I vividly remember that day: sitting on my bedroom floor, I looked through my pile of CD’s and tossed them out, one by one. This was the last of my music collection, as I had already deleted the mp3 files off all of my electronic devices. And to me, it wasn’t just music that I was throwing away — it was a huge part of my life. The memories associated with each song flooded through my mind, begging me not to let them go. As I set aside each precious moment from my past, something in me ached, as if I were parting with my closest friend.

Music was my companion through good and bad times. My anchor in every storm. My light in the darkest of times.

I recalled telling a friend just months before: “Music is my life. Like, I literally don’t understand how people can live without it.” I listened to it in every waking moment that I could.

Music and I went way back: listening to it, playing it, even writing it. It was my companion through good and bad times. My anchor in every storm. My light in the darkest of times.

So why was I doing this? Seems kinda weird, right? A little crazy? And did I come to regret it later?

Some people might assume, at this point, that I got rid of my music because I believed that music is haraam (forbidden in Islam). But that’s actually not the case.

It was only when I learned exactly what role music actually played in my life, that I realized that I needed to get rid of it. Because for me, those lyrics and tunes were doing more harm than good. The anchor I had come to rely on, was stopping me from reaching my Destination. And that faint light during dark times was distracting me from seeing the Beacon which awaited me.

Eventually, I accepted that whatever was stopping me from giving my whole heart and soul to God, wasn’t worth keeping in my life. It was hindering my spiritual growth, so how could it be good for me? And the moment I realized that, what would have otherwise felt like a huge sacrifice became a simple non-negotiable.

Does this mean that I’ve never intentionally listened to music again? No, definitely not. But going through the “detox” that I did definitely put things in perspective and under control. It’s not a need or dependency for me anymore. It doesn’t have a place in my heart.

Eventually, I accepted that whatever was stopping me from giving my whole heart and soul to God, wasn’t worth keeping in my life. It was hindering my spiritual growth, so how could it be good for me?

Everyone has something like this in their lives, even if they don’t realize it… Something that’s distancing them from God and hindering their spiritual growth. For some, it might be their friends or how they waste their free time. For others, it might be an addiction to drugs or alcohol, pornography, or something else. It could be that girl or guy who they would give anything to be noticed by. Or it might be the places they go, where they become someone else.

Whatever it may be, we all need to look within ourselves and try to discover: What’s my spiritual kryptonite?

What’s the one thing that, if you could only give it up, you would be that much closer to Allah (swt)? What’s pulling you away from Him? What might you need to give up, to gain Everything?

“…Allah guides those who pursue His pleasure to the ways of peace, and brings them out from darknesses into light, by His permission, and guides them to a Straight Path.” (5:16)