“Be More & Achieve More!”

Hi,

As I was reading some passages of the Final Testament this morning, a certain aspect became clearer to me than the light of day: just how much do we need to live in this world? In Chapter 76, Mudaththir (The Wrapped One) we read the following -

8. Finally, when the Trumpet is sounded,

9. That will be- that Day - a Day of Distress,-

10. Far from easy for those without Faith.

11. Leave Me alone, (to deal) with the (creature) whom I created (bare and) alone!-

12. To whom I granted resources in abundance,

13. And sons to be by his side!-

14. To whom I made (life) smooth and comfortable!

15. Yet is he greedy-that I should add (yet more);-

16. By no means! For to Our Signs he has been refractory!

So look here, there are several points of consideration:

(a) God created man - and each will return to Him bare and alone just as he was first created; (b) God alone gives to whom he pleases, as He pleases; (c) For those who reject, and worse openly rebel against God’s signs and bounties, warn them of the consequences and then leave them to God to deal with; (d) The Sinner may be self-complacement now, but what will be his position when the reckoning comes? (e) Man’s adventitious advantages - wealth, power, position, talents - are NOT due to his own merits. They are gifts from God, Who created him. In himself he came bear and alone - and will return as such; (f) Despite what others have, one should be content with what one has been allotted for them, to use one’s time, energy, resources and talents to discharge one’s responsibility to oneself, fellow mankind and to the Creator of all; (g) Those that have been given “in abundance” - children, honour, prestige, power, wealth, facilitation - have an equal responsibility just as any one else, perhaps more-so; (h) The more such a type of person is given, the MORE he wants, without recognising the Source of all Goodness, and this is the Sinners way.

The appetite of man is not quenched from desiring more because the faith in higher matters is missing. There is no spiritual link with the One Who originated life and death in order to test us in our deeds. What will any person take with them from this temporary world except their deeds? To serve God and His creature’s is a privilege and a responsibility, a real investment into one’s eternal future. Look at Pharaoh - immortalised by God as a sign of one who thought himself as god, all-powerful and self-sufficient. He rejected the warnings of one who was raised in his own home (Moses) and suffered the lasting punishment in this life and the next. In the previous chapter (Muzzamil, 75) this is mentioned -

14. One Day the earth and the mountains will be in violent commotion. And the mountains will be as a heap of sand poured out and flowing down.

15. We have sent to you, (O men!) an apostle, to be a witness concerning you, even as We sent an apostle to Pharaoh.

16. But Pharaoh disobeyed the apostle; so We seized him with a heavy Punishment.

17. Then how shall ye, if ye deny (God), guard yourselves against a Day that will make children hoary-headed?-

18. Whereon the sky will be cleft asunder? His Promise needs must be accomplished.

19. Verily this is an Admonition: therefore, whoso will, let him take a (straight) path to his Lord!

We can see that Pharaoh could not escape his end; he had to face what he deserved despite all the luxuries surrounding him, and not one of them came to his aid when the stark Reality came to light. This world we live in here in Earth is in a solar system, which is part of a galaxy that is only one galaxy amongst many millions, and the universe is ever-expanding, yet this is only the first level of the seven heavens above. Looking at your situation, life and circumstances from this perspective, doesn’t it make you wonder what all this struggle is worth..? One day, the world as we know it will crumble and disappear - metaphorically as we end this journey on Earth - or physically as we read in the verses above when all is transformed after the final trumpet is blown…

So let us have pure contentment in what we have, what we have been given, what we are being tested with, before our time is over, and we only gasp in utter regret!

For Success & Contentment,

Asad Khan

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Usually when we are in anticipation of something it can seem like ages before anything eventful really happens. Why? Because we all want results right now. This minute. It’s got to happen now - “I’m a Professional for God’s Sake! I know how to manage People and Processes, so surely I can manage my own affairs and achieve my goals as and when I please, right!?”

Well no, not exactly. Not as we/I/you please but rather as it has been pre-ordained by the Creator. All too often we are quoted all sorts of examples of illustrious personalities who have achieved mega success at relatively tender ages or otherwise (Trump, Gates, Obama, Brin/Page-Google, et al.) but the reality behind these success is anything but normal. So we get pumped-up into thinking that if they can do it then so can I. Well its great to have such ambitions, nothing wrong with that, and its great to pick-up on points that can be modelled and integrated into your own psyche and characteristics.

But my point here is about timing rather than the nature of ambitions and personal drive. I was reading some verses from the Holy Book and I thought that I’d like to share  some of them with you to expand on this aspect:

70:19-21: “Verily man was created very impatient -fretful when evil touches him; and niggardly when good reaches him.”

You see man, according to plan of God, was created in the best of moulds (95:4). But in order to fulfil his high destiny he was given free will to a limited extent. The wrong use of this free will makes his nature impatient. That becomes his nature by his own act, but he is spoken of as so created because of the capacities given to him in his creation.

So what happens when we don’t get what we want, when we want it or how we want it? Despair, gloom and blame. But our psychology would better serve us if we were to think of higher order, patiently persevere with the times and work diligently towards the achievement of our noble personal goals. And if and when they are fulfilled, then we must not forget the share of the less fortunate ones who need assistance and support, just as we did in times of anguish.

Look at what else your Creator informs you in Chapter 41 (The Expounded):

46. Whoever works righteousness benefits his own soul; whoever works evil, it is against his own soul: nor is thy Lord ever unjust (in the least) to His Servants.

47. To Him is referred the Knowledge of the Hour (of Judgment: He knows all): No date-fruit comes out of its sheath, nor does a female conceive (within her womb) nor bring forth the Day that ((Allah)) will propound to them the (question), “Where are the partners (ye attributed to Me?” They will say, “We do assure thee not one of us can bear witness!”

48. The (deities) they used to invoke aforetime will leave them in the lurch, and they will perceive that they have no way of escape.

49. Man does not weary of asking for good (things), but if ill touches him, he gives up all hope (and) is lost in despair.

50. When we give him a taste of some Mercy from Ourselves, after some adversity has touched him, he is sure to say, “This is due to my (merit): I think not that the Hour (of Judgment) will (ever) be established; but if I am brought back to my Lord, I have (much) good (stored) in His sight!” But We will show the Unbelievers the truth of all that they did, and We shall give them the taste of a severe Penalty.

51. When We bestow favours on man, he turns away, and gets himself remote on his side (instead of coming to Us); and when evil seizes him, (he comes) full of prolonged prayer!

52. Say: “See ye if the (Revelation) is (really) from Allah, and yet do ye reject it? Who is more astray than one who is in a schism far (from any purpose)?”

53. Soon will We show them our Signs in the (furthest) regions (of the earth), and in their own souls, until it becomes manifest to them that this is the Truth. Is it not enough that thy Lord doth witness all things?

54. Ah indeed! Are they in doubt concerning the Meeting with their Lord? Ah indeed! It is He that doth encompass all things!

These verses are powerful, true and revealing. If properly understood they give immense insights into the nature of our being and help shape our reality for the better.  Weak, hasty and ungrateful is the the base nature of humans, so its only when we recognise the Source of All Goodness and rely on Him utterly to fulfil our needs that we then begin to raise our ranks to fit in with the “Best of Moulds” - as we were intended in our primary purpose. Timing, and Time itself, is in His Hands alone. No need therefore for any to fret over what others have or have not. Stick to your own personal convictions and purify them, strengthen them and work towards the fulfilment of your noble goals with the assistance of Higher Order and Grace.

For Success & Contentment,

Asad Khan

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