- hidāyah.
- Posts
- You're not weak. You're human.
You're not weak. You're human.
rest is a sunnah too
We’re so used to thinking that more is better.
More Qur’an.
More rak’ahs.
More time in sajdah.
More ibadah.
Until worship becomes a race - and you’re out of breath.
But one day - the Prophet ﷺ walked into the masjid and saw something unusual.
A rope. Tied between two pillars.
He asked what it was for.
They said,
“It belongs to Zaynab. She prays so long that when she gets tired, she leans on it so she can keep going.”
Can you imagine the dedication?
Can you imagine someone standing for so long in prayer that they need physical support?
Today, we’d probably admire that.
We’d call it zuhd (asceticism), we’d say “MashaAllah, may Allah reward her effort.”
But the Prophet ﷺ didn’t say that.
He said,
“Untie the rope. Let one of you pray when they are energetic. And when they get tired - let them rest.”
Pause.
Let them rest.
Balance Over Burnout
We often think struggling in worship is a sign of sincerity.
That the more tired we are, the more beloved our worship becomes.
But this hadith teaches the opposite.
It teaches rahmah (mercy).
It teaches hikmah (wisdom).
It teaches real Islam.
The Prophet ﷺ didn’t want people pushing themselves so hard that they started dreading salah.
Or Qur’an.
Or tahajjud.
He wanted your relationship with Allah to feel like home.
Not a burden. Not a battlefield.
Let this sink in…
This story is more than just a moment in a masjid.
It’s for the mother staying up late, trying to make time for du’a but falling asleep mid sentence.
It’s for the student who opens the Qur’an after a long day but can only manage one page before their mind shuts down.
It’s for the one who feels guilty for not praying tahajjud, even though they’re exhausted from just surviving.
Allah knows.
And the Prophet ﷺ taught us to honour our own limits.
Because you matter too.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The most beloved deeds to Allah are those that are consistent - even if they are small.”
That means…
two sincere rak’ahs ➣ twenty rushed ones
one heartfelt ayah ➣ one full juz you didn’t absorb
a daily habit you can maintain ➣ an intense sprint followed by burnout
Worship was never meant to exhaust you.
It was meant to connect you.
Your reminder for this week
Unfasten the rope.
Stop tying yourself to expectations that Allah never asked of you.
He is Ar-Rahman. He sees every effort - no matter how small.
Take worship seriously, yes - but gently.
Be disciplined, but compassionate with yourself.
Strive, but don’t sacrifice your soul in the process.
Revisit your spiritual routine.
Is there anything you’ve forced yourself to do that’s now becoming a chore? Swap it with something that brings you joy in your connection with Allah.
Start a small, daily act of worship - and commit to doing it with love. Even 1 minute counts.
Share this with someone who always feels like they’re not doing enough. Maybe they’re doing more than they realise.
Do you have any thoughts or responses? Tell me on insta - I’d genuinely love to hear it.
until the next one,
— hidvyaa