Sunaa’ al-Hayah

- Life Makers -

Episode 19: Determination

In the name of Allah the All-Merciful, the Ever- Merciful; praise be to Allah, the Lord of mankind; may His peace and blessings be upon His Prophet, and our Master, Muhammad (SAWS[1]).

Welcome to the second episode of the second stage of Sunaa’ al-Hayah (Life Makers).  After we finished the first stage (praise to Allah (SWT)), and the special celebration that ended it, we began last week with the first episode, which was an introduction to the ‘revival’ stage.  As I explained to you, an extraordinary number of achievements is required for this stage.

In the first stage, we broke off our chains.  We managed to collect 1.5 million bags of clothes, which are now being distributed.  We established the project called ‘Guardians of the Future’ and had thousands of young men and women work with us in a responsible and positive manner.  All these results were great and were achieved in a short period of time during which we broke off many chains that had shackled us for tens, or even hundreds of years.  We discovered that success is possible and obtainable.

The second stage is very important and its title is huge, that is: the start of the Ummah’s (Islamic Nation’s) revival.  This is a serious task and the results we achieved in the first stage during a short period of time are the best proof of our ability to succeed.  We want to change our painful reality from one of humiliation to one of great dignity; from economical devastation to economical prosperity; from unemployment to work and production; and from loss of identity to pride in being Muslims.  We want to trigger a new age in success for universities and systems of education, non-profit organizations, social organisations, and in the field of translation.  We want to turn our culture from a cheap and tasteless one to a leading, refined, culture.

Revival is an immense word and thus to achieve our goal, Sunaa’ al-Hayah must be a very practical project, as you saw in the first stage; it is not just empty talk or unhelpful lectures.  Therefore, this episode and the previous episode serve as the strong motivation that will make us productive during this second stage.  Just like the massive energy expenditure of the powerful engines at maximum capacity that are required for a plane to take off.  It is likely that we would take a rest afterwards and reduce that energy a little, but we cannot afford to do that now during take off, while the plane is still on the runway.  During this take off, the engines have to work at full capacity, the fuel has to burn as fast as possible, the plane has to be at full speed, the passengers have to be attentive and have their seatbelts tied, the pilot and his assistant must have their hands together on the throttle steering the plane forward; no one should be allowed to sleep or relax.  This is the second stage and this is what is required of you.

What I tell you needs actual application, and praise be to Allah (SWT) that the start of this stage has coincided with the start of the summer holidays.  I would like to ask the youth, what will you do during the summer? The effort that we require of you is extraordinary and we need the utmost effort from every one of you for our take off, since this is the only way revival can happen.  The young men and women who participated in collecting 1.5 million bags of clothes, the men and women who participated in the campaign against smoking and drugs, and the youth who have participated in the ‘Guardians of the Future’ initiative have to continue to work with us now, otherwise our project will be of no use.  We do not want to stay at the bottom; we want to move and to take off.  I consider today’s episode as the start of the engines, since this stage of moving towards the revival will take four months and will require highly attentive people.  Therefore, in today’s episode, I have to start with talking about something called ‘determination.’

Examples of why this is important:

To achieve this project we need extraordinary determination, similar to that of the Prophet (SAWS) who, regardless of the obstacles, used to make unsurpassed efforts.  Imitate the Prophet (SAWS).  The world turned on him at fifty years of age, after the death of his uncle Abu-Taleb, and his wife Khadija, and the disbelievers’ ever increasing resistance; it went as far as attempting to murder him after they refused to embrace Islam.  Nevertheless, he walked 100 km from Makkah to al-Taif, which is the same distance as between Cairo and Tanta or Wadi al-Natroon.  Why did he do that? He did that because he felt that the message of Islam was very precious; he did not tire or feel any boredom because he knew the message was of grave importance.

