Having motivation is the path to achieving success. Having the attributes of the role model-leader is the way forward. Having the vision to be successful and helping others to success is worthy of contentment. Feeling the passion for change is the fuel for the fire. So, what are you waiting for? Because time is borrowed; let’s hold on to the rope of Allaah (SWT) and make a difference in someone’s life.
Rukhsana Hanjra
Are you the person who leads people, or are you the person who wants to be led? So which one are you; the driver, or the passenger?
If you are the passenger and wish to become the driver, how can you achieve this? Simple! Make clear decisions, know where you want to go and strive to reach your destination.
Motivation is the driving force which comes from within oneself, which then leads to action in the behaviour. So, for example, if you wanted to lose weight because it was going to make you feel good, the internal drive is “feeling good” about yourself, which is followed by the action to change the diet and start to exercise. It is this burning desire that achieves fulfilling results. This is what motivation can do; it can take you from being a passenger in the back seat, to the driver in the front seat; who has control and direction. Understanding and applying the principles of motivation can accelerate learning, improve performance, increase perseverance, and overcome obstacles.
People often lose motivation because of three factors;
This is clearly visible in people who do not have a focus, make misjudgements and then lose confidence in them and begin to lose motivation. To turn motivation into performance is a challenge; however, this is affected by the individual’s capacity and willingness to perform. In Islaam, the Qur’aan and Sunnah have examples of the clarification of intention (motivation), which is the direct result of a deliberate decision and conscious effort to achieve a specific goal.
On the authority of Umar Ibn Al-Khattab, who said, I heard the Messenger of Allaah (PBUH) say:
“Deeds are only by intentions, and every man shall have only what he intended.”
(Bukhari and Muslim)
This is why motivation is a vehicle to success as intentions are the driving force behind achieving motivation.
Highly motivated individuals are people who have clarity of vision and objectives, and self-confidence. They feel the need for responsibility and control. They have the desire to take risks, accepting correction or criticism, and need for recognition, just like the driver. These characteristics are not in-born but can be cultivated and nurtured in any individual.
Motivation in Islaam is based on Eemaan, Taqwaa and Tawbah.
Eemaan (Faith) as a Motivator:
Motivation is mentioned many times directly or indirectly in the Qur’aan. Eemaan forms the basis and is the energizing force for all motivations. Eemaan, according to Sayyid Maudoodi is the seed and Islaam is the fruition. Inner faith and practice are tightly coupled with one another and are interdependent. The essential components of this motive are the strong unshakable belief in Allaah, the Eternal, the Absolute, the Creator of the universe; and the strong unshakable belief in the fact that man will be held accountable for his deeds in this life.
Taqwaa as a Motivator:
Taqwaa is having consciousness and fear of Allaah. Consciousness of Allah keeps a Muslim alert about Allah’s presence in offering the needed support and in watching how one is spending his/her time, etc. The motivation of fear is the human emotion that enables man to either avoid danger and problematic situations or face or resolve them.
Tawbah (Repentance) as a Motivator:
The concept of tawbah comprises another very important type of motivation, for without repentance a person can stay on a wrong path which would direct him to committing harm to himself rather than directing his efforts towards good deeds.
Reward and Punishment:
Reward and punishment as a doctrine in the Qur’aan is fundamentally different from that found in other religions. Muslims are encouraged to act out of both fear and hope, striking a fine balance between the two; fear of Allaah’s Punishment, and hope in His (SWT) Mercy.
Building upon the foundation of Islaamic concepts of motivation; this can lead a person to achieve attributes of leadership. Some of the attributes that leaders need vary from being kind and compassionate to: honesty, competence, being forward-looking, providing inspiration, strength of character, humility, kindness, modesty and simplicity, and taking responsibility for others.
The best person is one who is able to combine all the above qualities and know where and when to use them. He/she is also able to bring out the best qualities in others. Being a good or bad leader, whether in the home or community, plays a major role in the development of that home or community; it can either make it more functional or it can become dysfunctional and create an unhappy environment.
An example of this can be seen in the home where both parents can hold very clear roles for their families using the above qualities of leadership so that there are clear boundaries and responsibilities; thus both parents would serve as very strong role models for the children as well as society at large. For this reason the attributes of leadership are very important as they are not just inspirational for that person, but also for others around them. This is very significant as it has a ripple effect like that of the sea.
