with your family.

We all know the incident of Ifk,
when our mother Aisha رضي الله عنها was falsely accused,
and rumors spread throughout the community.

Imagine how painful that was for her.

And imagine how painful it was for her father,
Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه.

Aisha رضي الله عنها eventually found out about the rumors,
and she asked the Prophet ﷺ if she could return to her parents’ home.

The Prophet ﷺ allowed her.

When she entered the house,
she was extremely distressed.

Her mother immediately comforted her.

But Aisha رضي الله عنها said:

“When I entered the house,
I could hear my father on the roof reciting Qur’an.”

SubhanAllah.

There was a massive crisis happening,
yet Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه was strengthening his relationship with Allah.

It does not mean he ignored the problem.

It means he understood that some matters are beyond human control,
and in those moments,
the strongest thing a person can do is turn back to Allah.

The third advice of the Prophet ﷺ was:

“Weep over your sins.”

You only cry over things that truly matter to you.

You only cry over things you deeply think about.

This hadith redirects our priorities.

There are many problems in the world today,
global problems,
community problems,
family problems.

But the thing our hearts should be most concerned about
is our own sins.

How often do we sit and think about our mistakes?

How often do we reflect on the sins we committed today?

Most people hardly do.

And if we never think about them,
we will never cry over them.

One of the biggest problems today
is that people focus on the faults of others
instead of their own faults.

Focus on your own sins.

Focus on your own shortcomings.

Before you sleep at night,
sit with yourself and think:

“What did I do wrong today?”

Then turn back to Allah.

Do not sleep while carrying those sins without repentance.

End your night with tawbah.

Clean your heart before you sleep.

So the Prophet ﷺ gave three beautiful pieces of advice:

Control your tongue.

Find peace within your home.

And cry over your sins.

May Allah سبحانه وتعالى grant us tawfiq.

One day, three جنازے (funerals) were brought before the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

Before leading the first funeral prayer, the Prophet ﷺ asked:

Did this person have any debts?

The people replied:

No, O Messenger of Allah, he had no debts.

So the Prophet ﷺ immediately led his janazah prayer.

Then the second funeral was brought.

Again, the Prophet ﷺ asked:

Did this person have any debts?

The companions replied:

Yes, O Messenger of Allah, he did have debts.
But he has left behind three dinars.

Enough to repay what he owed.

So the Prophet ﷺ led the funeral prayer for him as well.

Then the third funeral was brought before the Prophet ﷺ.

Once again, he asked:

Did this person have any debts?

The people replied:

Yes, O Messenger of Allah, he had debts.

The Prophet ﷺ then asked:

Did he leave behind any wealth to repay them?

They replied:

No, O Messenger of Allah, he left behind nothing.

At that moment, the Prophet ﷺ stepped back and said:

Pray the janazah of your companion yourselves.

The companions were deeply affected.

Then Abu Qatadah رضي الله عنه stepped forward and said:

O Messenger of Allah,
I take responsibility for paying his debt.
I guarantee it on his behalf.

When the Prophet ﷺ heard this, he then led the funeral prayer for the man.

This hadith shows the immense importance Islam places on repaying debts.

Sadly today, many people borrow money from others with sincerity shown to them, but later forget to repay it.

Some even begin avoiding the person they owe money to.

They stop meeting them.

They distance themselves from them,

fearing that they might ask for their money back.

The Prophet ﷺ forgave Wahshi رضي الله عنه, the man who killed his beloved uncle Hamza رضي الله عنه.

When Wahshi later accepted Islam and stood before the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, the Prophet ﷺ forgave him.

But he also said something deeply human and powerful.

He said:

“I have forgiven you, Wahshi.
But if possible, do not appear before me too often.
Whenever I see you, I remember my uncle Hamza,
and my heart grieves.”

SubhanAllah.

Even the greatest man to ever walk this earth understood the need for emotional boundaries.

He forgave.

But he also protected his heart.

Forgiveness does not always mean closeness.

Forgiveness does not always mean things return to the way they once were.

Sometimes, distance is necessary to preserve peace within the heart.

And there is nothing wrong with that.

Losing someone as a friend does not mean you have become their enemy.

You can still wish them well.

You can still make dua for them.

You can still forgive them.

But from a distance.

Because forgiveness is greatness,
and sometimes distance is what keeps the heart pure.

When someone hurts you, the loudest voice in your head is usually the voice of the ego. It screams for justice, for payback, and for a way to make them feel the exact same pain they caused you. We live in a world that tells us to give people what they deserve, to "clap back," and to never let an insult go unanswered. But there is a silent, much more powerful strength in the wisdom that says: The best revenge is to not be like the one who wronged you.

Think about what happens when you respond to cruelty with cruelty. If someone lies about you and you respond with a lie, or if someone is cold to you and you become cold in return, they haven't just hurt you - they have changed you. They have succeeded in pulling you down into their darkness. If you become like them to defeat them, you’ve actually lost, because you’ve sacrificed your own character just to settle a score.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is the ultimate master of this divine restraint. Throughout His ﷺ life, He ﷺ was subjected to the most brutal forms of betrayal and hatred. He ﷺ was mocked, pelted with stones, and chased out of His ﷺ own home. Yet, when He ﷺ finally returned to Makkah as a powerful conqueror, with the ability to take revenge on everyone who had ever harmed Him ﷺ, He ﷺ chose a different path.

The people of Makkah stood before Him ﷺ, trembling and expecting a massacre. But He ﷺ asked them, "What do you think I am going to do to you?" They replied, "You are a noble brother and the son of a noble brother." And He ﷺ uttered the words that changed history: "Go, for you are all free."

