We live in strange times. You might ask, “How strange?” Compared to what? And what even is normal anymore?
As a child, I believed adults had it all figured out—clear on where they were headed and why. But when I entered the corporate world in Paris in 2015, reality hit me hard. Not only was I more lost than I had imagined at 23, but I discovered that this confusion was not unique to me—it was a profound, shared disorientation.
I’ve always been drawn to exploring ideas, so I found myself steering conversations in those structured corporate environments toward deeper, philosophical topics. Surprisingly, my colleagues often admitted, “Each one of us is living our own reality.” At first, it felt surreal to hear this, even stranger to see others nod in agreement.
But this sparked a deeper question in me: What distinguishes reality from our subjective perceptions?
The Illusion of Common Sense
Living in a culture different from the one I was raised in, I assumed “common sense” was universal, a shared compass guiding humanity. But I eventually realized this assumption was deeply flawed. What we often call common sense is shaped by ideologies, social constructs, and inherited norms—not necessarily grounded in truth or divine guidance.
It wasn’t until I felt the burden of these constructs on my own heart that I began questioning their validity. This discomfort opened a path to understanding what true guidance feels like—the kind that doesn’t come from flawed human systems, but from a source far higher. Through Islam, I discovered a framework that acknowledges humans in their entirety—not just as bodies, minds, or souls in isolation, but as integrated beings with deeper needs and higher purposes.
A Shift in Awareness
Viewing life through the lens of Revelation was like putting on glasses for the first time. Suddenly, the fragmented world around me came into focus. The global rise in depression, anxiety, and isolation was no longer a series of isolated phenomena but symptoms of a much deeper neglect of our true human nature—our fitrah.
This neglect doesn’t just affect individuals. Families break down, social systems collapse, and communities unravel when humanity turns away from its higher purpose. Chasing material wealth and ignoring our innate spiritual needs blurs the lines between right and wrong. We lose the ability to distinguish sin from sickness, compassion from indulgence, or truth from deception.
Rethinking Health as Holistic
One of the clearest reflections of a society’s awareness of reality is how it understands health. In a secular framework, health is compartmentalized. Specialists focus on individual organs—heart, brain, bones—without stepping back to view the human being as a whole.
This was painfully evident in the case of someone dear to me. She experienced chronic, widespread pain and visited numerous specialists—cardiologists, rheumatologists, neurologists—but found no answers. Despite exhaustive tests and treatments, her suffering continued.
What no doctor considered, or dared to mention, was that the root cause of her pain might be psychological or spiritual. Her body, through its agony, was crying out for her to address something deeper before it manifested into irreversible physical damage.
This interconnectedness between our physical, emotional, and spiritual health highlights why well-being is not merely a right but a responsibility. Our individual health ripples outward, affecting families, communities, and beyond.
Returning to Fitrah
Through studying Islamic Psychology, I discovered the concept of fitrah—the natural state in which every human is born. Within each of us lies a force urging us to return to this fitrah, to strip away layers of social constructs and false beliefs, and to heal past and present traumas. Like a tree shedding its dead leaves, our souls are constantly preparing for renewal, readying us to meet our Creator with a sound heart (qalb saleem).
Islam, at its core, is a journey toward wholeness and balance. And when psychology is viewed through the framework of Revelation, it becomes a powerful tool—a means to uncover truths and guide individuals toward a life of purpose. This approach redefines success, health, and fulfillment, steering us away from distractions and toward something infinitely more meaningful.
A Roadmap for Healing
Health is not just the absence of illness; it’s the harmony of body, mind, and soul aligned with our Creator’s guidance. By rediscovering our fitrah, we can heal and grow—not just individually, but as families, communities, and societies.
In these strange times, when common sense feels anything but common, the key lies in returning to the truth of who we are and why we were created. Only then can we find clarity, purpose, and peace.
