No, this post isn't about birthdays...its about the new year 2012!
When someone asked me what my plans were for the new year, I didn't have anything particular in mind. I would be doing more of the same I guess? To celebrate the new year and make resolutions kind of sounds corny at age 23. I mean, I am old enough to realize that I cannot totally start anew and revise my life altogether. So why set myself up for disappointment? I mean, if I really wanted to loose 20 pounds or stop wasting money or get organized, I wouldn't wait for the clock to strike January 1st! No, I would simply run every morning after Fajr, take the stairs and say bon voyage to chocolate. To save money, I would come up with a weekly dollar amount to sock away, buy less and cheap. And donate/recycle/trash four items every night until my room was in order. But am not doing any of these things am I? I had so many ideas but I didn't implement any of them. I didn't work hard to achieve anything. This past year I didn't have any goal so I was sleeping on the couch, studying in the hall, eating in the woods. I was all over the place. I didn't focus. What was wrong with me? Why was I such a loser? Alhamdulillah I did well in school, volunteered in the community, travelled, got published, and got engaged to marry. Yes, alhamdulillah, the past year was really happy, colourful and eventful. Alhamdulillah my Rabb has been Most Generous to me. He gave me more than I am worth. Still I cannot help but feel like a jerk, like I didn't plan my time well.
Two years ago when I worked for an institute, I prepared an annual report or summary of their academic and administrative performance. The report had a detailed chronicle and analysis of the institute's scholastic activities, i.e. number of courses, number of students in each course etc. and in-depth discussion of their operation and management. The report also contained some financial statements or audit review of sorts. The compilation benefitted the key directors and stakeholders to scrutinize the institute's progress in the light of their ambitions and polices. It was designed to help them see their shortcomings and tighten their belt to navigate through the coming years with superior efforts. A new year's resolution is like a annual report of the self.
Too many of us are used to living chained in the cave. We do not look to either side or behind us, but only straight ahead - mostly at our phones or computers. Behind us is the real world. Because we are turned away from reality, we only see its shadows. And we are happy chasing after the shadows. We live to satisfy our appetites; we are ruled by money and stuff. I know this sounds cliched but isn't 90% of our time every day vested in getting money, getting stuff and maintaing the things that we have. We don't have time to search for greater truths in life, think about justice in the world and achieve honour in Islam. We are so lost in writing papers for university or working our part time jobs or eating that we cannot think for a second, outside these routines. Its like being a hamster on a wheel - running but not getting anywhere. Where are we going in life? Where am I going in life?
Umar (r.a) used to say, "Take account of your own selves before your account is taken (on the Day of Resurrection). Weigh yourselves before your deeds are weighed. Verily, if you live responsibly today, tomorrow answering to Allah will be easy for you. So adorn yourself for greater display." What have I done that I can display before Allah? What was my function and role in this world? What value did I have? What influence did I leave? How will Allah see me? Will He be happy with the contract I made with Him? The Qur'an says, "Indeed Allah has purchased from the believers their lives and their properties.... [It is] a true promise [binding] upon Him in the Torah and the Gospel and the Qur'an. And who is truer to his covenant than Allah? So rejoice in you transaction which you have contracted. And it is that which is the great attainment. [Such believers are] the repentant, the worshippers, the prasiers [of Allah], the travelers [for His cause], those who bow and prostrate [in prayer], those who enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong, those who observe the limits [set by] Allah. And give good tidings to the believers" - 9:111-112 Based upon just these verses, do I even fulfill the criteria of Paradise? Do I have what it takes?
I was speaking to someone the other day and they asked me a very thought provoking question. What do I want to do? Its something I didn't ask myself for a long time. I know that I want to do a lot of things. But is this honestly true? Do I really want to do great things when I haven't planned for anything? I know, I am just pathetically whimpering when what I really need is a bang! Enough of this banal schedule. I refuse to die in a rut. Yes, over the years I have become an introvert, shy of people, afraid to make mistakes etc. But this has to stop. Many times, we put ourselves down by thinking we lack intelligence, willpower, strength or charisma. We cannot do something because we don't really have talent for it. Ignore all this bakwas. We do not know what our talents are until we train them. Anyone who is any good in the world today is because they pushed and trained themselves to meet the challenge. They were courageous and persistent before the odds. They didn't wait for things to become magical, comfortable and secure. They had two hands and 24 hours in a day like the rest of us. Difference? They used their own hands to clobber their destiny. You see, we keep telling ourselves that we'll do it later. After I graduate, after I get married, after my kids grow up etc. We have less time now than we have ever had. We have less time now than an hour ago. We are nearer to our death with each breath. Do we want to sit in the hospital next year making a bucket list before we realize its too late - we wasted our lives?
