يسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the most Merciful
Alhamdulillah with the end of another amazing, yet eventful year at the LSE, many of us would have experienced tests in one form or another. Whether it’s academics, extra curricular (ISoc or any other student society/ SU/ external Organisation), they’re all similar in nature – the context being the only thing differing each time.
The following are a few simple reminders (courtesy of fellow ISocers), beginning with none other than the importance of reminders themselves:
1. Reminders
Why do we always need them? The Arabic word for human being/man is ‘insaan’ which is derived from the word ‘nasiya’ – to forget.
2. Intentions
Correct intentions: any act + good Intentions = ‘ibadah (worship) (in arabic: 3aada + niyyah = 3ibadah). We should keep renewing our intentions, which must be that everything we do is purely to seek the pleasure of Allah (swt); don’t let anything dilute or change your original intentions.
3. Humbleness
Particularly important for ‘LSE’. Alhamdulillah, we’ve done a lot, but it’s important to not let even a tiny bit of arrogance take over. Instead, be thankful to Allah (swt) and appreciate that whatever results we achieved are from Him only.
Happiness is a natural feeling; there’s nothing wrong with it. When we accomplish a good deed, Allah (swt) has put that something in our hearts that makes us feel happy and glad that we’ve done it and achieved success. Why? One of the reasons is so that we can love this good deed and want to do it again and again, and want to better ourselves from within, not because anyone else told us to, but because inside us we love to do this good deed for the sake of Allah (swt).
However, it’s almost too easy to cross the line between being happy to being TOO pleased with oneself, as this then becomes arrogance. Being humble doesn’t negate the effort we put in…it just couples our effort with the understanding that it is ultimately Allah (swt) who provides. Here’s an important dua’ when praised:
“O Allah, do not call me to account for what they say and forgive me for what they have no knowledge of and make me better than they imagine”
4. Repentance forgiveness
At the beginning, middle, and end of everything – “That is a nation which has already passed away: there awaits it whatever it has earned, while you will have what you have earned. You will not be questioned about what they have been doing.” (2:141)
We spend and waste too much time on the faults of others, yet on the enormous day we will not be asked about them. We will be asked about how we spent OUR lives. Focus on what is in your control today. Everyone makes mistakes, which we must reflect on and it is the mercy of Allah (swt) that He forgives us whenever we sincerely ask for forgiveness, however many times, and He loves the servant who keeps turning back to Him:
“O son of Adam, so long as you call upon Me and ask of Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I would forgive you. O son of Adam, were you to come to me with sins nearly as great as the earth and were you then to face Me, ascribing no partner to Me, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great as it.” (Hadith Qudsi, Tirmidhi)
5. Thankfulness
A believer should remember Allah (swt) in both the good and bad times. As an example: ISoc meetings, emails, projects, events…everything can be rewarded. And this all goes back to intentions – there’s a lot of scope for obtaining reward, from PR proposals to even something that may seem trivial, yet having a high impact; picture the potential for reward of every small thing we do and be thankful for the opportunity of attaining this reward.
6. Being content and looking forward
Reflect and always seek improvement. Good is not good enough, strive for ihsaan (excellence). We can’t change anything that has already happened, but you CAN choose how you respond…
Avoid ‘IF…’ – If a mishap should happen to befall you then do not say: “If only I had acted….such and such would have happened’. Rather say: ‘Allah has decreed and what He wills, He does’… for verily ‘If’ lets in the work of the devil.” (Muslim)
What is HIGHLY IMPORTANT is to move forward, utilise your time wisely and benefit from it as much as possible since The Prophet (pbuh) advised us to take advantage of our time before the time comes when we no longer have the enthusiasm and the passion that we have when we’re young. So, following up from last week’s brilliant Tarbiya “Be a man worth 1000 men”, seize this opportunity, take advantage of it and exercise this energy for the sake of Allah (swt) in any way you can, inshaAllah. 🙂
Anything good is from Allah (swt), anything bad are my own shortcomings.
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