Wisdom

I Once Knew Her
I Once Knew Her 1600 1200 Nadir Keval

There’s this girl I once knew.

I heard she’s getting married soon, and it reminded me of a dark time…a time when I had met an occurrence that I couldn’t understand, despite my efforts. I cared about her, and stood by her for a long time as she figured herself out, even during times when she would push me, hurt me, and make me struggle within my own self because of her own struggles (and those times came often). I used to know her inside and out, and would be her support in fulfilling her every dream.

Then, one day, something happened, that until today I don’t understand. This girl, holding the potential of greatness in so many ways, threw away all of her dreams. She told me that she was confused and didn’t know what she wanted from life. She wanted time to understand herself better before taking any new steps in life. She was full of potential, but I felt she was restrained by her desire to please those around her over pleasing God and herself. I may be wrong, but it’s what I felt, based on my knowing her.

She put aside projects she had begun working on, changed future plans, threw away many of the dreams she spoke so passionately with me about, and became this whole new person that I just didn’t understand. She then told me that she was engaged to marry a man that she had only begun speaking to a few weeks before announcing that decision. I asked her about how it would change her life, and she said that she would be moving from place to place around the world because of the nature of his work, and will be spending a long period of time living in places known as active warzones. Nothing made sense to me, and so I gave her space, prayed for her, and let her make the decisions she felt was best.

Usually, at the end of an article, I come to a point of speaking on the lessons learned from an inspiring story, or something like that. This time, I’m left speechless because of my sincere confusion. All I can say is that I hope she is getting married and making these decisions because she’s looking out for herself and is trying to live out her dreams. I have seen a few people get married solely to avoid facing their own realities and the struggles that may come from facing their fears. I sincerely hope she isn’t doing that. Even if her fiancé is a good man, and from what she told me, I’m sure he is…I still hope that she is taking her steps carefully and is acting with wisdom and heart, and not because of others or her own fears. Some may consider it pathetic to still care about someone’s well-being, especially when they hurt me more times than they healed, but I believe it be to a reflection of my sincerity and genuine heart. That is something I am proud of, and I don’t believe it to be arrogant of me to be proud of something like that.

At the end of the day, I wish her the best, and pray that she stays happy, safe, loved by the One Above, and lives out to her greatest potential. May Allah give her clarity and guidance, and bring back the ambitious and confident woman I once knew – bring back the woman that was taken away from thriving, and brought to a life of simply surviving.

There was this woman I once knew.

Marry Your Best Friend
Marry Your Best Friend 1280 939 Nadir Keval

I may be completely off here, considering I’m not married so I’m saying this off of theory, but I believe that you should marry someone that could become your best friend.

A best friend is someone who loves you for all that you are.

Someone who, when times get rough for you, they support you, even if what you’re going through seems trivial to him/her.

Someone who inspires you to become a better Muslim and person, but recognizes that you’re still human and will have your good and bad days.

A best friend doesn’t make you feel inferior, but rather, helps you banish that inferiority complex through the path that works best for YOU.

A best friend as a lover would be incredible, because you could spend hours being intimate, laughing, crying, and sharing moments, without even coming to the point of anything sexual.

But then, with a best friend, sexuality would be incredible too, because well, you’d be companions and not just partners – individuals combined so perfectly to complete as one.

A best friend would cherish you, because they love you as a friend, as a lover, and also with the best form of love – love for the sake of Allah.

I hope to one day find that best friend, insha Allah, and the search continues, but once I do, I know that I’ll spend a lifetime trying to earn my keep – loving her, cherishing her, and giving her the support and care in every form and fashion that I could have wished for when I didn’t have her.

And I know that even if, God forbid, it doesn’t last forever, I would be happy with God’s Plan, because for what I needed, He knew there wouldn’t be anybody better.

Are We Truly In Search Of Justice And Peace?
Are We Truly In Search Of Justice And Peace? 1920 1080 Nadir Keval

Let’s look at the world we live in today. It’s a construct of the decisions we as a global society have made throughout the years, allowing our greed, agendas, and immoral intentions take precedent over the maintenance of justice and life. Despite all of this being a truth many of us are aware of, we become emotionally driven by our own attachments and forget about the essence of humanity as a whole. Now, I am not one to often speak about current events because I feel that it is a magnet of controversy and the like, but I felt it important for my own self to share what I believe is necessary for us to live in a world of peace, as limited as that option may be.

There are battles, wars, and struggles that are faced throughout the world on a daily basis, some bigger than others, and some in our own minds. Every single one of them holds value and weight, and should be faced with wisdom, patience, and optimism – both by those involved and by those standing on the outside, looking in. Regardless of who you are or who it is facing the struggle, we must acknowledge the struggle and its weight.

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The sad reality is that many of us have become numb to all the things we hear on the news. More often than not, we need for it to be something big to really make an impact. When it does, our reactions of anger and disgust with all that’s happened tend to be extremely strong at first, and a short time later, our passion towards change fades and we go back to living our lives. All the chaotic things that happen in the world are sparks of fire, and how we allow those things to impact our lives and influence our interactions with each other determines how much gas we add to that fire. If we’re smart, we’ll find ways to put out the fire through peaceful, wise, and optimistic solutions, before it grows too large for us to handle.

In no way do I mean to belittle any of the things that happen in the world today. Rather, I believe it’s important for us to work on our own selves, and to seek out knowledge and wisdom to find peace within ourselves, in order for us to find solutions to everything that goes on in the world, big or small. Through this, we will be able to deal with the news we hear about every day in a positive way, and will grow as a community. Maybe I’m speaking out of naivety, maybe I’m just saying something we’re all thinking but are too afraid to say or face, out of fear of stepping up and taking action. But, I implore all of us to consider ourselves as individuals first. For a minute, put aside all the blaming going on, put aside who may or may not have been the cause of the incidents, and ask yourself how you can make a difference. As I said, how we react to these things makes all the difference on the impact the struggles and events have on our lives. If we focus on trying to make positive changes to avoid having things like what we face happen again, we can make a difference that could benefit more people and save lives. If we, however, take the approaches we are taking today of finding someone or some group to blame and reacting in a negative and inappropriate manner, we are merely adding more reasons for more problems in the future.

