GOALS  

by Dr Ahmed Adam

INTRODUCTION

          S2V156 : “To Allah we belong, and to Him is our return”

 The above verse beautifully encapsulates the simple yet voluminous answer to the question “what is the meaning of life?” that has plagued non-Muslim philosophers  for centuries. The verse gives meaning to our day-to-day existence in this world and thus simultaneously gives us direction , comfort , solace ,  anticipation , hope , courage and fear .

 We usually utter the above verse during times of difficulty or when we are informed that someone has died. However , life is such that we usually get into our daily routines fairly quickly and it is seldom that we take the time to ponder about our existence or about our life in this world. We take life as it comes.  Furthermore , studies have shown that the  majority of people fail to set any type of goals in their life and hence drift through the oceans of life like a raft on an uncharted stormy sea.

 However , all of us ,at some stage of our life , have  set mini goals for ourselves called ‘new year” resolutions . The reason for setting these goals is mainly because  of the media coverage and because it is ‘fashionable’ to set ‘new year’ resolutions. Furthermore , we write down ‘new year’ resolutions because we  have a feeling that we  are lacking in some area of our life that we know that we should change , for example , we set a goal to lose weight or earn more money   or stop smoking. However , we find that soon after making these ‘promises ‘ to ourselves , we either forget about these goals , or we find that we simply do not have the time to carry them out , or sometimes , we simply forget . Another year passes , and history repeats itself at the beginning of another year , and we once again set out to make a list of ‘new year’ resolutions or goals that we would like to accomplish in the coming year. But how many of us really accomplish our goals ? How many of us really take the time to plan our goals ? How many of us really know  which goals are important ?

THE JOURNEY 

When we plan a long awaited overseas holiday  or even a weekend trip, we usually go through much planning regarding every stage of  the trip ( eg tickets , itinerary , baggage etc) .However , even though we plan a holiday in such detail , it is ironic that we sometimes don’t take the time to plan our life or even our journey to the Hereafter. We all know that someday we will all die. We all know that there is no escaping death. We all know that our life in this world is only a few seconds compared to the life in the grave and in the Hereafter. Yet , we do not take the time to plan for that journey. We live day in and day out , getting into a rut or a routine , where one day is no different from the next.  Our journeys in this world are full of detailed planning and answers , yet our main journey , the most important journey of our life , is left to chance . The following table illustrates that we  have more answers when it comes to  planning a holiday then we do in planning our life.

IMPORTANCE OF SETTING GOALS

 A life without a plan is a plan for failure . People who do not set goals, drift aimlessly in life , from one day to the next , not really knowing where they are going and not knowing if they have arrived. Setting goals is important since it gives direction , meaning and purpose to our life. Goals can be long term, medium term and short term. Ultimately , the short term and medium term goals must link up to the long term goals so that there is harmony and direction in our daily activities. The majority of people do not set goals for their life. This is a real pity since it is only by setting goals that we can unlock the tremendous potential that lays lurking within each of us. We will never know what we are capable of achieving if we do not set high enough goals for ourselves.

LEADING A BALANCED LIFE 

If we agree that goal setting is important , the next obstacle to overcome is which goals are  important . The majority of people only set financial goals. This type of thinking is ingrained in us from the time that we are in school. The only thing that matters is what career path we will choose and how much money we will earn so that we can buy all the luxuries of life and we can then be ‘independent.” Some  people only set religious goals , others set only sporting goals ,  while other people do not set any goals at all . In our quest to find answers to a meaningful existence in life we obtain guidance from  the Quran and from the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (SAW). Islam is a way of life. This  means that  we should follow the “golden middle path” in everything that we do and we should not become extremists . If we set ourselves a goal that we want to do as much good as possible and pray as much as possible  so that we can prepare for the Hereafter , then this is allowed provided that we do not harm either ourselves or anyone else in the process, as instructed by the Holy Prophet (SAW) :

 Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 8.155 narrated by Abdullah bin Amr (RA)

