Searching for answers…
It came to me after a lot of pondering and philosophizing. The reason I’ve been feeling so out of sorts and lost in the last few days.
I’ve run out of steam. I’m fresh out of diversion techniques. I’ve run smack into myself.
For perhaps the last six months or so, I had something to look forward to. The trip to India. I had worked for it, worked out for it, waited for it.
And now that I am here and am living out my long-awaited holiday, I have to face that the buck doesn’t stop here. What next? What do I plan for? What do I long for? What do I live for?
I can keep setting goals for myself all my life, but they will all eventually meet the same fate. I need to recognize the real goal. The right goal. THE goal.
And as a Muslim, I am aware of what my ultimate goal is. But what good has that done me so far? For all my religious fervour, I am not “spiritually awakened” enough to live life in pursuit of the elusive siratul mustaqeem (straight path to heaven).
I like the way my friend put it the other day– "Islam wants us to live in an almost dual/schizophrenic state (not in any bad way). Working to build a good future yet praying every prayer as if its the last". That really made me think.
Call it balance, schizophrenia, or divine design, there is a duality that exists in all things. Yin-yang, day-night, good-evil, joy-grief, win-lose. Life-death. The way I see it - Islam teaches us how to cope with that highly dual state. To overcome that weakness that has us vacillating between positive and negative. To live every day with the best intent and purpose, whilst being prepared to return happily to our Maker at any given moment.
To some that may seem highly irregular. But to me - it helps me understand. (Especially given that I'd been really disturbed ever since my young cousin's life-threatening illness about what the meaning of anything is). It helps me understand how fragile our life is. It helps me understand the method in all the apparent madness. Within this duality lies the key to being at peace. If I could live each day with purpose and enthusiasm, and at the same time be ready to give it all up in an instant without regrets – isn’t that the right way to do it? Actually, isn’t that the only way to do it?
God in His infinite wisdom offers us the best of both worlds – fid duniya hasanataun wa fil aqirati hasanataun (The best in this life, and the best in the after-life). The win-win strategy, the final master-stroke of duality...
7 Comments:
Yes, I agree with you. one could motivate oneself by setting some small goals and once achieved go on to the next ones. Each time I have been back home, I had been looking forward to that trip and once there, would have to re-think of a new strategy or set some target to push myself and have some motivation to drive.
Well, in the later paragraphs you seem to be touching a very good thought. I am not sure if your choice of words makes the things clear. The examples you sight of Yin-Yang, night-day, good-evil etc are all positive-negative kind of pairs. While as you write in the penultimate paragraph, the kind of mental state Islam preaches is - the one having satisfaction of the present state and at the same time striving for a better tomorrow. I guess the examples you cited kind of mislead towards a positive-negative arguement. Whereas, in my opinion and I am sure you agree with that, Islam doesnt have that ambiguity. If you could elaborate a bit more on the line of thought in the penultimate paragraph it could make your arguement more clear.
cheers!
Thanks for the intelligent critique. as I thought about it more, What i was trying to say is that there is a positive-negative kind of duality that exists in this world and my point had been how islam teaches us to cope with that duality. To change win-lose to win-win through the right outlook...
I changed my entry a little to clariy this point. Tell me if it does the trick.
Assalamaualaikum Api,
Wonderfully written article, If Hyderabad does this to people I should go there soon.. I read your article was very impressed and thought about it and don't think this as rebuttal this is my own two cents to this topic, even though I am the least qualified to do so. If you see it simply Aps, leaving aside religion for a moment from even an atheist point of view the whole reason behind a religion or way of life is to make this world a better place to live in, it is this life that is important, ppl usually say its the aakhirah that is more importnat, if the infinite aakhirah is dependent on a temporal life in this world then this life is more important its like if I said you I will observe you for 3 hour if you behave good I will make the next 60 years of life bliss for you, then the 3 hours are the important ones because your future of 60 years is dependent on them. The point I'm driving home is that how you live this life and contribute to society is what matters. quoting you "fid duniya hasanataun wa fil aqirati hasanataun (The best in this life, and the best in the after-life)" you see even Allah swt places the world before the hereafter because he knows the whole point is to make us better humans, in support of my heretical (as usual) point I would quote the best man to ever live on this earth "Abu Hurairah reported that a man asked: O Messenger of Allah! such and such a woman is reputed for such prayer, and fasting and alms- giving, but she offends her neighbors with her tongue. He said: She will go to Hell. He inquired: O Messenger of Allah! such and such a woman is reputed less for her fasting, alms- giving and prayer but she gives alms of the remainders of curds and she does not offend her neighbors by her tongue. He said: She will go to Paradise. (Narrated by Ahmed and Bayhaqi" Sahih Al-Bukhari..