Take an example from the days of elementary school, where if someone were bullied, the advice we would give them wouldn’t be to retaliate by starting to bully those bullying them. We don’t advise our children to react with the same thing they are hurt by, so why should that change when we’re all grown adults. Do we lose our sense, and emotional and mental stability when we get older? Most of what we see in the world today is bullies pointing fingers at others, and their blind followers spreading hate and negativity throughout the public to blind other people into sharing in the finger pointing. Sure, the bullies are bigger organizations or nations, and sure the followers are people on the internet and in smaller organizations, but really, it’s not that different from the school mentality. Make a change by being the better person. If someone is being blamed, investigate and seek out knowledge. Don’t be ignorant to the facts, and instead, stand for justice, wherever it may come from. Jumping the gun in blaming people and not expecting them to retaliate is dumb and ignorant. Be wise in your actions and strive to bring about positive change. People speak so much about wanting to see change and all that, but who really takes productive steps towards it? We all go out marching and protesting because of a matter (and I’m not saying that’s good or bad), but how much time is spent meeting in groups to understand with open minds the people and organizations behind the things being done, and then working hard towards taking positive, respectful, and respectable action? If the accused is an organization or a person that openly claims to have an agenda to do harm to people, then understand that the agenda is specific to those individuals involved in the matter and not to everyone that classifies themselves under that same name. For example, if a person named John goes around slapping people with blonde hair because he believes blonde haired people are evil, does that mean that every person named John believes the same thing and may slap blonde people? No. Does that mean that every blonde haired person is evil? No. So, why let that concept change in any other situation?

Ultimately, what I believe we should all do as individuals is work on ourselves to try becoming the best we can be for ourselves and for society as a whole. When you feel like someone is pushing you the wrong way, or that they seem to be trying to get you to react negatively to something they say, recognize that as being a form of bullying and walk away. Do not react in any way other than with patience unless you are put in a position of needing to defend yourself or others from actual physical harm – then too, be smart and don’t do any more than is necessary; i.e. call the police, move yourself to a safe place, and do only what is necessary to get away from the person, and do not harm out of emotional drive. Have faith in humanity and it’s ability to be good. At our core, that is what we are – good – but it is through the misuse and manipulation of our emotions that we get carried away and forget to think clearly and rationally, with wisdom and patience, when trying to find a solution.

“You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.” – Mahatma Gandhi

These are all my opinions and thoughts, and no one has any obligation to follow or agree with them. All I ask is that you consider what I’ve said with an open mind and try to find peace through helping others. Only then can we grow as a people and hope for a better future.

Never Not Good Enough
Never Not Good Enough 1699 769 Nadir Keval

Over the last few weeks/months, I have gone through some major experiences that have completely altered how I look at my life. I’m still the same person, still hold the same ambitions, but what’s changed is the lens through which I view my life.

“Ban, delete, shred, obliterate the words: ‘I’m not good enough.'” – Karen Salmansohn

Looking at these experiences, I have learned that life is something that we must live for ourselves and one that we should strive towards making the most of. Every moment should be put towards making a difference in our own individual ways. When I say “live for ourselves”, I don’t mean to live a life of narcissism, but rather, to live a life that is focused around doing the most good through our own individual means and ambitions. Every one of us has a purpose, and it is on each and every one of us to fulfill that purpose.

You’re Not Alone

We’ve seen so many people throughout the ages overcome challenges, negativity from others, and circumstances that would otherwise dilute their extraordinary potential into something that is purely ordinary. These are people who were able to fulfill their ambitions and goals because of their drive to do more than what was expected of them and to do these things in their own way. They did not bother with what others had to say, and that was not for a lack of criticism but rather, because of a desire to do whatever it took to live a life they were pleased with. This way, they could look back at themselves and know that they never gave themselves a reason to believe that they were not good enough in any way. This is purely my presumption, but after having watched so many interviews and read the views and thoughts of some of the most successful people in the world, I’ve noticed a similar trend of this rejection of accepting anything less from themselves but their own personal best.

Step 1: Convince Yourself Of You

Now, before you go out there trying to change the world or even helping one person get through something they’re facing, you have to first and foremost come to terms with who you are. You have to believe in yourself, because one of the greatest impacts you can have on a person that you hope to help is that sense of comfort and security a person feels from seeing how much conviction and confidence you have in what you are saying to them. Look at it this way: if you have a doctor that’s obese tell you that you need to start eating healthier and need to lose weight, you wouldn’t feel all that encouraged, motivated, or convinced, because you wouldn’t feel the doctor who, himself, is overweight truly believed in or practiced what he was advising you to do. Similarly, a person would not fully feel inclined to make a change in their lives towards what you are advising them to do if they didn’t see you practicing what you preached.

Step 2: Perfect Your Craft

As important as it is for us to be knowledgeable, cognizant, and engrossed in our beliefs and values, it is all useless without application. Knowledge and application go hand in hand. Without knowledge, application is dangerous, and without application, knowledge is useless. You wouldn’t read a book on surgery and then go into a hospital operating room and perform surgery. That would be extremely dangerous. And what if there’s someone out there that has the cure to a disease we now consider incurable? Without application, that person’s knowledge of the cure is absolutely useless.

So, when you are striving towards accomplishing something in your life, or doing something positive in the world, ensure that you continuously study your trade and practice your skills, in order to solidify them. Through this, you will become the best you can be at your craft and would be able to hold the satisfaction in your mind and heart that you haven’t given anyone reason to believe that you’re not good enough in any way.

Step 3: Maintain Humility

One of the worst things that can happen to a person that has become an expert in something, or has built a reputation for being incredible at something is that often, arrogance kicks in. Once this happens, the person thinks they no longer have a need to practice or study their craft, thus leading them to become blinded by arrogance.

“If you think you know everything; you know nothing. If you think you know nothing; you know something.” – Jayce O’Neal

Recognize that no matter what happens, every person always has room for growth. Everything in life is going through a process of growth through the different stages of life. Every trade has life process as well. From my own experiences through my businesses and projects, I can definitely attest to the fact that there is always a need to learn more about the industry we’re in. For example, for EYSK Media, marketing strategies and theories are always changing, web design trends and methods are always advancing, and with every client having their own set of unique needs and goals, there’s always a need to learn more about their industries and corporate cultures.

Ultimately…

The most important thing is to never give ourselves any reason to believe that we’re not good enough to do something or be something. In fact, even if you’re in a tough place in your life, don’t feel that you are where you are because of not being good enough. Forget the past. Instead, focus on the future, and what you’re going to do to become a better you. If something doesn’t work out one day, then accept that as having happened for a reason. Then, if you still want that particular thing, better yourself and try again tomorrow or next week or next year – whenever you’re ready. Just remember to never give up on yourself and to never let yourself or anyone else have reason to believe that you’re not good enough.

