What's My Purpose?

(this article was initially submitted to another online project which i was working on - and i have left that project to concentrate on my blog - so you may have read it there - Allah (swt) blessed me to write this article - its for all the ladies (gents you can read and be inspired too) so i believe that it should be forwarded to benefit all...)

At least once in your life you must have asked this question, ‘What’s my purpose’? Maybe you were asking, ‘what is my purpose whilst working on such and such a project’, or maybe, just simply, ‘what’s my purpose in life’?

Life brings its ups and downs – no doubt – and with it brings this gloomy question, ‘what’s my purpose?!’ Today, insha’Allah, we will tackle this question and change it around – so you will leave today with a more productive phrase and tips on how to get there.

Firstly, let me point out that that the above question is not always negative – you can use it in a positive way – and I would encourage you to use it in the positive way – because we all need to reflect at some point in life – well actually if you read many spiritual, self-healing, confidence books (both Islamic and non-Islamic literature) they will tell you to spend at least half an hour to an hour a night reflecting upon your day – what you achieved, what you did, whether you were productive with your time and day (I still encourage you to do this insha’Allah). So it is good to reflect and use this question – but when you’re down in the dumps – then it’s a no no!

You have a very important role to play in this world, dear sister, and Allah (swt) created you with a purpose. I break this purpose down to two points – first is to worship Him alone and do all that is righteous and good and abstain from all that is evil (you’ll have a blessed life in this world and attain the lofty stations Jannah in the akhira insha’Allah) and secondly is to make most of your time, day, resources, abilities and all that He (swt) blessed you with. I mean, just for a second, imagine if one of your senses was taken away, or you lost a limb in an accident – could you possibly continue the same way? (insha’Allah, with the will of Allah you can) but life will be different right? So, we have these abilities that Allah (swt) has blessed us with and we are more than capable of using them to do good in His way.

Right, sisters – lets gets creative with our thinking and productive with our lives!…

To achieve our ultimate purpose in this life – bearing in mind what I’ve said above and the fact that we always, daily, make a dua to Allah asking….‘grant us good in this world and good in the hereafter’ (Surah Baqrah) – I’ve come up with an equation – which you’ll all need to write down and keep close by you and work on it daily – insha’Allah. Time to get interacrive...

· The Equation:

To achieve your purpose in life, follow this simple equation insha’Allah.

Purpose of Life = Inspiration + Goal x Productivity

Got it? Cool! Write it down now, and let me give you an explanation about this equation.

· Explanation:

a) Inspiration: read the Qur’an, the Seerah of our Prophet (pbuh), stories of all our pious predecessors as well as those throughout Islamic history (such as Spain, or scientists, jurists etc) and reflect upon their lives – why did they do what they did? How did they achieve it with such few resources? What was the secret of their productive lives? The more you read about them, the more closer you will feel towards them and it will also bring you closer to your Rab. This inspiration won’t go away after you put the book down – because you will reflect upon it and then you will scan your own life and then you will, insha’Allah, come to realize that if they achieved so much with so little – then subhan’Allah what you can achieve is so much more!

b) Goal: ok, so now you’ve been inspired by what you have read – don’t lose focus now – quickly grab that notebook (you should all have a small notebook for your eureka moments, if you haven’t – then first opportunity you get – buy it) and start writing! Have a good talk with yourself and see what goals you want to aim for or are already working on and how you can achieve them. I’ll give you three examples you can choose from (and sisters if you don’t find yourself in any of these examples – don’t worry, please use the goals you are working on/want to be working towards) these are; i) studies, ii) work, and iii) marriage. In each of these areas identify what you need to do to excel in them or achieve them. Ok, so studies – you’ve just finished a set of studies – do you need to or want to study further? At which institution? How will you contact these institutions? etc. Again, with marriage and work – you need to identify how to achieve these – I mean you have to job search to find a job, right and you need to let you family and friends know that you’re looking to get married to get the ball rolling. Find your goal; make them realistic – time you will need to achieve them etc.

c) Productivity: now it’s time to get productive. So you’re looking for a job – where are you going to apply? How will you use the resources you have – i.e. online job search, getting the newspaper, sending out emails to your family and friends. Each goal that you choose (and I suggest you work through one first, have that all planned out and then move on to your next goal) have a step-by-step guide for yourselves and each one of you knows how best you work – and work towards achieving your goals, and use all the necessary tools and resources available to you. You may fall on the way, or need to redefine your goal – but don’t worry – that’s natural and that’s the way we learn. But keep at it and work at it!

d) Purpose of Life: once you have followed this equation you will insha’Allah achieve your goal(s) and you will find the purpose to your lives. Keep at it and don’t give up – because we NEVER give up! (And trust me – I’ve been there, done that!)

Don’t forget that your first and foremost important goal in life is living by Allah’s will and doing good, worshipping Him and being pious Muslimah’s. Then, since you have been sent to this duniyah, you have to be productive in all areas of your life – the beauty of Islam – productive not only in your family lives, but work, studies, social, community, local and global.

I leave you with this – next time you’re feeling low, don’t ask yourselves ‘What’s my purpose?’, but rather say, ‘I Know My Purpose!’. Once you say this then you’re no longer in the low low, and your back up on the way to success!

BONUS: famous Dua (supplication) that the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) used to say at times of anxiety or sorrow. The dua is:

‘O Allaah, I take refuge in You from anxiety and sorrow, weakness and laziness, miserliness and cowardice, the burden of debts and from being over powered by men.’ And Allah (swt) is most Merciful!