The Living Dead

DAILYREFLECTION

When you look in the mirror, you might see a living human being. But on the other side, are you actually just a corpse?

Are you truly living, or are you just waiting for your body to catch up to your dead soul? You feed your body every day, three meals, vitamins, maybe a gym session or two. But have you been starving your soul to death?

How many times have you killed your own spiritual heart? And how many times can you bring it back to life?

Imam Ibn al-Qayyim narrates that Allah revealed to Musa AS

“O Musa, the first one to die among My creation was Iblis, because he disobeyed Me, and I count the one who disobeys Me among the dead.”

The body of Iblis still existed, but his soul had already perished. Now look at Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him).

Before Islam, he was harsh, feared, and unrestrained — a man drowning in anger, alcohol, and pride. He even plotted to kill the Prophet ﷺ.
Then Allah revived him.

He didn’t just reform. He became someone entirely new. That is what happens when Allah brings a dead soul back to life. So the question isn’t whether we’re alive, it’s what kind of life are we living?

We can walk, talk, earn, and post, and still be lifeless. We can look successful and still feel hollow. Because real life isn’t found in the body, it’s found in the soul.

Allah reminds us: “Has the time not come for the hearts of those who believe to soften to His remembrance?” And right after that, He says, “Know that Allah gives life to the earth after its death.”

That’s an invitation. If He can revive the earth after drought, He can revive your heart after neglect. No matter how long it’s been dry.

The Prophet ﷺ said,
“Everything besides Allah is meaningless.” That includes our bodies, looks, reputation, and strength if they’re disconnected from Him.

It’s easy to forget the soul because it can’t be photographed, posted, or flexed.
But it’s the only part of us that truly feels.

And when the soul is starving, it shows — in the quiet emptiness that no success can fill, in pleasures that fade too quickly, in the heaviness that lingers even when life looks full.

That’s your soul begging for nourishment. Anyone who’s tasted true disconnection knows this truth: no physical pleasure can match the light of a heart that’s alive, and no pain can break it once that light returns.

REFLECT ON THIS:

What would it look like to live a life where your soul feels full, not just your schedule or your plate?

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

WATERMELONWATCH

• The U.S. drafted a resolution for the Gaza Strip that would establish an international stabilisation force and transitional governance body for two years, with the aim of demilitarising the territory and rebuilding its infrastructure. This signals an international push to transition from crisis to reconstruction.

• Aid agencies report that although a truce is in place, only about 145 aid trucks are entering Gaza daily, well below the 600 promised, leaving many families exposed as winter approaches and basic supplies remain dangerously low.

• The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) found that 10 % of children screened in Gaza were still acutely malnourished, down from 14 % in September, showing a small improvement amid wider hardship.

• The bodies of 15 Palestinians were recently returned to Gaza by Israel, bringing the total to at least 285 since the start of the ceasefire, a process that is painful for families and underscores the human cost behind political negotiations.

• The António Guterres, UN Secretary-General, warned that there are “continued violations” of the ceasefire in Gaza, emphasising that all parties must respect the agreement, a reminder that peace remains fragile even as reconstruction plans emerge.

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.

Fataḥa (فَتَحَ) — He Opened / He Granted Victory

Fataḥa is the verb of beginnings. It means to open, but not just locks. It opens hearts to faith, minds to truth, and paths to victory. Allah is Al-Fattāḥ the Opener, the One who opens what is closed, unlocks what is stuck, and grants success when all seems shut. Every fataḥ in the Qur’an reminds us: no door is truly closed if He wills it open.