Bismillah.
In this life, we are left to make choices. These choices can either be those that are easy to make, whereas others could take a lifetime to make. And for what should these choices be made range from the simplest ordeal on what to wear for class till what should be done with the remaining time we have living this life.
How people deal with these choices also differ from one person to another, because as unique as we are created as individuals, the way we view certain situations also varies. These differences; in making choices, in the way we look at situations and grade their difficulty, however, all has a ground rule that can be laid upon.
This also differs for a lot of people. But based on the observations I've made for the past 22 years living this life (yes, I turned 22 on June 16th if I may say. Uhu) is that you will follow either:-
1. Your own judgments, experience, emotions, rationality, etc. Basically, you will decide based on personal thoughts.
2. External factors ranging from an input from other people to the circumstances that you are currently living in - funds, social stigma, culture, etc.
Now, all of these thought processes are not wrong and in fact, many of us fail to realize how much of a big impact these notions bring about in our daily life. In fact, these factors that I would like to call 'earthly' connections bind us ever so tightly to this world that it governs our thoughts and further controls our behavior. I might not be a graduate of Human Psychology but I know this much that the power of the mind is unbelievable and how by belief, a person can be dealt to the extremes yet still be able to persevere or deter altogether.
Belief = Iman
Thus, knowing so much, especially to those whom have studied the Deen (a little bit or so like me), where do we lie our beliefs in in making the choices we inevitably have to make?
Is it based on what Allah and Rasul had taught us?
Is it based on what came from a higher source of being or just our own ignorant, earthly self?
Think about it, if we look at the world similarly to how Donald Trump and Bashar Al-Asad looks at things then we are merely cowards as they are too - afraid of humans, afraid of being trampled upon. Fear, greed and power governs us and we will only battle their ideals out of of fear that we would be harassed and removed from our homes. If we look at the world similarly to how business-people, politicians and so-called modern idealists look at the world, then we would just be progressing based on a communist industry that feeds upon economical growth only without any thoughts upon social dependency and livelihood. Nevertheless, if we merely look at the world as social activists and environmental-peace-lovers, we will be unable to properly subdue the nation and bring it to prosperity in the long run.
So really, how should we look at the world?
How should we make our choices to do with our lives?
How and why should we even care?
"...It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allah.."
(Surah Fatir, 35:28)
"..'Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority'..."
(Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:30)
Only with knowledge will we know who we are,
Where are we going,
What we should do,
Why are we doing this.
Because all these questions linger among us, we can't lie. Be it a Muslim or an Agnostic, we need to deal with these questions instead of running away from it. So learn, and read. Find the Deen, the way of life and a life worth living.
Because there is no use fighting a war that we are sure to lose, and there is no use staying still while everybody else fights. And surely, what a waste it is if we fail to realize that we are fighting a war all this while.
And for me, as this Ramadhan ends there is only one thing that I wish to remain doing for the rest of my life.
Being His 'abid and upholding my duties as a 'khalif.
*smiles*