Perceive and You Shall Receive
Perceive and You Shall Receive 4791 2995 Nadir Keval

We all go through a lot in our lives, and each and every one of us has struggles that test and challenge us. Our perception of life in general, our own lives, and the lives of others plays a large role in forming our moods and in our attitudes towards life. It can be the difference between depression and happiness…something I can say because I’ve gone through it myself.

Years ago, doctors diagnosed me with clinical depression. I couldn’t understand it, because I thought I was just going through a rough patch in my life. Sure, it lead to some physical health problems, landing me in the hospital for a few hours and whatnot, but ultimately, I didn’t think it was much more than just me needing to calm down and face life differently. Without a doubt, this was a wake up call for me, and since then, I’ve strived towards living my life with a new outlook – one that was more inclusive of being at peace with my life’s conditions and circumstances.

I decided that I wanted to initially give myself the opportunity to overcome this depression through meditation, prayer, and learning to strengthen my mind and will power. So, I began taking small steps towards making changes in my life, such as bettering my habits when it came to prayer and worship, spending more time in meditative thought (reflecting on the beauty and blessings of Allah’s creation), keeping myself away from negativity in the form of thoughts and people, and trying to calm myself and remembering to rely on Allah through everything.

Taking these steps weren’t easy, but they changed my life, and not only did I overcome the depression without any medication, but since then, my life has become much easier to handle. There have been many additional challenges and tests since then, each one often more difficult and trying than the last, but because of this approach towards my perception and how I dealt with things, life has run quite smoothly for the most part.

Perception Of You

Throughout all the things I’ve faced in life, Alhamdulillah, I’ve realized that my first priority should be to take care of my own peace of mind. Only when I have my mind calm and intact will I be able to address the other aspects of my life with wisdom and ease. There are so many things we face in our lives, including criticism from others, things demoralizing us because they don’t go our way, and more. These are all tests, and we should recognize them as being such. Then, with an optimistic view, we should work towards learning from these experiences and find peace in knowing that they happened for a reason. For example, the criticism of others is often a reflection of you doing something that stands out from the norm. Filter your actions through your beliefs and values (in the case of my fellow Muslims, filter it through the Quran and Sunnah), and if they are sound, move forward trusting in yourself and Allah, and don’t pay any attention to the opinions of others, especially if those opinions don’t sit well with you.

Be confident in who you are, and although that is easier said than done for a person who struggles with confidence, you should still make an effort and recognize that you are a person of value. I personally believe that many of us could reach much higher levels of success and happiness if we were optimistic and just a bit more confident in who we are and what we are capable of accomplishing. Keep that in mind and try to embrace this as your reality. Then, as time progresses, try to catch yourself when you feel in doubt of anything related to you. You will eventually see everything become more and more clear, making your life more calm and peaceful.

Perception of Life

Let’s be honest. Time and time again, we get hit with things in life that we feel we aren’t deserving of, or that we feel we can’t handle. It’s a fact and is nothing to be ashamed of. However, it is also important for us to recognize that we need to maintain an optimistic outlook on all of these things that make up our lives.

“How amazing is the affair of the believer, for his affairs are all good, and this applies to no one but the believer. If something good happens to him, he is thankful for it and that is good for him. If something bad happens to him, he bears it with patience and that is good for him.” – Prophet Muhammad

With an optimistic look at life, you’ll see your struggles as opportunities, your tests as challenges, and consequentially, your life as a whole, being in favor of your betterment. How do you know that when you’re in that rush and you have to stop at an intersection because of a red light, you are not in fact being protected by something worse that could have happened had you not been stopped? How do you know that your divorce wasn’t something you had to go through (along with that marriage) because it was what you needed at that time in your life, and because it would make you better prepared and more grateful for your future? How do you know that the car accident you got into that lead to you having injuries that resulted in you having to leave your career was not a protection from Allah in readjusting your career path towards something that would be better for you? There are so many examples of different scenarios we face, all ranging in depth and weight, but if we look at all of them with optimism and faith, we’ll only have gratitude and peace to take away from it.

Perception of Others

Think back to when someone told you that your struggle wasn’t that of a big deal, or when others would make you feel as though you are overreacting over something they would handle “so easily”. Didn’t feel all that good, did it?

When looking at the conditions of others, don’t be so quick to judge, because the impact of every persons’ struggle is relative to their own capacity and abilities.

“Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity. It will have [the consequence of] what [good] it has gained, and it will bear [the consequence of] what [evil] it has earned.” – Quran (2:286)

Every soul is different, every being is different, every struggle is different, and every situation is different. When you see someone struggling, or stressed about something, speak to them with kindness, remind them of the beauty of optimism and faith, and comfort them, even if their struggle is something you look at as being minor.

With this optimistic and positive approach to speaking to people and yourself, and in dealing with the things you face in life, you will find yourself at peace more often, and will see ease in dealing with things that you would have never thought possible in the past.

This is a HUGE topic and takes time to perfect, so if enough people in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, Canada are interested, I’ll hold seminars on this topic in the near future. Let me know through posting a comment below. This is not only limited to Vancouver residents – if there are people or organizations anywhere in North America that would be interested in a seminar/workshop related to this or any other topic I’ve spoken on, please contact me at mail@nadirkeval.com or by going through my contact page to arrange an event. And finally, anyone interested in having one-on-one workshops with me in getting out of a rut or in becoming a better you, can contact me through my contact page or the email address mentioned above. Thank you!

Life and Its Surprises
Life and Its Surprises 2716 1810 Nadir Keval

This is a tough one to write.

I began writing this with the intent of it being somewhat of a rant that would turn into a learning process for me, but as I did so, I gave it some thought, prayed and made Dua, and realized that it would be best to forgive myself and forgive those of these past few years who have made me angry, frustrated, and disappointed. I have spent the last year or so going through experiences of fluctuating emotions, tests of patience, and changes in the way of how I perceive and interact with people. Yet, despite all of these intense and shattering emotions hurting and breaking me, they have also given me the opportunity to rebuild myself into a stronger man, and have given me more ambition in embracing the Hadith:

“A believer doesn’t get bitten twice from the same lair.” – Prophet Muhammad (SAW)

I won’t go into details about what lead to me realizing the truths that have brought me to the point I’m at now, out of respect for myself, others who have come and gone from my life, those who have remained, and out of trust in Allah, as I believe that the past is in the past, and we should leave it there. Still, I will try to speak on the lessons I have learned during this time, so as to give myself a reminder through which to continue my growth, and to perhaps help any of you that may have experienced difficulties or struggles during your lives.