Let's stop goofing around with people; lets stop liking every comment on facebook and checking email every hour on the hour. Lets stop mindlessly laughing with the family and watching reruns of every cartoon every made by Disney Recess and Weekenders. There are certainly people who care about us and support us. Yes, I am exactly like Spinely and Tino is too cute, funny and innocent but so what? We are all ships passing in the night. Some stay longer than others, and it is good to enjoy the company and be a little kid again, but in the end, we are sailing our ship alone. And our ship is sailing back to Allah. Go and stand outside at night and look up at the sky. Contemplate how remarkably insignificant we are in this vast swirling organization of stars, planets and astroids. What have we done to make Allah look at us on the Day of Judgment with favour and forgiveness? So lets make this year really count. Yes, we will run into conflicts - we'll get pushed around, bullied etc. Don't take it personally - we are all different and have different needs and perspectives, so some friction is inevitable. Just keep your eyes on the goal, smile and keep going.
Did you know Imaam Nawawi gave up food and sleep altogether for many years so he could study and write? He used to attend 12 classes under different scholars each day, come home and review his notes, research and write. At night, he would doze off on his books for few brief moments. When he would wake up, he would say, "inna lillahi wa inna ilyihi raji'un" because he thought he wasted his time by taking rest. He had a very simple diet. He avoided everything moist, slushy or juicy - eveb fruits and vegetables because while he wanted to stay alert, read and sleep - food put him to sleep. Its scientifically true, foods rich in glycemic index and/or glucose relaxes blood vessels, improves circulation and produce serotonin and tryptophan in the body - all of which is essential to sleeping. Butter, turkey, rice etc have the same effect. So Imaam Nawawi mostly ate figs.
Did you know Imaam Nasiruddin Albani was a self-made scholar? He was so cool mashaAllah that he learned the knowledge entirely by himself. He did not finish his education after grade 5. Because the French Revolution in Syria, the schools were shut down so he would stay at home or work at the watch repair shop with his father. When he would go out, he would rent books from the book cart. This is where he first found a book on hadith. He taught himself its precepts and sciences. He dived into the field with great curiosity and studied feverishly. His personal notes became the best encyclopedic volumes on hadith. He created the hadith department of Madina University, Jamia Islamia. The 20th and 21st century Muslim owe their knowledge of ahadith and practice of sunnah largely to Imaam Nasiruddin Albani. Again the most inspiring aspect of his life is that he didn't study from any teacher. He learned everything on his own accord and Allah blessed his understanding with such accuracy and insight that great scholars of his time would pray to sit at his feet and have the honour of giving him their ijazah.
I guess what I am really trying to say is that its okay if in the year 2012 our means are really small. So long as our ambitions are high and we do painstaking work every day, inshaAllah we will become Allah's favourite in this world... inshaAllah we will sit on the Pillars of Light in the Hereafter. Abu Dhar (r.a) reported that the Prophet (s.a.w) said that Allah says, "He who comes with a good deed, its reward will be ten like that or eve more. And he who comes with a sin, his punishment will be only one like that, or I can forigve him. He who draws close to Me a hand's span, I will draw close to him a arm's length. And whoever draws near Me an arm's length, I will draw near him a fathom's length. And whoever omes to Me walking, I will go to him running..." - Ibn Majah and Ahmad. Who doesn't want to go to Allah then? Say Labbaik - O my Rabb, here I am at Your Service, now - for the rest of this year and my entire life =) O Allah accept this from me and guide me till I attain Your Pleasure aameen.
