DAILYREFLECTION
Do not lose heart, and do not fall into grief, for you will have the upper hand, if you are truly believers.
The Battle of Uhud did not begin as a disaster.
At the start, the Muslims were winning.
The enemy was running, plans were working, hearts were full of hope.
Then a single mistake changed everything.
Some companions left their posts, the enemy came from behind, and what felt like a clear victory turned into a painful loss.
The Prophet ﷺ himself was injured.
His face was wounded.
His voice likely sounded different for days.
Imagine standing in prayer behind him the following week, looking at his blessed face marked with blood and bruises, listening to that changed voice and reliving every scene of the battlefield.
Motivation disappears.
Inspiration drains out.
In its place, a flood of fear, grief, guilt, confusion.
The Qur’an did not ignore that inner storm.
Allah revealed:
“Do not lose heart, and do not fall into ḥuzn,
for you will have the upper hand, if you are (truly) believers.”
Scholars explain that wahn is when strength and resolve collapse.
Ḥuzn here is more than sadness.
It is that stiffness inside, when a person feels frozen by pain, anxiety, or regret.
Allah is telling them, and us: I see your paralysis.
I see how deep the cut is.
But do not let this injury become your identity.
Then He reminds them that the injury was real, like a wound that reaches the bone, but He points out something else.
At Badr, the enemy suffered a similar wound and still came back stronger.
They only have shirk, yet their loss became fuel.
You have iman.
Your losses should make you even more determined.
This is Allah “reverse-engineering” crisis.
For a believer, a setback is not proof that Allah is finished with us.
It is often proof that He wants to raise us higher than our previous level.
So when something in your life collapses after going so well, you are allowed to hurt.
But do not hand your story over to despair.
Say instead: Allah would not send this except to grow something in me.
Let this be the moment that turns pain into fuel.
REFLECT ON THIS:
Where in our lives have we been treating a setback as a verdict, when Allah (swt) may be treating it as training?
Share your reflections in the poll at the end of the email.
WATERMELONWATCH
A displaced Palestinian carries belongings in a flooded tent camp on a rainy day in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip.
IOM warns nearly 795,000 displaced people in Gaza are at serious flood risk as heavy rains hit and key shelter materials like sandbags and pumps are still blocked. Families are trying to keep children safe and warm with whatever they can, while aid agencies push for faster access to winter supplies.
OCHA reports hundreds of households in tent sites were flooded this week amid severe cold, and sporadic violence is still being reported. UN teams and local partners are running a rapid joint flood response, distributing tarps, tents, blankets and clothing, and opening new temporary learning spaces for children.
AP reports Storm Byron is soaking tent camps and worsening unsanitary conditions, underscoring how limited shelter aid remains during the truce. In many camps, neighbors are bailing water together and sharing what they have, while UNRWA continues urging unhindered aid and proper shelter.
WFP warns food insecurity is still severe and winterization is urgent, with restrictions and insecurity slowing consistent deliveries. WFP and partners are pushing supplies in ahead of harsher weather, including blankets, clothing support, and sandbags where possible.
WHO facilitated more medical evacuations, but health agencies say over 18,500 patients still need care unavailable inside Gaza. Each successful evacuation is a lifeline for families, and agencies keep calling for all routes to open so more children and critically ill patients can be treated.
QURANCORNER
Mā (ما) — What
Mā is the question that awakens the heart. What are you chasing? What will benefit you? What truth are you turning from? In the Qur’an, Mā doesn't just seek information, it invites reflection. It holds space for wonder, for challenge, for guidance. Every Mā is a mirror asking: What do you truly know?