THE SUPREME CRISIS
The world is in a profound crisis.
When we look at the emergencies currently engulfing the globe, we realise none arrived in a vacuum. Many find their roots deeply embedded in the past, which raises the question: why do we wait until a crisis rings our doorbell? And if you have a doorbell, count yourself lucky for not being one of the five million shack-dwelling South Africans who will never own one.
We can develop a prescience if we are conscious of the world around us and literate of its history. If we do and become respondents instead of reactors, we will avoid much of the strife dominating our lives.
However, when we develop a foreboding prescience, we can foresee and bring an impending crisis, no matter how far off, to our doorstep. This approach allows us to course-correct by combatting the trends that drive it and work towards a brighter future.
The human physiological and psychic response to crisis varies. The primordial or instinctual ones, such as flight, fight or freeze, are reactionary and emotional and provide temporary solutions. The refined response is more responsible and involves a diligent calculus of our past, present and future.
Even with a world engulfed in flames, the unfolding chapters in the next two to ten years will be even bleaker. Yet, nothing is graver than the crisis we will face at the resurrection.
Fortunately, foresight is not a prerequisite to understanding the afterlife and its travails. The Quran is replete in providing us with an HD (high-definition) portrait thereof.
THE GREAT BUILD
All studies about great leaders, past and present, are underpinned by their human qualities.
These attributes form the foundation, allowing for the incredible build of their lives and achievements.
For a blueprint to build sound character, we need not look further than the Prophet Muhammad (s) and his message.
One of the Prophet’s chief missions was to teach the world character: ‘I was sent (by God) to perfect good character’ [Sahih Albani, 273].
Thus, for a Muslim, developing a sound character is obligatory.
When we become intimate with the Prophet’s life, we will distinctly see his life threaded by the following qualities:
To test your character against the Prophet’s, use these seven attributes to grade yourself on a scale of 1-10.
Then, do it again after six months to see if you’ve improved.
Remember, building character is an endless journey. So, we must repeat the exercise periodically to sculpt and refine the Prophet’s resemblance within us.
When we run from the past, we often run from the solution.
The past holds the cypher that unlocks the door to a better future. In it, we find the drivers that underpin our behaviours.
It is the part of myself that I refuse to look at that rules me.
So, rule yourself by learning what drives your behaviour.
Until next week, InshaAllah
Zaahied Sallie
Author of The Beloved Prophet – An Illustrated Biography in Rhyme
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