 Allah’s Apostle (SAW) said : “ Have I not been informed that you offer prayer all the night and fast the whole day ? I said ,”yes.” He(SAW) said , “ Do not do so ; offer prayer at night and also sleep ; fast for a few days and give up fasting for a few days because your body has a right on you, and your eye has a right on you , and your guest has a right on you, and your wife has a right on you…”

 That is , our life must be in balance. There is no reward in activities that are pursued so excessively to the detriment of another part of our life. This Glorious example of the Holy Prophet (SAW) gives us clear guidelines on leading our life : ie a balanced life is a harmonious life. A balanced life is the way of Islam. Islam teaches us not to be extremists : ie neither do too little nor do too much , but follow the Golden Balance. Furthermore , our life comprises many dimensions and we should strive to seek a balance between all these various facets of our life. When setting goals for ourselves , we should not only focus on financial goals even though these goals may seem like a high priority to us , especially when the economy is down and the outlook looks gloomy. We should not pursue this goal to the detriment of other goals in our life. On the other hand , we should not become so obsessed about another goal , for example , spending an excessive amount of time on developing the physical goal to the detriment of financial goals. There should be harmony and balance between all of the following goals :

 (a) Financial Goals

(b) Religious Goals

( c) Intellectual Goals

(d) Social Goals

(e) Family Goals

(f) Personal Goals

(g) Philanthropic Goals

(h) Physical goals

Each person is a unique individual , and as such , each person decides ultimately what is important for them.

FOCUS IS THE KEY

The successful achievement of any endeavour , any goal or any objective is solely dependant on one word : Focus. Without clarity of focus , you have a vague outcome. To achieve any goal , you must have a very clear mental picture of your goal (visualization) . If you need to take a photo of someone , and if the camera is not focused , you obtain a blurred picture which you discard. Similarly , in life , if the goal is not crystal clear and focused , one’s whole life becomes wishy-washy. If you pursue too many goals simultaneously , once again you lose focus , becoming the proverbial ‘Jack of all trades , master of none.” Islam has given us the key to our success in this world and in the Hereafter , namely Focus. Five times a day , the call to prayer is announced and the faithful face the Kiblah. The Kiblah gives direction. The Kiblah gives focus. The Kiblah serves as a daily reminder for our Final Goal. Furthermore , when we die , we are buried facing the Kiblah. The Kiblah serves as  our focus in this world and during our thousands (or millions ) of years in the Barzakh (grave) before our Day of Accountability. All thanks are due to Allah (SWT) , Most Gracious , Most Merciful, for giving us the wonderful gift of the Kiblah , to serve as a laser point , precise focus of direction for all Muslims throughout the world , so that we do not forget why we are here and we do not forget  our Final Destination .

WHICH GOALS SHOULD WE PURSUE ?

If humanity was left to their own devices , there would be disharmony and chaos. However , Allah (SWT) , Most Gracious , Most Merciful , has given us clear Guidance in the Quran and through the Sunnah of the Prophet (SAW) . Without His Guidance , we would surely be lost in the abyss of darkness. If we decide to set certain goals for ourselves , our natural temptation would be to compete with our neighbours , or what we see on TV or read in the fashion magazines . We would assume that these goals are worthy  challenges . However , Allah (SWT)  , Most Gracious , Most Merciful, Most Compassionate , gives us the following Clear Guidance :

S6V164 : Your goal in the end is towards Allah.

S42V15 : Allah will bring us together, and to Him is (our) final goal.

S40V3 : …There is no god but He : to Him is the Final Goal

S53V42 : ..to thy Lord is the Final Goal;

The above verses clearly indicate that our final goal is to Allah (SWT). No matter how we live in this world , no matter  how many goals we pursue , the final and most important goal is to Allah (SWT). We are guaranteed that there will be a Day of Accountability , where all our actions and deeds will be Judged by the Master of the Day of Judgement. It therefore follows logically , that whatever we do , all our goals should be linked to the Final Goal . This means that a Muslim sets goals for himself/herself that are in harmony with our accountability in the Hereafter. A Muslim cannot set goals that will satisfy the latest fashion trends or what is seen on the Delusion Box (TV). 

