Last week, I received an email from a reader that read:
“Salam, I’ve been feeling overwhelmed by life lately — work, bills, goals, expectations… Is this really how life is supposed to be? Can you write something on how to ‘redesign’ life in a way that aligns more with less expectations?”
Well, dear reader, this one’s for you — and for the rest of us who have tried productivity hacks, vision boards, and planners with gold-foiled inspirational quotes, only to find ourselves crying into our lunch time or when we pounced onto slumber at night, wondering what exactly we’re doing with our lives.
So let’s get real. Let’s zoom out. Let’s redesign life — not with Pinterest mood boards, but with something older, wiser, and way more legit: divine guidance.
Is This the Life We Were Designed For? Or Did We Accidentally Download the Beta Version?
Here’s the problem: We treat life like a project management app.
📌 Task: Build career.
📌 Task: Get married.
📌 Task: Achieve financial freedom by 35.
📌 Task: Be happy (somehow).
But somewhere between that “hustle” and our sixth burnout this year, a tiny voice asks: “Wait… wasn’t I created for something else?”
Good question. Let’s ask the Designer Himself.
“And I did not create jinn and mankind except to worship Me.”
— Surah Adh-Dhariyat (51:56)
Not to become corporate zombies. Not to chase dopamine in online carts or TikToks. Not to die with the most aesthetically pleasing home office.
Just. To. Worship.
But wait, does that mean we all quit our jobs and live in caves?
Nope. Islam isn’t anti-world. But it is anti-delulu.
Why Modern Life Feels Like a Trap (Because It Is)
This dunya is the original illusionist. Think of it like a magician that distracts your attention with shiny things — money, likes, validation, friends — while slowly stealing your peace.
“Know that the life of this world is but amusement and diversion and adornment and boasting to one another and competition in increase of wealth and children…”
— Surah Al-Hadid (57:20)
Sounds suspiciously like Instagram, doesn’t it?
The dunya was designed to distract, not to fulfill. It’s not broken. It’s doing exactly what it’s meant to do — test you.
“Indeed, We have made that which is on the earth adornment for it that We may test them [as to] which of them is best in deed.”
— Surah Al-Kahf (18:7)
If you’ve ever felt like modern life is a treadmill you didn’t sign up for, that’s not an accident. That’s the point.
So… How Do We Redesign Life Without Moving to a Desert?
Let’s make this simple. Here’s a mini Q&A cheat sheet for modern Muslims trying to align their life with Divine Design.
Q1: Can I still have a career and worship Allah?
Absolutely. But let your career serve your worship, not compete with it. Think of it this way:
“The best of people are those that bring the most benefit to others.”
— [Hadith in Mu’jam al-Awsat]
Work hard. But set boundaries. Pray on time. Rest. Choose barakah over burnout.
Q2: How do I stop stressing over everything?
Stop trying to be the god of your own life.
“Whoever relies upon Allah – then He is sufficient for him.”
— Surah At-Talaq (65:3)
Do your part. Then let go. You’re not a divine project manager. My career, my money? Come on! Its already predetermined!
Q3: Isn’t planning for the future part of being responsible?
Yes, but don’t fall into future-worship. Planning is sunnah. Obsession is shirk in disguise.
The Prophet ﷺ planned for Hijrah. But he also trusted Allah when plans went sideways. Life isn’t meant to be fully under control — just under trust.
Q4: If worship is the goal, does that mean 24/7 prayer?
Not necessarily. Worship in Islam includes every intentional act done for Allah. Working with honesty? Worship. Helping your mother with dishes? Worship. Smiling at your grumpy boss and not plotting his downfall? Worship (and jihad).
Here’s Your Redesign Blueprint (Simple Edition)
✅ Start your day with Fajr – not emails.
✅ Schedule breaks for salah, not just lunch.
✅ Say Bismillah before meetings. It’s free spiritual armor.
✅ End your day with dhikr, not doomscrolling.
✅ Choose people, (not your friends but family) over profits. Always.
✅ Make your goals eternal, not seasonal.
Closing Thoughts: You Weren’t Created to Chase. You Were Created to Remember.
What if life isn’t supposed to feel this heavy?
What if our souls are tired not because we’re weak, but because we’re off-track?
What if productivity isn’t the goal — but proximity to Allah is?
“Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.”
— Surah Ar-Ra’d (13:28)
So maybe it’s time to uninstall Hustle Culture 2.0 and download Tawakkul 1.0.
Redesign your life not around calendars and KPIs, but around clarity. Around submission. Around peace.
Once you feel aligned, tilt the balance more towards the Almighty. This time, worship more — and remorsefully. You’ve already learned and created a habit during your “redesign” process. You will surely feel the aura of the Almighty — and what negativity would dare stand in front of that?
Because worship isn’t just something we do.
It’s who we are.
References:
- How hustle culture is robbing our youths of self-discovery
- Do You Know What Islamic Self-Care Actually Looks Like?
- Donation
