Have You Ever Felt That “Hole” Within Your Soul?

Have you ever been thirsty?

Have you ever been so strangely thirsty, that no matter how much you drink and bloat your belly, you still feel thirsty?

Perhaps you did not drink the drink you need.

Have you ever felt lonely?

Have you ever felt so lonely, that no matter how much social interaction you do and tired you get from it, you feel lonely?

Perhaps you did not get the interaction you need.

Dearest of all, brothers and sisters, those who feel this and you know what I mean if you do feel what I am talking about. I have a message for you, whom I give with all my heart and knowledge which is so minimum but this message was not from me.

Maybe this message will sound preachy to you, meaningless, ‘old news done this tried that’, but by Allah’s Names I swear that this message is true.

Narrated Ibn Abbas r.a., I heard the Prophet s.a.w. saying: ‘If the son of Adam (the human being) had two valley of money, he would wish for a third, for nothing can fill the belly of Adam’s son except dust, and Allah forgives him who repents to Him.’

(Narrated from Ibn Abbas r.a., Sahih Al Bukhary, Vol 8, Book 76, Hadith 444, Grade: Sahih)

For you who feels this ‘hole’ within you, that seemingly nothing can satisfy, be it friends, lover(s), money, wealth, by the will of Allah that is good news for you. So many others think that their lives are complete, happy, while they do not realize this ‘hole’ inside them. They are diverted from what really matters. Distracted from the truth of what they truly need.

(۲) الْمَقَابِرَتُمُ زُرْ حَتَّىٰ (۱) أَلْهَاكُمُ التَّكَاثُرُ

“Competition in [worldly] increase diverts you until you visit the graveyards”

(Surah At-Takathur ayat 1-2)

But for you who realize that there is a ‘hole’ within you, and you have realized that nothing in this world can satisfy it, then alhamdulillaah, inshaaAllah you are on the right track. This might sound stupid, brothers and sisters, but yes you are on the right track.

If, and only if, you realize what the consequence is.

When you have been blessed with the realization that nothing in this world can satisfy you, then it is mere common sense to know what can satisfy you. While everything in this world combined is nothing, remember this:

(۲) الصَّمَدُ اللَّـهُ

“Allah, The Eternal Refuge”

(Surah Al Ikhlas, ayat 2)

We recite Surah Al-Ikhlas all the time, but not everyone has really pondered upon what it means. The word shamad in ayat 2 is one word that represents a very profound meaning. The Self Sufficient, One Whom depends on nothing, One Whom all depends on, Absolute, etc.

If you are with Him, there is nothing to worry about.

I am sure you have heard about this famous hadith:

It was narrated from Anas bin Malik r.a. that Rasulullah s.a.w. said: ‘The greatest reward comes with the greatest trial. When Allah loves a people He tests them. Whoever accepts that wins His pleasure but whoever is discontent with that earns His wrath.’

(Sunan Ibn Majah, Vol. 1, Book 36, Hadith 4031, Grade: Hasan)

One may ask, why would Allah S.W.T. test whom He loves? Think about it, what do you do when you are facing difficult problems that you don’t know how to solve it? If you pass Allah’s test, then you will turn to Allah and pray to Him. He wants you closer to Him.

Think about this very powerful hadith qudsi:

On the authority of Abu Hurayrah r.a., who said that Rasulullah s.a.w said: ‘Allah Ta’ala says: ‘I am as My servant thinks I am. I am with him when he makes mention of Me. If he makes mention of Me to himself, I make mention of him to Myself; and if he makes mention of Me in an assembly, I make mention of him in an assemble better than it. And if he draws near to Me an arm’s length, I draw near to him a fathom’s length. And if he comes to Me walking, I go to him at speed.’”

(Narrated by Abu Hurayrah r.a., 40 Hadith Qudsi No. 15 from Sahih Bukhary, Muslim, at-Tirmidzi, and Ibn Majah, Grade: Sahih)

This hadith is actually referring to repentance and taubah. However, think about it. Think how Allah S.W.T. wants to be close to His servant, and all you need to do is to approach Him then He will approach you much closer than you know it.

For so many, perhaps including you, what I say may sound very cliché, unrealistic, ‘distant from reality’, etc. However, this is the problem of our ummah. Remember again the hadith qudsi, and answer this question: what do you think it means if we feel distant to Allah (and also His words)?

Be patient, and read your shalat. These two words mean a lot more than what most of us realize.

Do not fall in the trick of the Shaytan that says “See? Where is He? You have been patient, right? But where is he?” the moment you ask that, you are (a) being impatient, and (b) you are thinking of Him negatively (remember the hadith qudsi).

And when we do shalat, do we understand what we recite? Not just a literal translation. Do we really understand what they mean and what they symbolize? If we don’t, then we should start making that effort to learn and contemplate.

If we are really that far away from Him, far diverted into the mortal riches of the world despite knowing how limited they are, then we must strive to find our way back. Don’t worry, trust Him. Once again, He is as you think He is. Trust Him, and everything will be alright in the right time, right place, and in the right way.

“O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.”

(Surah Al Baqarah ayat 153)

May Allah shower all of us with His Rahma and Barakah, and bless us all with His guidance, for it is He Who we need and only He Who can grant us what we need. In the end, it is unto He that we return.