Ever heard or said “OMG that is so goals!”, our 21st century sentence, our generation slogan.
One may ponder, What is goals? Define goals for me? So I searched the most common definition on the internet, and this is what I found.
Definition: a literal use of the word. If you’ve never heard the word “goals” before, Wikifreakia defines goals as “a desired result a person or a system envisions, plans and commits to achieve a personal or organizational desired end-point in some sort of assumed development.”
What did you understand from this? Nothing but some worldly status gains. Envisions of others blessings. Example: so and so has a perfect setting photographed, captioned as “My vacation!” The next minute someone comments saying “Goals!” Instantly this word is going to catch an eye. One may simply say goals; however you do not know what is behind that word, what that person is feeling? Envious or jealous?
My personal opinion of this term one is that it makes a person feel less grateful for what Allah Azzawajal has already blessed them with. Everyone has been gifted with a certain level of wealth, beauty and status, and simply saying these words could create such a contradicting thought in ones minds. Like Allah Azzawajal says in the holy Quran “And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, ‘If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe’.” (14:7)
Moving on the question arises that if this is the definition of goals, then what is goals to us? It may be having a high class job, a grand mansion, perfect home, perfect family, the best products, latest edition cars etc. These are the goals that are portrayed most often, but as a Muslim believing men and women, this contradicts our teachings. All of the mentioned are worldly gains, non is beneficent to our future, our hereafter. Seriously, is your goal of having the latest product going to benefit you in your grave? Will it assist you 6ft down under? Something to ponder about deeply, something you and I need to surely change.
Our definition of goals should be such: Striving to earn my place in the Akhirah, Spiritually correcting ourselves at all times, “I will wake up tomorrow and try to be a better person!”, Submitting ourselves to Allah Azzawajal, our creator. Not only will goals as such lead us to having a stronger, happier life, though we will earn our ticket to a successful afterlife. Isn’t that what we really need and isn’t that what we should be really striving for? Instead of temporary comforts? Let us not become of those who prefer the worldly life. “But you prefer this worldly life, while the hereafter is better and enduring” Surah Al Aaala 87:16-17
Let us practice some realistic goals and yearn for realistic goals instead of the nuisance. There are so many amazing people out there, we can pick out enlightening habits from their lives are adapt them into our lives under the same term “Goals”. How much more beneficial will this be for us? Let us look into the lives of Sahabas such as Hadhrat Uthman, and his modesty, Hadhrat Umar and his bravery, sahabiyas such as Hadhrat Ayesha, her zeal for knowledge, her excellent mind, Hadhrat khadija and her business mind, her love for our Beloved (Peace be upon him) . Looking into these great minds should be an encouragement for setting real goals.
Me and you have a goal, I encourage myself and then you to set goals like such into our lives which will be of immense benefit insha’Allah.
1) Rectifying our connection with Allah
2) Loving others for the sake of Allah.
3) Practicing upon the beautiful Sunnah’s.
4) Praying a certain amount of Quran a day.
5) Broadening our minds with gems of Islam.
May Allah make all our affairs easy for us, and grant us the ability to change our minds away from this temporary piece of comfort.
Ameen
- Goals In Our Generation - November 30, 2015