If we look closely at modern life, it often feels like one endless race.

A race of trends.

A race of status.

A race of relationships.

A race of fitness.

A race of business.

A race of achievements.

Everywhere we look, people seem to be running.

And even when a person wishes to move toward something good, another race appears before them. Few people want to remain where they are. Everyone wants to get ahead.

Sometimes, even worship becomes part of this race.

A person does not merely wish to worship Allah; he wishes to worship more than others, achieve more than others, and move ahead of others.

But what is the reason behind all of this?

Perhaps trust in our own actions does not seem enough.

Perhaps confidence in our efforts feels weak.

But then a question arises:

Is trust in Allah not enough?

We can make mistakes.

Our actions can be incomplete.

Our efforts can fall short.

But the One who will accept those actions knows everything.

Allah knows what is hidden in the hearts.

He knows the struggles that nobody sees.

He knows the intentions that nobody hears.

Before Him, your intention exists exactly as it truly is.

So then, why the fear?

The problem begins when we stop trusting the sincerity of our intentions and start measuring ourselves only against other people.

This is where one of Satan's subtle strategies begins.

He places us into a race.

A race where we constantly look left and right to see who is ahead and who is behind, until eventually we forget to look forward and see the road itself.

Life was never meant to be a prison of comparison.

Yes, one of the necessities of life is that we continue moving forward.

Standing still forever is not the answer.

But turning life into nothing more than a race is not the answer either.

We must keep walking.

But we must also watch the road.

We need direction.

We need purpose.

And we need peace.

Otherwise, this race will eventually exhaust us.

And one day we may discover that while we were busy trying not to lose to others, we slowly lost ourselves.

The way out of this race is Tawakkul — trust in Allah.

To keep our intentions pure.

To continue moving forward with certainty.

And even if our progress comes only in baby steps, we continue walking with peace instead of panic.

Because by running blindly, we do not win life.

But through continuous effort, focus, sincerity, and trust in Allah, we can make our journey easier and more meaningful.

This is not easy.

Sometimes your passion does not allow you to rethink.

Sometimes it does not allow you to pause and make careful decisions.

You simply want to go with the flow.

A flow that exists within you and pushes you toward your desires.

But that can be dangerous.

At high speed, you cannot focus on the road properly.

Sometimes you must slow down to cross the rough patches of the road safely.

And perhaps that is life itself.

Some days are difficult.

Some days are beautiful.

Some roads are smooth.

Some roads are rough.

The goal was never to reach the finish line before everyone else.

The goal was to reach Allah without losing yourself along the way.

If you want to understand why the world feels like a prison.

Read This Article 

                👉    IS THE WORLD A PRISON? THE SHRIMP STORY & HADITH (2956) EXPLAINED

The world's definition of forbidden love usually refers to relationships that society, culture, family, or law does not approve of. However, Islam presents a much deeper and more precise psychology of forbidden love.

Forbidden Love and Romantic Relationships in Islam

In Islam, every romantic relationship that exists outside the boundaries set by Shariah is considered forbidden. The Qur'an not only defines lawful and unlawful relationships but also prohibits taking secret lovers:

(Surah An-Nisa 4:23-25)

4:23

Forbidden to you (for marriage) are your mothers, your daughters, your sisters, your paternal aunts, your maternal aunts, your brothers' daughters, your sisters' daughters, your foster mothers who nursed you, your foster sisters, your wives' mothers, your stepdaughters under your guardianship born of your wives with whom you have consummated marriage—but if you have not consummated marriage with them, there is no blame upon you—and the wives of your sons who are from your own loins, and that you take two sisters together in marriage, except for what has already passed. Indeed, Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

4:24

Also forbidden are married women, except those whom your right hands possess. This is Allah's decree upon you. Lawful to you are all others beyond these, provided that you seek them in marriage with your wealth, desiring chastity and not unlawful sexual relations. So for whatever you enjoy from them, give them their due compensation as an obligation. There is no blame upon you for what you mutually agree upon beyond the obligation. Indeed, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.