This is how motivation develops when leaders/parents or anyone in a position of leadership/management shows the “Obedience” and “Willingness” to work in unity or as a team, as emphasized in the Qur’aan and the seerah of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
In particular this can be seen in the community, when a community leader is willing to adapt and understand the communities’ needs, the community becomes united under the obedience of the community leader. This in return motivates the community to develop and progress. The community can be successful when positive change is taking place and motivation levels begin to rise. This can also be applied in the home; if the leader/manager is addressing the needs of his/her family by communicating effectively, willingness to understand, being a role model of good governance according to the Islaamic guidelines, then everyone under him/her will be obedient; they will be willing to be part of the team, creating a highly motivating environment and thus becoming a successful family. The example of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) emphasizes a major role of the Muslim leader: to protect his community against tyranny and oppression, to encourage God-consciousness and taqwaa, and to promote justice:
Ibn `Umar (May Allaah be pleased with them) reported that the Messenger of Allaah (PBUH) said,
"All of you are guardians and are responsible for your subjects. The ruler is a guardian and is responsible for his subjects; the man is a guardian of his family; the woman is a guardian in her husband's house and responsible for her wards; a servant is a guardian of his master's property and responsible for his ward. So all of you are guardians and are responsible for your subjects".
(Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
A leader or manager needs to be humble, and must never let his or her ego get the better of him/her. In fact, the Qur’aan describes true servants of Allah in general as:
“Those who walk on the earth with humility.”
(The Qur’aan, 25:63)
Motivation can lead to achieving the desirable results. It can lift someone’s confidence levels from the bottom of the ladder to the top of the ladder. By aiming for higher goals this can bring the abilities and skills of the individual to the best; a person can become a fulfilled individual. An example of such a person is Helen Keller.
Helen Keller was born in Alabama on June 27, 1880. She contracted an illness at the age of 19 months, described by the doctors as “an acute congestion of the stomach and the brain.” This left her deaf and blind.Helen Keller had chosen to take the path to success and made a difference for the millions of disabled people in the world, and not just for herself. She showed that disability need not be the end of the world.Helen Keller’s parents took her to see a specialist in ENT (Ear, nose and throat) for advice. The doctor referred them to the ‘Perkins Institute for the Blind’. The director of the school asked former student Anne Sullivan, who was herself visually impaired and then only 20 years old, to become Keller’s instructor (Wikipedia).
Anne immediately started to teach Helen how to finger spell. Helen could repeat these finger movements but could not understand their meaning. At the same time, Anne was finding it difficult to help her to understand, and she was also finding it difficult to control Helen’s bad behavior. Anne moved into a small cottage on the land of the main house with Helen, so that she could help Helen improve her behavior. Anne was dealing with Helen’s table manners as she was eating with her hands and also from everyone’s plates.
Anne really worked hard to make a difference to Helen’s table manners and taught her how to brush her own hair and wear her shoes; this however led to more and more tantrums. The way Anne dealt with these tantrums was by refusing to “talk” to Helen by spelling words on her hands.
With time, Helen’s behaviour began to change and they became closer to each other. Soon, after a month of Anne teaching, a feeling of a miracle took place. Anne led Helen to the water pump, and everything changed; while Anne poured the water over Helen’s hand, she spelt out the word ‘water’ in Helen’s other hand. This became a method of association for Helen; Anne could see from Helen’s face that she understood.
Straightaway Helen asked Anne for the name of the pump to be spelt on her hand, and then she carried on asking the names of everything she touched, including Anne’s name. Anne spelt the word “Teacher” on Helen’s hand. In the next few hours Helen learnt the spelling of thirty new words.
Helen’s progress was amazing, because her ability to learn was never seen in anyone who was blind/deaf. Anne then began teaching Helen to read with Braille. The school director was very eager to give Helen a high profile, so he wrote articles about Helen which led to a great deal of public interest.
Helen Keller had achieved success by not only learning English but French, German, Greek and Latin. She also became an author, political activist and a lecturer.
In Helen’s own words, “The public must learn that the blind man is neither genius nor a freak nor an idiot. He has a mind that can be educated, a hand which can be trained, ambition which it is right for him to strive to realize, and it is the duty of the public to help him make the best of himself so that he can win light through work” (Wikipedia.org).
What leadership characteristics did Helen Keller have? What did she achieve in her life? How can someone who is without sight and without hearing make a difference to millions of people? What made Helen Keller so motivated? I want you to answer that question and also tell me how does Islam guide us to become motivated?
Motivation can be achieved by having a belief in you; a belief which matches who you really are and what you can really achieve. Do you know yourself? If not, then discover the important you. Have a vision; a vision of success and achievements. In that vision there are no obstacles, if it feels there are, then look to the opposite side and find ways of removing them, and don’t allow them to stop you from conquering them. Conquer them before they conquer you! Thoughts become much clearer and you no longer suffer from mental constipation (mental blockages). When all the negative trash has been thrown in the bin, your thoughts become crystal clear. The thoughts of success just flow and flow, just like a clear river running into the sea. Just feel how big you can become.
