Are you distracted?
An honest exploration into the dangers of distraction
﷽
In Arabic, the root word for distraction is "لَهُو" (lahw), meaning diversion or amusement—anything that pulls us away from what truly matters. Allah ﷻ uses this word in the Qur’an to remind us of the fleeting nature of worldly distractions. In Surah Al-An’am, He says:
"And the life of this world is nothing but amusement and diversion (lahw), and the Hereafter is better for those who fear Allah. Will you not then understand?"
This ayah draws our attention to the fact that many of the pursuits we chase in this life—status, entertainment, material success—are temporary diversions from our true purpose. They prevent us from focusing on our ultimate destination, which is the Hereafter.
In today’s world, one of the most prevalent tools of distraction is the mobile phone. Our phones are always within reach, calling for our attention with their notifications, updates, and endless content. Whether we’re scrolling through YouTube, checking Instagram, or catching up with the latest TikTok trend, it’s all too easy to get lost in the never-ending cycle of digital distraction. Perhaps you’ve found yourself endlessly scrolling through short videos—whether it’s the latest craze, a new life hack, or even a challenge like the viral "quiet luxury" trend. These moments of idle browsing, though seemingly harmless, add up and take us further away from meaningful reflection and spiritual connection.
How often do we find ourselves in the middle of Salah, suddenly remembering a message we need to reply to, or the endless to do list? The focus that should be on Allah is shifted elsewhere, and our minds become cluttered with thoughts of the dunya. The Qur’an, when we do read it, might be interrupted by the urge to check our phones or respond to notifications. These distractions gradually erode our attention span, making it harder to engage in ibadah with the sincerity and depth it deserves.
Recently, I had an experience that confronted me with the reality of these distractions in a powerful way. I attended a course on how to wash the dead, and although we didn’t wash a real body, the experience deeply moving and transformative. The demonstration, along with the stories of those who regularly perform this duty, opened my eyes to the reality of life’s fragility and the weight of the distractions we carry with us, even into death. I learned about bodies that were severely damaged in accidents—one woman had been in a car crash, and her limbs had to be washed separately. There were women with gel nails that couldn’t be removed in time, so they were buried with them. Fake lashes that had to remain, because they couldn’t be distinguished from the real ones. Even in death, we carry the remnants of the dunya, clinging to the things that don’t matter in the grand scheme of things.
What struck me the most was the realization of how many trivial things occupy our attention. The gel nails, the lashes—these are symbols of how deeply we are immersed in distractions. We worry about appearances, social acceptance, and the latest trends, but these are fleeting attachments. It made me reflect on my own life and how much time I had spent worrying about things that, in the face of death, hold no significance. I found myself wondering: if I were to die today, would I have done enough to earn Allah’s pleasure? Have I allowed the distractions of this world to pull me away from what really matters?
But amidst the fear, there was also hope. I remember one story the teacher told, which left a lasting impression on me. She spoke of a pious Indonesian woman whose body had been left in a room. When the team entered to begin the washing process, the scent of musk filled the air. None of the team members had sprayed anything, and the woman had been alone in the room. The teacher’s eyes lit up as she recalled this moment, her face filled with light and joy. It reminded me of the hadith that speaks of the believer being shrouded by the angels, perfumed with musk, and washed by them:
"When the soul of the believer is taken out, the angels receive it and wrap it in a shroud of musk, and a fragrance is emitted from it like the most fragrant musk found on the face of the earth." (Sunan Ibn Majah ). It is a much longer hadith and I invite you to read it, click here.
This story filled me with hope and a renewed determination to live in a way that pleases Allah, so that one day, insha'Allah, I too could experience such a beautiful end.
The course on washing the dead shook me to the core. It made me reconsider my priorities and realize how easily I get caught up in the trivialities of life. The fear that I hadn’t done enough, that I was still too attached to the dunya, overwhelmed me. But it also pushed me to make concrete changes in my life, to refocus my attention on what truly matters. I began to think more deeply about the command of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to remember death often, for it is a powerful reminder that we will return to Allah:
حَدَّثَنَا مَحْمُودُ بْنُ غَيْلاَنَ، حَدَّثَنَا الْفَضْلُ بْنُ مُوسَى، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ : " أَكْثِرُوا ذِكْرَ هَاذِمِ اللَّذَّاتِ " . يَعْنِي الْمَوْتَ .
It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Frequently remember the destroyer of pleasures,’ meaning death.”
Since that day, I’ve taken steps to actively cut out distractions. I reinstated a rule I had once let slip: no phone after Maghrib, and no phone use until after Shuruk (sunrise). This is now my time for winding down with dhikr, reflection, and Qur’an recitation. It has become a peaceful routine that allows me to disconnect from the noise of the dunya and reconnect with Allah. I’ve also started leaving my phone behind when I attend my embroidery course. For those few hours, I experience a sense of lightness, an absence of the constant pull of notifications and updates. It’s a freedom that’s hard to describe but incredibly liberating.
I felt light and free!!!!
Next week, I plan to extend this practice even further. I will commit to leaving my phone at home for at least one hour a day when I go outside. The sense of clarity and focus I’ve gained from these small changes is remarkable, and I’m eager to see how this will continue to transform my daily life and spiritual focus.
These changes have also unblocked a significant barrier in my writing. For months, I had been struggling with my book, Becoming a Tranquil Soul: Lessons for a Distracted Heart. The more I allowed distractions to take over, the harder it became to make progress. But once I began to limit my phone use and refocus on Allah, the creative block lifted. I realized that this book is not just a project for others—it’s part of my own spiritual journey. By eliminating distractions, I’ve been able to write more freely, with a clearer purpose and intention. This book is something I’m doing for the sake of Allah and for the benefit of the ummah, and I’m excited to share the lessons I’ve learned along the way, insha’Allah. More snippets to come from the book starting in December insha’Allah.
A Final Reflection
In the end, this journey is about returning to Allah with a clear, tranquil heart. The distractions of this world are temporary, and they only serve to distance us from our true purpose. Allah reminds us in Surah Al-Fajr:
"O tranquil soul, return to your Lord, well-pleased and well-pleasing. Enter among My righteous servants and enter My Paradise."
I leave you with these questions:
What distractions are pulling you away from living a life of focus and purpose?
What steps can you take to disconnect from the dunya and reconnect with Allah?
Share you answers in the comments:
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