When someone asked me what my plans were for the new year, I didn't have anything particular in mind. I would be doing more of the same I guess? To celebrate the new year and make resolutions kind of sounds corny at age 23. I mean, I am old enough to realize that I cannot totally start anew and revise my life altogether. So why set myself up for disappointment? I mean, if I really wanted to loose 20 pounds or stop wasting money or get organized, I wouldn't wait for the clock to strike January 1st! No, I would simply run every morning after Fajr, take the stairs and say bon voyage to chocolate. To save money, I would come up with a weekly dollar amount to sock away, buy less and cheap. And donate/recycle/trash four items every night until my room was in order. But am not doing any of these things am I? I had so many ideas but I didn't implement any of them. I didn't work hard to achieve anything. This past year I didn't have any goal so I was sleeping on the couch, studying in the hall, eating in the woods. I was all over the place. I didn't focus. What was wrong with me? Why was I such a loser? Alhamdulillah I did well in school, volunteered in the community, travelled, got published, and got engaged to marry. Yes, alhamdulillah, the past year was really happy, colourful and eventful. Alhamdulillah my Rabb has been Most Generous to me. He gave me more than I am worth. Still I cannot help but feel like a jerk, like I didn't plan my time well.
Two years ago when I worked for an institute, I prepared an annual report or summary of their academic and administrative performance. The report had a detailed chronicle and analysis of the institute's scholastic activities, i.e. number of courses, number of students in each course etc. and in-depth discussion of their operation and management. The report also contained some financial statements or audit review of sorts. The compilation benefitted the key directors and stakeholders to scrutinize the institute's progress in the light of their ambitions and polices. It was designed to help them see their shortcomings and tighten their belt to navigate through the coming years with superior efforts. A new year's resolution is like a annual report of the self.
Too many of us are used to living chained in the cave. We do not look to either side or behind us, but only straight ahead - mostly at our phones or computers. Behind us is the real world. Because we are turned away from reality, we only see its shadows. And we are happy chasing after the shadows. We live to satisfy our appetites; we are ruled by money and stuff. I know this sounds cliched but isn't 90% of our time every day vested in getting money, getting stuff and maintaing the things that we have. We don't have time to search for greater truths in life, think about justice in the world and achieve honour in Islam. We are so lost in writing papers for university or working our part time jobs or eating that we cannot think for a second, outside these routines. Its like being a hamster on a wheel - running but not getting anywhere. Where are we going in life? Where am I going in life?
Umar (r.a) used to say, "Take account of your own selves before your account is taken (on the Day of Resurrection). Weigh yourselves before your deeds are weighed. Verily, if you live responsibly today, tomorrow answering to Allah will be easy for you. So adorn yourself for greater display." What have I done that I can display before Allah? What was my function and role in this world? What value did I have? What influence did I leave? How will Allah see me? Will He be happy with the contract I made with Him? The Qur'an says, "Indeed Allah has purchased from the believers their lives and their properties.... [It is] a true promise [binding] upon Him in the Torah and the Gospel and the Qur'an. And who is truer to his covenant than Allah? So rejoice in you transaction which you have contracted. And it is that which is the great attainment. [Such believers are] the repentant, the worshippers, the prasiers [of Allah], the travelers [for His cause], those who bow and prostrate [in prayer], those who enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong, those who observe the limits [set by] Allah. And give good tidings to the believers" - 9:111-112 Based upon just these verses, do I even fulfill the criteria of Paradise? Do I have what it takes?
I was speaking to someone the other day and they asked me a very thought provoking question. What do I want to do? Its something I didn't ask myself for a long time. I know that I want to do a lot of things. But is this honestly true? Do I really want to do great things when I haven't planned for anything? I know, I am just pathetically whimpering when what I really need is a bang! Enough of this banal schedule. I refuse to die in a rut. Yes, over the years I have become an introvert, shy of people, afraid to make mistakes etc. But this has to stop. Many times, we put ourselves down by thinking we lack intelligence, willpower, strength or charisma. We cannot do something because we don't really have talent for it. Ignore all this bakwas. We do not know what our talents are until we train them. Anyone who is any good in the world today is because they pushed and trained themselves to meet the challenge. They were courageous and persistent before the odds. They didn't wait for things to become magical, comfortable and secure. They had two hands and 24 hours in a day like the rest of us. Difference? They used their own hands to clobber their destiny. You see, we keep telling ourselves that we'll do it later. After I graduate, after I get married, after my kids grow up etc. We have less time now than we have ever had. We have less time now than an hour ago. We are nearer to our death with each breath. Do we want to sit in the hospital next year making a bucket list before we realize its too late - we wasted our lives?
