Benefit of Perspective – Part 2

To reach a goal, we must have a goal. That seems self-evident but just see if you have a written down lifegoal. If you don’t, then ask yourself what you are working and living for? Just to eat, drink, satisfy desires and die, is what animals do. To live for a purpose is not what most humans do, but what all humans are supposed to do. The truth is that for most humans, there is little to distinguish them from other mammals other than that they are the only ones who wear pants and show their teeth when they are happy. So, please invest some time in yourself and write down a lifegoal that excites and energizes you. Something you believe is worth dedicating your life to. That is where the rest of your life will begin. Either live by default. Or live purposefully. The choice is yours. The result will be yours. Choose wisely. Because to live is not merely to draw breath. They say, ‘You only live once.’ That is not true. You live every day. So, live deliberately and consciously. Live for a purpose. Live to please Allahﷻ. Live to leave a legacy of honor.

For the second piece of the puzzle, Allahﷻ defined parameters of success.

كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَآئِقَةُ ٱلْمَوْتِ وَإِنَّمَا تُوَفَّوْنَ أُجُورَكُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ فَمَن زُحْزِحَ عَنِ ٱلنَّارِ وَأُدْخِلَ ٱلْجَنَّةَ فَقَدْ فَازَ وَمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَآ إِلَّا مَتَـٰعُ ٱلْغُرُورِ

A’al Imraan 3:185   Every soul will taste death. And you will only receive your full reward on the Day of Judgment. Whoever is spared from the Fire and is admitted into Jannah will ˹indeed˺ triumph, whereas the life of this world is no more than the delusion of enjoyment.

Nothing can be clearer than this. Allahﷻ mentioned three things:

Everyone will die and be called to account and rewarded or punished.

Success means to be protected from punishment and be granted Jannah.

The life of this world is deception.

Let us begin with the first statement of Allahﷻ - Every soul will taste death. Ask, ‘Does this apply to me? When will it happen for me?’ Sounds like a dumb question, but believe me, it is the most important question you will ever answer. And once you answer it, your life ahead will be crystal clear. If I truly believe in the core of my being, not just intellectually, that I can die at any time and will have to answer to Allahﷻ, then I will remember that, at every decision point and will never do anything that I know, displeases Him. Let us remember that when we stand before Allahﷻ, it is our bodies which will speak and bear witness for or against us. Allahﷻ said:

ٱلْيَوْمَ نَخْتِمُ عَلَىٰٓ أَفْوَٰهِهِمْ وَتُكَلِّمُنَآ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَتَشْهَدُ أَرْجُلُهُم بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْسِبُونَ

Ya Seen 36: 65  On this Day We will seal their mouths, their hands will speak to Us, and their feet will testify to what they used to commit.

Look at your right hand and imagine it speaking. What is it saying? Then do the same with your left hand, your right and left feet, your eyes, ears, skin. If they are all saying good things, Alhamdulillah. But if not, the time to change that is now. Allahﷻ gave us Istighfaar and Tawba until the end. But when that end comes, the door will be shut. Let us not wait until then.

See the mercy of Allahﷻ. He said about repentance and returning to Him:

إِن تَجْتَنِبُوا۟ كَبَآئِرَ مَا تُنْهَوْنَ عَنْهُ نُكَفِّرْ عَنكُمْ سَيِّـَٔاتِكُمْ وَنُدْخِلْكُم مُّدْخَلًا كَرِيمًا

Nisa 4: 31   If you avoid the major sins forbidden to you, We will absolve you of your ˹lesser˺ misdeeds and admit you into a place of honor.

Allahﷻ said about those who commit sins and want to repent:

قُلْ يَـٰعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا۟ مِن رَّحْمَةِ ٱللَّهِ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ

Zumar 39: 53    Say, ˹O Prophet, that Allah says,˺ “O My slaves who have transgressed against their souls! Do not lose hope in Allah’s mercy, for Allah certainly forgives all sins.