When he reached al-Taif, he was not welcomed.  The situation was so difficult; it would have overpowered anybody else’s determination.  One leader said to him, “If I found you hanging to the covers of the Ka’ba swearing that you are a Prophet, I would still not believe you.” Another leader told him, “Did Allah not find a better person to send (as a Prophet) than you?”  A third leader said to him, “If you are a true Prophet, you are so great that I cannot talk to you.  However, if you are a liar, you are too worthless for me to talk to.”  Try to imagine what was happening to his determination during all this.  Then he said, “If you refuse to help me, then at least do not tell Quraysh (the Prophet’s tribe in Makkah) that I came seeking your help against them.”  They answered, “We swear before Allah to tell them and to send people to inform them that you came seeking our help against them.”  The Prophet (SAWS) said, “If you accept neither this nor that, then let me go.”  They said, “No, not until we gather the people to stone you.”  The people started throwing stones at him.  Your beloved Prophet (SAWS) had stones thrown at him for you to be a Muslim and for this revival to start.  This is the type of determination that we need today, not less than that by any means.

At that time, the Prophet (SAWS) was accompanied by Zayd Ibn-Haritha who held the Prophet (SAWS) tight, so most of the stones would hit him rather than the Prophet (SAWS), until his head was covered with blood.  The Prophet (SAWS) ran on the ground filled with stones with bleeding feet until he found a small garden to hide in.  As soon as he entered that garden, before he treated his injuries, he raised his hands to the sky in extreme determination to continue to deliver the message.  He called on Allah (SWT), saying, “Oh, Allah, I appeal to You for the weakness in my strength, and my limited power and the treatment of contempt and humiliation from people.  To You, the Most Merciful of all the merciful ones, You are the Lord of the oppressed, and my Lord.  Under whose care are You leaving me to? To an enemy oppressing me or a friend You have given control of my affair? If there is no anger from You on me, I will forever be content.  However, Your blessing is vastly important to me.  I seek refuge with the Glory of Your Light, which the heavens and earth are lit with, that Your anger will not befall on me, nor that Your displeasure descend on me.  To You is the supplication until You are pleased, and there is no control or power except by You.”  This is the extraordinary determination that I am talking about.  Then, the angel of mountains approached the Prophet (SAWS) and asked him, “If you want, I could collapse myself onto them.”  The Prophet (SAWS) answered, “No, may Allah bring out from their children some one who might worship him.”  He meant some one like you.

I want you to walk with me a distance like that of the Marathon of 42km.  This will be a proof that you will continue with me, and board the plane.  We all have to do it this week, even if you have to divide it over the seven days and walk 6km per day.  Your Prophet (SAWS) walked a longer distance than this one to al-Taif.  We want a determination as strong as that of the Prophet (SAWS).  Say to yourself, “I am doing what the Prophet did, and my intention is to strengthen my determination.  While walking, I will be thinking of my target in life and how I could participate in this Islamic revival.”  This is the second main reason for walking: to provoke thought. 

The question here is simple: do you intend to release your internal determination into the world or not?

We want a determination similar to that of Omar Ibnul-Khattab (RA) who was stabbed nine times.  The milk, he was given to drink, was pouring out of his wounds, yet he raised his head minutes before he died to ask, “Have the people prayed?” Then he stood up and addressed the Muslims saying, “Who will bear witness before Allah (SWT), on the Day of Judgment, that I fulfilled my responsibilities towards the Muslims?”  Ibn-Abbas came to him and said, “I will bear witness to that.”  Then Omar Ibnul-Khattab (RA) held onto him and asked him, “Do you swear that you will bear witness or are you just saying this now to please me?” Ibn-Abbas answered, “I swear that I will bear witness.”  Omar then said, “Only now is Omar relieved.”

Do you know who life makers, and anyone that works with us, are similar to? The answer is a mountain climber.  A climber’s coach tells him to put his hands, but not his eyes, on the rock he is climbing; if he puts his eyes on it, he will fail.  His eyes have to be concentrating on the target, the next rock up, while his hands are on the rock he is on.  That way, his hands will automatically go to the next rock up, since his eyes have already memorized its location.  If you have to climb the mountain with a blind body, then what is the pleasure of climbing? Is it reaching the end? No, it is the climbing activity itself.  Therefore, he who climbs two rocks is different than he who climbs a pyramid; different again to he who climbs Mount Everest; and again different to he who participates in this Islamic revival.  The motto of mountain climbing is: ‘Never look down or you will fall’ and I am telling you the same.  Do not look at the present reality of Muslims and say that nothing will work.  One expert mountain climber fell, in spite of his extensive training, because he looked down.  Therefore, I repeat, forget the painful present and keep your eyes on the revival, and how it could be achieved through today’s episode. 

