At some point or the other, we as human beings arrive at a stage where no matter what we have achieved in terms of material gains, our hearts are unsettled, we are consumed by a feeling as if something is missing, like an incomplete chapter from the story of our life. It is at such junctures that we often ask ourselves the most basic questions of who we are and what we’ve been doing here and what exactly is the purpose of our lives.
In my experience of life, I have understood that these existential questions have deeper roots, well beyond just being mere questions, these questions are loaded with potential for hidayah. When Allah سُبحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى wills good for His slave, He grants them the knowledge of His Deen, and the journey to seek knowledge starts with the curiosity of one’s existence and place in this Dunya, sort of like a chain reaction Subhanallah.
It is impossible that when Allah سُبحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ chose to create us and send us down to earth, He would do so without a reason or purpose. Our souls made a covenant to Allah سُبحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ long before the creation of the heavens and the earth. He gave us a choice and then sent us down to fulfill that covenant.

And [mention] when your Lord took from the children of Adam – from their loins – their descendants and made them testify of themselves, [saying to them], “Am I, not your Lord?” They said, “Yes, we have testified.” [This] – lest you should say on the Day of Resurrection, “Indeed, we were of this unaware.”
[Surat Al-Araf 7:172]
Al-Hasan ibn ‘Ali told us: al-Hajjaaj ibn al-Minhaal said: I heard Hammaad ibn Salamah explaining the hadeeth:
“Every child is born in a state of fitrah.” He said: In our view, this refers to when Allah took the covenant from them when they were in their fathers’ loins when He said: “ ‘Am I not your Lord?’ They said: ‘Yes’.
[Abu Dawood]
This ayah and hadith are a quick reminder of the forgotten covenant which we had made to Allah سُبحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ way before we were sent down to earth.
Being true to our nature as humans, as soon as we were born, we forgot our purpose and got caught up with this Dunya, but Allah سُبحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ imprinted our purpose within our DNA. Even when mankind forgot about Al-‘Ala (The Most High), He sent His Messengers to remind them and rekindle their purpose that lay dormant in their system.
In our times we have the reminders or shall I call the navigation systems external (Quran & Sunnah) and internal (Fitrah), that guide us back to our true purpose, the recognition, and submission to our Master and Creator.
We as humans cannot comprehend so much of what Allah سُبحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ has legislated for us in His Book, we by design are not capable of filling the void and emptiness that consumes our hearts with anything other than the attachment of Allah سُبحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ, َit is impossible to seek happiness through anything other than Allah سُبحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ .
One of the fundamental ways to gain that attachment and connection is through Salah, the distinguishing factor between Eeman and Kufr, the very first element of faith that we shall be asked about on The Day of Judgment.
And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.”
[Surat Adh-Dhariyat 51:56]

The questions I ask myself and my readers are these- Are we doing justice to this primary command and the obligation of fulfilling our purpose with the diligence that it deserves? Have we settled into a routine, mechanical, lifeless rut, devoid of zeal, presence, and connection?
My aim with this series is to help myself and my readers bring back the enthusiasm in their Salah and to develop a meaningful connection with our Rabb by focusing on the inner dimensions of ourselves, so In Shaa Allah, we create a deep impact within ourselves, to beautify the practice of our Deen for our Creator, live a life that’s pleasing to Him Allah سُبحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ, while striving to attain a blissful and everlasting akhirah.
For this series, I am using the book “Inner Dimensions of The Prayer” by Imam Ibn al Qayyim رحم الله as a reference to share my insights and reflections. If you own this book yourself, I would love for you to follow along and share your thoughts and insights with me and the readers in the comments below.
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Until next time.

Seema Azmath is a Certified Nafs Connection Mentor/Coach and Islamic-Practice Facilitator. She helps Muslim women navigate through their spiritual struggles by enabling them to find Eeman and Tawakkul in their lives.