🥖 Bread and circuses 🎪

يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ لِيُبَيِّنَ لَكُمْ وَيَهْدِيَكُمْ سُنَنَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ وَيَتُوبَ عَلَيْكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌۭ ٢٦

“It is Allah’s Will to make things clear to you, guide you to the ˹noble˺ ways of those before you, and turn to you in mercy. For Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.” — Qur’an 4:26

God wants us to lead good lives, finding purpose meaning and ultimately returning back to Him.

Our purpose in this life is to witness Allah and worship Him at all times.

Our modern world is so full of distractions — Shaytan and his collaborators seek only to further distract us from God.

وَٱللَّهُ يُرِيدُ أَن يَتُوبَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَيُرِيدُ ٱلَّذِينَ يَتَّبِعُونَ ٱلشَّهَوَٰتِ أَن تَمِيلُوا۟ مَيْلًا عَظِيمًۭا ٢٧

And it is Allah’s Will to turn to you in grace, but those who follow their desires wish to see you deviate entirely ˹from Allah’s Way˺.— Qur’an 4:27

To “deviate entirely” is to become lost in the world, to become preoccupied with temporary things, other than God.

As the Roman poet Juvenal said “panem et circenses” – “Bread and circuses” people can become consumed with worldly desires for food, pleasure and entertainment — forgetting to devote themselves to meaning and the greater good.

Many apps and people today are vying for our attention — knowingly or unknowingly trying to lead us off the path of Godd.

May we always be in remembrance of God, His majesty, His favour upon us, His power, beauty and mercy.

May we see Him in all things and worship Him at all times.