The Recipe for Determination:

Determination is something inside you that only you can grow, and when you do, it could turn you into a different person, because an extraordinary energy would be generated inside of you.

Muslims, in the different battles at the time of the Prophet (SAWS), were fewer in number than their enemies to a degree that it was not logically possible for them to triumph over them by numbers.  Every person has the same internal power.  However what makes the difference is the ability to release that power and let it mix with every part and every cell of your body until your determined soul and your ability to work day and night shows in your eyes.  Therefore, it is one of the miracles Allah (SWT) bestowed in humans as He says in Surat al-Hijr what can be translated as,  "When I have fashioned him (in due proportion) and breathed into him of My spirit, fall ye down in obeisance unto him." (TMQ, 15:29)[2].

Is there something in particular that could release your internal determination? Yes.  The recipe I am going to tell you about now is the recipe that was used by the Prophet (SAWS) to encourage his Companions, and it is the same recipe used by countries as well as individuals.  Whoever follows this recipe is able to be productive.  The recipe is as follows: you have to have a target and the ability to imagine the details of that target.  That is determination: to live your target and draw its most intricate details.  Say, for example, ‘When I become the minister of the Ministry of Education, I will do such and such in the education system,’ or ‘when I become the manager of that certain company, I will do such and such,’ or ‘when I win that particular championship, I will prostrate thanking Allah and I will be an example of the religious well-behaved Muslim.”  In that way, the dream starts to penetrate into your imagination, releasing your determination.

Many people do not have a target to start with or are afraid to dream, to avoid living in fantasy a world.  There is a distinctive line between living in a fantasy world and dreaming of your target.  That line is the ability to turn your dreams into hard work.  The recipe for determination starts with a dream that dominates the mind, for example, when the players in a football team say, “We will win the championship.” This results in the release of an extraordinary force.

What was the seed the Prophet (SAWS) planted in his Companions to make them able to produce these extraordinary deeds? It was the ability to imagine Jannah (paradise).  The subconscious mind does not recognize the difference between fantasy and reality.  Therefore, if you convince it with an idea, it perceives it as a reality. 

The Prophet (SAWS) once called a companion named Abdullah Ibn-Anis and asked him to carry out a very difficult task that required walking an immense distance.  Abdullah did it and returned to the Prophet (SAWS), who asked him, “What did you do?” Abdullah answered, “Oh, Messenger of Allah, I did it.” The Prophet (SAWS) then said, “Wait for me to reward you.”  The Prophet (SAWS) went to his house, came out with a stick and gave it to Abdullah, who asked, “What is this, O Messenger of Allah?” The Prophet (SAWS) answered, “Take this and give it back to me on the Day of Judgment and I will let you enter Jannah.”  Abdullah narrated that he took the stick and never parted with it all his life, day or night, and he requested for it to be buried with him in his grave so he would meet the Prophet (SAWS) with it on the Day of Judgment.

Another time, the Prophet (SAWS) met a companion named Haritha and asked him, “Haritha, how did you wake up?” Haritha answered, “Oh, Messenger of Allah, I woke up a true believer.”  Notice this pleasant start and compare it to yourself when you wake up in the morning upset and bored.  The Prophet (SAWS) asked, “There is a certain reality behind everything, so what is the reality behind your faith?” Haritha said, “I woke up as if I could see the throne of Allah; as if I could see the righteous enjoying Jannah and the wicked screaming in hellfire, so I rose above this worldly life; I stay up at night (praying) and I stay thirsty in the morning (fasting).”  This is how his determination was released. 