Perhaps we all go through life expecting others to take care of us, and waiting most of our life for something to happen, and before we know it, half or more of our life has passed us by; and who said time waits for us? No, I am afraid to say, time does not wait. Al-Hasan Al-Basree said, “Oh son of Adam! You are nothing but a number of days, whenever a day passes then part of you has gone.”
Furthermore, nothing can emphasize this point more beautifully than Surah Al-Asr (103:1-3):
“By the time, verily man is in loss, except those who believe and do righteous good deeds, and recommend one another to the truth, and recommend one another to patience.”
Helen Keller said that, “Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering is the soul strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved” (Wikipedia.org).
So the importance of self-analysis is valuable in order to have the ability to recognize our strengths and our weaknesses. Abu Bakr (RA) understood the importance of knowing and understanding himself, as well as the feedback from others. Upon the occasion of his first khutbah as Caliph, he stated: ‘O people! I have been selected as your trustee although I am no better than anyone of you. If I am right, obey me; if I am misguided, set me right’ (Rafi Ahmed Fidai; The concise history of the Muslim world p. 68).
Ali ibn Abi Talib (May Allaah (SWT) be pleased with him) said, “One who knows himself, knows his Creator” (Ghulam Sarwar: Islam, Beliefs and Teachings).
If we do not reflect and try to understand ourselves better and acknowledge our strengths and weaknesses, like Abu Bakr (RA) did, how can we be righteous and just to ourselves and to others? We fall into the risk of becoming like a loop that goes round and round and becomes just like a rigid tree that is hard and narrow and shows limited thoughts and beliefs; which leads us to having no flexibility. How many of us have fallen into this trap? So what are we waiting for?
A tree holds such a multitude of benefits; from providing us with ripe fruits, delicious produce, constant food, shelter to continual goodness (eemaan). So the tree of eemaan will always benefit you. Eemaan benefits you by providing you with complete stability; where the roots of the tree are well established (rooted) or grounded.
Have a sense of purpose of who you are and where you are going, once the light bulb was switched on and the light of guidance began. From then on the tree began growing; it grew tall and strong; it became sturdy, providing shelter, comfort and beauty for itself and for everyone who stood and admired her. So a tree of eemaan had been planted; a tree that could only grow taller and taller and aim for Jannah.
"Many persons have the wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose." (Helen Keller)
"See you not how Allaah sets forth a parable? A goodly word as a goodly tree, whose root is firmly fixed, and its branches (reach) to the sky. Giving its fruits at all times, by the Permission of its Lord, and Allaah sets forth parables for mankind in order that they may remember.” (Surah Ibraaheem, 14:24-25)
The energy can be spent on discovering ourself, and not others. In other words, ‘Where focus goes energy flows’. Levels of motivation began to rise when gratitude took the place of self-pity. When she started counting all the blessings she had and not counting what she did not have.
When life had a purpose and meaning, and time was valuable, then there was no stopping her. The end of the earth would not be further enough. It was constantly climbing new hills and she never turned back to look at the pitfalls. How motivation paves the way to success and contentment! It is a choice we can make; it depends on the road you take; it’s the journey you are looking for, and it’s the goal you want to achieve.
Success and rewards are all yours! You just need to help yourself just as Helen Keller did, and especially how the greatest role model of all times, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and his Companions did. Take the lead and become the leader; the driver and not the passenger.
Can you answer the following questions? be honest! Otherwise you are only bluffing yourself and no one else …
How motivated am I?
What will I need to do to achieve my goals?
Why have I not started? Afraid of the challenge? Still holding on to your fears?
Is it going to be action or excuses?
Make a choice! Become motivated!
‘Allaah is the Light of the heavens and the earth;
The parable of His Light is as (if there were) a niche and within it a lamp: the lamp is in a glass, the glass as it were a brilliant star,
lit from a Blessed Tree, an olive, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil would almost glow forth (of itself), though no fire touched it.
Light upon Light!
Allaah guides to His Light whom He wills.
And Allaah sets forth parables for mankind, and Allaah is All-Knower of everything.
In houses (mosques) which Allaah has ordered to be raised, in them His Name is remembered.
Therein glorify Him in the morningsand in the afternoons or the evenings,
Men whom neither trade nor sale
diverts from the remembrance of Allaah nor from performing the prayer
nor from giving the Zakaat. They fear a day when hearts and eyes will be overturned.
That Allaah may reward themaccording to the best of their deeds,
and add even more for them out of His Grace.
And Allaah provides without measure to whom He wills.’
(Surah An-Noor, 24: 35-38)