I wrote the reflection below about a year ago in my personal journal when I got my result (my combined marksheet) in my hands. That was the fruit of my years of hard work at University.
I was listening to Surah Al-Haqqah lately. There are a few verses (19-29) that striked me first when I was new in understanding Quran. That was the time my O-levels result was about to be announced. These were the verses which made me more curious on knowing what Quran has to say. These verses still has a similar effect.
Anyways when I read the surah this time,I could relate things. We are graduating and receiving our final marksheets. I could observe different views of students. Those who knew they will get the reward of their hardwork eventually and are now contented on the efforts they did since they sweated and stayed awake to achieve their goals.
And those who didn't use their time in a productive and effective manner. Didn't make meaningful use of their time and now they don't want to face the circumstances. They wasted the time and opportunities and now standing there with nothing much gained.
Their finances and older educational foundation didn't help them either. (Because gaining knowledge is the act of ones self. No one and nothing else can help us in this). They didn't understand their test and didn't make use of their time and blessings so couldn't gain much today and are left disappointed and regretful.
This is how life is. It is a test. Everything that happens, every occurrence, every blessing, every calamity, every individual and every phase of our life is a test.
(ٱلَّذِی خَلَقَ ٱلۡمَوۡتَ وَٱلۡحَیَوٰةَ لِیَبۡلُوَكُمۡ أَیُّكُمۡ أَحۡسَنُ عَمَلࣰاۚ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِیزُ ٱلۡغَفُورُ)
[Surat Al-Mulk 2]
We are given a certain period of time in this world where we need to understand our purpose of creation, our reason of existence so that we can achieve personal excellence, our personal best (ahsan) in all our deeds/actions even relationships.
The dilemma is that we forget this test,our purpose of creation and our accountability and we don't look for the tools that can help us perform well in this test (achieve personal excellence). We don't gain that knowledge which will benefit us in this test.
We are accountable for our choices, our actions and that whether we used our blessings, potentials, intellect and wisdom to attain personal excellence or wasted our time and energies in meaningless activities. Since our actions are recorded,we will be answerable to our Lord (Rabb) for our deeds and will be given the reward accordingly in akhirah.
When we achieve this clarity,every thing we do is for the sake of our Lord and to please Him only. We achieve 'purity of intent' in this way. Then what matters most is our efforts we put in and not the 'end result'. Therefore we keep on striving even if we don't get our desired result. There is a contentment that our efforts are seen and acknowledged by our Lord.
(وَأَن لَّیۡسَ لِلۡإِنسَـٰنِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ وَأَنَّ سَعۡیَهُۥ سَوۡفَ یُرَىٰ ثُمَّ یُجۡزَىٰهُ ٱلۡجَزَاۤءَ ٱلۡأَوۡفَىٰ)
[Surat An-Najm 39 - 41]
That's why we are reminded to be patient and grateful in all situations and for the little blessings that we have Alhmdulillah. These two traits gives us motivation and power in every single test/phase of life.
And what further strengthen it is 'Dua' and 'Tawakkal'. I have strong belief in these two. Whatever is difficult for me is made easy through dua and incase I can't see the result of my duas I have 'Tawakkal' (faith) that my Lord is taking care of my affairs even if I'm unable to comprehend it. And it always turn out in my favor Alhmdulillah.
When we understand these few things our journey of life (which is an actual test) becomes easier. Then we will be from those who will attain real success that day in sha Allah.
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