FOMO (Hirs)

FOMO — the fear of missing out — is an anxiety-driven attachment to the dunya. It is the feeling that everyone else is living a better life, getting ahead, and that you're being left behind. In Islamic terms, it is hirs: an anxious greed that keeps the heart chasing what it doesn't have.

Definition

Hirs is not desire itself (that's shahawat) or craving what others have (that's tama'/greed). It is the anxious, restless pursuit driven by the fear of missing something. It makes you say yes to everything, compare constantly, and feel perpetually behind.

Signs of FOMO

• Compulsive social media checking to see what others are doing
• Inability to enjoy what you have because you're focused on what you're missing
• Saying yes to everything out of fear of missing an opportunity
• Comparing your life, career, or worship to others constantly
• Feeling anxious when you see others succeeding or experiencing things you haven't

Islamic Perspective

The Prophet ﷺ said: "If the son of Adam had two valleys of gold, he would desire a third. Nothing fills the belly of the son of Adam except dust." (Bukhari & Muslim)

And he ﷺ said: "Look at those below you and do not look at those above you, for that is more likely to prevent you from belittling the blessings of Allah." (Muslim)

Treatment

1. Practice contentment (qana'ah): The Prophet ﷺ said the richest person is the one content with what Allah gave them
2. Limit social media consumption: Curated highlight reels fuel comparison and anxiety
3. Say Alhamdulillah with specificity: Name your blessings — gratitude crowds out FOMO
4. Trust Allah's timing: What's meant for you will reach you; what's not was never yours
5. Focus on your akhirah: The real FOMO is missing out on Paradise, not a vacation or promotion
6. Detach from outcomes: Take action, then leave results to Allah — tawakkul is the antidote to hirs