“Be More & Achieve More!”

Hi,

Here are some of the other presentations submitted elsewhere for public viewing, but which I thought would be suitable for referencing here also…

There’s plenty more to come, so stay tuned!

For Success and Contentment,

Asad R Khan

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Hi,

Most times we think that everything in life simply has to follow a particular order of progression, development and as a natural consequence, an upward and onward ascent. Well what happens when this is not the case? Are you put off by the lack of results or do you stick to your plan? Do you even have a plan in the first instance? Let me tell you that sometimes, for some people in some places, things can go so tremendously well that you think that astronomic results have materialised out of thin air. I mean exponential growth occurs almost in the figurative ‘blink of an eye’: look at Trump, Branson, Gates, Slim, Mittel et al. They may not have necessarily had it all to begin with, yet within in the span of a few decades they have amassed a net-worth eclipsing many lives over.

So many self-help books will cite their triumphs in attempt to make you feel inadequately small and raise your inquisitiveness until you ask yourself “why don’t I do what they do in order to reap the same type of rewards as they?” I know that the natural tendency of humans is to see what others are doing and if it resonates with oneself then a pursuit to mimick, or ‘model’, them is taken on. Now 1 of 3 things can happen:-

1. You achieve it (not likely)
2. You give up (likely)
3. You adapt

We can talk all day about qualities such as Perseverance, Faith, Sense of Certainty, Resilience, Resourcefulness, and the like, which are key to the success of most endeavours, but one crucial oversight not referred to so much is the aspect of Divine Intervention.

Too many people agonise over the triumphs of others and forget the many small favours in their own lives. The seemingly more successful ones will tease you to have what they have and belittle you for not being like them. The levels, or leagues, of competition and achievement may differ as time progresses but the sentiments often remain the same. So then what happens? One builds feelings of resentment, jealousy, stiffness and rigidity towards greed that only fuels the drive towards mimicking those role-models even more.

Now I’m not saying that modeling is a bad idea per se, I’m saying its a disease when one loses their bearings of reality. When it gets to a point where a person cannot see anything else but the what others have achieved then alarm bells should ring because that is not a healthy state of being to function in.

Try to remember the following:

Its not in the arriving, its in the journeying

You will deepen your sense of self-satisfaction if you let-go of delusional ideas and focus on the little things that are more readily accessible, do-able and manageable. When you do this, things will gradually unfold before you in  a way that is right for you, at that particular time in your life. So, some of the other key ingredients towards leading a prosperous and fulfilling life is to ensure that you are flexible in both thought and action. Do what is necessary to make the ascent natural, for rewards are around you already, if you were keen to notice them…The Hand of the Divine is operating at all times to keep you safe, grant you the faculties of mind, intelligence sight and hearing, given you loving relationships, and most importantly given you time and health to continue. The blessings really are in the doing and you don’t want to mess-up your chances by chasing a negative dream.

Relax, focus and work in a step-wise fashion on your pet-project/s and let the flexibility open the door to creativity and ingenuity. Many successful people have probably done the same anyway: amonst other things they may have also mastered the art of patience as this entails flexibility. Be patient and realise that the ultimate success factor is Divine Intervention, for He determines when, how, where and how much:

Man proposes and God disposes.

And by the way, those others who you look-up to may also have done things which may be less than desirable: cheat, lie, steal, fraud, etc. so why not look at your own beauty and see the magic that is within. To have a patience is great treasure and it needs to be exercised in every department of life: career, business, relationships, finances, health, overall living conditions, and even against those who have wronged you. Letting it go and letting the matter rest with the ALMIGHTY above is the surest way of bringing relief to your heart and mind. Acting with patience is to act in the reflection of the Merciful One, to act in haste, or anger, is to act in the reflection of the accursed one. We want to win on all fronts, so why not be savvy and work the inner world in a way that is authentic, balanced and to higher purpose? This is self-leadership as stated in the last testament:

“And for those who fear God, He will make their path easy” (65:4)

So dear reader you don’t have to give-up, you don’t have to agonise over those you are attempting to model, you don’t have to feel inadequate at any stage as long as you keep to you true self, work hard, hold onto the rope of the Divine and thank Him for your blessings as you go along, because now you understand that Life really is non-linear.