GOAL SETTING

For sake of brevity , only the key concepts in the following goals are discussed. Please refer to future articles where some of these goals will be discussed in greater depth , Insha-Allah.  Each person decides how much emphasis they would like to place on some goals rather than on others. We should refrain from measuring ‘success’ in terms of the ‘western’ notion that “success is how much money you have “. Islam encourages us to have a balanced life and it is good deeds that define success. Thus , a ‘poor ‘ person in this world , may be more ‘successful’ in the Hereafter , compared to a  ‘rich’ person. We should therefore refrain from judging people only on their appearances. Allah (SWT) Knows Best.

Sahih Bukhari hadith 8.456 narrated by Imran bin Husain (RA)

The Prophet (SAW) said, “ I looked into Paradise and found that the majority of its dwellers were the poor people…”

(1)             FINANCIAL GOALS

An unbeliever has only one main objective in life : earn as much money as possible and enjoy the comforts and material possessions of this world and hoard as much money as possible. It is a selfish existence .For an un-believer , it is not important how the money has been obtained : whether honestly or through stealing , robbery , corruption, dealing in drugs , gambling or lottery. However , a Muslim views money as a trust from Allah (SWT), for he knows that each and every person will be accountable to Allah (SWT) on the Day of Judgement on two crucial questions pertaining to money :

How did you earn it ?                                How did you spend it ?

Different people have different views on acquiring money . Some people are satisfied and content with what they have , while others would like to be as productive as possible .It depends on how much emphasis & time each person wants to allocate to this goal. There is no harm in setting a goal to acquire as much wealth as possible , provided that the method is halaal (and it thus becomes a form of worship) and provided that the money that is acquired is not hoarded , but is used productively as stated in the following hadith :

Sahih Bukhari hadith 4.95 Narrated by Abu Said Al Khudri (RA)

The Prophet (SAW) said ,” How excellent the wealth of the Muslim is , if it is collected through legal means and is spent in Allah’s cause and on orphans , poor people and travelers. But he who does not take it legally is like an eater who is never satisfied and his wealth will be a witness against him on the Day of Resurrection.”

The trappings of material possessions are like a sticky web. The more one has , the more one desires . The accumulation of material possessions for show or for competing with ‘others’ is a non-productive use of money  and becomes a burden for the soul.

Allah (SWT) warns  the believer not to get tempted by the allurements of this world  :

S3V14 : fair in the eyes of men is the love of things they covet : women & sons ; heaped-up hoards of gold and silver ; horses branded (for blood and excellence) ; and (wealth of) cattle and well-tilled land. Such are the possessions of this world’s life ; but in nearness to Allah is the best of the goals (to return to).

S3V185 : …the life of this world is but goods and chattels of deception.

S18V46 : Wealth and sons are allurements of the life of this world ; but the things that endure , good deeds , are best in the sight of thy Lord , as rewards, and best as (the foundation for ) hopes.

Furthermore , those people who have been blessed with wealth , should not abuse the wealth that Allah (SWT) has given him :

S63V9 :O ye who believe ! Let not your riches or your children divert you from the remembrance of Allah. If any act thus , the loss is their own.

Sahih Bukhari hadith 3.591 narrated by Al Mughira (RA)

The Prophet (SAW) said ,” …Allah has hated for you ….to waste wealth (by extravagance) …”

Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4.385 Narrated by Amr bin Auf Al Ansari (RA)

The Prophet (SAW) said , “ By Allah, I am not afraid of your poverty but I am afraid that you will lead a life of luxury as past nations did, whereupon you will compete with each other for it, as they competed for it, and it will destroy you as it destroyed them.”

Finally , all sustenance comes from Allah (SWT) :

S34 V36 : “ Verily my Lord enlarges and restricts the provision to whom He pleases , but most men understand not.”

