Unmodern Aspects of Islam (3): Endless Scrolling, Empty Minds

 

Have you ever picked up your phone for “just five minutes”… and suddenly an hour is gone?
One video leads to another, one headline to the next. We scroll and scroll, but when we finally look up, our minds feel heavy—and our hearts feel empty.

This is the age of doomscrolling: an endless flood of content, most of it negative, distracting, and shallow. The more we consume, the less peace we find. We know everything about strangers online, but almost nothing about ourselves, or about Allah who created us.

The Qur’an calls us to something higher:
“Do they not reflect upon themselves?” (Surah Ar-Rum 30:8)
And again:
“Indeed, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.” (Surah Ar-Ra’d 13:28)

Instead of drowning in noise, Islam teaches us the art of reflection—tafakkur—and the sweetness of remembrance—dhikr. These are not passive escapes, but active nourishment for the soul.

Think of the early Muslims. They didn’t waste hours in distractions. They built inner strength by reflecting on the heavens, the earth, and the Qur’an. Their quiet moments with Allah gave them clarity in a noisy world, courage in the face of fear, and direction when others were lost.

What about us? Tonight, try this small shift: when you’re tempted to scroll, stop. Put the phone aside. Whisper SubhanAllah… Alhamdulillah… Allahu Akbar. Or open one page of Qur’an and let it speak to you. Just five minutes of dhikr gives more peace than fifty minutes of scrolling.

Endless scrolling leaves us empty. Mindful remembrance fills us up.
Which will you choose for your mind—and your heart—today?