This advice is for myself first and foremost! One must follow up their willpower with the right means to achieve what they want. That is true willpower. If actions are according to intentions, one must go beyond wishful thinking to actualising what they want to achieve, and that can only happen by following through with the most effective course of action. In other words, WILLPOWER is intention (will ) followed by actions (power). If tahajjud is something you wish to commit to, the action must be in line with this intention.For instance, set up your alarm like your life depends on it. One brother said, 'I drink gallons of water so I am compelled to wake up'! Similarly, If righteous knowledge is what you seek, monitor how you spend your time and who with? What do you read or watch? Spending 3 hours on TikTok, won't make you a student! Mere wishful thinking is not the same as willpower. If intention is the spark, then willpower is the fuel that propels you to your aim. A spark without fuel, will get you nowhere. The Great Dhul Qarnayn, did not achieve his status as being a rightful ruler worthy of mention in the Quran, without his intention being solidified through taking the appropriate means and actions. Allah SWT describes that 'he followed a course' (18:85) Similarly, in helping a people build a fortified damn, in order to overcome the intrusion and trespass of Gog and Magog, Dhul Qarnayn did not give empty assurances to the people, (as politicians do these days) without following through with the appropriate means and methods: He responded, 'What my Lord has provided for me is far better. But assist me with resources, and I will build a barrier between you and them. (18:95) Bring me blocks of iron!' Then, when he had filled up ˹the gap˺ between the two mountains, he ordered, 'Blow!' When the iron became red hot, he said, 'Bring me molten copper to pour over it.' (18:96) The lesson we take is, that whenever we aim to please our Master by making a pledge to do something righteous, we must inspect our means and methods, ensuring these are iron-clad (pun absolutely intended) and follow the course until Allah allows for us to reach our desired destination. May Allah accept our sincere intentions and allow for us transform our good will into powerful actions. Amen Remember to reflect, reflect to remember! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 🎙️ Join me for a heartfelt and thought-provoking QuranReflect Webinar with our special guest Dr Redwan Karim as we share insights into our journey with the Quran, along with advice on building your own journey with the Quran. 📅 Session Date: Friday, January 31st, 2025 ⏰ Time: 5:00 PM GMT (UK Time) 12:00 PM EST (New York Time) 👉 Register now:
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Jazakallah may Allah increase you in beneficial knowlege and wisdom