People

People are truly unpredictable, as their true intentions are unknown to us, and sometimes even to themselves, which can result in them leaving us stranded at the end of our time with them. This applies in any form of relationship (that isn’t secured by being rooted in the hopes to please God, or towards a better good, in my opinion); romantic relationships, friendships, work relationships, family relationships, etc.

Often, we look at the circumstances we face, or see the ways in which our efforts resulted in something other than what we desired or hoped for, and we feel that perhaps, we were the ones who didn’t make enough of an effort, even if we knew that we had given our best towards that relationship. Through this realization, I’ve learned that if we can reflect back on our experiences and relationships, and say that we put our best foot forward, we should be strong enough to walk away from a situation with contentment in knowing that we did our best, and accepting that what happened was because the other person didn’t do their part (the pessimistic approach), or that there’s something better for us that God is reserving us for (the optimistic approach). My personal approach has seemed to linger in a balance between pessimism and optimism, when it comes to matters as these.

Still, in an effort to remain optimistic, I strive to forgive those who have hurt me, betrayed me, or made things difficult for me when better options were available. That group of people includes myself. I recognize that in all that we face, we all play a role, to varying degrees, in which we allowed ourselves to experience what we experienced. That said, one of the first steps towards moving forward is forgiving yourself for your thoughts, actions, etc. and recognizing that what you went through was necessary for you to grow into who you are now.

After doing this, work towards forgiving others. No matter how horrific or painful the things that have been said or done towards you are, forgive. I know this is easier said than done, especially when there is so much emotion involved and invested, especially if it all came unexpectedly, but for your own sake and sanity, you have to let go and forgive. Allah will reward you with something better if you leave something for His Sake. I promise you, it’s better for you.

All of this may take time, but what’s most important is not that you force yourself to forgive and move forward, but rather, that you proactively work towards forgiving yourself and others until your heart can find peace. A key that I’ve found towards doing this is not speaking about the problems, but recognizing that they are of the past, and that they slowly need to be given the opportunity to leave your heart and mind.

A personal example is one of an individual that was very dear and close to me for the last two years, and is no longer a part of my life. That experience left me angry, disappointed, saddened, and confused. But, I chose to turn to Allah, Alhamdulillah, and as time continues to progress, I see more and more reason to understand how that person being a part of life was, in fact, keeping me from fully embracing myself in my life goals, how that person would not help me in the long run towards becoming who I hoped to become, and how I deserved much better in the types of people I allowed into my life. But, that realization only began to come into effect as I left things to Allah. I am still working towards forgiving that person, but I am pleased with how things turned out, because from it, I have learned lessons, and have learned to appreciate others that have entered my life since. So, ultimately, I can say with great conviction and pleasure, Alhamdulillah.

Work

We all go through our struggles when it comes to working hard and reaching our goals, and at times, what we planned doesn’t fall into place. Take it as a blessing. I understand how difficult it can be to let go of something that you’ve worked so long and hard towards, but there comes a point at which you need to reevaluate your approach towards your goals. That doesn’t mean that you should throw aside your goals and work towards things that are more “realistic”, but instead, it just means that you should be open to exploring different ways through which you can reach your goal.

“Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” – Albert Einstein

The beauty of living freely towards reaching your goals is that there is no right or wrong answer as to how you can achieve your ambitions. By working hard in the way you see most fit, you will find yourself motivated and inspired. Pray Isthikhaarah (the prayer for guidance) before you start an approach towards your goal, and if you find yourself struggling, pray it again. As long as the ambition towards using that approach remains in your heart with ease, keep at it. But, if you find yourself struggling, and deliberately holding on to something, step away from it, pray Isthikhaarah again, and keep your heart and mind open to other options. Allah will guide you towards what’s best for you.

To give you an example, for the last few years, one of my companies has been building, but I always felt as though something was missing, and that I couldn’t feel a connection to it. I had lost the original vision behind the project, and felt lost. So, I recently detached myself from the old ways of pursuing success in that business, and began to seek guidance from Allah, prayed Isthikhaarah, and took some time away from it all to think about what my vision originally was, and how I wanted to make it a reality in my own way. After some time, it dawned on me, and now, I am happier than ever in how I am approach the services provided by this particular company.

Faith

Ah, the greatest component of one’s life (in my opinion) is this: faith. Without it, I would honestly be a reflection of chaos, scattered thoughts, and depression. The beauty of faith is that it is very natural when you truly submit to it, because you go through ups and downs, and experience an onslaught of emotions and confusion as you battle your soul towards helping it grow. The soul can be very stubborn sometimes, but it is through that, that we grow into becoming stronger in mind and heart.

How does all of this relate to life and its surprises? Well, what I’ve found through the challenges and changes of my relationships with people and my work experiences, is that because the intention was always (to the best of my abilities) to please God, ultimately, EVERYTHING that happened, both the seemingly good and the seemingly bad, ended up bringing me closer to Him. I was surprised to find myself overcoming major challenges in my faith, and it was through His Mercy and Love that I was able to experience those blessings. I can’t express my gratitude to Him for everything that has happened, is happening, and will happen, and I pray that He gives me the opportunity, ability, cognizance, and consciousness to continue to praise Him, thank Him, and remember Him.

In The End…

There is no end. That’s the thing. Even after death, our deeds continue to benefit us. Even after The Day of Judgment, we have an eternity to experience the results of our actions in this life.

Life will throw us surprises through situations and experiences that will baffle us. At times, we will lead ourselves, be it through the whispers and invitations of Shaitaan and others or not, towards paths that will benefit us, as long as we strive towards pleasing Him, and remember that our return is ultimately to Him.

You have to live your life to the fullest and do what makes YOU happiest. Many of us lead lives to please others, in fear that without doing so, we will lose their love or commitment. But, we have to build relationships with those we think make us happiest, we have to pursue our goals that make us happiest, and we can’t accept any less. This is unfortunately a tough and often pushed aside thought for many, but it’s on us to do our best to live as happy of lives as we can. Live to please God and yourself. Everyone else will love you for it, eventually. Be pleased with your life and what it brings, because every experience has its purpose, and every scar has its story.

Belief In The Unseen
Belief In The Unseen 1186 768 Nadir Keval

In the last couple of days, some thoughts and reminders have come to mind that have definitely made it easier to deal with all of the things that I’ve been facing lately, Alhamdulillah. I felt that it would be good to share this with all of you, not only for your own personal struggles, but in consideration of the horrifying things happening in Gaza right now. May Allah grant them peace, victory, and an easy entrance into Jannah! Ameen!