Our wealth is a trial from Allah (SWT).The more wealth that is entrusted to us by Allah (SWT) the longer will be our time for questioning on the Day of Accountability. We have to use halaal methods of acquiring this wealth. However ,using Halaal methods does not mean that we will become overnight millionaires . Allah (SWT) Blesses some people with increased sustenance and he  tests some of us by restricting our sustenance . When we are being tested , we should not be impatient or tempted by Shaytaan , the Chief Whisperer , because if we start using haraam sources of income , then we have already failed the test. Yet , unfortunately , there are some people who want to acquire wealth at any cost , irrespective of who they harm in the process or which method they use :

S100V8 : …violent is he in his love of wealth.

For a Muslim , therefore , to set a Financial Goal is important , provided that the Final Goal to Allah (SWT) , and our accountability to Him , are  kept in mind at all times. It is for this reason that some people choose to follow the Glorious example of the Prophet (SAW) by leading a simple life and not to be deluded by the material possessions of this world.

(2)             PHYSICAL & PERSONAL GOALS

For a Muslim , these goals must also be set in conjunction with the Final Goal. In this context , a Muslim views his body as a trust from Allah (SWT) and hence safeguards his body , exercises his body and nourishes his body so that he knows that when his body is returned to the soil from which it was created , the body has not been intentionally damaged or harmed in any way. It is ironic that we pay more attention to looking after our motor cars (checking oil, water , unleaded fuel , regular servicing , etc) then we do looking after our marvelous and incredible bodies . An unbeliever however , views his body as his own ; if he exercises or loses weight , he does it out of vanity to be fashionable  ; if he indulges his body with wine and drugs , he does not care , because the unbelievers view is “it is my body and I can do what I like.” However , the viewpoint of the Muslim is “this body belongs to Allah (SWT) and I am duty-bound to look after it.” Hence , we find the following :

(1)   when a Muslim sets a goal to lose weight , it is with the intention to please Allah (SWT) by keeping his body in a healthy  physical condition

(2)   a Muslim does not abuse his body or damage his organs  with alcohol , tobacco , drugs or haraam food , because he knows that his body will be a witness against his soul on the Day of Judgement.

(3)   a Muslim is eternally grateful to Allah (SWT) for his/her body and is not swayed by the latest media obsession with slim bodies , size or shape or skin colour , for Allah (SWT) says :

S64V3 : He has created the heavens and the earth in just proportions , and has given you shape , and made your shapes beautiful : and to Him is the final Goal 

This verse gives tremendous boost to the self esteem & body image of every Muslim. We get an immediate sense of relief and satisfaction after reading this verse , since we have the assurance that Allah (SWT) has made each and everyone of us beautiful.  Even if we ever had the doubt that maybe our size or shape or skin colour is not to our satisfaction , when we read this verse , all doubts disappear and when we look in the mirror or when we look at any other human , we express thanks to Allah (SWT). Allah (SWT) is the Best of Planners . He knows exactly why He has given us our individual size , shape and colour.

For a Muslim therefore , setting Physical Goals are important , but they are set in conjunction with our Final Goal.

(4)  PHILANTHROPIC & SOCIAL GOALS

An unbelievers view is based on selfish motives. An unbeliever is of the opinion that poor people &  oppressed people deserve what they get. In contrast , a Muslim takes guidance from the numerous verses in the Holy Quran and from the numerous glorious examples of the Prophet (SAW). In Islam , acts of charity are encouraged , and in fact made compulsory (eg Zakaat) for each and every Muslim as shown by the following :

 S3V92 : By no means shall ye attain righteousness unless ye give (freely) of that which you love

S30V38 : So give what is due to kindred , the needy , and the wayfarer. That is best for those who seek the Countenance of Allah , and it is they who will prosper.

S31V4 & V5 : Those who establish regular prayer , and give regular charity , and have (in their hearts) the assurance of the Hereafter. These are on (true) Guidance from their Lord ; and these are the ones who will prosper

Sahih Bukhari Hadith 8.452 narrated by Abu Huraira (RA)

Allah’s Apostle (SAW) said , “ If I had gold equal to the mountain of Uhud , it would not please me that  anything of it should remain with me after three nights (ie I would spend all of it in Allah’s cause) except what I would keep for repaying debts.

