Procedure for Inspiring Resolution and Ambition
The Qur’an was revealed to Muhammad (peace be upon him) praising resolute and high minded people with prophets and messengers in the vanguard, and the highest status among them are what the Qur’an called The Resolute of the Messenger, as the Almighty said, “So be patient, (0 Muhammad), as were those of determination among the messengers:’ (Al-Ahqaf: 35)
The Qur’an showed the reason for calling them so, as they were patient and persevering; and they defended their cause and kept sticking to their principles similar to other prophets; but they exceeded them because their pains were more, affliction greater, and attitudes firmer.
The Qur’an ranked them with (Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad, peace be upon them) at the fore front. The Qur’an also told of the attitudes of the high-minded followers of the prophets, as that of the two righteous people with Moses, who urged the sons of Israel to enter the Holy Land.
They said, as narrated in the Qur’an, “Two men from those who feared (to disobey) upon whom Allah had bestowed favor, ‘Enter upon them through the gate, for when you have entered it, you will be predominant. And upon Allah rely, if you should be believers:” (Al Ma’idah 23)
The Qur’an also told the tale of a believer from among the people of the pharaoh, who concealed his belief, and who, with resolution, advised Moses and stood firmly by him.
He also preached to the people of the pharaoh warning them. The Qur’an mentioned part of his speech as the Almighty said, “And he who believed said, ‘O my people, follow me, I will guide you to the way of right conduct. O my people, this worldly life is only (temporary) enjoyment, and indeed, the hereafter – that is the home of (permanent) settlement.
Whoever does an evil deed will not be recompensed except by the likes thereof; but whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer – those will enter paradise, being given provision therein without account.
And O my people – how is it that I invite you to salvation while you invite me to the fire? You invite me to disbelieve in Allah and associate with Him that of which I have no knowledge, and I invite you to the Exalted in Might, the Perpetual Forgiver. Assuredly, that to which you invite me has no (response to a) supplication in this world or in the hereafter; and indeed, our return is to Allah, and indeed, the transgressors will be companions of the Fire.
And you will remember what I (now) say to you, and I entrust my affair to Allah. Indeed, Allah is Seeing of (His) servants:
So Allah protected him from the evils they plotted, and the people of the Pharaoh were enveloped by the worst of punishment.” (Ghafir 38-45)
The Qur’an also ordered the believers to be high-minded and the Almighty said, “Race toward forgiveness from your Lord and a garden whose width is like the width of the heavens and Earth, prepared for those who believed in Allah and His messengers. That is the bounty of Allah which He gives to whom He wills, and Allah is the possessor of great bounty:’ (Al-Hadid:21)
The Almighty also said, “And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and a garden as wide as the heavens and Earth, prepared for the righteous:‘ (Ali:imran: 133)
He also said, “So race to all that is) good.” (Al-Baqarah: 148)
And in another Qur’anic verse Allah says, “So flee to Allah,” (Al-Dhariyat: 50) while in a third verse He said, “For the likes of this, let the workers (on Earth) work: (AI-Saffat: 61)
The Almighty also said, “So for this, let the competitors compete: (Al-Mutaffifin:26)
He praised those closer to Him as they, “It is those who hasten to good deeds, and they outstrip (others) therein:’ (Al-Mu’minun: 61)
The Almighty further said, “Not equal are those believers remaining (at home) – other than the disabled – the mujahedeen, (who strive and fight) in the cause of Allah with their wealth and their lives. Allah has preferred the mujahedeen through their wealth and their lives over those who remain (behind), by degrees. And to both, Allah has promised the best (reward). But Allah has preferred the mujahedeen over those who remain (behind) with a great reward:’ (Al-Nisa’: 95)
Allah save Me from Incapacity and Laziness
This was the most repeated supplication that Muhammad (peace be upon him) He recommended to His companions. One day as he entered the mosque, He found a companion of His depressed, He said to him, “Shall I not guide you to words upon saying them, so your grief disappears and your debts are paid?”
O, Allah’s Apostle, please do!” the companion replied.
The Prophet (peace be him) said “O Allah! I seek refuge with you from incapacity and laziness, from worry and grief, from cowardice, miserliness, and old age, from being heavily in debt and from being overpowered by (other) men.
His servant, Anas, mentioned that these words constituted His most frequent supplication.
Anyone examining this supplication finds it considers one’s incapacity inactivity, sorrow, cowardice, stinginess and senility as something one must’ ask Allah to forbid and to keep one away from, as the believer is always active, and ambitious. Muhammad (peace be upon him) did His best to keep His resolution’ alive, and impressive, seeking the help of Allah in every matter which is beyond, and asking Him to forbid anything that may affect His resolution or weaken His ambition.
