What happens when something you thought was “always there” suddenly vanishes? A tool teachers and students used, a platform you relied on — gone.

In October 2025, Apple officially discontinued its Clips app. The Verge+2The Times of India+2 The app was removed from the App Store and will no longer be updated. The Verge+1 Its removal is a modern reminder that even the most ubiquitous tech tools are not guaranteed forever.

This is a microcosm of the bigger truth: nothing in this dunya is permanent.

The Temporary vs The Eternal

Allah ﷻ tells us:

“Every soul will taste death. And only on the Day of Resurrection will you be paid your wages. So whoever is removed from the Fire and admitted to Paradise has attained [his desire]. And what is the life of this world except the enjoyment of delusion.”
(Qur’an 3:185)

And the Prophet ﷺ said:

“Be in this world as though you were a stranger or a traveler.” (Bukhari, Muslim)

We’re reminded often: dunya is a fleeting bridge, not home. Its pleasures, power, and prestige are all transient.

The Digital Dilemma

We worship permanence in impermanent things:

• That “essential” app you use daily might vanish.

• The social media algorithm that gave you reach today might bury you tomorrow.

• The email, the platform, the tool — each can die, change, or be discontinued without warning.

If we anchor our identity, purpose, and security in such shifting ground, we are building on sand. The removal of Clips is a vivid, recent example: what seemed indispensable can be turned off, deprecated, or forgotten.

DigitalDeen Framework: Anchoring in the Eternal

Let’s apply our pillars to build resilience in the face of impermanence:

1. Intention (Niyyah)
   Use tech as means, not ends. Don’t worship the tool; worship through it. Let your online acts be servants of your faith, not enslave you to them.

2. Balance
   Recognize the mirror of your priorities — if you panic when an app closes, your heart is attached too deeply. Limit your expectations: tech is a tool, not a throne.

3. Excellence (Ihsan)
   Let your legacy be character, knowledge, impact — not follower counts or trending posts. Build something that doesn’t fade when an app dies.

Action Step

Tech Detox & Legacy Audit

• List every platform, app, or tool you rely on. Ask: If this disappeared tomorrow, would I still be okay?

• Back up what’s essential: files, lessons, notes — don’t let your purpose be trapped in a proprietary system.

• Double down on what outlasts tech: memorise Quran, produce beneficial content (ebooks, printable PDF reminders), engage in in-person dawah.

Dua / Reflection

Reflection: Am I holding tightly to something that was never meant to last?
Dua: Ya Allah, grant me the vision to see dunya’s illusion, attach my heart to Your word, and let me live and die as someone anchored in the Qur’an.