﷽

With Ramadan here, many of us are focusing on purifying our hearts. We increase our reading and recitation of the Quran, knowing that it is the month of revelation.

But when it comes to tazkiyah, the Quran isn’t just important—it’s nonnegotiable.

Allah ﷻ describes it as a healing and a mercy for mankind yet, many of us unknowingly limit its healing.

We turn to it for ruqiyah, for protection, for moments of emotional relief—but overlook the fact that the Quran is a comprehensive guide for healing the wounds of this dunya. It is the only source capable of completely transforming us.

If you rely on Allah ﷻ to provide answers instead of social trends, self-help books, and secular psychology, you will find that the Quran and Sunnah contain everything you need to heal. But that healing requires commitment—it requires holding onto the Quran, the rope of Allah, and relying on it more than you rely on any other form of healing.

Your grip on this rope determines how smooth or difficult your tazkiyah journey will be.
We all fall into one of three categories:

1. The One Who Lets Go

Letting go of the rope of Allah _ﷻ doesn’t always mean disbelief. Sometimes, it’s fear. Sometimes, it’s overwhelm, neglect, or arrogance.

It’s pushing the Quran aside because self-examination is too uncomfortable. It’s knowing what needs to change but refusing because the nafs is too attached to certain sins and beliefs. It’s allowing the traumas of the dunya to dictate how you think and interact with Allah _ﷻ.

You know the trust exercise where a person falls back, trusting someone behind them to catch them?
The one who lets go of the rope of Allah _ﷻ is the one who refuses to fall back—refuses to trust that Allah _ﷻ is there to catch them.

Signs You May Have Let Go of the Rope

• You don’t turn to the Quran for healing—you read it sparingly, or only in Ramadan.

• You’ve stopped seeking beneficial knowledge, or you learn but don’t apply it.

• You justify sins instead of leaving them.

• When life is easy, you drift away from Allah, thinking you did it on your own.

• When life is hard, you either hopelessly let go completely or cling to Allah only until the storm passes.

• You convince yourself that red flags are green because change is too uncomfortable. You’ll take the pain you know over the pain you don’t.

• Your heart is tied more to the dunya than your akhirah.

The one who lets go isn’t just losing their connection to Allah—they are losing themselves.

2. The One Who Pulls at the Rope

Most believers hold onto the rope of Allah _ﷻ—but they pull at it.

This believer is striving, but they haven’t fully surrendered. Their nafs resists purification. Their heart is not fully at rest with Allah’s plan due to:

• A desire for control.

• A hesitation to trust that what Allah has written is truly best.

• Regrets and attachments that make them hesitant to commit fully to obedience.

• They’re not entirely convinced that the answers they need are in the Quran or are looking for quick answers from AI or Google.

• They pray for guidance but aren’t fully consenting to it—allowing themselves to be led only when they see the plan unfolding.

Imagine playing tug-of-war with Allah ﷻ…
Scary, right?
Yet many of us are doing just that.

Tightly gripping onto the illusion of control. Trying to force things to happen instead of allowing ourselves to be led by Allah’s guidance.

At any moment, with no effort at all, He could pull the rope away from you. You’d fall flat on your face, powerless.

But He doesn’t.

Because He is Ar-Rahman, Ar-Rahim.

Instead, He lets you pull… but over time, He tugs just enough—through life’s trials, delays, and redirections—to remind you:

• Control was never yours.

• Surrender isn’t weakness; it’s humility.

• On the other side of your resistance is courage.

Signs You May Be Pulling at the Rope

• You try to force things to happen instead of trusting Allah’s timing.

• You attempt to balance deen and dunya equally, instead of prioritizing your akhirah—leading to overwhelm because you’re doing a juggling act.

• You’re using other sources to heal from your traumas more than you use the Quran.

• You hold onto Islam in times of ease, but not firmly—there’s complacency or comfort.

3. The One Who Holds On Firmly

The one who firmly holds onto the rope of Allah ﷻ understands that tazkiyah is not just external obedience—it is full submission. They allow the Quran to reshape them completely.

Traits of Those Who Hold Firmly to the Rope of Allah _ﷻ

• They engage with the Quran frequently and deeply, turning to it first for healing and guidance. Everything they learn is fact-checked by the Quran and Sunnah.

• They remove haram from their lives—outwardly and inwardly.

• They purify their hearts, refining their character and intentions.

• They reframe their thoughts using taqwa, not personal desires.

