When the Soul Needs a Breather
- marcom401
- Nov 10
- 4 min read
Written by: Ustaz Erwin Shah Effandy
As the year draws to a close, after months of toil and striving, the heart softly yearns for a moment of rest. Throughout the months — working, striving, providing — all for the ones we love.
And now, as the year exhales its final breath, we find ourselves standing amidst the fruits of our labour, reminded that they were never meant to be hoarded, but shared in time, presence, and tenderness.
To slow down is not weakness; it is wisdom.
To sit with a cup of kopi, free from the rush of deadlines and noise.
To breathe in the morning air as the Adzkar (Remembrance of Allah) softly roll off our tongues.
These are not luxuries. They are small acts of gratitude, gifts from Allah s.w.t to hearts that have given much and now seek to return to calm.
Serenity in the Midst of Life
In our rush to achieve, we sometimes forget that the body we push to its limits is also an amanah, a trust from Allah s.w.t that we must care for.
Once, Salman reminded Abu Ad-Darda’ of this profound truth, saying:
إِنَّ لِرَبِّكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا، وَلِنَفْسِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا، وَلأَهْلِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا، فَأَعْطِ كُلَّ ذِي حَقٍّ حَقَّهُ
"Your Lord has a right over you, your soul has a right over you, and your family has a right over you. So give each one their due right."
Reflecting on these words, Abu Ad-Darda’ went to the Prophet s.a.w and recounted what Salman had said. The Prophet s.a.w affirmed and said:
صَدَقَ سَلْمَانُ
"Salman has spoken the truth."
This simple exchange carries a timeless lesson: in striving for success and fulfilling our responsibilities, we must balance our worship, health, and family obligations. Every part of our life, our body, our heart, our loved ones, has its rights. To neglect any is to fall short of the trust Allah s.w.t has placed upon us.
The Right to Rest
The right for us to rest is not indulgence, it is ibadah when done with the right intention. We rest so we may pray better, think clearer, or love more sincerely. We acknowledge the wisdom of Allah s.w.t who created us in cycles of movement and stillness.
The Prophet s.a.w embodied balance. He was never excessive, never neglectful. He prayed long in the night, yet also rested his body with Qaylulah, the midday nap that refreshed his energy for worship and service. Rest is essential to human well-being, allowing us to maintain harmony and balance in our lives.
Pursuing our goals is admirable, but at what price? In the pursuit of worldly success, do we risk losing sight of what truly matters, our akhirah? Amidst striving and ambition, when was the last time we sat in a mosque, attended a circle of knowledge, opened a spiritually uplifting book, or volunteered for a good cause? The essential lesson is clear: balance.
Resting the Heart
True rest is not just of the limbs, but of the heart. Our hearts tire not only from work, but from worry. From the endless scrolling of our laptops, comparing budget sheets, and chasing that leaves us spiritually dry. The Qur’an offers a remedy:
أَلَا بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ
“Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.”
Sometimes what we need is not another plan or goal but a quiet moment with Allah s.w.t, where the heart returns home. Take a morning walk after Subuh. Enjoy the vast greenery & scenery which Allah s.w.t has blessed us with. Reflect and ponder on his creations. Listen to the birds making dhikr in their own way. Such moments bring calm to our hearts, away from the busyness of screens and buildings.
Reconnecting with What Matters
Find Sakinah. Not the Sakinah we knew from school, but the Sakinah of the heart — that quiet, steady tranquility which quietly boosts our Iman. Allah s.w.t mentions:
هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ ٱلسَّكِينَةَ فِى قُلُوبِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ لِيَزْدَادُوٓا۟ إِيمَـٰنًۭا مَّعَ إِيمَـٰنِهِمْ ۗ
"He (Allah s.w.t) is the One Who sent down serenity upon the hearts of the believers so that they may increase even more in their faith."
Serenity isn’t attained from some form of meditation or an overpriced candle. It is the calm that quietly sneaks into your heart, like Wi-Fi you didn’t even know you had, connecting you straight to Allah s.w.t. It’s the gentle reminder from Allah s.w.t that amidst life’s chaos, our hearts can find peace. It’s the calm that settles over us during a quiet moment after Subuh, the stillness we feel while reflecting on His blessings, or the way our hearts slow down when we pause and truly remember Him.
So, chase the Sakinah of the heart. Let it crash softly over your worries, tickle your soul, and know that Allah s.w.t is the ultimate provider of that inner Wi-Fi.
With that, perhaps, in that peace, you’ll find the strength to begin again. Not exhausted, but renewed in heart and spirit, ready to pursue what truly matters in this life and the next.
Supplication for Balance and Tranquility
As we embrace serenity, let's increase our tongue with supplication that we often hear and is taught in the Qur’an, a Do’a for Balance, Steadfastness, Tranquility in this world, and the hereafter.
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil-akhirati hasanatan wa qina ‘adhaban-nar.
"Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire."
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