For a Home for Your Soul

By Ezzat Ashraf, an Egyptian writer

zt211151@gmail.com

In the vast expanse of this universe, humanity is born with a spiritual thirst that materialism cannot quench and a deep need for a home to which it can retreat. It’s a need for a tranquility that cannot be found in the world’s chaos or the crowdedness of its cities. Life teaches us that loneliness is not merely the absence of a partner, but a spiritual feeling of estrangement, like a soul searching for its mirror—for its other half that completes it and restores its sense of wholeness.

So where does the answer lie?

The threads of destiny dance to bring two souls together, and the journey of discovery begins. That enchanting moment of attraction isn’t a chemical coincidence; it’s a cosmic spark and a divine impulse that translates the purpose of creation. In that moment, what is scientifically known as Dopamine flows in the veins of the soul, a hormone that provides an overwhelming sense of euphoria and happiness, driving the soul toward its home. It is accompanied by Norepinephrine, which increases focus and excitement, making the details of the beloved seem woven from light, and the rest of the world fade into the background. This attraction is nothing but a silent language between two souls, where instinct harmonizes with an intricate divine design.

But the greatest miracle does not lie in the initial spark, but in the peace of the end. After the storm of emotions subsides, the flame doesn’t die out; it transforms into a stable warmth. Here, the wisdom of the Creator is revealed in the hormone Oxytocin, known as the “hormone of safety and bonding.” This hormone is released in vast quantities with every gentle touch, every trusting glance, and every moment of comfortable silence. Oxytocin works to build bridges of trust and security, settles the soul in its home, and transforms overwhelming excitement into profound peace. This feeling of calm and security is the tangible and deep scientific interpretation of the essence of tranquility that the Quran spoke of.

This biological miracle is complemented by two fundamental pillars that are the essence of the human covenant: Love (Mawadda) and Mercy (Rahma). Mawadda is the conscious love, that sacred effort a soul makes to care for the other. It’s the giving that never stops, the kind word that plants security, and standing side by side through all circumstances. Rahma, on the other hand, is deeper and more enduring. It is the ability to see and contain the other’s weaknesses, to overlook their missteps, and to offer a forgiveness that melts away all harshness. It is the belief that spouses are not two complete beings who meet, but two incomplete souls who vow to complete one another, so that each becomes a sanctuary for the other.

Marriage is not a destination, but a sacred journey. It is not merely a contract signed between two parties, but a covenant between two souls to establish a safe haven and to write an eternal chapter in the record of divine tranquility. It is not merely the union of two bodies, but for each of you to become the other’s mirror, refuge, and a home where the soul can breathe. It is for you to be for one another, “a home to which you may find tranquility.”