• They work through past experiences using the teachings of the Quran.

• They stay away from doubtful matters, not out of fear, but out of love for Allah _ﷻ.

• They turn to Allah _ﷻ in both hardship and ease, knowing their connection with Him is not circumstantial or conditional.

Holding onto the rope of Allah _ﷻ doesn’t mean they never struggle—but they trust that the struggle itself is part of their purification.

How to Strengthen Your Grip on the Rope of Allah _ﷻ

If you see yourself in Type 1 or Type 2, don’t lose hope. The rope of Allah _ﷻ is never out of reach—you just have to take hold of it again or stop pulling.

1. Ask Allah for an Invitation to Purify Your Heart

Tazkiyah can only happen if Allah _ﷻ wills—and if you sincerely intend to pursue it through action, not just words.

If you struggle in trusting Allah _ﷻ fully, this is where your tazkiyah begins.

2. Reconnect with the Quran for Healing

• Approach the Quran with the intention of self-purification, not just recitation.

• Read out of order—let Allah _ﷻ guide you to the answers you need.
  Just as the Quran was revealed in a different order to the Prophet ﷺ based on what he needed at that moment, Allah _ﷻ will reveal the Quran to you in the order that best fits your needs and situation.
  Start by scanning the list of surahs—choose the ones that stand out. Trust your gut.

• Make the Quran personal—allow it to correct, heal, and change you.
  Pray for knowledge and try different reflection styles until you find one you can be consistent with.

  I started with a Quran bullet journal but, as a busy homeschooling mama, I’ve switched to written reflections on Quran Reflect. Follow me there!

3. Identify What’s Weakening Your Grip

• Are you justifying sins?

• Are you holding onto past experiences instead of Allah’s guidance?

• Are you avoiding self-reflection?

• Are you prioritizing pleasing people over pleasing Allah?

• Are you learning but not applying?

• Are you overlooking and discounting Allah’s blessings?

4. Deepen Your Tawakkul

• Stop pulling at the rope. Let go of the illusion of control. Flow with His decree and guidance.

• Don’t force anything. Allah _ﷻ intends ease for you—invite it into your life by expecting the very best from Him. You don’t have to know the plan to trust that it’s the best for you.

• Remind yourself: If I truly believe Allah’s plan is best, why am I still afraid? Why am I still losing sleep worrying?

5. Be Specific in Your Duas

Choose three problems you’re facing, look at a list of Allah’s names, and call upon the ones most relevant to your struggles in your duas.

Ask with full conviction. Don’t hold back.

Not just, "Ya Allah, help me through this," but:

"Ya Allah, what am I missing? Help me figure out what I’m meant to learn from this. There is no test we face that doesn’t shape us. You are the Flawless Shaper—shape me into who will be most pleasing to You. Help me see opportunities, not just my limitations. Show me the answer in only a way You can show me."

Then, pay attention. 

The response will come and it’ll be clear.

True Tawakkul = Acting Like You Believe Allah is in Control

True tawakkul isn’t just believing Allah _ﷻ is in control—it’s acting accordingly. It’s making decisions based on His guidance, not on fear, doubt, or worldly pressures.

• Act in obedience even when you don’t see the outcome yet.

• Reflect on times Allah ﷻ has carried you before. He didn’t fail you then, and He won’t fail you now.

• Make istikhārah sincerely—then let go of control and accept what Allah ﷻ decrees by finding the beauty and the lessons within everything.

Tawakkul is not passive—it’s active submission. You do your part, then leave the outcome to Allah _ﷻ with full contentment. It’ll take time to get there. But it’s possible, alhamdulillah.

If you’ve let go, reach for the rope again.
If you’ve been pulling at it, stop. You’re just wasting your energy—surrender instead.
If you’re holding on firmly, never let go.

The Quran does not lack answers.
The problem is that we don’t hold onto it firmly enough.

You must believe—without hesitation—that it is 100% truth. Every word. Every command. Every warning. Every promise.

You have to believe everything Allah ﷻ tells you about Himself and His creation—above your emotions, above your personal experiences, above what society normalizes.

This is what it means to hold onto the rope of Allah ﷻ firmly. Not just in hardship. Not just when it aligns with your desires. But in every moment, with full conviction.

The Quran is your cure and your security. Hold onto it firmly, and let it pull you all the way to Jannah.

Assalamu alaikum, until next time, in sha Allah

—Khalisa