Islamic Motivation-Life is not a race, it is a Journey. by Suffiyarose

Brushlettering by Rosita Michael from Suffiyarose (IG)

We live our lives differently from one another. Nobody is racing as everybody's journey is different.
Why on earth should we race in getting the best education? In acquiring knowledge? In getting married? In driving the best car and owning the best house and wearing the best dress? Who do we live for? For ourselves or for everyone else?

I have been thinking about life just like everyone else. I am fortunate to have Islam as my way of life as Islam teaches us to please our Creator, not everyone else. Being human, we love to please people around us. Being human, we love to please strangers. Being human we love pleasing other that Allah The Almighty the Creator of Heavens and Earth.

WHY? We love praises from others. We are so weak that praises and compliments from others make us happy. How shallow have we become! That is why when we live to please Allah, Our Creator, we stop buying the most expensive car, the most beautiful dress, the biggest house, the most expensive make-up set and etc, getting the most number of A's in our exams and etc..

Allah says in the Quran that He looks at our TAQWA. It simply means that we follow what He demands us to do and abstain from what He does not us want us to do. Therefore, being a Muslim
means following The Quran and the teachings of Prophet Muhammad, Peace and Blessings be upon Him. The moment we follow, we are never worried about what we wear, the car we drive, the bag we carry, the make-up we use, the fashion of hijab we wear etc...

Why? Islam means freedom. Free from racing, free from competition, free from suffocation and etc.  Islam also emphasizes on continuous gaining and practicing of knowledge and be the best person you could be, and that is a person who is beneficial to others. Example, if you are a Teacher, you teach beneficial knowledge or if you are a garbage Collector, you ensure that the environment is clean.

The world has fail us as we judge the level of success by what we own and earn. Not what we have become and learn.

The norm is, owning things make us look good. Not our virtues and righteous deeds.

A Teacher is successful when he or she teaches knowledge and is understood and practice by her or his pupils. A Garbage Collector is successful in his or her job as people are happy that the environment is kept clean at all times.

Phd, Masters and Honours degrees is how we measure the intelligence of people, the most number of A's, the highest marks in examinations, the highest scores and etc. But of course there is nothing wrong with being highly educated as I am a Masters Degree holder myself. It's just that, the mentality saying that we have to be highly educated to have a good life and to get the best jobs to be successful is so outdated nowadays. We can be successful in our respective ways. We should just be happy and that is to do things that makes us happy. If you are good in doing what you do for a living, regardless having a Masters degree or just a high school certificate, and what you do could take good care of your family, that will be suffice and that also means that you are SUCCESSFUL. You do not need to race with anyone in providing the best for your family.

You are free to do whatever you want to do as long as it does not go against what Allah wants you to do. Why? Allah says in the Noble Quran , "Only in the remembrance of Allah, do hearts find peace" What does that mean?

It simply means that whatever you do, remember Allah. To remember Allah, you need to be Allah Conscious at all times. When we do what Allah wants us to do and abstain from sinning, we will attain total peace in our hearts. Owning cars or any other worldly materials is easy, having a peaceful heart and mind is hard work and only by remembering Allah, one will attain peace. Why? Look at so many rich and wealthy people out there who are suffering from depression and die out of sadness and loneliness. Being with Allah, you will never feel lonely even when the whole world is against you.

Why? Things do not give us energy and total satisfaction, feeling loved by and loving Allah do.

Life is a journey and not a race simply means that we are free from anybody's perception. We are free to do what we love the most, doing things and living to please Allah Subhanawataala. Islam comes with a complete handbook and that is The Noble Quran. With this handbook, we live our lives according to it and not according to what others perceive of us. You can own a car at 50, you can be married at 45, you can get a Degree at 70, you can run a successful business at 60. It's your timezone, and also our Download time is different.

Therefore, remember, who you are depends on who you think you are. You do not need to race with anyone, you do not need to be anyone else, you do not need to please anyone, just be who you want to be and be happy by being Allah Conscious person. 

So, life is not a race, it is a journey.


Written by Rosita Michael, IG @suffiyarose_co and @jodohquotes
Author of Enjoy! Kembara Bertemu Bahagia.

All Rights Reserved 2018

Enjoy! Kembara Bertemu Bahagia, e-ISBN no. 9789671485002