A friend of mine, who is currently attending one of the major Islamic universities of the world, masha Allah, told me about the story of Musa (AS) and his people, when Allah commanded them to go towards the waterfront. He explained how this was a command from Allah in response to their Dua for peace and freedom, and as a way in which Allah was protecting AND testing the people. However, Allah had only commanded that they go to the waterfront, and didn’t give them any information about what to do when they got there. With their faith and reliance on Allah, they headed towards the water. When they got there, Allah was silent. My friend explained how this was Allah’s way of testing them in their patience, as well as in their reliance upon Him. He had them wait and continued this test for so long, that Firawn (Pharoah) and his army became visible in the distance. This was when the major test began. The people of Musa (AS) began to panic. They asked Musa (AS), “Where is our Rubb (Lord)? Where is the answer to our prayers? We are surely going to be killed at the hands of Firawn! Survival is completely impossible!” At this point, Musa (AS), unaltered by these concerns responded saying, “I do not believe in what I see, but I believe in the Unseen (i.e. Allah).” It was at this point that Musa (AS) passed the test, and thus Allah sent down the order to him (AS) that he should strike the ground with his staff. From there on, we know the story of how the body of water split, and the believers were blessed with freedom.

Note: This story is one that I asked a local sheikh here in Vancouver about (for confirmation of its authenticity), and he said that the details are uncertain, but this is one of those stories that we accept and don’t accept, meaning that we take it as a story of morals and lessons, but do not use it for making rulings on matters.

Imagine yourself being in the position of the people of Musa (AS). Would you have reacted in the same way they initially did? Or would you have reacted in the way Musa (AS) did? Many of us face major struggles and difficulties in life, some more than others, but ultimately, we all face what Allah knows we are capable of handling. Never will Allah burden us with more than we can bear, as He states in the Quran:

“Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity. It will have [the consequence of] what [good] it has gained, and it will bear [the consequence of] what [evil] it has earned.” – Quran (2:286)

Struggles will come and go, sometimes as tests, sometimes as punishments. Regardless, they are blessings in disguise. If we overcome and hold strong to our faith, repent, and try our best to become better Muslims, Allah will reward us. Allahu Akbar! How Merciful and Incredible Allah is! Who else do you know that would punish us and then reward us right after for handling the punishment properly? No one but Allah! And sometimes, we may wonder, if He has forgiven us, then why are we being punished? The truth is, we will all be held accountable for our actions, and unless it is by the Blessing of Allah that He forgives us of it completely, it’s a Mercy from Him upon us that He punishes us in this life rather than in the Next. Be thankful for that, and take responsibility for your past actions, but do not let this pull you down or make you lose hope in Him. Instead, build on your faith and become stronger in your certainty that He will answer your Dua. Often, we start on the a path that is pleasing to Him, or set goals that would be beneficial to us in this life and the Next, but our desires and the whispers of Shaitaan lead us astray. That doesn’t invalidate our initial goals and intentions. It merely means that we have to get back on track in our faith and worship, and turn to Allah with complete conviction and cognizance that He will grant us what we seek.

Intentions & Actions

When we are faced with struggles or challenges, we have to take a moment to stop and think about how we’re approaching the issue. Our intentions may be pure, but if our actions don’t match that purity, it’ll be incredibly difficult to find success or peace. Looking at how Musa (AS) dealt with the situation, we can see that he maintained his faith and reliance on Allah, regardless of how impossible the situation seemed. Often, when we see ourselves in a predicament that seems to have no possible end in our favor, being human, we panic. We forget Allah because our emotions overcome us, and sometimes, we even go as far as blaming Allah, thinking that He has not fulfilled His Promise. What a horrible state of mind to be in! Allah is never to blame for the things that happen to us in this life or the Next. As the above verse mentioned, every soul will bear the consequences of the good it has gained and of the evil it has gained. Take responsibility for your actions, and remain steadfast on pleasing Allah in every possible way you can.

Make your eyes look at only that which pleases Allah, make your ears hear only that which pleases Allah, make your hands and feet work only in the path of that which pleases Allah. When you do this, your living will be for the sake of Allah. Every aspect of your life will become a form of worship. Through this, you will gain the love of Allah, insha Allah, and when Allah loves us, He will answer our Dua, will protect us when we seek His Refuge, and will not hesitate to grant us what we seek, just as He hesitates to take our souls at the time of death, because He knows how much we detest death. Our struggles may all be different, but that does not demean their weight on our hearts. I assure you that if we turn to Allah and truly submit to Him, we will find our hearts to become light in weight, and we will find ease in dealing with our difficulties.

Dedication to Dua

If you have been making Dua with sincerity, and have strived towards pleasing Allah in every way you can while you await the answer to your Dua, then don’t lose hope. As we saw from the example of the story of Musa (AS) and his people, Allah can bring us a solution through things that seem impossible, as long as we have faith. It does not matter what obstacles come our way, or what we see around us that may make things seem impossible. None of that matters. What matters is our submission to Allah and dedication to our Dua. One of the prerequisites of Dua being answered is knowing, without a shadow of a doubt, that your Dua will be answered. When you have supplicated to Allah, don’t stop asking for what you want until you get it, or until Allah removes it from your heart and mind, or replaces it with something else. You will know when one of those three things has happened when Allah gives you complete ease, serenity, and certainty in the matter, and where you are to go from there. If you are confused as to what the answer is, ask Him for clarity and guidance again. No matter the circumstances, no matter how impossible it may seem for your dua to be answered, do NOT stop asking Allah for what you seek. And while you do this, ensure that every step you take towards addressing it is in the way that is most pleasing to Allah. Sometimes, that means keeping your distance from the matter, and focusing solely on dua and perfecting your actions in the other aspects of life. Sometimes, it means doing things that have been prescribed by Allah and His Messenger (SAW) as steps to take, which all depend on the specific situation you are in. What matters most, however, is that you never give up on what you seek from Allah until He makes things clear for you in your heart in such a way that you don’t even feel as though you are forcing or convincing yourself to take any action that goes against your heart. Sometimes, we are so afraid of pain, or of displeasing others, or of having to continue in difficulty, that we accept things that we don’t fully like, just to be able to move forward. But that won’t solve our problem, but rather will simply postpone and make it heavier, thus making it even more difficult to address in the future. It’s simple: Don’t lose hope in Allah answering your dua. Ever.

“Make Dua like a child asks his parent’s for candy. The child doesn’t stop asking until he gets his candy.”

