When we think of idol worship, we picture ancient people bowing to statues made of stone and gold. Something primitive. Something far removed from the “modern” world we live in.
But maybe idols didn’t disappear.
Maybe they just changed shape.
They now glow in our hands.
Hang on our walls.
Drive past us on highways.
And stare back at us on screens.
The new idols don’t demand incense or sacrifice.
They just ask for your time, your attention, your envy, and quietly, your heart.
It’s Not Just About Money
Materialism isn’t just about chasing money. That’s the surface. The deeper problem is chasing meaning in meaningless things. It’s turning anything temporary, wealth, looks, followers, brand name, into a measure of who we are.
Some people worship their bank account.
Others worship their face.
Some worship their career title, their lifestyle, their curated image online.
All of it is rooted in the same belief:
“If I just get this, I will be enough.”
But that this keeps changing. And it’s never enough.
The Qur’an Warned Us About This
Allah says:
“Have you seen the one who takes his own desire as his god?”
(Surah Al-Jathiyah: 23)
Desire is sneaky. It doesn’t come asking to be worshipped. It just comes disguised as goals, “self-worth,” “success,” or “freedom.”
Soon enough, we shape our lives around it, making decisions based on how it looks, how it sounds, or how much praise it’ll get.
That’s not living. That’s serving.
But Islam Brings Clarity
Islam teaches us that your worth is not in what you wear, how you look, what you own, or how many followers clap for you.
Your worth is in your taqwa. Your awareness of Allah. Your sincerity. Your consistency.
The Prophet ﷺ lived with almost nothing, but gave more than kings. He warned us:
“The thing I fear most for my ummah is the worldly pleasures…”
(Tirmidhi)
And he reminded us that real richness isn’t in things, but in contentment of the soul.
The Superficial Life Is a Hollow Life
You can wear luxury but still feel empty.
You can be beautiful and admired but still feel unloved.
You can own everything and still feel like nothing.
That’s the trap of modern idols.
They offer the image of success, but not the peace.
And peace only comes from Allah.
Final Thoughts
We weren’t created to chase glitter. We were created to worship the One who never fades.
So stop measuring your life by other people’s highlight reels.
Stop bowing to trends. Stop building your identity on things that can disappear.
Because at the end of the day, every idol will break.
But Allah remains.
And returning to Him, simple, sincere, and unpolished, is more powerful than all the shine the world could offer.
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