By refusing to be like them, He ﷺ didn't just win a city; He ﷺ won their hearts. He ﷺ proved that the ultimate victory isn't in crushing your enemy, but in being so firmly rooted in the ethics given by Allah that no amount of external pressure can break your principles. He ﷺ showed us that staying true to your kindness and your integrity is the highest form of strength.

Allah tells us in the Quran to repel evil with that which is better. When you respond to a person’s darkness with the light of your own character, you aren't being weak. You are being God-conscious. You are showing that your behavior is dictated by your relationship with Allah, not by the flaws of the people around you.

The best way to "get back" at someone who has wronged you is to live a life so beautiful and so filled with peace that their negativity becomes irrelevant. When they see that their arrows of malice couldn't even scratch the surface of your Sabr, that is the most crushing defeat they can experience.

Next time someone tests your character, remember that you are a representative of the Sunnah. Don't let a small person turn you into a small person. Stay noble, stay kind, and leave the rest to Allah. Because when you choose to not be like the one who wronged you, Allah Himself becomes your defender.

Have you ever found peace in choosing silence and kindness over revenge? Let us know your stories in the comments below.

Imagine your heart is a fortress. Every fortress has gates, and the most vulnerable gate to your soul is your eyes. There is a profound piece of wisdom from the great scholar Ibn al-Qayyim who said that the heart is corrupted by the corruption of the eyes.

This isn't just a poetic statement; it is a spiritual and psychological reality. Think of your eyes as a camera that never stops recording. Every image you choose to look at, every scene you linger upon, and every visual temptation you follow is instantly transmitted to your heart. If what you see is pure, it brings light to your soul. But if what you see is corrupted, it leaves a dark stain on your heart.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ warned us about this long ago. He ﷺ described the forbidden gaze as a poisoned arrow from the arrows of Iblis. Notice that He ﷺ didn't just call it a sin; He ﷺ called it a poisoned arrow. An arrow doesn't just stay on the surface; it pierces deep. Once that "poison" enters through the eyes, it travels straight to the heart, slowly killing your spiritual peace, your focus in Salah, and your desire for what is good.

In the era we live in today, this battle has moved into our pockets. We are the first generation in history that has to guard its eyes against an infinite stream of visual corruption on our screens. We scroll through things we shouldn't see, and then we wonder why we feel anxious, why our hearts feel heavy, or why we find it hard to connect with Allah. We are trying to keep a clean heart while feeding it a constant diet of visual poison.

Ibn al-Qayyim explains that there is a direct link between the eye and the heart. When the eye becomes bold in looking at the prohibited, the heart becomes bold in desiring the prohibited. You cannot have a sound heart if you have wandering eyes. To protect the king, which is your heart, you must first control the messengers, which are your eyes.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was the perfect example of this internal discipline. He ﷺ taught us that lowering the gaze is not a restriction of freedom, but the ultimate protection of it. When you lower your eyes for the sake of Allah, He replaces what you gave up with a sweetness of faith that you can actually feel in your heart. You trade a temporary, hollow glance for a lasting, divine light.

If you want to heal your heart, start by guarding your gates. Be intentional about what you allow your eyes to feast upon. Remember that your heart is the place where Allah looks, so don't fill it with the clutter of what He has forbidden you to see.

In a world that wants you to look at everything, find your strength in looking away. Because a heart that is protected from the corruption of the eyes is a heart that is truly alive.

Do you find that your spiritual state changes based on what you spend your time looking at? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

9 Signs your Istighfar has started working.

Most people never notice them. They expect thunder. But it comes like a breeze. Save this. Check yourself honestly.

01: Salah starts to feel different.

Not every prayer. Not all at once. But one day you finish and something feels different. Quieter. Like something moved.

The heart that Istighfar softens begins to feel what it was always saying.

02: Sins start to feel heavy αgαίη.

You stopped feeling guilty. That was the Ran covering the heart. Now the guilt is back. That is not a bad sign.

A heart that can feel the weight of sin is a heart that is alive again.

03: Doors you did not expect begin to open.

A conversation. An opportunity. A way out you did not plan. This is not coincidence. The Quran said it directly.

وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ

He will provide for him from where he does not expect.

04: You find yourself making Istighfar without trying.

It used to feel like an effort. A practice.

Something you had to remember.

Now it comes on its own. Between tasks. Before sleep. In the quiet moments.

The tongue reflects what the heart has absorbed.

05: The Quran starts landing differently.

You have read certain ayat a hundred times. Then one day the same ayah stops you completely. Like you are reading it for the first time.

The Quran did not change. The heart receiving it did.

06: You feel a strange peace about things you cannot control.

Not because the problem is solved. The problem might still be there.

But the grip of anxiety loosens. You start to genuinely believe that Allah has it.

Tawakkul is not a decision. It is what grows when the heart softens.

07: Du'a stops feeling like a formality.

You used to say the words and wonder if anyone was listening.

Now you raise your hands and something in you actually believes.

When Istighfar clears the channel the du'a finally travels.

08: Old sins lose their pull.

Not through willpower. You did not white- knuckle your way out of it....The desire just quietly faded. The thing that used to call you stopped feeling worth it.

A clean heart changes what it wants.

09: You start to feel that Allah is near
Not a thought. A feeling.

In salah. In the quiet. In the hardship. A sense that you are not alone in this.

This is what the polished heart was always supposed to feel. You just could not reach it before.

How many of these have you already felt?

If even one landed for you then Istighfar is already working.

Say Alhamdülillah 🤲