If you look into this the huqooq al Ibad (i.e. the rights of tpeople) are stressed more than huqooq al allah, cos the first woman was very good to her Rub but not her neighbor, but the second was good to her Allah and her neighbor and she took it all.. I know I have digressed from the topic and stuff but I felt like sharing and posted in your blog..
"Agar firdous bar roo-e-zameen ast
hameen ast-o-hameen ast-o-hameen ast"
(If there be Paradise on Earth
This is it, this is it, this is it)
I’ve been thru the aforementioned phase and, I’ve been thru times wherein I’d look forward to Eids, Vacations, an Aamir movie, an Agassi match, etc., Once the event passes, I’m like “what’s next?”
Many a time the lead up to the event is more engrossing than the event itself.
Well, to set goals (short term or long term) & work to achieve em makes perfect sense in Project Management world. The feeling’s terrific too when the goals are met.
But, Life! Life’s different.
Thodi Khushi, Thode Gham, Bahut saari Khushi, Bahot saaray Gham. Dreams n reality, Moments of exhilaration, hope n despair. These are some of ‘terms of life’
Conjuring up fantasies/memories is something most people often do. Having is not so pleasing a thing as wanting, it is not logical but it is often true.....
We’re not really content with the bounties we’re blessed with until we somehow manage to loose em. Some by designs of destiny, some by our own follies.
How do we find contentment? Contentment - yes! Not Just success n happiness n togetherness n power n …………………………
coz, let’s face it Folks! there’s gonna be others aspects in life we need to come to terms with.
Much as we humans try, the only sure shot way of embracing the sinusoidal curves of life with glee is by consulting with the best SME there ever was/is/will be. Allah (SWT)
Alhamdulillah it dawned on me that every moment is special, it needs to be cherished. Allah is omnipresent. To make it our goal to please HIM would always keep us charged & would serve as an impetus to succeed here & in the hereafter.
Dream big but appreciate what’s in our kitty. Our endeavor should be to bridge the gap between our intentions/dreams & the actions/reality.
The more knowledge I gain, the addendum in wisdom enlightens me ‘Haila! how much less I know’ We can never ever be perfect. To strive to attain a position that gets us closer to Allah is what we should live for. We need to ask the right questions & search for the right answers & execute.
Allah has not created us but to worship him. Every single atom created is for a purpose. We (humans) are the chosen ones. Allah empowered us & we’re gonna be held accountable as to how we wield that power.
There are aberrations & there will be! Of course, the Devil is hell-bent to lead us astray & we’re prone to sinning. But Allah(SWT) tells us that the best amongst the sinners are those who repent & revert to Allah.
As regards the Huqooq ul ibaad & importance of Aakhirath & Dunya. I concur with Smarty :-)
Huqooq-Ul-Ibaad --> Compassion is mandatory. Respect & understanding of other's feelings, thought-process has to be demonstrated. It's not a given that people agree all the time. If 2 people are equally right & have contrasting opinions, that scenario presents a tricky situation. A Muslim is one who is humble but one who does not compromise on cardinal protocols of Islam. There are rights that one person has over the other & vice versa that Allaah has decreed. Since a Muslim's aim is to please Allaah, his/her effort has to be geared towards that.
The bottom line is: "How could we lead a good life whilst pleasing Allaah in order to be rewarded with an excellent hereafter"
Mashallah we're blessed, in that ISLAM encompasses the best of guidelines that any culture can stake a claim towards.
Hamz – You’re right. There’s no ambiguity in Islam.
Here n Hereafter --> This is the One & only chance we get. It’s quintessential that we make good use of it whilst we’re alive n well coz we know not when the appointed time will be upon us & we’re to do the honors by kicking the bucket & bringing the curtain down.