Things may seem difficult, things may seem impossible, and sometimes, people around you will say things to make you want to lose hope, but remember that hope lies with Allah, and no one else. He Alone is the One capable of doing all things, and from what He has decreed, no one can escape, whether what is decreed seems to be good or bad to us. Even if you feel like you are trapped or stuck in a situation, have faith and hope in Him, and strive towards what you truly want, asking Him to make things work out with all of the eternal factors that may effect your decisions. He will give you that strength, and will grant you the goal you seek for His sake. You just can’t give up on Him, no matter how difficult it gets. Our goal is to continue to stay firm in our faith in Him, and to not stop making dua for what we want, until we get what we seek, or it is removed, or is replaced by something else.

Seeking An Answer

One of the things I hear so often that truly bothers me is when people say, “Maybe this is Allah’s way of answering your Dua,” or, “Maybe this is a sign from Allah.” I’m not a scholar, but from what I understand, that’s not how it works! Allah guides us, and when we seek something, He makes the results clear. If you are making Dua for something, and are sincere in your intentions AND actions, Allah will give you clarity in the matter at hand. Until you feel that clarity in your heart, don’t stop making Dua for what you want. We shouldn’t have to convince ourselves of something being the answer to our Dua, because when we do that, it is almost as though we have given up on Allah answering our Dua, though He has promised us that He will give us peace and a solution to what we seek for His sake. This is something that is a tough concept to grasp, especially in today’s world, where we are tested left, right, and center. In the end, we have to remember that Allah has promised us that if we strive towards a goal and still find difficulty, BUT have awareness of Him and His Abilities, and keep in mind that we will have to answer for our actions on the Day of Judgment, He will grant us a solution through means that we could not have even imagined. He ALWAYS fulfills His Promise. He is the Provider, and the One who grants us what we need to move forward with our lives day in and day out. We should also keep in mind that He has decreed a time for everything. You may see things and think to yourself that the solution just seems so easy. But, I promise you that you won’t even be able to reach out to touch something in front of you until Allah decrees it. What is meant for you will be yours, no matter what. You just have to remain steadfast in seeking what you want. Allah will guide you towards what you want, or will replace it through ease and clarity with something better.

“That is instructed to whoever should believe in Allah and the Last day. And whoever fears Allah – He will make for him a way out; And will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah – then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has already set for everything a [decreed] extent.” – Quran (65:2-3)

There may be times when you’ll look at your situation and feel as though something you experience is the answer to your Dua. If, however, you don’t feel in your heart, after pursuing things for the sake of Allah and in a way that pleases Him, that you have clarity on the matter, then seek His Guidance again. Often, we see something happening and feel it to be the answer to our Dua (though we may not fully like it), but that could very well be a test from Allah to see how committed and reliant upon Him we truly are.

Don’t go out looking for a sign. Don’t go out thinking that Allah’s going to send some miracle from the sky for you to see. Stuff like that happens once in a blue moon, if ever.

Instead, cleanse your heart of things that displease Allah, and replace them with worship and remembrance of Him in your every thought and action, and repent frequently. We sin so much, just by being human, that it’s impossible to calculate how much we need to repent. But, it’s on us to do everything we can to increase our good deeds and reduce our sins. Through this, Allah will give us clarity in our hearts, and when there is something we are meant to see, or there is something we are meant to feel, it will be something He will place in our view or in our hearts. And when we live life in this way, I guarantee you that we will find a level of peace and serenity that is beyond our imagination, because at that point, we will have truly tasted the beauty of faith. At that point, we will finally be able to be grateful when any and every thing comes our way, because we will accept it all as Allah’s decree for us. He knows our hearts and thoughts better than we do, and so He won’t leave us stranded. Another very important thing to note is that accepting Allah’s Decree does not mean having to do so out of sorrow or difficulty. Allah gives us peace with dealing with things, no matter how difficult they are, if that is what is best for us. If your heart feels uneasy, make a change through first seeking guidance from Allah, and then acting on your heart’s inclination.

How Does This Relate To Gaza or Syria?

I am not a Palestinian or Syrian. I am not an Arab. I don’t even fully speak Arabic, yet (insha Allah, soon). But, I share a bond with the people of Gaza and Syria that runs deeper than any bond of blood, nationality, language, culture, or anything else for that matter. This bond makes me feel as though I am one with them, as though they are no different to me than my own parents and siblings. The bond I share with them is of Islam. Islam abolished the concept of nationality, racism, and things like that, because under the banner of Islam we are all brothers and sisters. We are all Muslims. When I hear the screams of mothers and wives as they hold the bodies of their men, as I hear the cries of children as they watch their parents die in front of their eyes, and when I see the blood of innocent men, women, and children being shed as clear as rain, I don’t see their nationality or language. I see humanity in shambles. I weep for the innocent Muslims and non-Muslims alike, who are killed in the state of war.

As nothing more than a Muslim, which is a greater honor in my eyes than any other, I look at these things, and humbly believe that our solution lies in first turning to Allah. It is ONLY through Him that success will come. And it is a duty upon every Muslim to feel concern and to pray for those who have been trapped in what seems to be an impossible situation to find release from. But, we must remember the story of Musa (AS) and his people.

Relating to the story of Musa (AS), I want to remind us of the fact that though things may seem completely impossible, and though the blood of our brothers and sisters flows constantly, we cannot lose hope in Allah. We cannot forget that our greatest weapon is Dua, supplicating to Allah to grant them victory and to reward them with an easy entrance into the highest levels of Jannah. This can be just as was the case with Musa (AS) and his people, where a tyrant (Pharoah) approached them viciously with a huge and fully armed army, while they had nothing to defend themselves with, and still Allah granted them success. Why? Because they learned to be steadfast in their faith in Him, and they knew that Allah would grant them success and the answer to their prayers. Let us be like Musa (AS) and stand firm in knowing that we believe not in what we see, but rather, believe in the Unseen. Allah is capable of all things, and He has promised us victory for patience and for complete submission to Him. If Allah has made us a promise, what reason do we have to doubt? Remember:

“For those of you who have Allah as your Helper, there is no one that can overcome you; but if He removes His Help from you, who is there that can help you after Him? And upon Allah let the believers rely.” – Quran (3:160)

There are so many other examples of how Allah has brought victory to the righteous when victory seemed like a far-fetched impossibility. An example of this is the Battle of Badr, where the Muslims were few and the enemies were almost three times the number of Muslims. Still, Allah helped the Muslims and granted them success. Read up on this battle and you’ll see how incredibly relatable and inspiring it is, especially in a situation like our brothers and sisters in Gaza are facing.

