BE MINDFUL OF YOUR PURPOSE IN THIS LIFE: As Muslims, we believe that Allah not only created mankind but clarified their purpose of being here. That may seem quite obvious to some but questions related to the “purpose and meaning of life” have been grappled by western and non-Muslim philosophers for centuries. The foundation of our Islamic beliefs thus does away the need to get entangled in the philosophical innuendos of the topic. Islamic principles make it clear that Allah created life, this universe, and the rules that embody it. And mankind is to worship Him by submitting to those rules.
Amongst the many, consider the following three verses –
In the Name of “ALLAH” the Most Beneficent & Most Merciful.
“And I (Allah) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone)”
(al-Dhaariyaat 51:56)
“Say (O Muhammad): Verily, my Salaah (prayer), my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the ‘Aalameen (mankind, jinn and all that exists)”
(al-An’aam 6:162)
“Did you think that We had created you in play (without any purpose), and that you would not be brought back to Us?”
(al-Mu’minoon 23:115)
Needless to explain but a sense of purpose can help in reconciling the many complex questions and issues that aren’t always that easy for us to comprehend. It helps in imbuing the energy that we need to keep moving irrespective of the challenges that we face and to adhere to a system of living that we believe was designed by the Creator for His Creation.
BECOME MORE ACTION ORIENTED
As straightforward as it may seem, there is something inherently complex about taking action in life that prevents many from failing to accomplish enough. Ask yourself if you could have accomplished more by this time in your life by taking more actions in the past? What is it that stopped you from accomplishing more? As it turns out, many of us fall victims to procrastination, never ending planning, or simply failing to have the discipline or courage to decide to act at the right time. The result is that time passes without us accomplishing much or not as much as we could have.
As Muslims, we will be judged on what we do. Our faith is incomplete without us following up on it through actions. There are many places in the Quran where the mention of faith is coupled with the need to take action.
Consider these verses from the Quran:
In the Name of “ALLAH” the Most Beneficent & Most Merciful.
1. By Al-Asr (the time).
2. Verily! Man is in loss,
3. Except those who believe (in Islamic Monotheism) and do righteous good deeds, and recommend one another to the truth (i.e. order one another to perform all kinds of good deeds which Allah has ordained, and abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which Allah has forbidden), and recommend one another to patience.
In another place in the Quran, Allah warns us about putting our words into practice. He says in the Quran:
“O you who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do? Most hateful it is with Allâh that you say that which you do not do” (al-Saff :2-3)
By refocusing to become more action oriented will help us in accomplishing more and thus make life more fulfilling.