Nafsiya Reflections: This Race

Welcome to another episode of Nafsiya Reflections - This Race

We set goals. We set goals with the intent to change our lives, to improve our lives, to be productive. To be the vision we want to see in ourselves. We strive, whole hardheartedly. And give it all we have. We write it all down, get all the foods we need to help us eat healthier, we get that sports gear, or go to work with our heads up high, saying this “This year I am going to change my life!”. We start a new business, or new partnerships. We vow to ourselves to change our ways. That this year will be different. Or we simply look at this time of year as a new slate. A new canvas, to start fresh.

We become so motivated! So inspired, and somehow we begin slipping. We are out of our comfort zone. That bag of potato chips suddenly looks really good or our partner suddenly decides to change the original business plan, or we just don’t seem to see the outcome we wanted so intently. We start losing control of the thoughts and plans we had, or just losing control of something we couldn’t control in the first place. We come to the realization that, it was never possible (or at least that is what we tell ourselves).

“You are such a failure! Always failing! Can’t you do anything right?!!” we tell ourselves.

“How could you believe you could do this!”

“Yeah... yeah... yeah... just like always”

“Ukkhh... You are an embarrassment once again...”

We lose hope. We give up. Only to start again “next year”. We are let down, we believe we let ourselves down. That we didn’t have it in us. That we aren’t and never will be what we want to be. That what we thought to begin with was impossible. How stupid of us was it to even think we could do it. “How did I think I can do this... I wasn’t made for this...” We fall into stress, anxiety, and depression. Loneliness... for no one can understand what we have been through. We can’t win in this race... we aren’t even in the race it seems!

See, but what if... we were looking at the wrong race? What if there is a race out there that, no one can technically lose, if they try. That the only ones that lose... are the ones that don’t join? A race where everyone wins!

What if... we looked at the EXACT goals we had set, differently? Would we feel different? Would it change our outcome?

See, if we change the way we see our goals, or evaluate the most important goal, everything we just talked about could change.

See, as believers... as Muslims... our goal is already set. We might have just put it on the back shelf for a while, forgetting it was there. Forgetting that it is the one dream, the one goal, that puts all the rest of our goals in perspective. The one goal that always lifts our heads up... and only puts them down in humility. The ultimate goal. The Rida of Allah (swt). The Pleasure of Allah (swt).

Suddenly, everything is put in perspective. Suddenly, all the other goals seem insufficient, inadequate, unfulfilling. For that major goal, is the only one that will have the biggest outcome, that goal is the only one that will keep you on the track to achieving the “impossible”. Or, show you something much better than what you wanted to begin with. See, when our goal is seeking Allah’s pleasure, then we never fail. You never lose the race, but that doesn’t mean that others won’t win it, a little more. Allah SWT says in Surah Al-Mutaffifin, ayah 20 to 26... listen closely to what Allah says to us...

(كِتَابٌ مَّرْقُومٌ ﴿٢٠﴾ يَشْهَدُهُ الْمُقَرَّبُونَ ﴿٢١﴾ إِنَّ الْأَبْرَارَ لَفِي نَعِيمٍ ﴿٢٢﴾ عَلَى الْأَرَائِكِ يَنظُرُونَ ﴿٢٣﴾ تَعْرِفُ فِي وُجُوهِهِمْ نَضْرَةَ النَّعِيمِ ﴿٢٤﴾ يُسْقَوْنَ مِن رَّحِيقٍ مَّخْتُومٍ ﴿٢٥﴾ خِتَامُهُ مِسْكٌ ۚ وَفِي ذَٰلِكَ فَلْيَتَنَافَسِ الْمُتَنَافِسُونَ ﴿٢٦ )

It is [their destination recorded in] a register inscribed (20) Which is witnessed by those brought near [to Allah]. (21) Indeed, the righteous will be in pleasure (22) On adorned couches, observing. (23) You will recognize in their faces the radiance of pleasure. (24) They will be given to drink [pure] wine [which was] sealed. (25) The last of it is musk. So for this let the competitors compete. (26)

Competitors compete. In careers? No! In bigger houses? No! In better cars? No! Compete for the pleasure of Allah (swt). Compete in good deeds. Like the Sahabah (ra) used to race, who could fast more, who could pray more, or in Umar (ra) case and Abu Bakr As-Sadeeq (ra) case, who could take care of a blind old woman first!

See, so what if your business failed... eight times?! So what if your friend is making way more money than you? So what if your car is from the 1900’s ... or if you don’t have one at all?! So what if... your fridge keeps breaking down? When those things aren’t our main goals, and showing patience to Allah on our hardships is, then we win. We aren’t failures. Now that doesn’t mean we won’t feel disappointed or tested, or we shouldn’t want these things! We should! We should want to evolve, and grow and accomplish. That’s part of being a Muslim. That’s part of Allah’s Deen. The problem is, when we put the main goal on the back shelf, or see it in the rear-view mirror, and put our goals in Dunya in the front seat. That’s when we crash. That’s when we become depressed, anxious or stressed all the time. We have then lost the race. And those who don’t join the race at all, have definitely lost the race. For how can you win a race you never joined in the first place?

No matter how small the deed, when our desire is to please Allah (swt), we are not failing. The prophet Muhammad peace be upon him said,

«أَحَبُّ الْأَعْمَالِ إِلَى الله أدومها وَإِن قل»

“The acts most pleasing to God are those which are done most continuously, even if they amount to little.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

You know what the best part is? We can always start over. Not waiting till next year to feel like we have a clean slate, but starting at any given moment. Always genuinely trying and to Allah always succeeding. So there isn't that sense of failure. For we don’t know what deed brings us closer to Allah, which deed makes us win, win the race within ourselves. But what we know is... when our life revolves around Allah (swt) and his Deen, then Insha’ Allah we will never lose. We will never feel helpless, hopeless or alone. But will strive and strive again, and when this Dunya pushes us to the ground in hopes we leave our dreams, our goal, then with the help of Allah we will stand back up again, stronger than before, leaning on each other as we make our way to that race line. Together. As one body. Because the more we move closer to Allah, the more He (swt) makes us stronger. The more we establish Allah’s wishes in the earth, the more He (swt) gives us and puts Barakah in our lives, in this Dunya and the next. And as for this race... the race we are facing as an Ummah. It is a race we can only win together.

Jazak Allahu Khayran for joining us!

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