Allah has a purpose behind everything that happens. I know it sounds cliche because of how often we hear people using this statement as a way to push aside or accept giving up on remaining steadfast in their conviction in Allah’s Provision, but it is a true fact. It may seem as though things are difficult, or it may seem as though things seem impossible, but we know without a doubt that Allah will answer our Dua when the time is right. During this process, we will surely go through tests to see if we truly rely on Him, but it is at that point that we should consider it a blessing from Him and an opportunity to grow stronger in faith, by remaining steadfast and not losing hope in Him answering our Dua.

As we go on through our days, let us constantly be in a state of remembrance of Allah, and let us not give up on making Dua that Allah grants us what we seek. Let us build on our own faith as individuals, so that our prayers are more likely to be answered. Let us put aside the negativity and pessimism of others, and remain steadfast on our faith that our Dua will be answered, regardless of how many obstacles and difficulties come our way. The people of Gaza, Syria, and all of the others around the world that are unjustly being harmed in any way and to any degree will find success, as this is promised by Allah, on the condition that they stay firm and strong in their faith in Him.

If you want to see change in Gaza, Syria, or in your own life, go above and beyond the basics when it comes to making Dua. Wake up for Tahajjud and make Dua. Pray extra Nawafil (voluntary acts of worship) and make Dua. When you are in Sujood (prostration), make dua. Right before you end your Salah (prayer) and say the Tasleem (what is said to end the prayer), make Dua. Right after completing your Fard (obligatory) portion of a Salah, make Dua. When it rains, or there are harsh winds, make Dua. Fast on Mondays and Thursdays [as is the Sunnah of the Prophet (SAW)] or fast every other day [as is the Sunnah of Prophet Dawud (AS)], and make dua right before breaking your voluntary fast. These are just a handful of times that the Prophet (SAW) has said sincere Dua will be answered, so take advantage of them! Do everything you can to show Allah your sincerity and dedication to having your Dua answered!

I pray that Allah grants the people of Gaza, Syria, and other parts of the world, justice, peace, victory, and the highest reward for their patience and steadfastness. I pray that Allah fills their hearts and minds with unrelenting hopes to please Allah in every way, and that He fulfills those hopes by guiding them in their actions. I am certain that victory will come. Let us remain patient, continue to make dua, help in every way we possibly can (within the bounds of what is permitted in Islam), and continue to hold certainty in knowing that Allah will allow only the best to come from all of this. Ameen.

And as for all of us, who go through our own struggles and seemingly-impossible dilemmas in our day-to-day lives, I pray that Allah gives us ease and success in following our hearts, and in making every aspect of our lives acts of worship, so that our hearts will be inclined towards what pleases Him, and so that we can find clarity through undying efforts in making Dua for what we seek until we get it. Ameen.

The Advice That Changed My Life
The Advice That Changed My Life 1600 1000 Nadir Keval

Last night, I was almost brought to tears from a discussion I had with a brother of mine about the matters of Deen, the example of the Prophet (SAW), and how important it is for us to remember Allah and His Messenger (SAW) in everything we do. He said one thing that broke it all down for me, and this is the advice that changed my life completely, Alhamdulillah. He said:

“Ask yourself, what would the Prophet (SAW) do or advise?”

I’ve heard this before. I’ve even advised others with these same words. I’ve thought that all this time, I’ve been trying to apply it to my life (and perhaps I have to some degree), but for some reason, it hit me harder this time than it ever has before. My brother reminded me that the nature of the Prophet (SAW) is so extraordinary that no one has or ever will amount to what he was like, but that it’s on us to try our best to be like him and learn from him. Many today will make excuses that his ways and his nature wouldn’t work in today’s world and society because things are different, but I believe that is because they are afraid of truly living by his example in fear of what others will think. I’ll be honest, often, that has held me back as well, whether I recognized it or not.

Common Sense

We may think to ourselves that using common sense, we can figure out the answers to how we should act. But the problem with that is that we are biased by our emotions, our fears, our desires, and the opinions and expectations of others.

When one truly submits to and believes in Allah, “common sense” becomes that which coincides with the teachings of Islam. Our opinions and things like that should be established based off of the understanding of the teachings of the Quran and Sunnah, and should not be based off of our own desires, thoughts, or anything of that sort. That doesn’t mean that we are robots that blindly follow our faith. We know that Allah does not obligate us in religion (Quran 2:256), but that is because there is no sense of obligation when one truly submits to Him, believes in Him, and trust Him unconditionally. We know clearly that Allah has said in the Quran:

“It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allah and His Messenger (SAW) have decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger (SAW), he has indeed strayed into a plain error.” – Quran (33:36)

With that said, we recognize that there are certain things that Allah and His Messenger (SAW) have commanded that we must obey, without question.

Then, there is the example of the Prophet (SAW). His example is one that, I can say from experience, is far better for us to follow than the example of anyone else. Every time that I have done something because I knew it was what he (SAW) would do, even if I were uncomfortable or hesitant of it, I would see myself being successful, Alhamdulillah. Every time I would not follow his example out of fear, be it of failure or of being ridiculed, or for any other reason, I would find myself struggling even more than I did before trying to deal with situation I was in. The Prophet (SAW) is truly the greatest example, and that is known across the globe, throughout all of history, amongst Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

“…I became more than ever convinced that it was not the sword that won a place for Islam in those days in the scheme of life. It was the rigid simplicity, the utter self-effacement of the prophet, the scrupulous regard for his pledges, his intense devotion to his friends and followers, his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in God and his own mission. These, and not the sword carried everything before them and surmounted every trouble.” – Mahatma K. Ghandi, YOUNG INDIA, 1924

But, Times Have Changed…

“And We have not sent you [O Muhammad (SAW)] except as a giver of glad tidings and a warner to all mankind, but most of men know not.” – Quran (34:28)

This is just one of the many examples in the Quran that express the Prophet (SAW) being sent for all of mankind, be it as a warner, a messenger, and example, and more. That means, he was sent for those before us, after us, and during our time. It is a truth that we should learn to accept, because only at that point can we truly say that we have submitted to the command of Allah.

Society has changed, people have changed, and practically everything else has changed. But, one thing that we know has not changed is the Quran and the fact that the Prophet (SAW) is our greatest example. He was a man who was as strong as a lion, with the heart of a bird, in that he would always remain calm, and it would be rare to see him get upset despite the hardships, ridicule, insults, torture, and more that he got from those who opposed him. But, when he needed to be firm and strong, he would be so, within the bounds of Islam, wisdom, and justice. In the world we live in today, it’s thought that the strongest man is the one who can defeat the other with harshness, and sometimes, deception. But, the most victorious and successful of men in history was the Prophet (SAW); harshness and deception was just not in his nature. So, success is clearly in following the Prophet (SAW)’s example, by being kind, understanding, patient, and wise. Remember to be confident in his ways, as this will give you the motivation, conviction, and courage to continue on the path of Allah, insha Allah.