One more example is that of a companion named Samra Ibnul-Akwa’, who was a great runner but did not own a horse.  He was sitting once with the Prophet (SAWS), while he was discussing military tactics with some Companions, when they noticed a spy leaving after he had overheard them.  The Prophet (SAWS) said, “Who will bring me this man and enter Jannah?”  Notice how as soon as the Jannah is mentioned, their determination is released.  Three men rose, the first one on his camel, the second one on his donkey and the third one was Samra who did not have anything to ride, yet he said to himself, “But it is the Jannah!” The three men started following the spy.  Samra narrated that he ran until he passed the man on the donkey, and continued to run until he passed the man on the camel, then his strength started to fail him and he was about to fall but he told himself, “but it is the Jannah!” He ran and ran but could not get to the spy.  He told himself again, “but it is the Jannah,” and ran and ran some more even after the spy had disappeared from his sight.  Nevertheless, he continued to run until he saw the spy stopping for a rest.  He caught him and told him, “Come with me, for you are my Jannah!”

This is the meaning and this is what I would like you to have, a very strong determination.  Imagine paradise when you look at your ambition.  Then ask yourself, what would you want to be after you achieve it? Would you want to be the owner of the biggest international company in a particular domain? Remember that you would be competing against international companies while you would be proud to be a Muslim.  It would be a good thing for our country and for all Muslims.  Everyone in the West and the Arab world would know about your products.  You would employ thousands of people.  Live through every detail of your ambition; make it feel real as opposed to a dream.  When you do that you will be encouraged to strive to achieve your dream.

The Prophet (SAWS) used the image of paradise as the reinforcer of determination for the believers.   It was on the day of the Battle of Badr.  The Muslims were few and the disbelievers were many.  The Muslims were weak and disbelievers were strong.  The Muslims’ determination was the only force that the Prophet (SAWS) could use to counteract the disbelievers’ force.  Therefore, the Prophet (SAWS) said, “Go to paradise which is as big as all the heavens and the Earth!” The believers’ determination quickly began to appear.  Amer Ibnul-Hamam then asked, “O Messenger of Allah, paradise is as big as all the heavens and the Earth?”  “Yes,” replied the Prophet (SAWS).  “Splash, splash!” said Amer.  “Why do you say splash?” asked the Prophet (SAWS).  “I hope to be one of the people of paradise,” replied Amer.  Then the Messenger (SAWS) said, “You are one of its residents.” The Muslims were victorious and Amer Ibnul-Hamam died.

Today’s episode tells you to look at every detail of your ambition and to focus similarly on paradise.  Our final aim is to have a revival not just for the sake of having one but also for pleasing Allah (SWT), our Lord.  Your ambition may be to be the owner of the biggest company in the world but your final aim is Allah’s satisfaction with you, a revival for the Muslims, and for Islam. 

What will happen is that two images will be made in your mind.  These two images will generate your strong determination.  The Prophet (SAWS) is not the only one who used this tool but also others like the United States, for example.  Once, the United States’ ambition was to land on the moon.  Naturally whoever suggested it first was thought to be mad.  However, all the efforts continued to achieve the aim of going to the moon, landing on it and planting the American flag on its surface.  When the Prophet (SAWS) looked up at the moon every month, he always used to say, “Allah is my Lord and your Lord.”  Therefore, the revival is part of us as Muslims!

I would also like to add that your ability to imagine your plan in full is the first sign of having a strong determination.  The Prophet (SAWS) was serious when he used the idea of paradise as a reinforcer for the strength of determination of the believers.  He knew that there were still some of the believers who had weak faith, for example, a man like Saraqa wanted to kill the Prophet (SAWS) but when he approached him, he could not kill him.  “Give me something,” he ordered the Prophet (SAWS).  “I promise to give you the bracelet of Koosari,” said the Prophet (SAWS).  “Who is Koosari?’ asked Saraqa. “Koosari is the King of the Knights,” replied the Prophet (SAWS) with such confidence that Saraqa believed him.  Then he asked the Prophet (SAWS) to write his promise down.  “Abu-Bakr, write down what I said to him,” said the Prophet (SAWS).  The man was still not a believer.  Years passed, and the Prophet (SAWS) passed away.  Finally, Omar Ibnul-Khattab (RA) opened the treasures of Koosari.  He held up the bracelet of Koosari and said, “O people, ambitions are made to be realised.  Where is Saraqa Ibn-Malik? Come Saraqa, wear Koosari’s bracelet.”  Then, everyone in the mosque wept saying, “Behold! The honest and the trustworthy Muhammad (SAWS) has told the truth after 20 years.”

