We might begin a project with pure sincerity (ikhlas), but that's not a guarantee that our efforts will remain sincere forever. We have to be vigilant in our guarding our intentions and question our sincerity if we begin to feel desperate for validation and appreciation from others. If you began something with a sincere desire to serve Allah, but now you find yourself bitter or resentful because you don't feel successful, appreciated, or acknowledged, take a step back and reflect upon ayah three of surah Al-Iklaas: 'He has never had offspring, nor was He born.' The One you serve through this effort has never had offspring. He has never been born. He is not your boss, your followers, yo

وَمَنْ أَرَادَ الْآخِرَةَ وَسَعَىٰ لَهَا سَعْيَهَا وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَأُولَٰئِكَ كَانَ سَعْيُهُم مَّشْكُورًا But whoever desires the Hereafter and exerts the effort due to it while he is a believer - it is those whose effort is ever appreciated [by Allāh]. (17:19)

This verse struck me, particularly the phrase 'wa sa'a laha sa'yaha = and exerts the effort due to it'.

We all have desires. We want to be fit or we want a great career or to save money or to get married.... but we do not exert the same effort for each of these desires. Imagine this. Someone says, 'whoever wants to get in shape...' Most people want this. And so they will listen. The next sentence might be, 'sign up for this perfe

Sometimes trying to do even the basics feels like a struggle. Waking up on a cold morning to pray fajr, avoiding haram, maintaining family ties, praying Isha when you'd rather go to sleep, maintaining your modesty, etc. But did you know that Allah is ash-Shakoor, The Appreciative? Imam Al-Ghazali tells us that ash-Shakoor is 'The one who rewards the practice of a few pious deeds many-fold, and in response to the action of a few days, gives limitless happiness in the life to come. The one who rewards a good deed many-fold is said to be grateful for that deed, while whoever commends the one who does a good deed is also said to be grateful. Yet if you consider the multiplication

'People do not wander around and find themselves at the top of Mount Everest' Zig Ziglar Reading this quote reminded me of this ayah: 'But whoever desires the Hereafter and strives for it accordingly, and is a ˹true˺ believer, it is they whose striving will be appreciated.' (19) 17-The Night Journey Someone who wishes to reach the top of a mountain has to strive accordingly. No one will just walk around aimlessly and reach the summit. The true believer also has to strive for the Hereafter accordingly. This makes me think about the goals I wish to achieve. Sometimes I just expect that I can randomly put in a little effort here and there, make a dua, and I'll eventually improve a

I remember sitting down in an Ethics class with Dr. Mattson one day when she asked us, 'Why were the companions around the Prophet (sas) considered the best generation to have ever lived? They had their fair share of problems- addictions, divorces, family disputes.' We all offered some type of feeble attempt at a deep and profound answer. And then she responded by saying, 'Because they never gave up. They continuously strove to be better.' Every time I feel like throwing in the towel, I remember Dr. Mattson’s words. And the older I get, the deeper I understand what it means to strive. When I started practicing Islam more seriously, I initially approached it as a religious checklist. As lo