Losing Strength in a Sea of Comfort

Introduction

We live in an age of abundance. Our homes are filled with convenience, our pockets with information, and our schedules with noise. Yet beneath the surface of this so-called progress, a quiet reality emerges. We are becoming weaker. Not just physically, but spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. The more we rely on comfort and technology, the more disconnected we become from the natural world and from ourselves.

The sea, vast and mysterious, holds signs for those who reflect. In its shifting balance, we see a reflection of our own condition. What was once strong and thriving is now fragile and overwhelmed. This is not just a story about nature. It is a story about us.

The Sea Is Speaking

Marine scientists have observed something strange in recent decades. Jellyfish are multiplying rapidly across the world’s oceans. Their numbers are rising, even as fish populations decline. Jellyfish are fragile, directionless creatures that survive best in damaged ecosystems. They thrive when the natural balance is lost.

At the same time, the more honourable and purposeful creatures of the sea such as fish, turtles, and sharks are dying out. These animals play vital roles. Fish like sardines and herring feed larger species. Turtles control jellyfish numbers by feeding on them. Sharks preserve the food chain by preying on the weak and the sick. Their disappearance is not just an ecological loss. It reflects what happens when strength, wisdom, and order begin to fade.

Likewise, in our own societies, we are witnessing the decline of the brave, the honest, and the honourable. We are losing those who stood firm in the face of injustice, who upheld truth, and who protected the vulnerable. The voices of the wise are becoming faint. Knowledge is being neglected, and scholars who once served as guiding lights are being replaced by noise, opinion, and superficiality. Without their presence, clarity fades and confusion spreads.

This shift in the sea is more than an environmental issue. It is a symbol of our times.

We too are becoming more like jellyfish. Surviving, but not truly thriving. Adrift, yet constantly moving. Surrounded by endless stimulation, yet often directionless inside.

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) foretold this condition in a powerful hadith recorded in Abu Dawood:

We are warned here not just of outer weakness, but inner fragility. A state where people may appear strong in numbers, but lack depth, discipline, and direction. Like the jellyfish, we become passive in a broken environment, floating in comfort while slowly losing our strength. Surrounded by ease and distraction, we hesitate to speak the truth or defend what is right. In the absence of real strength, even falsehood finds room to flourish.

Glued to Screens, Blind to the World

It is not just the sea we are failing to notice. It is everything around us. Our eyes are locked onto screens. Phones, televisions, and laptops fill our lives. Rarely do we look up at the sky, listen to the birds, or pause to feel the wind on our face. Children grow up knowing how to swipe before they can plant a seed. Adults scroll endlessly but forget to reflect.

When was the last time we looked at the stars without taking a picture? Or sat quietly in a garden without needing music or noise to fill the silence?

This digital overload distracts us from the real world. The natural signs Allah placed around us are there to inspire awe, gratitude, and remembrance. The more connected we are to nature, the more we begin to care for it. We start to feel for the Earth, for animals, and for all creatures that depend on this balance. Being present with nature softens the heart and awakens a sense of trust and responsibility.

Losing Our Touch with Nature

There was a time when people knew how to live in rhythm with the Earth. They planted seeds, understood the weather, raised animals, harvested crops, and honoured the land. Today, most of us do not know how to milk a cow, grow tomatoes, or survive a week without electricity or Wi-Fi.

This detachment is not just physical. It is spiritual. Allah created us from the earth, and we are meant to live in balance with it. But modern life pulls us further away from that harmony.

Allah says:

This verse is a mirror. What we do to the Earth reflects what is happening within us. The disconnection from nature reflects a disconnection from purpose.

Dependence Without Strength

We rely on global systems for food, water, and energy. We can access a thousand recipes online, but do not know how to catch a fish for a simple meal. We wear fitness trackers, yet our bodies grow weaker. We collect followers, but forget how to sit in silence with ourselves or be grateful for a single apple.

Even when we eat, we are glued to our screens. People watch videos, scroll through their phones, or take photos of their food. Yet we rarely pause to reflect on where that food truly came from. It is not the restaurant, the farmer, or the supermarket. It is from Allah.

Technology is not the enemy. But when it replaces our need to connect, to struggle, to build, and to grow, it becomes a distraction from the essence of life.

The Simplicity of the Prophet’s Life

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) lived with the Earth, not above it. He ate with his hands, walked barefoot, patched his own clothes, and valued every morsel of food. His strength came not from material excess, but from simplicity, resilience, and trust in Allah.

Strength in Islam is not measured by appearance or possessions. It is found in character, in self-control, and in living with purpose.

Reclaiming Real Strength

So, what does it mean to be strong today? It means turning back to the roots of life. Learning how to grow something with your own hands. Spending time in nature without a screen. Walking instead of scrolling. Practising silence, patience, and trust. Most importantly, it means returning to prayer. Standing before Allah in humility and finding strength through connection with Him.

These are not outdated skills. They are survival skills. They are spiritual tools. And they are part of the fitrah, the natural state Allah created us in.

Real strength is not harshness or control. It is the ability to live with presence, purpose, and care. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

To live with strength is to live with compassion. It means being kind to the earth, gentle with animals, and conscious of the balance Allah has placed around us. In this, we reflect the mercy and beauty of our faith.

Conclusion

The sea, once full of strength and harmony, is now flooded with soft-bodied jellyfish. These creatures flourish when all else has broken down. In many ways, we are becoming like that sea. Overstimulated, overfed, yet undernourished where it truly matters. Surrounded by comfort, but drifting without purpose.

To find our way back, we must return to the Source. We need to rediscover simplicity, rebuild resilience, and restore our connection with the natural world. This is not about rejecting technology, but about using it with wisdom and living with intention. True strength does not lie in convenience, but in awareness, patience, and reliance on Allah.

We were created from the earth. When we care for the earth, we are in fact caring for ourselves. As the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) taught, kindness to creation is kindness to our own souls. By honouring the balance Allah has placed around us, we begin to heal. Our bodies, our hearts, and the world we live in.