The word revival does not come from us but from Allah (SWT), the Blessed, the One Above All, when he promised the Muslims in his declaration which can be translated as, “Allah has promised, to those among you who believe and work righteous deeds, that He will, of surety, grant them in the Land, inheritance (of power).” (TMQ, 24:55).

Therefore the revival exists, but how does one achieve it? Today’s episode is the key to strong determination.

A young man approached the Prophet (SAWS) and said, “Permit me to commit adultery.”   Listen carefully to what the Prophet (SAWS) told him.  “Would you allow it for your mother?” The Prophet (SAWS) asked.  “No,” the young man answered. “Would you allow it for your aunt?”   “No,” again answered the man.  “Would you allow it for your sister?”  “No,” he repeated.  Then the Prophet (SAWS) said, “People don’t like the things, which you don’t like to happen to your mother and sister, to happen to their daughters.”  Then the man said, “By Allah, from today and onwards, I will not commit adultery anymore.”

Notice how the Prophet (SAWS) changed the thinking of this young man in half a minute.  The man imagined consecutive pictures in his mind and realized that he did not like what he saw.  Therefore, he refused the whole idea and forever changed his mind about it.  Hence, if you were to imagine a bad picture of yourself smoking in your mind, for example, you would quit smoking altogether.  There are examples that occur among our people.  The idea of having an ambition and imagining its details is not theoretical.  I will prove it.  We have here living examples of people who had an ambition and were successful in achieving it.   We will meet them now.

1. Three days ago I read in a Saudi magazine that the top position in high school graduation with a mark of 100% in the whole of Saudi Arabia was Aliya Ghanim.  Aliya watched the episode of ‘Having an Ambition in Life,’ then she decided to apply it to her own life.  Therefore she put an ambition in her mind and achieved it.  Aliya is with us here.  She says, “I attained a mark of 100% in high school.  My mother always used to say to me that a true Muslim does not fail but always succeeds.  Then I thought of a way to be successful and asked that question to some people I was with.  One of them told me that she has never seen a successful Muslim in her whole life.  I wondered if she was saying that about me because I am a Muslim and what she was saying was impossible, since a true Muslim cannot fail.  Then during the showing of the episode ‘Specifying your Ambition,’ I wrote down the most realistic ambition that I could attain and that was to get 100% in the high school certificate and also to please Allah.  I planned how I would achieve my ambition and I said to myself that I must put a great deal of effort into studying, in hoping, in being optimistic and counting on Allah for this matter.  When I learned of the news of my results, I could not believe it.  I admit I sometimes passed through some moments when I felt some weakness in my faith, thinking, how could I get a 100% when I am among 17 million people in the whole of Saudi Arabia? I then tried to strengthen my determination and read what I had written down when I felt that weakness.  I wrote that if I did not get a 100%, I will fail.  Any human being can realize his ambition if he works hard to achieve it.”

Aliya’s objectives in life were:

• To come first in my country with total loyalty and with total faith in Allah (SWT).
• To find a cure for cancer.

If Allah (SWT) wills it, she will achieve her second goal in the same way she achieved the first one.

