The Dua That Turns Motionlessness Into Momentum

DAILYREFLECTION

We all know the feeling, big dreams, tiny momentum. The heart wants to rise, but the feet hesitate. Our tradition does not shame that human gap, it guides it. It tells us that willpower is not infinite, so we do not begin with grit, we begin with God.

The Prophet ﷺ taught a simple yet piercing supplication, “O Allah, I seek refuge in You from incapacity and from laziness.” Within this single sentence, two quiet saboteurs are exposed. ‘Ajz, the voice that whispers “I can’t”, the fog of paralysis and self-doubt. And Kasal, the voice that murmurs “I won’t”, the drift, the delay, the endless “later.” He ﷺ asked protection from both, because purpose needs two lights, clarity and drive.

Allah then commands, “When you have resolved, then put your trust in Allah.” First resolve, then reliance. Not the other way around. Tawakkul is not evasion, it is power after deciding. We were never meant to be spiritual statues, praying deeply yet unmoving in life. We pray with presence, and we step into the world with intention.

Our work may take any form, tech or medicine, teaching or design, enterprise or art. What gives it weight is not the industry, but the ihsan behind it. Da’wah today is broader than a khutbah. It is a clinic that treats with mercy, a product built with ethics, a film that tells the truth, a community center that truly centers its people. Purpose creates power, and power guided by taqwa creates change.

The spiritual path becomes simple when viewed through three movements.

Vision: niyyah joined to direction. Why am I doing this, and for whom?
‘Azm: decisive will. I choose this path today, not every path at once.
Tawakkul: reliant action. I move my feet while trusting Allah, and I accept outcomes as rizq.

Here, revelation meets psychology. Goal-setting research shows that clear aims outperform vague yearnings. Self-determination theory teaches that we thrive when we feel autonomy, competence, and connection. Our tradition adds a fourth pillar: ‘Ubudiyyah. We do it for Allah.

This dua does not make us superhuman, it makes us sincere. We ask Allah to shield us from the two thieves that steal purpose before it begins, and to breathe ‘azm into the chest. Then we honor that gift by taking the next step, even if small.

And something beautiful happens. Enjoyment becomes gratitude instead of escape. Leisure tastes sweeter after meaning.

REFLECT ON THIS:

Which inner voice is more present today, “I can’t” or “I won’t”, and what is one small action that would honor your resolve before the day ends?

^{Share your reflections in the poll at the end of the email.}

WATERMELONWATCH

• The UN warned that families in the Gaza Strip are “cold and soaked” as winter rains flood tents and damaged shelters, while aid agencies race to supply more emergency materials.

• According to OCHA more than 13,000 households in Gaza were hit by flooding on November 14, worsening already dire conditions and forcing displaced families to rely on limited sanitation and shelter support.

• Pakistan’s NDMA dispatched a special aircraft carrying 100 tons of relief materials for Gaza tents, tarpaulins and jerry cans, showing international solidarity amid ongoing access challenges.

• The Amnesty International criticised the new United Nations Security Council resolution (No. 2803) on Gaza’s future for failing to include key Palestinian demands on self-determination and rights, even as the resolution set a framework for reconstruction and a stabilization force.

• OSCE Parliamentary Assembly delegates meeting in Istanbul emphasised that any security plan for Gaza must respect human dignity and sovereignty, and called for green-energy and development pathways alongside humanitarian aid.

QURANCORNER

Each day, you’ll be introduced to one of the 300 most common Qur’anic words. The Qur’an has about 77,430 words in total, all built on just 2,000 root words. By learning these frequently recurring ones, you’ll recognize 70–80% of the Qur’an’s vocabulary and begin connecting more deeply as you read.

Illā (إِلَّا) — Except / Only / None But

Illā draws a line in the sand. It cancels the false and affirms the true. In lā ilāha illā Allāh, there is no god except Allah. It clears every illusion from the heart, leaving only the Real. Illā teaches us that truth isn’t found in many, it’s found in One. It’s the word that turns negation into devotion, and emptiness into pure love.