Fajr Thoughts: Nearness to Him Part 22
You poor thing!
In the name of Allah, the entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful
يٰأَيُّهَا النّاسُ أَنتُمُ الفُقَراءُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ هُوَ الغَنِىُّ الحَميدُ
O mankind, you are those in need of Allah, while Allah is the Free of need, the Praiseworthy.
Surah Fatir (35:15)
There are moments in life when we feel invincible. The world is in order, our plans align seamlessly, and success seems to unfold effortlessly before us. In those fleeting moments, it is easy to believe in the illusion of self-sufficiency, that we are in control, that we can sustain ourselves, that our strength is our own. Plus there is come motivational speaker somewhere telling you that you can do it all. [No shade! Just love here]
Yet, the weight of reality eventually humbles us, often in unexpected ways. A sudden hardship, an unforeseen loss, a quiet night when the heart feels restless, or your phone breaking suddenly, all serve as stark reminders of our utter dependence on the One who holds all things together.
Allah ﷻ tells us plainly in this ayah, I am in need of Him.
Not just occasionally, not just in times of crisis, but in every moment, in every breath, in ways seen and unseen. Every heartbeat, every blink of an eye, every drop of rain, every ounce of guidance. Our existence is wrapped in layers upon layers of divine generosity. The food we eat, the air we breathe, the ability to think and feel, all of it is from Him. Even our acts of worship, our so-called “good deeds,” are only possible because He grants us the ability to perform them.
It pulls away the veil of arrogance and confirms to us that we are nothing without Him. We are in constant need, whether we recognize it or not.
But our Lord, the One free of need. He is complete in and of Himself, independent of His creation. If the entirety of humankind were to become the most pious of believers, it would not add an atom’s weight to His dominion. And if every soul were to become the most rebellious of sinners, it would not diminish His kingdom in the slightest.
His richness is absolute, true, unrestricted, and unaffected by the choices of His creation.
This truth shifts our perspective.
Our worship does not “benefit” Allah ﷻ, it benefits us. Our obedience does not elevate Him, it elevates us. When we pray, fast, seek His guidance, and strive for righteousness, we are not doing Him a favour at all.
In a world that glorifies independence, it can feel unsettling to admit our neediness. But in the presence of Allah ﷻ, this dependency is not a weakness, it is an honour. The greatest of hearts are those that recognize their poverty before Allah ﷻ and seek Him sincerely. This was the way of His prophets and messengers, just look to the way they call out to their Lord in the Qur’an.
To acknowledge this need is not to admit weakness, but to step into the most profound strength, reliance upon the One who does not need anything or anyone.
The world teaches us to be self-reliant, but the heart finds peace only in its reliance upon Allah ﷻ.
"Ya Allah, Ya Ghaniyy, we are Your impoverished servants. We turn to You in our need, in our longing, in our moments of weakness and delusional strength. Fill our hearts with contentment in You alone, grant us sincerity in seeking You, and make us among those whose reliance upon You is unwavering. Let us not be deceived by the illusion of self-sufficiency, but instead, let us find our greatest strength in our servitude to You. O Allah, do not leave us to ourselves for even the blink of an eye, and make us truly reliant upon You, the Most Merciful and Generous. Ameen."
If you would like to reflect on least one ayah daily this blessed month, then go ahead and get your copy of Fajr Thoughts. It contains a summary of each juz, an ayah or passage from each juz, some notes from tafasir and then some questions to get you started on your reflections.