2. I have another example here:  a young man, who, since he was a small child, had an objective in life.  Now, at 31 years old, he has achieved it.  He is a great example of an Islamic revival.  His name is Ahmad Moharam.  He says, “I used to always hear the typical question for a young boy, what do you want to be when you grow up? I used to love to read about computers.  This was in the 80s, and you know, people used to tell me that all this talk about computers is worthless.  I attended Mansoora University, in the Faculty of Commerce.  However, the Faculty of Engineering used to be just opposite to the Faculty in which I was enrolled.  I used to attend lectures in the Faculty of Engineering which I thought would be beneficial for me later on.  Then, I started to help engineering students in plans related to programming.  Later, I was asked to fix some programs that were in textile factories imported from overseas because I was living close to where they were.  Next, I thought about making new and improved programs and of course I faced rejection because a great deal of money and a large number of people were needed.  However, what I did was stay at home for six months to come up with a program to replace those imported from abroad.  I made the new program and the factory owner asked me to try it out in his factory.  After numerous errors, the program was successful.  It was one of the most popular imported programs with the endorsement of international companies who creates such programs.  Then, we won first prize in textiles from the Arabic Industrial Association from among many candidates, which included university professors.  It also awarded us a second prize for ‘document security’ and the 3^rd award was an international one for the best website in private programs to control industrial machines.  My aim now, is to finish my Masters Degree in the field of ‘control’ and to employ a research group having their own goals in advances, for example, to have a common goal that after 10 years we will have a water purification system in the whole of the Arab World.

3. This video clip tells of another example of how strong determination and willpower is linked to seeing and planning the details of how to achieve your goal.  It is about a man whose goal in life, since his youth, had been to build a fort similar in design to a big castle, with souvenirs for people to come and see, and to be a good source of income.  In art lessons at school he used to draw his plan on paper.  His teacher saw him drawing one then caned him, telling him to have a realistic ambition.  He promised himself that he would build his fort.  It is a similar story to that of Ahmad Moharam and Aliya, and it is also the same as what the Prophet (SAWS) did.  It has the same principle, which never changes: in order to achieve your goal in life, its planning must occupy all of your thought.  Musa’s Castle is now one of the biggest attractions in Lebanon.  Even when he was very poor, the man succeeded.  He believed that if a person had a strong determination, nothing could stop him from getting what he wanted.

Therefore there are three ideas that must occupy our minds: the revival, your goal in life (helping to create this revival) and paradise.  The Prophet (SAWS) taught us Dua’a (supplicaiton) to recite three times a day.  It is one of the Dua’a we should recite every morning and evening.  This Dua’a is to keep you on track in your thinking, “O Allah, I take refuge in you from sorrow and anxiety, weakness and laziness, miserliness and cowardice, the burden of debts and from being overpowered by men.”

This week’s plan:

It is the same as that of last week, which is to walk 42 km during one week.  That was a rehearsal.  If you want to have stronger determination, walk 42 km in one day only.  I have tried it 5 times.  On three occasions it was during Hajj (pilgrimage) from Makkah to Mina, then from Mina to Arafah, then from Arafah to Mozdalefa, then from Mozdalefa to Mina, and back to Makkah.  This whole distance is about 42 km.  Why don’t you try it? Asma’ managed about the same distance while pregnant.  Do it with the intention to train your determination.  Then say, “Allah is my witness; I have participated in Life Makers and in helping the revival of Islam.”  Then send us a message on our website or phone us to tell us if you have walked it all at once or over six or seven days.  The important thing is to tell us about what you did so that the number of people participating with us can please us.

You can walk alone or with friends, in the heat or at night.  It does not matter, but what matters is that you make a schedule to follow, including Dhikr (remembering Allah (SWT)), doing your Dua’a, and that you are consistent.  Your ambition will occupy your mind, in addition to the physical changes you will experience on your self.  Older people and women can walk this distance gradually such that one hour of walking 6 km per day over 7 days, will add up to 42 km.  It may be difficult for women and older men to achieve this distance in one attempt.

Children can also walk it with their friends or with their parents.  Physicians discovered that the best sport to build up strength is walking long distances.  We want thousands of people to walk and to send us a message that they succeeded.  We also have with us a very dear person to me, to the Egyptian people and to the whole Arab world, Captain Abdul-Aziz Abdul-Shaferi here.  Abdul-Aziz has something important to tell us about strong determination and willpower.

He said that there are different components for success in any work.  In a sport or activity, physical, artistic and educational components determine success.  That is also besides individual talent.  However these components are worthless without those aspects that strengthen your determination.  Such aspects create the ability to endure, to be patient and to control one’s nerves when facing the crowd and intense competition.  The intense competition also creates a physical and emotional endurance.  Victory is always achieved after patience.  Abdul-Aziz also believes that faith is another very important aspect in achieving your ambition.

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