Meeting Seekers in Singapore

Salaams friends!  I’m in Singapore right now, and you’ll never guess what i discovered on my first day in the city! I was walking along Arab Street and Haji Lane, and I stumbled upon this irresistible bookshop..

I went inside, and was astonished by the wide range of books, the beautiful design of the store,  the incredible selection, and the atmosphere of love within it. I started talking to the owner of the store, a masha’Allah very kind and knowledgable man named Ibrahim, and it turns out we had common friends in Toronto, and he knew my hosts in Singapore. We kept talking, I found a book that I liked, and then I was pleasantly surprised to find these beautiful cards at the counter. Masha’Allah the fragrance of the Hub has  travelled far! I also met the hosts of Sidi Nader’s Malaysia and Singapore tour, and an architect, who I had a lovely conversation about urban planning. Insha’Allah looking forward to meeting more beautiful souls soon. Please do keep me in your duas.

Answers Related To Travel

I was reading the SeekersGuidance answers archives today, and found these useful answers about travel. Good pages to bookmark if you’re travelling this summer!

1) Basic Rulings of Travel
Important points: for stays longer than 15 days, legally a resident, and should not be shortening prayers. For stays shorter than 15 days, “when one is a traveler, it is mandatory (wajib) to shorten the obligatory four-rakat prayers (zuhr, asr and isha) to two rakats. One still prays the sunna prayers though, unless in the midst of a journey and in the rush of travel.”

2) Missed Prayers While Traveling: Does One Make Them Up Shortened?

The Intentions for Travelling

1. Intend to follow the command of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) by travelling
2. Intend to seek inward and outward provision
3. Intend to seek that which is lawful and to gain the pleasure of Allah in all of this
4. Intend to visit the righteous in the areas that you are travelling to and to seek their blessings
5. Intend to benefit the creation with the knowledge that you possess, to teach the ignorant and to guide those that are astray
6. Intend to seek health, which is mentioned in the hadith
7. Intend to seek a cure of your inner and outward illnesses

Source: The Book of Intentions, Al Habib Muhammad bin Alawi Al Aydarus (p. 125)

Getting Serious About Religion (The Final Lecture of the U of T MSA)

To end an amazing year of events and classes, the Muslim Students’ Association at the University of Toronto held a lecture recently titled “Getting Serious about Religion” featuring the SeekersHub own Dr Bano Murtuja, and Shaykh Abdul Hakim Quick. For me, it was one of the best, most meaningful lectures I’ve ever been to, and I’m enormously grateful to Dr Bano for gracing us with her presence that night!  The event had two major lessons. The first was the subject of Dr Bano’s remarks, that intention, knowledge and service are essential, and the second was something we all felt deep in our hearts: female scholarship is something that is sorely needed to build strong communities.  When you have people you admire in your life, you want to emulate them, and Dr Bano was a reminder for all the women in the room that academic excellence, community service, seeking sacred knowledge and being a wonderful person are all compatible. So alhamidullah for the blessing of strong female exemplars, it truly changes the way you understand yourself and the things you should be devoting your time and attention towards. Notes below from the event, and the talk in its entirety can be found here.

Shaykh Abdul Hakim Quick

• In the 1970s, there were were two major masjids in Toronto. To see another Muslim at that time was a big deal. And at that time, Hart house was a key place of Islamic thought. The university is special because it brings together people from different areas, and it empowers Muslim women in the way that they should be.
• Now we have quantity (in terms of people and masjids) but we need quality.
• We need people who understand the religion and are balanced.
• The mosque is not a mens club, it is the House of God.
• We are all transitioning out of this life into the next life.
• Have tawakkul of Allah (trust) and Allah will help you. When the birds fly out in the morning, they don’t fly out with anxiety about their provision, they have trust.
• Advice: Establish prayer in your life. So don’t  just pray, establish prayer, so that whatever is going on in your life, you have that connection. And know the rules about different ways to pray. So that whether travelling, sick etc, connection with God is firm.
• Establish shura in your life So that you conduct your affairs in mutual consultation.

