We often live our lives racing—either consumed by our work or distracted by idle pleasures. Whether it’s the relentless demands of a busy schedule or the hours lost scrolling through our phones, our hearts rarely pause long enough to reflect. We drift from one moment to the next, as if this dunya were permanent, all the while inching closer to our final breath. And suddenly, we are face to face with the angel of death. 

What now?

Ibn ʿAtā’illah wrote in his Hikam: “How can the heart be illumined while the forms of creatures are reflected in its mirror? Or how can it journey to Allah while shackled by its passions?”

 We rarely stop to polish the mirror of the heart. We rarely ask: What am I doing with this life? What am I preparing for the Hereafter? Am I walking toward Allah or away from Him?

We are surrounded by signs—illness, loss, fatigue, even death itself—and yet, we continue as if we have all the time in the world. But real awakening begins when we recognize that every moment is a chance to turn inward, to detach from distraction, and to return to the One who gave us life. The dunya is loud, but the soul finds peace in silence, in reflection, and in remembrance of Allah.