To plan, or not to plan - is the question..
I was just pondering on the different approaches in the ways we plan our lives and the degrees in which we expect the outcomes. The way we plan and accept the outcomes infact tells how successful and content we have truly been, in handling all the things that come our way.
So where do we fit in? I have a grading scale next to each type (and I hope we can just be honest with ourselves to see where we fit, and how we can probably work towards getting a better score in life!)
The totally useless planner: (0 out of 5)
This person does everything unplanned. Why? because he supposedly leaves every little thing to Allah SWT - despite the free will Allah has given him to make his own choices and decisions within the boundaries of shari'ah.
(1 out of 5 for the useless planner who atleast admits he feels hungry for his own desire of hunger and not because Allah planned for him to be hungry at that point!!!)
I fail to understand how such people can be considered 'Ashraful Makhlooqaat' (the Best of Allah's creations) when they don't even use their abilities to achieve the least out of their lives - I mean, a life without goals and purpose..and so easily putting the blame on Allah, saying theyre 'totally dependant' and rely on everything Allah SWT has planned for them.
(Szahra nods head in disbelief...)
The Perfectionist: (2 out of 5)
Geez, and we would think a perfectionist plans his work right to the core - as perfectly and flawlessly as possible...why would Szahra grade him a 2 out of 5?
Well, no grudges about the perfectionist, really. There's nothing more wonderful about them that they are so organized and calculative about everything. They have their homework always done, and no one could possible do the best out of a scheduled situation than them.So that's what the 2 out of 5 is for..
...and as for the gap in the grade - the minus 3 is for those who fall in the category of denial, when things don't work out as planned. The anger, frustration, denial, disappointment, disapproval, etc - all are signs that we have forgotten - or failed to accept - that we might be running the Show, but the outcome of the show is in the hands of Allah (SWT).
For all of us in this category, I would suggest to pacify yourself with what I usually tell myself:
"I have recognized My Lord with the failures in the outcome of my plannings" - Imam Ali (AS)
This just serves as a quick reminder for us of the Presence, Planning and Reliance on Allah SWT - and might just give us contentment, rather than demotivating us from trying hard the next time.
However. if you're a perfectionist who is flexible enough to take failure with a smile, then you're not really categorized under this one; go on to the next ones, and you will surely know where you fit.
The Hesitant planner: (3 out of 5)
This person moderately plans (to stay on the safe side) - and has the ability to do sooo much more, but is just plain scared of failure. For this person, any one would agree to says that "to have tried is the biggest success for ourselves, regardless of whether we achieved success infront of the World or not.."
So, all that's needed here is courage, a big heart and trust in Allah SWT, and we'll do just fine! :)
The Good planner: (4 out of 5)
(.......or maybe a grace 1/4 mark if ure really really good)
He plans very wisely - like the Perfectionist; and relies on Allah (SWT) on the outcome of what he performed - like the totally useless planner.
He loses his one mark because, there MIGHT be that one moment in him, where he gets disappointed in his failure; but the very next second, he realises that is being ungrateful to Allah (SWT) and questioning His Wisdom; apologizes, and takes his failure with a 'genuine' smile.
This person gets the highest score because he really looks at the better things in what he has achieved - than what 'he could have achieved'.. because he has truely relied on the Wisdom of Allah (SWT) and accepted that He is the Best of Planners.. Subb-haanallah
"And if you're asking for a 5 on 5 ......tsk!!. ure so human..never happy in what you get huh?"
(szahra, with a wicked smile)
_____________________________
A grade of (5 out of 5) is for him who is on that stage of having 'Rizaa'; all those mentioned above, are different stages of 'Tawakkul' on Allah SWT.To read a great informative piece on this topic, visit http://www.al-islam.org/fortyhadith/14.htm
So where do we fit in? I have a grading scale next to each type (and I hope we can just be honest with ourselves to see where we fit, and how we can probably work towards getting a better score in life!)
The totally useless planner: (0 out of 5)
This person does everything unplanned. Why? because he supposedly leaves every little thing to Allah SWT - despite the free will Allah has given him to make his own choices and decisions within the boundaries of shari'ah.
(1 out of 5 for the useless planner who atleast admits he feels hungry for his own desire of hunger and not because Allah planned for him to be hungry at that point!!!)
I fail to understand how such people can be considered 'Ashraful Makhlooqaat' (the Best of Allah's creations) when they don't even use their abilities to achieve the least out of their lives - I mean, a life without goals and purpose..and so easily putting the blame on Allah, saying theyre 'totally dependant' and rely on everything Allah SWT has planned for them.
(Szahra nods head in disbelief...)
The Perfectionist: (2 out of 5)
Geez, and we would think a perfectionist plans his work right to the core - as perfectly and flawlessly as possible...why would Szahra grade him a 2 out of 5?
Well, no grudges about the perfectionist, really. There's nothing more wonderful about them that they are so organized and calculative about everything. They have their homework always done, and no one could possible do the best out of a scheduled situation than them.So that's what the 2 out of 5 is for..
...and as for the gap in the grade - the minus 3 is for those who fall in the category of denial, when things don't work out as planned. The anger, frustration, denial, disappointment, disapproval, etc - all are signs that we have forgotten - or failed to accept - that we might be running the Show, but the outcome of the show is in the hands of Allah (SWT).