Dr Bano Murtuja:

• To keep priorities straight, need intention and action.
• Our intentions and actions need to be straight in order to fulfill the trusts that we’ve been given. Both (intention and action) require knowledge. To have the highest of intention, one needs the right knowledge. Need to know what we should be striving towards, what we should be reaching towards. One’s actions should go beyond oneself.
• So how do we make every day a means of gaining blessings in this world and in the hereafter? This world is ultimately a trade, it’s a tradeoff, and ultimately it’s a tradeoff that we really shouldn’t become bankrupt in. Ultimately what we’re doing is we’re buying next life with deeds we do here. Which is why scholars have described this world as a place where we gather the seeds of the next life. But the thing is, the next life is where we harvest the plants, that’s our capital.  When do a trade, don’t just want capital back, want to make a profit. And so not just about doing that which is obligatory upon us. We have that which is an obligation upon us. We get up, we pray 5 x a day, and sit back down again. Most of us will brush it off and say ok, lets watch television, surf the internet, chat with mates,  But effectively what you’re doing by making you daily actions of that nature, of purely the obligatory is that only getting back your capital. What you put in, that’s what you get out. But there’s no profit. So the plants you get in the hereafter is not your profit.
• Book Recommendation: Imam Ghazali’s The Beginning of Guidance (book that answers this question most comprehensively)
• This book shows us how to take daily actions and stop it from being your capital, and start making a (spiritual) profit.
• The more we prepare for an act, the more success we will have with it. The more  you prepare for prayer, more success will have with it.
• Imam Shafi’ was described by one of his female teachers as the person who perfected wudu. That was all she said about him because that was the station of putting the correct intention in every one of your actions.
• Water means of purifying the inside as well as the outside. There are prophetic duas to make as you wash each limb during wudu.
• Good intentions attached to every one of your actions should purify the inside of every one of your actions.
• If you purify inside of your actions, the outside becomes that much better.

Engaging with Community Activism

• If want to engage community activism effectively, should be in service. Every one of your actions should be about service to other people
• The one who serves the one who studies, makes that study possible. The one who serves the one who teach, makes that teaching possible. So when you are in service to other people, you not only give success to your own time, you take a part of their success too. And you recognize that whatever accolades anybody gets in this world is from the All-Mighty anyway, so don’t need to be at the forefront. You don’t need to be the one who gets the recognition. And you don’t need to be the one who does the stuff, you can be in service to others. And that’s enough.
• Be in service.
• But also as Shaykh Usama Canon taught us, if you want to engage effectively with community activism, you have to put your judgements aside. You have to deal with people where they are at, now where you want them to be at. And sometimes the holier than thou attitude is particularly problematic.
• When someone who is vulnerable comes to you for help, say I love you. Make your actions be a reflection of the mercy of the Beloved of Allah.  Do not say I love you when, I love you if, I love you but, just say I love you, I accept you the way you are, I extend the mercy of the Beloved of Allah to you, as you are, where you are.
• The Prophet  of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) gave people the space to come to him as they were. It was in his companionship, in watching him, in loving him, in being the recipient of his love and his mercy, that they changed.

In terms of work…

• In almost all cases, the issue is not the job you do, but how you do it, and the intention you have in doing it.
• Almost all profession can be a means of doing good.
• We should accept the place that Allah has put us, and should stop being there when job is contrary to the ethics and teachings of the Beloved. But otherwise, have the right intention, follow the ethics and teachings of the Beloved and strive for the pleasure of Allah in all that you do, and you can’t go wrong.
• In all of that though, you need to have the right requisite sacred knowledge.
• Many of us expect to follow the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) but have very little idea of who he is.
• Take people as they are, you are not judge, jury or executioner.
• In terms of protest, important but with boundaries. Never go beyond boundaries set down by most beloved of Allah. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had many enemies, but his enemies never questioned his noble character. Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) came to perfect noble character, that was his mission. You can have your capital, you can do what you’re obliged to do, pray five times a day, keep your fasts, give your zakat, but what makes you the best person you can possibly be is when you perfect your character that goes alongside all of that. When you follow the ethics and character of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
• In sum: get the knowledge, make the intention, and be in service.

Question Period:

• Important to seek beneficial knowledge. The companions would memorize a bit of the Qur’an and then implement.
• If you want to learn Arabic and go abroad, why isn’t every second now being spent pursing that goal? Don’t have to wait till you go abroad to start that goal.
• Need to learn foundation of religion.
• Best for us to do things that we are deeply passionate about, instead of doing things that we think would be good for society, that society has a need for. I firmly believe that Allah equips us with certain qualities and gifts, and if we just focused on perfecting and using those things, we’d be able to get to Him just fine

Purifying our Hearts at U of T (Counsels on Good Character)

In our final Purification of the Heart class with Shaykh Faraz Rabbani on March 20th, we had an amazing class filled with beautiful gems about the meaning of good character,  patience, good company, and ways to improve our own character traits. It’s impossible to share everything that was covered during the class, but insha’Allah these notes are of benefit. 