Let's stop goofing around with people; lets stop liking every comment on facebook and checking email every hour on the hour. Lets stop mindlessly laughing with the family and watching reruns of every cartoon every made by Disney Recess and Weekenders. There are certainly people who care about us and support us. Yes, I am exactly like Spinely and Tino is too cute, funny and innocent but so what? We are all ships passing in the night. Some stay longer than others, and it is good to enjoy the company and be a little kid again, but in the end, we are sailing our ship alone. And our ship is sailing back to Allah. Go and stand outside at night and look up at the sky. Contemplate how remarkably insignificant we are in this vast swirling organization of stars, planets and astroids. What have we done to make Allah look at us on the Day of Judgment with favour and forgiveness? So lets make this year really count. Yes, we will run into conflicts - we'll get pushed around, bullied etc. Don't take it personally - we are all different and have different needs and perspectives, so some friction is inevitable. Just keep your eyes on the goal, smile and keep going.
Did you know Imaam Nawawi gave up food and sleep altogether for many years so he could study and write? He used to attend 12 classes under different scholars each day, come home and review his notes, research and write. At night, he would doze off on his books for few brief moments. When he would wake up, he would say, "inna lillahi wa inna ilyihi raji'un" because he thought he wasted his time by taking rest. He had a very simple diet. He avoided everything moist, slushy or juicy - eveb fruits and vegetables because while he wanted to stay alert, read and sleep - food put him to sleep. Its scientifically true, foods rich in glycemic index and/or glucose relaxes blood vessels, improves circulation and produce serotonin and tryptophan in the body - all of which is essential to sleeping. Butter, turkey, rice etc have the same effect. So Imaam Nawawi mostly ate figs.
Did you know Imaam Nasiruddin Albani was a self-made scholar? He was so cool mashaAllah that he learned the knowledge entirely by himself. He did not finish his education after grade 5. Because the French Revolution in Syria, the schools were shut down so he would stay at home or work at the watch repair shop with his father. When he would go out, he would rent books from the book cart. This is where he first found a book on hadith. He taught himself its precepts and sciences. He dived into the field with great curiosity and studied feverishly. His personal notes became the best encyclopedic volumes on hadith. He created the hadith department of Madina University, Jamia Islamia. The 20th and 21st century Muslim owe their knowledge of ahadith and practice of sunnah largely to Imaam Nasiruddin Albani. Again the most inspiring aspect of his life is that he didn't study from any teacher. He learned everything on his own accord and Allah blessed his understanding with such accuracy and insight that great scholars of his time would pray to sit at his feet and have the honour of giving him their ijazah.
I guess what I am really trying to say is that its okay if in the year 2012 our means are really small. So long as our ambitions are high and we do painstaking work every day, inshaAllah we will become Allah's favourite in this world... inshaAllah we will sit on the Pillars of Light in the Hereafter. Abu Dhar (r.a) reported that the Prophet (s.a.w) said that Allah says, "He who comes with a good deed, its reward will be ten like that or eve more. And he who comes with a sin, his punishment will be only one like that, or I can forigve him. He who draws close to Me a hand's span, I will draw close to him a arm's length. And whoever draws near Me an arm's length, I will draw near him a fathom's length. And whoever omes to Me walking, I will go to him running..." - Ibn Majah and Ahmad. Who doesn't want to go to Allah then? Say Labbaik - O my Rabb, here I am at Your Service, now - for the rest of this year and my entire life =) O Allah accept this from me and guide me till I attain Your Pleasure aameen.
PLAN PLAN PLAN!!
ReplyDeleteAgain wishful thinking is not enough. i had all these ideas all my life but because I didn't plan them out, I didn't get anywhere. Can you imagine win a game without a strategy? Or driving without directions? Cooking without a recipe? No right? if we want to get something done right, we need to follow some sort of instructions. I give myself 10 minutes every morning to plan out my day and then 10 minutes before bed to go over my "to do list" and tick off items completed. This not only productive but also encouraging. It has taught me how to keep track of myself. Now, I need to make a framework for the future. I am sure inshaAllah if I afford myself some more time to plan this year and my life five years from now, it will pay off.
I need to answer three questions: WHAT? HOW? and WHEN?
1. What do I need to do to accomplish my life's goals? This will require thorough research. Forget the internet, I would need to go meet professionals in person. Interview them...get their advise
2. How am I going to translate my research into action?I need this step to prioritize my life and focus my time and energy on work. It would require a lot of adjustment coordination and compromise.
3. When? - This is where I break my goal into weekly and monthly portions so I can gradually attain them. Its like eating pie, one cannot chug down all of it once. To really enjoy and digest the delicacy, one must cut it down to smaller pieces.