For continued Success and Contentment,

Asad Khan

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Hi,

What is time? The question has baffled many a thinker throughout the ages and continues to serve as one of the greatest mysteries. You realise that time ‘flies’ when you’re having fun, or when immersed in a series of long thoughts that has taken you into dream mode. Conversely, when you are waiting for something to happen and keen to see an outcome it seems like its taking forever!

Yet time, and its measurement, remains the same. The only difference is the state of mind that you have whilst experiencing its relativity. Now lets say that there is something that you have to do, its important and much depends on it. But you don’t feel like doing it, before long all the symptoms of procrastination set-in and the whole idea of that important task feels more like a chore, a burden. And if you actually get round to making a start, you tend to be sluggish, out of sync and phased by the whole process.

Consider the alternative: you are feeling fresh, responsive and ready to tackle any challenge coming your way, which may not only be critical, but difficult. And now you are not put off by the size of the job but welcome the opportunity to pour out your creativity and perform at greater levels. In doing so, you do not necessarily realise the amount of time consumed when working on it, which may be much more than what your originally envisaged!

So, enjoying what you do is more important than the act of the doing alone. This enjoyment comes from the inside, from your natural state, which is why you should choose, whenever you can, to work on those things in work and life that suit your inherent interests and abilities.

The test of time is to pick-out the most interesting and rewarding from the trivial, mundane and the un-captivating. Once this is done, you can ‘fly’ through time more often rather than twist and fret on the spot.

The Space-Time Factor

Now, If the Sun is able to warp the space-time factor, and it being only one of the many suns in this lower universe, then you shall deduce that other bigger suns and entities will ‘affect’ time in similarly extraordinary ways. And in the proximity of God, the Ultimate Power, Absolute Force and The Infinite Source of Energy, who sits on His vast throne above the seven heavens, time definitely is not as we perceive it here on earth. Recapping on an earlier Chapter (The Ways of Ascent, 70):

70:4 The angels and the Spirit ascend unto Him in a Day the measure whereof is (as) fifty thousand years:

70:5 Therefore, do hold patience, a patience of beautiful (contentment).

70:6 They see the (Day) indeed as a far-off (event):

70:7 But we see it (quite) near.

So ultimately, in the grandest scheme of things, life and the universe, the only aspects that really matter are the deeds that we send forwards which we all will be accounted for on the Great Day of Reckoning. If we utilise our God-given talents and strengths for the benefit of others, within the guidelines provided for us by our Creator, then we will not only find success but contentment also. This is the test of time, particularly when our ‘goals’ are not reached and the outcome we desire is not in sight, then the magnificence of patience must be exercised and witnessed.

And remember, no-one really manages time, you can only manage the activities that you do through choice and self-discipline.

There is much more that can be stated on this topic including the eastern view of kairos versus the more western chronos interpretation of time. However, if one day can equal 50,000 of our human years, be sure that there is a massive unfathomable world out there waiting to receive us in our onwards journey.

For success and contentment,

Asad.

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Welcome,

I’m going to relate to you a story of a group of people who wished the best for themselves and relied on their own capacities alone.

A long time ago there was a group of people who were preparing to go to sleep and dream about how they wanted to gather their harvest early in the morning. They had eagerly looked forwards to reaping the fruits of hard labour and resolved to gather the bounty at the break of dawn. When they awoke, they called upon each other to hurry towards the garden and to move quietly whilst doing so. When they arrived, they found the garden, to their great dismay and anguish, in utter ruins. But why? What had happened?

Well, let’s hear it from the One Who Knows all in His own Majestic words, Chapter 68, The Pen:

17. Verily We have tried them as We tried the People of the Garden, when they resolved to gather the fruits of the (garden) in the morning.
18. But made no reservation, (”If it be God’s Will”).
19. Then there came on the (garden) a visitation from thy Lord, (which swept away) all around, while they were asleep.
20. So the (garden) became, by the morning, like a dark and desolate spot, (whose fruit had been gathered).
21. As the morning broke, they called out, one to another,-
22. “Go ye to your tilth (betimes) in the morning, if ye would gather the fruits.”
23. So they departed, conversing in secret low tones, (saying)-
24. “Let not a single indigent person break in upon you into the (garden) this day.”
25. And they opened the morning, strong in an (unjust) resolve.
26. But when they saw the (garden), they said: “We have surely lost our way:
27. “Indeed we are shut out (of the fruits of our labour)!”
28. Said one of them, more just (than the rest): “Did I not say to you, ‘Why not glorify (God)?’”
29. They said: “Glory to our Lord! Verily we have been doing wrong!”
30. Then they turned, one against another, in reproach.
31. They said: “Alas for us! We have indeed transgressed!
32. “It may be that our Lord will give us in exchange a better (garden) than this: for we do turn to Him (in repentance)!”
33. Such is the Punishment (in this life); but greater is the Punishment in the Hereafter,- if only they knew!
34. Verily, for the Righteous, are Gardens of Delight, in the Presence of their Lord.
35. Shall We then treat the People of Faith like the People of Sin?

