Pausing to Reflect

In moments of heaviness, it's essential to pause and reflect—something the Prophet ﷺ modeled through his sunnah, both before and after receiving revelation. Just as he regularly practiced i'tikaf, we too must take the time to connect with ourselves, with Allah, and with those around us. One of my teachers once said, "Think of a pressure cooker. If you don’t release the steam, it will explode." In our fast-paced world, this pause is no longer a luxury, it’s a necessity. It’s through pausing that we can evaluate our relationships and actions, asking ourselves: Is Allah pleased with this?