You Said “Yes” Before You Were Born

DAILYREFLECTION

The First Yes

Before our bodies ever took shape, our souls stood before Allah fully conscious, fully known. In that moment, Allah asked, “Am I not your Lord?” and every soul replied, “Yes, You are.” That “yes” was not a word. It was a promise. A covenant written before time began.

Since then, our souls have passed through stages: the Realm of Souls, the womb, this earthly life, and eventually the next, but they never die. Death is not an ending. It is a passage from one reality to another, a return to the One we first said “yes” to.

The Bonds That Came Before

The Prophet ﷺ told us, “Souls are like gathered troops; those that knew each other before, recognize each other again.” (Sahih Muslim, 2638)

That’s why sometimes, when we meet someone for the first time, there’s a spark of recognition that cannot be explained. It is the echo of a memory that predates this world.

Before this life, the souls were placed near one another. Those who shared closeness there often find each other again here as family, friends, teachers, or companions on the path of faith. The affection we feel for certain people runs deeper than this lifetime. It began before our first breath, in that eternal gathering of spirits.

You Chose This Story

Before you entered this world, Allah showed your soul the life you would live, your face, your heart, your challenges, and victories. And you accepted it. You said yes.

You didn’t choose because you were flawless. You chose because you trusted the One who designed you. You saw the beauty hidden in your story and believed it was worth living. Even the pain, even the uncertainty, all of it was chosen with divine love.

Every time we remember that, something within us settles. We stop fighting the shape of our story and start seeing its sacred design.

Remembering That First Yes

This world makes us forget. We chase what fades, compare what was never ours to control, and doubt the worth Allah already declared. But your soul remembers.

So today, pause. Breathe.
Acknowledge your soul, that ancient part of you that stood before the Lord of the Worlds and said yes.

You are not behind.
You are not broken.
You are exactly as Allah designed you to be, unfolding in the rhythm of His perfect decree.

REFLECT ON THIS:

If your soul chose this exact life, every trial, every joy, what would it mean to live it with gratitude instead of resistance?

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

WATERMELONWATCH

• Mediators propose a deal to remove largely isolated Hamas fighters from the Israeli-controlled Rafah area of Gaza via surrender of arms and safe passage; the move could bolster the fragile cease-fire and open pathways for reconstruction.

• Hunger remains acute in the Gaza Strip despite the truce, with aid access still heavily restricted and many families dependent on community kitchens and local networks of support.

• Israel begins drawing down its reservist forces after two years of conflict, signalling a possible shift away from full-scale operations though sporadic strikes continue.

• A former hostage held by Hamas has spoken publicly of sexual violence during his nearly two-year captivity, the first male hostage to do so, underscoring lingering trauma and unresolved human-rights issues in the post-hostage phase.

• Global leaders are refocusing on the crisis, with the Pope Leo XIV meeting Mahmoud Abbas to emphasise urgent aid delivery and revive momentum toward a two-state solution, a positive sign of renewed diplomatic will.

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.

Hādhihi (هَٰذِهِ) — This (feminine)

Hādhihi points gently but firmly. This fire. This worldly life. This example. In the Qur’an, it often refers to things that seem close, tempting, or fleeting. Hādhihi al-ḥayāt ad-dunyā, this worldly life, is mentioned not to praise, but to warn. It reminds us that what is near isn’t always what is best… and “this” isn’t always forever.