Intimacy Over Inclusion

Rabia belonged to God intimately, as if she were in continuous conversation with a beloved friend. She did not seek validation from the religious establishment or need others to affirm her faith. This reveals a crucial distinction: inclusion (being admitted to a group, having a seat at the table) is not the same as intimacy (being truly known and deeply connected). Many modern belonging movements focus on inclusion—expanding the group, ensuring everyone has access, building communities. These are valuable, but they can still leave people feeling that they belong because they have been let in, not because they are genuinely intimate with what the group represents. Rabia teaches that belonging flows from intimacy. When you are intimate with your purpose, your values, your community's heart—when you know them and are known by them—inclusion becomes secondary. You might be an outsider to the institution but an insider to the truth. This framework helps people distinguish between seeking a place at the table and seeking genuine communion. The question shifts from 'Will they accept me?' to 'Am I truly intimate with what I claim to belong to?'