Recently, @IslamicTeaching shared the following quotes on Twitter:
”What will matter more is not what you bought, but what you built.
What will matter more is not what you got, but what you gave.
What will matter more is not your success, but your significance.
What will matter more is not your competence, but your character.
What will matter more is not how many people you knew,
but how many will feel lasting loss when you’re gone."
These quotes are very impacting as they address our struggles and attainments, throwing some lights on our chosen path in life.
"What will matter more is not what you bought, but what you built." Whereas we love to spend and adorn, those are transient and are temporary pleasure. The pleasures that will be remembered and for a long time are the relationships we build with families, friends, relatives, neighbours, colleagues, online and offline. Build your families and your relationships on faith and fairness. Allah says: “O you who believe! Save yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel are human beings…” (Qur'an 66v6) The instruction to build goodness in the community starts form home but it does not end there. “Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong; they are the ones to attain felicity.” (Qur'an 3v104)
"What will matter more is not what you got, but what you gave." Although we live in a consumer world where the attitude is 'what's in it for me', no one likes the selfish self-serving snob. Even in the sight of God, it's about what you give and what others benefit from you. Yes, give money but also more. Give time (volunteer), show skills (mentoring), share knowledge (teach & train), offer resource (links & networking) and give a legacy as your contribution to humanity for the sake of God not for any personal benefit. “Say: "Truly my prayer and my service of sacrifice my life and my death are (all) for Allah the Cherisher of the Worlds” (Qur'an 6v162)
"What will matter more is not your success, but your significance." Real Success is what you benefited yourself as a result of benefiting others. How significant you are to people around you is the measure of your success, ultimately; not your personal acquisitions. In Islam, success is in having a good relationship with God and with people whom God has placed around you and whose provisions He has kept with you. Will you give back and be successful or will you keep to yourself and be selfish?
"What will matter more is not your competence, but your character." Your character is formed from your habits, which in turn is a culmination and collection of your thoughts, deeds and perception. What is the use of your competence if you are not approachable or are unwelcoming? If your character dispels rather than attracts, you are of little benefit to hardly anyone. This is why despite the assured message of the Qur'an, our Messenger Muhammad (pbuh) had to have an excellent character; most who knew or met him, loved him. And indeed, he is our mentor and motivator.
"What will matter more is not how many people you knew, but how many will feel lasting loss when you’re gone." All life will end sooner or later, how will yours and in what situation? How long after your death will your name or legacy still be a reference point? Within weeks, months, years, decade or a lifetime?
- Contributed by Shamsideen AbuSuad, UK.
Subhan'Allah...some great points for reflection and despite saying it each time we need to carry on after Ramadhan with the same decency, love, taqwa and zeal for the deen as we have greater challenges outside Ramadhan from the shayateen, hence the extra effort.
ReplyDeleteI attended a talk where Sheikh Zahir Mahmood was speaking and he said this very thing - what impact will we have on people and how will we be remembered...?
Will the orphan we helped grow to continue to make dua for us? Will the tree that was planted in our honour sustain the earth and provide the fruits by Allah's decree to nourish the people as a sadaqah jariah after our death?
We are too caught up furnishing our lives, our wardrobes, our homes - nothing wrong with that as long as we are not caught up in it and also race for good deeds and help others.
Brilliant articles Allah bless all of you Ameen