A wee reminder from the weekend. Aim for the stars people! Allah says in the Quran, chapter 8 verse 45, “O you who have believed, when you encounter a company [from enemy forces], stand firm and remember Allah much that you may be successful.” In the context of this verse in the Quran, it is most probably speaking about the enemy encountered on the battlefield. However for us, in our lives, this verse has a far wider application. Sometimes we ourselves can be our own worst enemy. When we try to do something, we often put obstacles in our own way our own selves. We tell ourselves things like: “Oh no I can’t do that” “Hmm, I’m not capable” “I’m not pretty enough” “They won’t listen to me” “I’m just one person, what can I do?” We put doubt in our own minds about our own ability to do things. I myself am very guilty of doing this. I keep saying things like, “I’m just being realistic.” One of my good friends once said to me that she finds this phrase of mine really annoying. As a Muslim should I be realistic, think the worst and just give up? Or should I aim high, do what I can, reach for the stars and believe that Allah will bless me with the success that I seek? Let’s look at that concept of being realistic in our history. Many people in the past have faced an enemy of some description but they have just remembered Allah, aimed high and got on with it. Here are five examples from our history – 1. Asiyah the wife of Pharoah was married to the biggest tyrant on the planet. He was quite probably the most evil man who ever lived. He was a man who claimed to be god. She was effectively married to her biggest enemy. Did she let this get in the way of her belief, in the way of her conviction, in the way of aiming for her house in paradise? No. She remembered Allah and just got on with life to the best of her ability. Now she’s promised paradise. If she was being realistic, what would her attitude have been? If she was being realistic, would she have achieved that place in paradise? 2. Musa, a chap with a stutter. He was being told to face the most powerful man on the planet. He was told to go and tell this man that there is only one God, a concept which would obviously be met with vigorous opposition. If he had been realistic would he have led Bani Israel, a nation accustomed to slavery for generations, to freedom? Absolutely not. But he put his faith in Allah, he did things to the best of his ability and remembered Allah, asking Allah to bless him with success. 3. The wife of Imran wanted to dedicate her child to the service of Allah. At the time it was only men who were dedicated in this way. Allah gave her a daughter. Did she wail and say, “Why God why?” Did she think realistically and worry about what society would think? Or did she remember Allah and do what she intended to do? Allah blessed her with Maryam, one of greatest women to have lived. 4. Hajar, the wife of Ibrahim. She was left with her child in the middle of nowhere. No water. No vegetation. No sign of any life. If she was being realistic she would have freaked out. She would have fired questions at the Prophet Ibrahim. She would have shouted at him for doing something so seemingly bizarre. But no, she remembered Allah abundantly and just got on with it. Now look at the place where she was left. Allah turned the place she was left into the busiest place in the world. She didn’t listen to her own self, her common sense. She remembered Allah and got on with it. 5. A humble wee guy. He was someone who didn’t know how to read or write. He had never had a formal education. He wasn’t particularly rich. He wasn’t from the expected lineage. Yet what has he managed to do? He (peace and blessings be upon him) has changed the face of the planet. He (peace and blessings be upon him) has one billion followers around the world. Where would we be if he had said no, I’m not worthy? Where would we be if he had said, “No, I can’t do that”, or, “No I’m just one person” or, “No, no one will ever listen to me. He (peace and blessings be upon him) faced all his trials and tribulations remembering Allah and the Hereafter. He (peace and blessings be upon him) did just what we should be doing. We should be aiming high but while we’re aiming high we must remember Allah. We face our demons and while we’re facing them, remember Allah. To apply this in a practical way, the first step is to identify what our goals are, short term goals and long term goals. We should think very carefully about what we need to do both physically and mentally to achieve our goals. Then we need to think about the obstacles in our way. Write them down and ask Allah to remove them. Ultimately remember Allah. Remember Allah, remember Allah, remember Allah. Remember Allah and insha’Allah we will be successful in achieving our goals, in reaching for the stars.
Posted on: Wed, 08 Oct 2014 08:43:59 +0000
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