What we need to be cognizant of when it’s stated that Aakhirath is more important than Duniya, is the fact that we ought not to prefer the comforts of this world over the privileges in the hereafter. We ought not to jeopardize our chances in the aakhirath in our quest to excel in this dunya. It by means alludes that we refrain from enjoying the bliss Allah has granted us with. It in fact behoves us to be the best we can be. But then the trick is to not lose sight of the GOAL & that is to behave in a manner that pleases Allaah.
How sucessful shall we be? What’s our score? What shall earn us Jannah? Allah o Aalam.
Our beloved Prophet(S) stated that no one can earn Jannah by his/her own deeds, it’s only by Allah’s mercy that we can attain Jannah.
Hadhrat Umar (RA) stated that if he were to find his life book balanced on Yaum-ul-Qayamah, He’d be happy. I shudder to imagine what my book will look like.
Hadhrat Ali stated that we need to work to be in situation/place/state where Allah expects us to be & not in situation/place/state where Allah does NOT expect us to be in. That’s Taqwa.
We know of a wanton woman rewarded Jannah for quenching a dog’s thirst whilst a Pious lady who curtailed a cat’s freedom by incarceration was banished to Hell.
Whilst He (S) was amongst the companions, Our beloved Prophet (SAWS) pointed to one of his companions & declared that he was destined to enter jannah. One of the other companions was curious to find out as to what might’ve earned his fellow momin that honor. His inquisitiveness landed him at the future Jannati’s abode. He requested for & obtained a chance to spend his time with him. After observing him for 3 days he couldn’t find anything extraordinary his brother did that would warrant the special status & questioned him as to what he does that prompted our Prophet (SAW) to recognize him as a jannati. The future jannati was most humble & stated that one thing he always did before calling it a day was a reckoning exercise. He accounted for all his actions he executed during the day & went to bed on a clean state. He held no rancor towards others. Subhanallah!
Sounds simple. Isn’t it? But trust me, easier said than done.
We know of Martyrs & Scholars being banished to Jahannum as their show-off acts were to earn extolment in this dunya. We know of unfortunate ones who were banished to hell as they had arrogance embedded in their hearts.
A woman who is pious & pleases her husband is promised Jannah. A Father who brings up 2 daughters & marries them off in accordance with Allah’s commands is promised Jannah.
So what is it that can place us in good stead in the Aakhirath? It cannot be a rhetorical question.
Aqeedah & Taqwa are very important tools in our quest to please Allah.
Alhamdulillah one thing that has been very reassuring since the days Allah blessed me with reasoning (Jabsay Hosh sambhala hai!) is the following understanding;
A mother’s love for her child is unfathomable. Allah loves us 70 times more. Imagine Allah’s love for HIS abd. Subhanallah!
Allah is most just. If He (SWT) is Rahman o Raheem then He(SWT) is also the ‘Muntaqim’ The One and Only One who has the right to exact vengeance.
Our beloved Prophet (SAWS) sought refuge in Allah from Allah’s anger. We ought not to forget that & abstain from things that could potentially displease our Creator.
Hadhrat Umar (RA) balanced the love & fear of Allah impeccably.
Folks, these thoughts may seem too idealistic but my contention is, Allaah has stated that we should ‘Aim for the best, Ask HIM for big favors, Give it our best shot, Have Faith. Granted dreams don't always come true, things don't always go according to set plans but why be pessimistic about it, Strive for it, Allaah will definitely reward us for that. Yahaan nahi to Wahaan Sahi!
We also need to be in tune with reality wherein alongside the idealistic thoughts, we seem to have our own whims & desires. It's acceptable that we have weaknesses, what's unacceptable is not doing anything to overcome that especially if there are resources & avenues to do it.
It's important for us to use our discretion in adapting to good things we've not been enlightened about & eliminating not so good things which we could've been unfortunately growing up with.
May Allah bless us all with an exquisite life & a dwelling in Jannath-ul-Firdous. Amen.
Nada – Jazaakallah for stimulating the ‘Search for Answers’! That’s what we’re here for Roight??? We need to ask the right questions & search for the right answers & execute for the next n years in order to please Allah & hopefully earn eternal bliss!!!.
Where were you when I was in college?
Assalamualaikum Nada,
A very impressive & thought -provoking piece .& the masha'allah you always raise the bar that you set with previous write-ups.
More power to you !!
Maimoona
Assalamualaykum warahmatullah,
You are truly blessed. You write beautifully. One of the best blogs or probably the best I've ever read. Quite a few of your pieces are beautifully painful..
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