The Greatest Example, The Greatest Advice

We, as Muslims, and even non-Muslims, have been blessed to have an example like that of the Prophet (SAW) in our history. Make an effort to always ask yourself, “What would the Prophet (SAW) do or advise?” when you are about to act on something, be it based on emotion, a major decision, or anything else. Following his example is a sure way to success, and even if others around you may become displeased, remember that Allah has commanded that we follow the example of the Prophet (SAW) in order to be successful. I will end this post with a simple reminder from the Prophet (SAW) that is incredible in giving us what we need to survive and be happy in this life and the Hereafter. But, remember, that its acceptance requires that we live up to the name Muslim by truly submitting to the will of Allah.

It has been narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (S) said: “One who keeps his hopes solely upon Allah, He will be sufficient for that person in all affairs (of his life); one who keeps his hopes on the material world, Allah will leave him (with the world); one who wishes to reach his goals through disobeying Allah will be the furthest away from that which he wishes (to achieve) and will be the closest to difficulties; one who seeks to please the people through the disobedience of Allah, He will change the pleasure (of the people) towards him to be his disgrace (amongst the people).

One who seeks to please the people while earning the displeasure of Allah, Allah will appoint those people to be above him (to rule him); one who seeks to please Allah while making others displeased with him (through not obeying them), Allah will be sufficient for him from the evil of the people; one who acts properly with that which is between him and Allah, Allah will make sufficient that which is between him and the people; one who makes right that which he performs in secret, Allah will correct that which he performs in the open. Allah will make sufficient the affair of the one who works for his next life in all of his affairs of this world.”

Be Selfish, But Wise
Be Selfish, But Wise 1024 768 Nadir Keval

To be selfish is one of those traits we’ve learned to be negative since we were children. Remember hearing grown-ups say, “We have to share,” when all you really wanted to do was keep things to yourself? That was definitely a great piece of advice, but too much of anything runs the risk of being harmful. Because of this and similar reminders growing up, many of us have grown to put so much focus on the opinions of others and on putting others first.

Sounds harmless, but this can actually eat away at you fulfilling the dreams you’ve set for yourself, and in you reaching your greatest potential. It’s true that in Islam we are taught to consider others and want for our brothers what we would want for ourselves, but there are limitations to this because if we don’t secure ourselves, we can’t be our best for those we want to help and support. It’s like the question of whom you would help first if you were sitting on a plane beside an elderly person and a child, while the plane was falling towards a crash. Some would feel this is a dilemma of which of those two lives are more valuable. The correct answer to that question, however, is to first help yourself so that you can have the strength and ability to help both the elderly and child.

Balancing Giving Back

“Your body has a right over you, your eye has a right over you, your wife has a right over you, and your visitor has a right over you.” – Prophet Muhammad (SAW)

Personally, as I’ve strived towards helping as many people as possible with my life and time, I’ve struggled in finding a balance. I would often worry so much about helping others that I would end up finding myself with absolutely nothing left to keep myself going. It’s not just in monetary matters, but also in securing myself mentally and physically. I’ve always sought to follow the example of the Prophet (SAW) and his companions in how to help people, to the best of abilities. I remember once reading that the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was so generous that it was as though he didn’t fear poverty. So, I strive towards being like that, not only in giving monetary charity, but also in helping people in any way I can. Truthfully though, it often leaves me drained at the end of the interactions.

Don’t get me wrong. I love helping people. It’s a core aspect of what makes me who I am and what makes me happy. But, the truth was indisputable. I needed to find some fuel. Unless I found a way to feed my mind, body, and soul, I would quickly drain myself of energy and would be of no use to anyone.

Soul Food

So, I began my search, first seeking out fuel for my soul, as that is what would give me strength in finding nourishment for the rest of my needs. As I ventured through my spiritual search, I found what I believe to be the answer to my concerns and the rapid drain of energy that would come from my efforts.

The solution was to make everything I do an act of worship; to find a way to make my intentions such that they would make everything I do be for the sake of Allah. I found that doing this gave me a greater motivation and discipline in doing things. I don’t get as tired, I always have energy to keep going, and I always feel good about what I do.

In addition to this, I began to strive towards purifying my thoughts and intentions. So, for example, my reason for gaining knowledge wouldn’t be solely because I believe knowledge to be a core source of power, but would also be because it is a command from Allah. This way, the more I learned, the more reward I was stacking up for the Hereafter. The same would go for when I helped others. If I strengthened the stability in my faith, it would give me ease and clarity when advising others.

The benefits of this approach, and truly running your every thought and action through the filter of Islam really helps towards finding inner-peace, happiness, and success.

Mental Massage

As I said, seeking knowledge has become one of the greatest things I have included as a part of my life. As I continuously grow in knowledge, I build wisdom with which I can advice and help others. I still have a lifetime of knowledge and wisdom to gain though, so I am in no way qualified to consider myself wise. But, my pursuit is towards never holding back from an opportunity for knowledge. More knowledge means more clarity, structure, and balance when helping others.

Physical Fuel

Something someone very important to me once said is that their reason for pursuing a healthy lifestyle and getting in shape is because, “This body and life is an Amana (loan) from Allah, so it’s my duty and responsibility to respect it and keep it in the best condition I can.” (That was paraphrased.) This was monumental in helping me shape my approach towards healthy living. If I meet someone who needs help in lifting something, or if I need to run somewhere in a state of emergency of helping someone, I would be much more helpful if I were in shape. When it comes down to helping people in any way, the better shape I’m in, the more energy I will have towards helping them. Allah has given me my body on loan, so I should use it in His service by being a benefit to humanity.

Please Him and You Will Please Others

The bottom line is simple. Please Allah, and you will end up pleasing others. Our ultimate goal is to get to Jannah (Paradise), and the beauty of Islam is that helping others AND helping our own selves counts for rewards in the Hereafter. We need to be selfish in that sense, such that we can be the best we can be to ourselves and thus the best we can be to others.

Be selfish in doing everything you can to follow the Quran and Sunnah. Be selfish in collecting as many good deeds as possible. Be selfish in doing whatever it takes to get to Jannah. Being selfish like this is beautiful, because in Islam, you can follow the Quran and Sunnah, collect as many good deeds as possible, and do whatever it takes to get into Jannah, just by being generous and helping others.

Consider it a double-dip in the Ajr (reward) Jar 🙂

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