You Do Not Need to Carry the World’s Pain to Care About it

Something my mentor and Ustādhah taught us years ago was to be extremely mindful of the type of information we consume daily, especially the constant stream of negative content that floods our screens. She told us that it does not only affect our mental and emotional state. It has a deep impact on the subconscious mind and, over time, can even manifest as physical illness. That advice stayed with me, and I took it to heart. I made a conscious choice to stop consuming negative news and content on a daily basis, and Alhamdulillah, it has been such a game changer for me in every way.

We live in a time where the average person is exposed to more negative information in a single day than previous generations were in an entire year. It is unnatural. Every time you open your phone, you are flooded with pain and disaster. Local crimes, global wars, natural catastrophes, abuse, scandals, suicides, mental health crises, economic collapse, misinformation about Islam, trolling, hate, corruption, immodesty, sexual fitnah, and so much more. And it is never-ending.

Our hearts and minds were not created to absorb this much pain on a daily basis. We are not emotionally or spiritually equipped to carry the weight of the entire world every single day. There is a quiet but dangerous erosion happening in the background of our minds, and most people do not realise how much it is affecting their mental health, emotional state, physical wellbeing and, most importantly, their connection with Allah.

One of the biggest things I have come to realise is how this bombardment of negativity also deeply affects our spirituality. When you are constantly watching the world fall apart, it is easy to start questioning why Allah is not “helping” or intervening. But that comes from forgetting who Allah truly is. The Most Wise, The Most Just, The All-Seeing, The All-Knowing. Nothing escapes Him. Every single thing that happens, no matter how painful or confusing, is happening with purpose and wisdom, even if we do not yet understand it.

And here is something even deeper. This entire cycle of negativity and hopelessness is another trap from shaytan. He thrives on us being in a low mental and emotional state. He wants us to feel down, anxious, depressed and defeated, because when we are in that place, our hearts and minds become consumed by the dunya, and our focus shifts away from Allah. Shaytan does not always need us to do outright evil. Sometimes, he just needs us to be emotionally exhausted and spiritually numb. That alone is enough to distance us from Du‘ā, from Qur’ān, from Dhikr, from hope, and from trust in Allah.

So no, it is not just about “bad news”. It is a strategy to break the soul. And the antidote is conscious protection of the heart.

If being informed is important to you, then set boundaries around how and when you consume this type of content. Schedule it. Do not scroll through it aimlessly. Choose trusted sources and limit your exposure. You do not need to carry the world’s pain into your heart all day to care about it. You can care deeply and still protect your peace. You can make du‘ā, take action where you can, and at the same time choose to guard your mental space.

Because your heart is an amānah. A trust from Allah. And what you allow into it either brings you closer to Him or slowly pulls you away.

This dunya has always had pain. But it has also always had beauty, light, and Divine mercy. And if your timeline no longer shows you that, then it’s time to take back control.

So be intentional. Nourish your heart with what uplifts you. Fill your day with more dhikr than distraction. Replace mindless scrolling with moments of silence and stillness. And when the world feels dark, turn to the One who is An-Nūr, the Light.

Let your soul breathe again. Let your heart come back home to Allah.

He is still here. He has never left.