Through the lens of polytheism, we are conditioned to view Allah as an unreachable deity who is constantly waiting for us to fail. Leaving us with the exhausting feeling that nothing we do will ever be good enough. When we view him through that distorted framework, we can never see Allah for who He truly is. To find real peace, we first have to unlearn the fear.
Moving Beyond the Transactional Mindset
When we strip away the transactional mindset, we arrive at the simplest, most liberating truth: Allah does not demand faultlessness. He simply wants us to want Him. He wants our love, our devotion, and our heart's desire to draw near.
Love Before Obedience
This brings us to a fundamental question: what comes first - obedience or love? Because obedience is a choice, love must always take priority. We cannot truly submit or yield our hearts to someone we do not love, trust, or respect; forced compliance under fear only breeds resentment. True obedience is not a cold demand, but a conscience-driven response born from love and respect.
Once love is established, submission no longer feels like submission. Obeying Allah stops being a heavy burden, a cold transaction, or a set of rules followed out of fear. Instead, it becomes a natural, joyful desire to please the One who holds our hearts. When we are not coerced or pressured to give our hearts to Allah, living under His guidance feels less like an obligation and more like entering a true sanctuary.
Finding Safety in Divine Surrender
Now that I am where I am in my faith, my dua has become this: "O Allah (swt), hold me so tightly in the palm of Your hand that I leave an impression." When we do not know Allah through love, or if submission were something forced upon us, being held that tightly would feel like a prison, rather than protection. But when we surrender our hearts willingly, being held by Him isn't confinement - it is safety. Within the palm of His hand, there is no fear, no burden, and nowhere else in creation would we rather be.