Scrolling Away from Allah: How Social Media Is Stealing Our Souls? - Light Upon Light - Episode 5

Today, we scroll more than we reflect. We swipe more than we pray. We refresh our feeds more than we renew our hearts.

It starts innocently - just five minutes of browsing. But slowly, social media isn't just using our time. It's using our souls.

Allah (SWT) warns us in the Qur'an:

"The mutual rivalry for piling up (the good things of this world) diverts you, until you visit the graves."
(Qur'an 102:1-2)

Our obsession with likes, shares, trends, and validation is not harmless - it's a modern form of heedlessness that can lead us far from Allah if we're not careful.

How Social Media Steals Our Hearts?

🔹 It Wastes Our Time:
Hours pass - but Salah is missed. Qur'an is untouched. Dhikr is forgotten.

🔹 It Pollutes Our Minds:
Envy, anger, arrogance - emotions fueled by comparison and controversy.

🔹 It Weakens Our Iman:
The more we drown in dunya distractions, the less room there is for remembrance of Allah.

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said:

"There are two blessings which many people lose: (They are) health and free time for doing good."
(Bukhari)

Social media quietly devours both.

Signs You're Scrolling Away from Allah

• You check your phone before checking in with Allah.
• Salah feels rushed, but binge-watching feels effortless.
• You know trending songs by heart - but struggle to recite a single surah.
• Islamic content feels "boring," but endless memes feel addictive.

If you see yourself in these signs, it's not too late - but it's a wake-up call.

The Deeper Loss: Forgetting Your True Purpose

Allah created us with honor and purpose - to worship Him, to build our akhirah.
But endless scrolling rewires our hearts:

• Instead of seeking Allah's approval, we seek likes.
• Instead of craving closeness to Allah, we crave entertainment.
• Instead of fearing missing Salah, we fear missing trends.

The Prophet (ﷺ) warned:

"Be in this world as if you were a stranger or a traveler along a path."
(Bukhari)

Yet many of us live as if this world is our forever home, spending hours investing in what won't last - while our souls starve.

How to Reclaim Your Soul?

✅ Set Boundaries:

• Install screen timers.
• Create no-phone times - especially before and after Salah.

✅ Curate Your Feed:

• Unfollow accounts that waste your heart's energy.
• Follow Islamic reminders, Qur'an reflections, sincere scholars.

✅ Prioritize Salah and Qur'an:

• Before opening your phone, open the Mushaf.
• Make it a rule: Salah first, social media later.

✅ Use Social Media for Good:

• Share beneficial reminders.
• Engage in Islamic learning, da'wah, and acts of khayr (goodness).

Remember: Your scroll can either lift your soul or leave it empty.

The Soul Over the Scroll

Social media isn't the enemy.
Neglect is.

Allah (SWT) gave us time, health, and intellect - not to be lost in endless digital worlds, but to find Him, remember Him, and prepare for the true everlasting life.

The next time you find yourself mindlessly scrolling, ask:
"Is this feeding my soul - or stealing it?"

Because one day, our phones will be gone.
Our feeds will be erased.
And only our deeds will remain.

Choose wisely.
Scroll toward Allah, not away from Him.

Ready to reconnect your soul with its true purpose?
Join the IslamiCity community for daily reminders, Qur'an reflections, and digital detox tips for the Muslim heart. Let's build a mindful, faithful, and fulfilling life - together.

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