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Life is a series of arrivals and departures. People come into our lives with promises, warmth, shared dreams, and at times, deep connections that seem unshakable. But as real as these moments may feel, life sometimes unfolds differently from what we imagined.
Life has a way of taking us through seasons of love, loss, friendship, betrayal, closeness, and distance. At one moment, someone feels like a permanent part of your story and the next, they become a memory.
This classical Arabic poem tenderly reminds us of a deep truth:
"فِي الناسِ أَبدالٌ وَفِي التَركِ راحَةٌ
وَفِي القَلبِ صَبرٌ لِلحَبيبِ وَلَو جَفا"
“Among people are replacements, and in letting go there is relief;
And in the heart is patience for the beloved, even if he turns away.”
It’s a gentle lesson in emotional resilience, a reminder that not every presence is permanent, and not every pain is without wisdom.
Many of us have been there. You trust someone, open your heart, invest your time, and make room for them in your world. Then, suddenly, they drift. Or worse, they hurt you. Sometimes it’s a friend. Other times, a loved one. Or someone you had high hopes for.
You find yourself asking: “Why would Allah let them leave?”
But Allah, in His infinite knowledge, knows what you do not.
"وَعَسَىٰ أَن تَكْرَهُوا۟ شَيْـًۭٔا وَهُوَ خَيْرٌۭ لَّكُمْ ۖ وَعَسَىٰ أَن تُحِبُّوا۟ شَيْـًۭٔا وَهُوَ شَرٌّۭ لَّكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ"
"But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah knows, while you know not (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:216)
Sometimes, the people we cling to aren't written for our long-term good. And letting go, while painful, is often a form of mercy.
One of the most liberating things we can do for our soul is to realize that attachment to people is always limited. Hearts are in the Hands of Allah, and when someone exits your life, it’s not always punishment it can be protection.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
مَا تَرَكَ أَحَدٌ شَيْئًا لِلَّهِ إِلَّا عَوَّضَهُ اللَّهُ خَيْرًا مِنهُ
"You will never leave something for the sake of Allah, but that Allah will replace it with something better for you." (Musnad Ahmad)
So, whether it's a friend who turned their back on you, a relationship that ended, or a bond that broke, know that in letting go, Allah opens doors you couldn’t imagine.
Islam acknowledges that our hearts feel deeply. That sadness, longing, or missing someone isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s human.
Even Prophet Yaqub (peace be upon him) cried until his eyes turned white because of his love and grief for his lost son Yusuf (AS). Yet, what did he say?
إِنَّمَا أَشْكُو بَثِّي وَحُزْنِي إِلَى اللَّهِ
"I only complain of my grief and sorrow to Allah."(Surah Yusuf 12:86)
His heartbreak didn’t lessen his faith, it deepened it. He taught us that you can feel deeply and still trust Allah completely.
In conclusion, you are not strange for missing someone who hurt you. You are not weak for remembering someone who forgot you. But you are stronger when you learn to surrender the weight of your emotions to Allah.
Sometimes, "letting go" is not about forgetting it’s about freeing your soul.
"Among people are replacements..."
Yes, Allah may send new friendships, better love, or even contentment in solitude.
"In letting go, there is relief..."
Yes, the pain that lingers will ease, little by little.
"And in the heart is patience for the beloved, even if he turns away."
Yes, you may remember them but your heart, strengthened by faith, endures with grace.
Remember, even heartbreak is part of Allah’s Qadr (divine plan). And if you place your trust in Him, you’ll find new paths opening not because you're lucky, but because you're loved by the One who never turns away.