4:25

  And whoever among you cannot afford to marry free believing women, then let him marry from among your believing slave women whom your right hands possess. Allah knows best about your faith. You are of one another. So marry them with the permission of their people and give them their due compensation according to what is acceptable, being chaste, neither committing unlawful sexual intercourse nor taking secret lovers. Then when they are married, if they commit immorality, they shall receive half the punishment prescribed for free married women. This concession is for those among you who fear falling into sin. But if you are patient, it is better for you. And Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful 

These verses show that love and relationships are not left to personal desires alone; they are guided by divine limits and responsibilities.

The Hidden Spectrum of Forbidden Love

There is, however, another spectrum of forbidden love that often goes unnoticed. Allah warns believers not to let worldly attachments distract them from Him:

(Surah Al-Munafiqun 63:9)

"O you who have believed, let not your wealth and your children divert you from the remembrance of Allah. And whoever does that—then those are the losers."

Parents naturally love their children deeply, and this love is a blessing from Allah. Yet sometimes a person's attachment to their children, wealth, or family becomes so overwhelming that they are willing to cross the limits set by Allah for their sake. The love itself is not forbidden, but it has boundaries.

Allah further reminds us:

(Surah At-Taghabun 64:15)

"Your wealth and your children are only a trial, and Allah has with Him a great reward." 

Even the purest worldly relationships are a test. They are blessings, but they should never become greater than our love and obedience to Allah.

Allah also says:

(Surah At-Tawbah 9:24)

"Say, if your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your spouses, your relatives, the wealth you have acquired, the commerce you fear may decline, and the homes you love are more beloved to you than Allah and His Messenger and striving in His cause, then wait until Allah brings about His command."

The Qur'anic Definition of Forbidden Love

The definition of forbidden love in Islam is therefore extremely precise and delicate:

Any love that causes you to forget Allah, distances you from His remembrance, or leads you to cross the limits He has set becomes a forbidden attachment.

Allah is the ultimate Source of every blessing and every form of love. If a person forgets the very Source from whom all love comes, how can they truly succeed?

Many people in the modern world view love solely through emotions and personal desires, often overlooking the spiritual boundaries and responsibilities that Islam places upon it. The Qur'an, however, teaches that true love is not merely about intensity of feelings—it is about loving within the limits set by Allah and ensuring that no attachment becomes greater than our attachment to Him.

If you want to know the reality behind the moth and flame story, 

Read this article.

👉  WHAT IS DIVINE LOVE? THE REALITY BEHIND THE MOTH & FLAME STORY

Allah says in Quran 

Surah Qaf (50:16)

وَنَحۡنُ اَقۡرَبُ اِلَيۡهِ مِنۡ حَبۡلِ الۡوَرِيۡدِ

"And We are closer to him than [his] jugular vein."

 Let try to understand this verse psychologically and scientifically.

The Scientific Reflection

The heart is the center of the body that pumps blood throughout the entire body, including the brain. Without receiving blood from the heart, the brain cannot function. To send and receive signals from the body, the brain depends upon blood flow, and that blood travels through the jugular veins.

Allah says, "I am closer to him than his jugular vein."

This means that before you even feel something or receive signals from your body, Allah is so close to you that you cannot even comprehend that distance. Allah is not inside the jugular vein; rather, He is nearer to you than it in His knowledge, awareness, and closeness.

Why Do We Not Feel this Closeness?

Human beings live through many layers.

First, there is the physical layer, which we study through biology, chemistry, and physics.

Then there is the psychological and spiritual layer, which includes our desires, intentions, emotions, and inner struggles. Human beings may share the same biology, yet their behaviors and choices are completely different.

To understand this verse more deeply, we must also look at the human soul.

The Barrier of  Desires

We have been placed in this world for a test and for a limited period of time. One day, every one of us will return to Allah.

Allah has placed us in different circumstances and conditions, but between us and the awareness of His closeness stands a barrier: our desires and our attachment to this world.

When a person sacrifices his desires for the sake of Allah, he begins to feel Allah's nearness more deeply.