So, these foolish and greedy people wanted to steal the fruits of not just their labour, but other people’s too, who had an equal share in reaping the rewards. And also, they had no inclination towards relying on the Sustainer, the Source of all Goodness, for their provisions but in their ignorance thought they had control over all aspects of livelihood.

But the right way is to remember that all our plan’s success depend on how much they accord with God’s Will and Plan. His universal Will is supreme over all affairs. The foolish men who had secretly plotted to rob the poor of their just rights were frustrated when their plan was foiled by the Greater Force. They were put into a position where they were unable to continue with their fraudulent mission, as a storm destroyed the fruits and trees and altered the place beyond recognition.

This is the spiritual reason behind a physical phenomena which often we do not see nor realise. We will think it an unfortunate matter of ‘nature’ that has nothing to do with anyone, or thing, in particular. But here, we are told that the deceptive, cruel and selfish motives of a certain bunch of people triggered the spiritual intervention that created the physical upheaval. The dreams of the selfish were destroyed because they thought they could cheat the poor of their share. Class struggle? Yes, the rich owners of the orchid did not realise the rights of the poor that they were trampling on so their greed was punished.

Their first thought was of personal loss, the loss their labour and the loss of their capital. They had plotted to keep out others from the fruits: now, as it happened, the loss was their own. When such greed is punished often people are ready to throw blame on others. With varying degrees of guilt, one had pointed out in moments of reflection that he had warned them of wrongdoing and defying the Will of God and the right of man.

The selfishness created an arrogance in them that they were the proud owners of the garden and this led them to forget God. However, once they realised their mistake some sincerely repented and hoped for a better exchange to what the previously had. This is the beauty of God’s Mercy: there’s always room for it if we sincerely draw nearness to Him and repent. If not, we are warned that the punishment of the Hereafter is much worse than what we witness here.

You may wonder “why do the wicked flourish?” God’s mercy is one of the reasons but there are others we can refer to:

1. the limited choice left to man’s will;
2. his moral responsibility;
3. the need of tuning his will to God’s will;
4. the long-suffering quality of God, which allows the widest possible chance of-
5. His Mercy &
6. in the final part, the nature of spiritual punishment, which is not an arbitrary act, but a long gradual process in which there is room for repentance at every stage.

All these aspects are represented in this remarkable Parable of the People of the Garden, which also illustrates the greed, selfishness and heedlessness of man, as well as his tendency to throw blame on others if he can think of a scapegoat.

All these foibles are shown, but the Mercy of God is boundless, and even after the worst sins and punishments, there may be hope of a better orchid than the one lost, if only:

• the repentance is true &
• there is a complete surrender to the Will of God.

And if there is no surrender of the will, then the punishment in the Hereafter is something incomparably greater than the little calamities in the Parable.

So now, think of the times and situations where such phenomena may have taken place in your own life, or in the lives of those you know or have heard of. Can you think of what the real reason might be, unknown to you at the time, of a particular case of misfortune befalling on anyone? It is not the nature of good people to wish bad for any other but we do need to learn the lessons of past mistakes and move ahead with a greater recognition of the universal order around us and the just rights of the people. You may now also begin to see the current global economic crises in a different way: the leaders of wall street and other major banking corporations have had to rely on government bail-outs which ultimately the people will have to pay for.

But the good will wait for their turn and are patient with testing times, for they understand that all affairs rest with Him above and know if they wish to have their dreams materialised, they must trust in God and surrender their will to His.