For all of us in this category, I would suggest to pacify yourself with what I usually tell myself:
"I have recognized My Lord with the failures in the outcome of my plannings" - Imam Ali (AS)
This just serves as a quick reminder for us of the Presence, Planning and Reliance on Allah SWT - and might just give us contentment, rather than demotivating us from trying hard the next time.
However. if you're a perfectionist who is flexible enough to take failure with a smile, then you're not really categorized under this one; go on to the next ones, and you will surely know where you fit.
The Hesitant planner: (3 out of 5)
This person moderately plans (to stay on the safe side) - and has the ability to do sooo much more, but is just plain scared of failure. For this person, any one would agree to says that "to have tried is the biggest success for ourselves, regardless of whether we achieved success infront of the World or not.."
So, all that's needed here is courage, a big heart and trust in Allah SWT, and we'll do just fine! :)
The Good planner: (4 out of 5)
(.......or maybe a grace 1/4 mark if ure really really good)
He plans very wisely - like the Perfectionist; and relies on Allah (SWT) on the outcome of what he performed - like the totally useless planner.
He loses his one mark because, there MIGHT be that one moment in him, where he gets disappointed in his failure; but the very next second, he realises that is being ungrateful to Allah (SWT) and questioning His Wisdom; apologizes, and takes his failure with a 'genuine' smile.
This person gets the highest score because he really looks at the better things in what he has achieved - than what 'he could have achieved'.. because he has truely relied on the Wisdom of Allah (SWT) and accepted that He is the Best of Planners.. Subb-haanallah
"And if you're asking for a 5 on 5 ......tsk!!. ure so human..never happy in what you get huh?"
(szahra, with a wicked smile)
_____________________________
A grade of (5 out of 5) is for him who is on that stage of having 'Rizaa'; all those mentioned above, are different stages of 'Tawakkul' on Allah SWT.To read a great informative piece on this topic, visit http://www.al-islam.org/fortyhadith/14.htm
_____________________________
May we allll be able to achieve high scores in this Life and Hereafter, Inshallah!
May we allll be able to achieve high scores in this Life and Hereafter, Inshallah!
S x Zahra
posted by *s...z* at
6:38 PM
8 Comments:
p.s: I am nobody to grade anyone or make judgments about anyone's faith or trust in Allah (SWT). But I have just tried to voice out this issue in a different manner, and I hope it doesn't offend anyone.
Sadaf
um i dont plan [b]everything[/b] ...
just stuff i need to plan ... like HW etc.
i do have a tuddu (to-do) diary though ...
i guess thats a 3/5? im not sure :/
hmm, this posting is actually referring to the 'bigger plans and outcomes' in life..
You know like when you plan to go for Hajj, but don't do anything about it, just leave it to when you get the 'bulaawa' (we do have some crazy people like that!) (0 out of 5);
or plan so perfectly towards going to for Hajj and then get totally disappointed and mad about it when it doesnt work out; questioning Allah's Decision because it made total sense to you when u worked so hard and perfectly towards it (2 out of 5);
or just don't plan Hajj thinking you won't ever be able to go for (3 out of 5);
or plan Hajj, do everything required to go for it, and then leave the 'reaching there' to Allah (SWT) - going along with the flow. It might dissapoint you if you can't go but ull eventually see good, and the Wisdom of Allah (SWT) in it (4 out of 5)
Let's hope we can aim for the higher ends of Faith, Inshallah!
I dont know where to grade myself coz sometomes I feel I am 2/5 kind and sometimes 3/5 but I just know that there are some things that we can't plan and its already planned for us and how we deal with it depends on us for eg: where we r born and to which family ...to poorer or richer, religious or otherwise etc and then there r few things we need to plan so as to make the best out of available opportunities eg: education, job opportunities etc and hope for the best outcome from Almight Allah for "He is the best of Planners'!so which things to plan for and which things r best left for Allah to plan for us is the main question for us to decide....but again my knowledge on this issue is very limited and hope and depend on Allah(swt)'s grace and mercy to give me more knowledge.Illahi Ameen .By the way sadaf what grade did u give urself?!!
^ohhh! right..i didnt really grade myself here..well when i was writing about the 2/5, i really felt i was writing about myself..the perfectionist in denial of why things go wrong sometimes - when they seem so so right...
that's why i mentioned the hadith i usually tell myself, to pacify myself..so that I can hope to reach the mark of being a good planner , or even better: to reach the status of being a 'raaziyeh' ilaahi someday - Inshallah!!
pray for me! Sadaf
hmm, this posting is actually referring to the 'bigger plans and outcomes' in life..
oh. :/
um i dunno
oh. :/
um i dunno
some examples like: planning a trip ure really looking forward to, deciding on a particular school or university u want to go to, a particular job someone is trying out for, deciding to get married to someone in particular, planning to have a child, planning to move places (migrating to another country), etc - etc.......
or even something as simple as 'planning your class as a teacher' - and your approach towards it...?
these examples are actually applicable in everything we do.. its how much we rely on Allah (SWT) after our eventual efforts - is how we can grade ourselves..and then work towards a better grade, Inshallah
dua's, S x Apa
This is very well put... I don't really wanna grade myself but the stages of tawakul you mentioned are so true. I specially liked the first one getting a 0/5 or 1/5 cause I do believe that it is not supposed to be this way. One has to work and then trust.
Allah has mentioned several times in the Holy Quran that a person who strives is preferable to a person who is sedentary! jazak Allah
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home