Ambition
Muhammad (peace be upon him) always combined ambition with resolution, and taught His community to be branded with it; He read the following verse often, “And make us an example for the righteous.” (Al-Furqan 74)
It is leadership that is not confined to life, but rather extends to immortality in the afterlife of paradise.
This ambition was more eye service, but rather one of effect, construction and reform as well as of competition to draw close to Allah. The Prophet showed that the perfect condition for the believer is to have a major interest in the afterlife.
He (peace be upon him) said, “He who makes the hereafter his greatest concern, Allah instills needlessness in his heart and mends his affairs for him; he will not depart from this life before having collected all his sustenance. But the one who makes this life his greatest concern, Allah instills poverty between his eyes and disbands his affairs; he will not collect from this life more than what was allotted to him.”
In this respect, He does not deny worldly gains and lawful pleasures, but rather, He emphasizes it. He just denies considering life as one’s major interest.
Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught His community to show the initiative and be competitive in good deeds when He said, “Were people to know the blessing of calling out the Adhan and the standing in the first row, they would even draw lots to secure these privileges. And were they to realize the reward of performing salat early, they would race for it; and were they to know the merits of salat after nightfall (Isha) and the dawn (Fajr) salat, they would come to them even if they had to crawl.”
He (peace be upon him) also said, “The one who was devoted to the Qur’an will be told on the Day of Resurrection, ‘Recite and ascend (in ranks) as you used to recite when you were in the world. Your rank will be at the last Ayah you recite.”
He also urged those who cannot recite the Qur’an properly to keep it up for they are rewarded, “Such a person as recites the Qur’an and masters it by heart, will be with the noble righteous scribes (in heaven). And such a person exerts himself to learn the Qur’an by heart, and recites it with great difficulty, will have a double reward.”
He warned against sluggishness in obedience saying, “Attend the gatherings of the remembrance of Allah and sit as close as you can from the Imam, because entering Jannah will be delayed for those who are far from Him.”
He further taught His community ambition in supplication, ordering the one who asks Allah to ask mighty matters, deeming them not too much for Allah.
Allah’s Apostle (peace be upon him) said, “If one of you (Muslims) ask Allah for something, he or she should ask in abundance, for he or she is asking from their Lord.”
He also rendered it differently, “If a person wishes to have something, he or she should ask in abundance, for he or she is asking from Allah the Almighty.”
Also, Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger (peace be upon him) said, “When you ask Allah (for something), ask for Al-Firdaus, which is the best and highest part of paradise. It lies in the middle of the Jannah and in the higher position in it. Above it (Al-Firdaus) is the Throne of Beneficent (Allah); and from it originates the rivers of paradise.”
Muhammad (peace be upon him) disparages the one of low-mindedness and modest ambition, Anas (may Allah bless him) narrated that the Messenger visited a patient who became feeble as a chick.
Allah’s Messenger said, “Did you supplicate for anything or beg of Him about that?”
He said, “Yes. I used to utter (these words),’Impose punishment upon me earlier in this world, what Thou art going to impose upon me in the hereafter.”
Thereupon, Allah’s Messenger said, “Hallowed be Allah, you have neither the power nor the forbearance to take upon yourself (the burden of His punishment). Why did you not say this, ‘0 Allah, grant us good in the world and good in the hereafter, and save us from the torment of fire. He (the Holy Prophet) made this supplication (for him) and he was all right:
Rabiah bin Ka’b (may Allah bless him) narrated that I served the Prophet (peace be upon him) by day, and as the night fell, I resorted to the door of the messenger (peace be upon him) to sleep there and heard him say, “Praise be to Allah! Praise be to Allah! Praise be my Lord!”
The Prophet (peace be upon him) kept saying these words till I get bored or rather be put to sleep.
He asked me one day, “0 Rabiah! Ask me for something you want and I give it to you!”
I replied, “Let me think of something to ask you to give me:’ Reflecting on this world, I found that it worth but nothing of value.Then I told the Prophet (peace be upon him), “0 Allah’s Apostle, I ask you to supplicate that Allah rescue me from the hell and allow me to enter Jannah.
After a period of silence, the Prophet said, “Who taught you this wish?” “None did. But I realized that this life is going to end and that you are of significance to Allah. So, I admire that you supplicate for me,” I added. The Prophet said, “I will ask for that which you want, but you should help so that this wish becomes true through increasing your prostration.”‘
The impact of this kind of education upon the Prophet’s companions and followers is not limited to the direct application related to the text, but extends to create resolute and ambitious souls, of high-mindedness in all aspects of life, the individual’s own life, with his family and community.
