The Struggles of a Muslim with Finding a Balance
But seek, through that which Allah has given you, the home of the Hereafter; and, do not forget your share of the world. And do good as Allah has done good to you. And desire not corruption in the land. Indeed, Allah does not like corrupters.” — Qur’an 28[Al-Qasa]:77
Islam is one beautiful faith that establishes a balance in every facet of life. Unfortunately, many of us struggle with living our best lives. You don’t have to be too extreme, nor allow laxity to set in. Oftentimes, people tend to do the bare minimum when it comes to religious obligations. This isn’t really bad but it’s always better when we up our game. On the other hand, some completely submerge themselves in this worldly life while forgetting there’s an afterlife. Surprisingly, there’s a third force that is alienated from normal societal life. However, a sine qua non to becoming a better Muslim lies in finding a balance between your religious duties and your worldly affairs. The former takes precedence as this is the purpose for which we were created. Allah tells us:
And I (Allah) created not the jinns and humans except to worship Me (Alone). — Qur’an 51[Adh-Dhariyat]:56
Having established that our purpose of existence is to worship Allah, it’s now incumbent upon us to use everything in our possession in attaining His pleasure. This is why every action of a Muslim can transition into worship by merely having the right intention. Our beloved Messenger, Muhammad upon him be peace taught us this in an exemplary way through the sunnah. So the sunnah essentially serves as a guideline on how to live your life in this world, in order to attain felicity in the next world. It is through the sunnah that you can attain excellence in everything you do. We can also deduce that Islam doesn’t stop you from living your best life. In as much as it’s done with moderation in order to attain the pleasure of Allah.
Hence, a Muslim realizes that this life is an abode of tests. Therefore, he strives to live in accordance with Allah’s commandments. When he does this, he earns the pleasure of Allah and ultimate rewards in the hereafter. So it’s important that we intentionally design our daily activities in order to amass rewards from our Lord. For instance, if a man goes out to earn from a lawful means to feed his family, every morsel of food that the household eats will be considered a charity for him. In the same way, a woman who takes care of her household in the absence of her husband earns a share of the reward as well. Other good acts like smiling, saying good words, removing harmful objects from the road, kindness to neighbors, and respect for the elderly are all considered good deeds on the scale.
Where Lies The Balance?
Since we’d like to enjoy this worldly life and also attain the pleasure of Allah in the next. Then, we have to obey Allah’s injunctions to the best of our ability by doing the dos’ and abstaining from the don’ts. The key is to establish, nurture and protect your relationship with Allah the Most-High. This is because the quality of our bond with Allah defines the quality of life we live in this world, and the hereafter as well. A healthy relationship with Him will drive us toward leading a righteous life. However, a severed bond with Allah will not only lead one astray but towards an unfulfilled life.
The balance lies in fulfilling our daily obligations within the limits set by Islam. Attend to your regular business but build your schedules around the five obligatory prayers. When you relate with people, show them the best of characters as exemplified by our noble Messenger. Do not compromise your religious standards for anything because, in the end, it’s not worth it. Avoid time wasters and only indulge in meaningful activities that will bring you gains in this life and the next. If we put efforts into improving our private life in order to please Allah, then He will ensure a better public life for us.
In addition, consistency is key in everything you do. Strive for excellence and not for perfection. For perfection only belongs to Allah. No matter how best you do in executing good deeds, you can’t attain perfection. This is why Allah looks deep into your heart to see how sincere you are when executing the deeds. Ensure you do things solely for Allah’s sake, not for anyone or a materialistic benefit. After you’re done executing good deeds, ask Allah to forgive your shortcomings and pray that He accepts it from you. In this journey of life, the road will be rough. Hence, you’d need a lot of patience in doing good deeds consistently, avoiding evils, and when temptation shows its ugly face.
‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) came in while a woman was sitting with her. He said: “Who is she?” ‘Ā’ishah replied: “She is so-and-so,” and told him about her (excessive) praying. He said disapprovingly: “Do (good) deeds according to your capacity, for by Allah, Allah never grows weary (of giving rewards) unless you grow weary (of doing good deeds), and the best deed in His sight is that which is done regularly.” — [Bukhari and Muslim]
Action Points…
- Allah wants good for you: Bare in mind, Oh Brethren! That Allah has guided you to Islam is the greatest favor you can attain. So if He asks you for a religious obligation, know that it’s for your own good and race towards it.
…Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship— Qur’an 2[Al-Baqarah]:185
- Solidify your foundation: The foundation of Islam is well routed in its five pillars. If you practice them appropriately, it will lead you to felicity.
“A man once asked the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), “Do you think that if I only perform the obligatory prayers, fast the whole month of Ramadan, treat as lawful that which is lawful and treat as forbidden that which is forbidden, and do nothing further, shall I enter paradise? He (peace be upon him) replied, “Yes!” — [Muslim]
- Avoid Excessiveness: Our beloved Prophet peace be upon him warned us against doing too much in order to create a balance for fulfilling other rights. He once said to Abdullah ibn ‘Amr:
“Have I heard right that you fast every day and stand in prayer all night?” Abdullah replied: “Yes, O Messenger of Allah”. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Do not do that. Fast, as well as, eat and drink. Stand in prayer, as well as, sleep. This is because your body has a right upon you, your eyes have a right upon you, your wife has a right upon you, and your guest has a right upon you.” (Sahih Bukhari 127)
- Make the best supplication: Since Allah wants good for His servants, He then taught them to put effort and ask for the goodness of both worlds.
And of them there are some who say: “Our Lord! Give us in this world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good, and save us from the torment of the Fire.” For them there will be alloted a share for what they have earned. And Allah is Swift at reckoning. — Quran 2[Al-Baqarah]:201–202
In conclusion, Islam encourages you to practice moderation and establish a balance in all spheres of life. We can enjoy the best of both worlds if we stick to this principle while giving preference to worship and not neglecting other aspects of life. We ask Allah to increase us in steadfastness and patience. May He not take our soul until He’s pleased with us. Amin!
Yaumul Jum’ah 16th Rabiul Thani 1444H//Friday November 11th, 2022.
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