Sahih Bukhari Hadith 2.498 , narrated by Adi bin Hatim (RA)

The Prophet (SAW) said “ save yourself from hell-fire even by giving half a date-fruit in charity.”

Islam is in essence , a way of life. This means that a Muslim’s duty is not only to pray the prescribed formal prayers (which are very important ) but also to reach out to the community and to humanity . Islam cares about the social welfare of society and it is the duty of the Muslim to uplift society & not to do anything that will  harm  individuals and society.Thus , the Social & Philanthropic Goals of Muslims are taken into context with our responsibility to our fellow humans while we are here on earth , and also being aware of our Final Goal.

(5)  RELIGIOUS & SPIRITUAL GOALS

An unbeliever has the mis-informed view that this life is all there is and that there is no accountability – ie if they can fool the legal system , then they are safe . Furthermore , some unbelievers are misguided , because of their unfortunate error in believing that they are already ‘saved’ because the Prophet Jesus (Peace be upon him) (Nabi Eesaa Alayhis Salaam) died for their sins. In contrast , Muslims believe in the accountability of the Hereafter . Each person is responsible for his/her actions .A Muslim knows that even if the earthly legal system is fooled in any way , there is a Day of Judgement , where the Judge on that Day will be Allah (SWT) –  on that Day , will no soul be treated unjustly, nor will anything be hidden. A Muslim therefore strives to attain nearness to Allah (SWT) by following the 5 basic pillars , namely

(a)  I bear witness that there is no god  worthy of Worship except Allah and I bear witness that Mohamed (SAW) is the true and final Messenger of Allah

Sahih Bukhari Hadith 1.98 Narrated by Abu Huraira (RA)

Allah’s Apostle (SAW) said ,” …The luckiest person who will have my intercession on the Day of Resurrection will be the one who said sincerely from the bottom of his heart “None has the right to be worshipped but Allah.”

(b) Salaah

(c) Fasting in Ramadaan

(d) Zakaat

(e)  Hajj

A Muslim thereby sets goals for these duties . Furthermore , a Muslim knows that without a goal , nothing can be established. For example , many Muslims have completed their hajj , simply by making a sincere intention (Goal) , and kept focusing on this goal , and Allah (SWT) accepted their prayers and made it possible for them to perform Hajj. 

S3V97 : pilgrimage thereto is a duty men owe to Allah ,those who can afford the journey

A Muslim pays as much attention to the Religious goals , as he does to other areas of his/her life . In fact , without a very strong religious goal , which includes striving in the path of spiritual enlightenment , the other goals have  no meaning. The religious goal forms the central core that links all the other goals and gives meaning to our life. Hence ,  the religious goal and remembrance of Allah (SWT) play  a very crucial role in the life of a Muslim :

S13V28 :…without doubt in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find satisfaction

S29V45 :…remembrance of Allah is the greatest (thing in life) without doubt

S58V13 : establish regular prayer; practice regular charity ; and obey Allah and His Apostle

 A Muslim who is a passionate philanthropist , but neglects all his Fard religious  duties , is no different from a non-Muslim philanthropist. On the other hand , a Muslim cannot only focus on these five pillars to the exclusion of all other areas of his/her life.  A Muslim therefore maintains balance in all areas of his life and he sets his Religious Goals in Harmony with his Accountability to the Final Goal.

(6)  FAMILY GOALS

Some unbelievers view their parents as a burden and send them to old age homes. Furthermore , some unbelievers treat their spouses very harshly and are  quick to divorce and assault their wives . However a Muslims sets goals for his family and his wife based on the following guidance

S29V8 : We have enjoined on men kindness to parents

S31V14 : “Show gratitude to Me and to thy parents : to Me is (thy final) Goal

Sahih Bukhari Hadith 3.591 Narrated by Al Mughira bin Shuba (RA)

The Prophet (SAW) said ,” Allah has forbidden for you…, to be undutiful to your mothers…

Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4.248  narrated by Abdullah bin Amr (RA)

A man came to the Prophet (SAW) asking his permission to take part in Jihad. The Prophet (SAW) asked him, “are your parents alive ? “  he replied in the affirmative . The Prophet (SAW) said to him, “Then exert yourself in their service.”