For Success & Contentment,

Asad Khan

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Yesterday I wrote a note on the need to be patient when asking and anticipating anything in one’s life and we looked at how the nature of man’s involves 2 elements as parts of his impatient base character (70:20-21):

1. fretful when evil touches him
2. niggardly when good reaches him

How many times have we seen people call upon ‘God’ for bringing about goodness in their lives, especially when they feel all the usual support structures and creature comforts around them are insufficient in helping them? I say ‘God’ in quotes because it is in these moments of deep despair that ones calls upon the real, All-seeing, All-Hearing God even thought they do not realise this. This is because normally they rely on demi-gods: things manufactured out of one’s fanciful imagination that hold no authority or power to bring good or deliver from harm. And so when the All-Merciful God delivers good to the person and with time fortunes change, the same person becomes stubborn and arrogant, rejecting the favours of his Lord, and selfishly hoards wealth / knowledge / talents / resources / charity for himself.

Now, hear what else we are told about our nature by our Fashioner in the Chapter “Children of Israel”:-

17:11 “The prayer that man should make for good, He makes for evil; for man is given to hasty (deeds).

Man in his ignorance or haste mistakes evil for good, and desires what he should not have. The wise and instructed soul has patience and does not put its own desires above the wisdom of God. He receives with contentment the favours of God and prays to be rightly guided in his desires and petitions.

If any do wish for the transitory things (of this life), We readily grant them - such things as We will, to such person as We will: in the end have We provided Hell for them: they will burn therein, disgraced and rejected.

Those who do wish for the (things of) the Hereafter, and strive therefor with all due striving, and have Faith,- they are the ones whose striving is acceptable (to God)

Of the bounties of thy Lord We bestow freely on all- These as well as those: The bounties of thy Lord are not closed (to anyone).

See how We have bestowed more on some than on others; but verily the Hereafter is more in rank and gradation and more in excellence.

Take not with God another object of worship; or thou (O man!) wilt sit in disgrace and destitution.

Remember how I said in my previous blog post not to be overly concerned with what some people have and what others don’t? Here again we are reminded in the plainest of terms similar wisdoms:

• If any wishes for the material aspects he will be granted them - as determined by his Creator
• Asking, receiving and not thanking (in its fullest meaning) is next to treason: the wicked are warned with the severest of punishments
• The Provider gives and restricts as He pleases, yet His Provision is open to all without prejudice
• Think about The Maker, The Provider, The Sustainer and thank Him- Alone - through devotion, prayer and faith with selfless service and charity
• Bear in mind the Day of Meeting your Lord when all will be laid-out in front: those who are true to Him win his Grace; those who rebel and reject His favours are humiliated
• And each person will then be to their own and there will be sufficient evidence from within (the soul) to account for or against him
• The end-game, the Hereafter, is the real deal and this is what ought to be truly sought after.

Every man’s fate We have fastened on his own neck: On the Day of Judgement We shall bring out for him a scroll, which he will see spread open.

(It will be said to him:) “Read thine (own) record: Sufficient is thy soul this day to make out an account against thee.”

Who receives guidance, receives it for his own benefit: who goes astray doth so to his own loss: No bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another: nor would We visit with Our Wrath until We had sent an apostle (to give warning).

So if one is going to ask for such and such, would it not be better not ensure that it is for worthy reasons and moreover, show gratitude for what one has in any case whilst remaining patient and steadfast at all times?

We have now seen how God’s help is widely available as He is the All-loving and The Cherishing. Let’s confirm this love, mercy and care for us with verses from the fourth chapter (The Women):

Allah does wish to make clear to you and to show you the ordinances of those before you; and (He does wish to) turn to you (In Mercy): And Allah is All-knowing, All-wise.

Allah does wish to Turn to you, but the wish of those who follow their lusts is that ye should turn away (from Him),- far, far away.

Allah does wish to lighten your (difficulties): For man was created Weak (in flesh).

Our Creator and Provider knows our inherent strengths and weaknesses and is ever-ready to assist and return an honest call. He wishes to help us, show us the way and strengthen our bond with him. But then the choice is left to us whether or not we like to play-out according to His wisdom and support or our own selfish and limited desires.

4:32 And in no wise covet those things in which God has bestowed His gifts More freely on some of you than on others: To men is allotted what they earn, and to women what they earn: But ask God of His bounty. For God has full knowledge of all things.

This dear reader is the authentic text that is beyond doubt and corruption gifted to mankind for his guidance and welfare. Too many people forge their own understandings and have little knowledge of the Truth. Fanciful conjecture is not the means or style of Ark2Ark Training and Coaching. Rather, we aim to deliver the compelling messages of Truth and Certainty based on proofs and visible, undeniable Signs of God and His Mercy.

For Success & Contentment

Asad Khan

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