The Example of the Prophets (A.S.)

All of the Prophets (A.S.) sacrificed their personal desires and remained steadfast for the sake of Allah.

They fulfilled the trust of free will by willingly choosing Allah above everything else.

Their lives teach us that true closeness to Allah is not achieved through physical distance but through faith, obedience, patience, and sacrifice.

The Lesson of Eid al-Adha

Every year, Eid al-Adha reminds us of the meaning of sacrifice.

When an animal is sacrificed, its throat is cut from the front, and the jugular veins are severed.

This sacrifice is not merely a ritual. It is a reminder that just as we sacrifice an animal, we must also sacrifice the desires, attachments, and sins that keep us distant from Allah.

However, the human ego often resists this sacrifice and wants to live only for this world.

The Example of Imam Hussain (A.S.)

Then there is the example of Imam Hussain ibn Ali (A.S.), The Prophet Muhammad's (ﷺ) grandson, 

who showed the true essence of sacrifice for the sake of Allah in Karbala. Through his sacrifice, one realizes how close he was to Allah and why he is known as:

 The leader of the youth of Paradise.

This is one way of reflecting upon the depth of this magnificent verse.

Today, we can clearly see that tolerance is rapidly declining. People become angry more easily, relationships break more quickly, and even small disagreements turn into hostility.

 Why is this happening?

The decline of tolerance is not merely a social problem; it is also a spiritual crisis. There are many reasons behind it.

1. Dependence on Comfort and Machines

Human behavior has changed dramatically. People have become increasingly dependent on machines, technology, and convenience. When these comforts are unavailable, they feel weak, frustrated, and uncomfortable.

This mindset has also affected human relationships. People have become so accustomed to controlling machines that they unconsciously expect other people to behave according to their wishes as well. When someone exercises their freedom or acts differently, they feel as though they have lost control. As a result, they become impatient and intolerant.

2. The Pressure of Artificial Social Norms

Modern society often imposes artificial standards and expectations, shaping people according to a so-called "New World Order" of thought and behavior. When someone refuses to conform to these expectations, it can create an identity crisis and produce intolerance toward those who think differently.

3. The Dominance of Desires

Another major factor is the growing dominance of desires. The spirit of sacrifice has become weaker, while selfish ambitions have become stronger.

Instead of striving to fulfill their legitimate needs and defend their rights in a just manner, many people attempt to satisfy forbidden desires by using others for personal gain. To achieve this, they become manipulative, controlling, and increasingly intolerant.

The consequences are severe:

You gain more enemies.

Your stress increases.

Trust and loyalty begin to disappear.

Your belief system and inner peace gradually weaken.

The Secret of the Prophet's (ﷺ) Tolerance

Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) remained extraordinarily tolerant because he was free from the need to control people and placed his complete trust in Allah.

He:

Focused on his own responsibilities.

Remained silent when speaking would not bring benefit.

Used his time for good rather than criticizing others.

Fulfilled his duties and often forgave people for personal wrongs.

Did not fuel conflicts among people.

Prayed for the guidance of others because the door of repentance and guidance remains open for everyone.

Established justice without personal hatred or jealousy.

He did not place his hopes in people; he placed them in Allah alone.

This is why he remained patient and tolerant even in the most difficult circumstances. His tolerance was not weakness—it was spiritual strength, self-mastery, and complete trust in Allah's wisdom.

When a person adopts these qualities, they become free from the desperate need to control others. Ironically, many people seek freedom by controlling others, but true freedom comes from freeing oneself from that desire.

Even if a person is a king or ruler, authority is not a privilege of domination but a responsibility before Allah. Power is a trust, and every trust will be accounted for. When people forget this and try to create an order based on their own desires instead of Allah's justice, intolerance inevitably grows.

If you want to know why Allah called Prophet Muhammad ﷺ Mercy ?

 Read this article:

👉WHY ALLAH CALLED PROPHET MUHAMMAD ﷺ “MERCY TO ALL THE WORLDS”