A Muslim’s goal is therefore to have the highest respect for his/her parents. A Muslim does not send his parents to the old age home , but sees it as an honour and a jihad to look after his parents. Furthermore , those Muslims who have lost their parents beseech Allah (SWT) to be Kind and Merciful to their parents and pray that they should attain Jannat-al-Firdous

S17V24 :…” My Lord ! Bestow on them Thy Mercy even as they cherished me in childhood.”

A Muslim cherishes and looks after his wife , according to the following Guidance :

S30V21 : And among His Signs is this, that He created for you mates from among yourselves , that ye may dwell in tranquility  with them, and He has put love and mercy between your (hearts)

And

  Sahih Bukhari Hadith 7.114  Narrated by Abu Hurairah (RA)

The Prophet (SAW) said,” .. I advise you to take care of the women”

A Muslim therefore strives to look after his parents and also strives to lead a marital life that is harmonious . The Familial Goal is therefore set in conjunction with our Final Goal.

(7)  INTELLECTUAL GOALS

Muslims (male and female , young and old) are encouraged to seek knowledge . Knowledge is the most powerful weapon that we have against adversities and foes. Knowledge eradicates poverty and oppression. Muslims are encouraged to seek all forms of knowledge , both religious and secular , provided that the secular knowledge is pursued with the intention of benefiting society and humanity. Muslims should be at the forefront of all technological advances , and the passionate zeal for the acquisition and sharing of knowledge should be instilled in the Muslim youth from a young age. Furthermore , knowledge of the Quran and the Sunnah should be shared with others according to the following guidance :

Sahih Bukhari Hadith 2.490 Narrated by Ibn masud (RA)

I heard the Prophet (SAW) saying , “ there is no envy except in two : a person whom Allah has given wealth and he spends it in the right way  , and a person whom Allah has given wisdom (ie religious knowledge) and he gives his decisions accordingly and teaches it to others.”

Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4.667 narrated by Abdullah bin Amr (RA)

The Prophet (SAW) said , “ Convey (my teachings) to the people even if it were a single sentence.”

A Muslim therefore sets his Intellectual Goal in harmony with his accountability in the Hereafter.

ACTION PLAN

(1)   we should all have goals in life ; we should not lead this life without purpose ; there is a reason why Allah (SWT) has put us here on earth ; there is a reason why Allah (SWT) has placed us in this community and has given us our shapes , intellect and individual skills ; we are all unique ; one person is not better than another person . We have to look for our skills and explore the potentials that Allah (SWT) has given us .

S2V148 : To each is a goal to which Allah turns him ; then strive together (as in a race) toward all that is good

(2)   often we only focus on financial success to the detriment of the other spheres in our life ; we must strive to achieve harmony and balance in our life

(3)   it is crucial to have a clearly defined set of objectives for each goal

(4)   all Goals must ultimately link up with the Final Goal to Allah (SWT)

(5)   the path towards a particular goal should be  taken in the context of the Holy Quran & the Sunnah of the Prophet (SAW). Allah (SWT) gives us Hope and Assurance when He says :

S2V25 : But give glad tidings to those who believe & work righteousness

(6)   We should avoid following the goals that are projected by the media or Hollywood stars ; our Final Goal is to Allah (SWT) and we should never lose sight of this very crucial fact ;  We should not concern ourselves with how much money or material possessions other people appear to have :

S20V131 : Nor strain thine eyes in longing for the things We have given for enjoyment to parties of them, the splendour of the life of this world , through which We test them : but the provision of thy Lord is better and more enduring.

(7)   There are several techniques that one can use to  succeed in setting  goals :

(a)  write down the objectives for each category of Goal

(b) visualize the  goal

(c )write down a starting date and deadline for the  goal

(d) have a step-by-step action plan specifically outlining how you will achieve your goal

(e)  Start today – do not wait for a ‘new year’ ; each day is a new beginning

(f)   persevere and don’t lose focus

CONCLUSION

Material possessions can always (most of the time) be replaced. If you buy a car and subsequently you don’t like it , you can always change it. If you bake a cake and it flops , you can always bake another cake. However , we only get one chance for our life. If we neglect our life , we do not get a second chance to come back and correct our mistakes. The only way to ensure that we will not lead a life of regrets is to have goals that are in harmony with the Quran & the Sunnah.. Goal setting is crucial. However , setting the goal does not mean that the goal will be achieved. This will require hard work, discipline , focus , persistence and patience. Furthermore , we obtain great comfort in knowing that as long as we have tried and even if we do not achieve our goal , but provided that our intentions are noble , then Insha-Allah , we will get rewarded as stated in the following Hadith :

Sahih Bukhari , Hadith 9.85 Narrated by Umar bin Al Khattab (RA)

The Prophet (SAW) said, “O people ! The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions.”

However , the best plans and goals , the most noble intentions and dreams , come to nothing unless they are put into action. Then only will we see results as stated as follows :

S13V11 : Verily , never will Allah change the condition of a people until they change it themselves (with their own souls)

We have to make the effort. We have to take the first step towards our goals and we have to place our trust and hope in Allah (SWT).We have to strive and persevere if we ever hope to achieve any of our goals.  Allah (SWT) gives us tremendous Courage and Hope when He says :

S3V30 :…And Allah is full of Kindness to those that serve Him

S3V139 :  So lose not heart nor fall into despair

S47V11 :  ..Allah is the Protector of those who believe

Our life in this world is only temporary . We are travelers , Pilgrims of Eternity , Souls in a temporary physical body . The earth is not our home as stated in the following :

Sahih Bukhari Hadith 8.425 Narrated by Mujahid (RA)

Abdullah bin Umar (RA) said ,” Allah’s Apostle took hold of my shoulder and said, ‘ Be in this world as if you were a stranger or a traveler.’

And if we persevere in our goals , and do not lose our focus , and do not allow the illusory temptations of this temporary earthly world to distract us from the Straight Path , then Insha-Allah , we will find success in our Final Home as stated as follows :

S13V24 : “Peace unto you that ye persevered in patience ! Now how excellent is the final Home!”

We catch a glimpse of the excellence of the Final Home from the following :

Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4.51 Narrated by Abu Huraira (RA)

The Prophet (SAW) said ,” A place in Paradise as small as a bow is better than all that on which the sun rises and sets (ie all the world).” He also said , “ A single endeavour in Allah’s cause in the afternoon or in the forenoon is better than all on which the sun rises and sets.”

And

Sahih Bukhari Hadith 6.302 Narrated by Abu Huraira (RA)

Allah’s Apostle (SAW) said, “ Allah said , “ I have prepared for my pious worshipers such things as no eye has ever seen, no ear has ever heard of , and nobody has ever thought of.”

May Allah (SWT) Guide us to the Straight Path. May Allah (SWT) give us the Strength and Endurance to Strive in His Path. May Allah (SWT) accept our deeds. May Allah (SWT) shower His Choicest Blessings on the Holy Prophet  Mohamed (SAW) for showing us that it  was only through his single-minded focus on one major goal to spread the True  word of Allah (SWT) , that the message of Islam spread. Neither suffering nor hardships , neither the offer of riches nor kingdoms swayed him from his mission. May we also learn from this Glorious example and may we focus only on those goals that will earn the Pleasure of Allah (SWT).May Allah (SWT) , Most Gracious , Most Merciful , be Kind and Merciful to us on the Day of Accountability. “Our Lord! Give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and defend us from the torment of the fire” (S2V201). 

Ameen.

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