What is Good Character?

• Imam Zarruq: good character is the established qualities of someone. It is who they naturally are.
• At the heart of good character is restraint.
• Forbearance is the capacity to restrain anger and negative emotions and to respond on the basis of what reason and good character dictates.
• Important aspect of good character is to be mindful of other’s rights and not to be excessively demanding of your own.
• Good character is to deal with people in the way that they want to be dealt with, not necessarily in the way that you’d want to be dealt with.
• Everyone has moments of madness. People are distinguished by how long those moments of madness last and what distinguishes them.
• Aspect of good character is you don’t take people to task. Excellence of character is far beyond that.
• Be easygoing! Don’t rebuke or fault.
• First person you call to good is yourself. If you make a mistake admit to it. Be just and giving. Have sincere concern for relations.
• Numerous hadith exist about good character.
• Believers have four rights over one another (some apply more broadly): to seek the good, to seek forgiveness for those who err, to pray for them, and to love them.
• A means of Divine mercy is to spread the greeting of peace and to seek well of people.
• Fire is forbidden for someone who is easygoing (not demanding), gets along with, and is close to people
• True believer is one that other people are safe from their tongue and their harm.
• Best of faith is mending relations between people. Your concern should be to make things better.
• The one who takes care of orphans and widows is close
• Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) shows us why you do good and how you go about doing good.
• Best of works is bringing happiness to another’s heart
• Best of works in terms of sincerity to God is upholding good character when difficult

The Importance of Good Company

• Bad company causes you to fall into corruption (of action and words), heedlessness and worldliness.
• Company that does not have this, but has a lack of benefit becomes good company if kept in a good way.
• People are naturally disposed to liking those who do good to them (ex: buy coffee for someone, buy gifts, do good, invite people over)
•  If you have really good character and excel at your work, you can pretty much get away with anything.
• Choice of company: Do not keep the company of those whose state does not elevate.

What is Patience?

• Adopt patience and know that its first part is bitterness but its last is like honey, and as sweet
• Be patient/steadfast and outdo others in being steadfast. And be mindful of God in order that you attain felicity.
• Patience is illumination
• Patience (sabr): Holding oneself from saying or doing things that go against the pleasure of Allah. Leaving complaints when tribulations befall one.
• Patience is resolve.
• Patience is to remain firm to what is pleasing to God. (injustice is not pleasing to God, so to remain with an unjust situation is not pleasing)
• 2 types of complaints: a) Complaint of neediness, which is an expression of slavehood because it is a recognition that there is no one else to complain to, and b) objection, which is not appropriate.
• Patience is only through making yourself patience. If you’re missing a virtue, figure out what it entails in conduct and state. Hold yourself to that conduct until you find the state.
• Dua in poem: You are my purpose and reliance. My hope in the world and my return
• One of the benefits of travel is that it tests your patience.
• Several barometers to test your standing with God. 1) presence of heart in prayer. If lacking, need to bring remembrance in your life. 2) Ask yourself: how am I in negative situations? When someone cuts you off, the wrong pizza gets delivered, you have bad customer service, how do you respond?
• The standard of character is the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace)
• If find good, ascribe it to God.
• The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is our exemplar. Benefit of having an exemplar is that by Prophetic standards, always falling short.
• Dua: My worldly aspirations are for You and through You. (Ex: you want to get a house, and you have the intention to raise a family in it, to feel thankful, and to have people over)
• Ways to have blessed openings and closings: To begin things with the Name of Allah, with praise of Allah, with blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), with need of reliance, and to take the best of means in the best of ways.
• Sunna is complete reliance on Allah and taking the sunna is the best of means.
• Reality of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is that he is pointing you to Allah. So should have a daily point of connection with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Read a little bit about him everyday.
• Never take a step or direct yourself towards anything, unless certain that is pleasing to Allah. Then every state of yours will be a means of increase. (How to know whether something is pleasing? Ask.)

In Everything, Uphold Good Character (Session 10 of Purifying Our Hearts at U of T)

In our penultimate session of the Purification of the heart class with Shaykh Faraz, it was beautiful to hear both the gems of wisdom he had to share, but also to observe practically what good character looks like. We were unable to get power in the room so the slides couldn’t be projected, the class couldn’t be live streamed in its entirety, and we didn’t have a proper desk for Shaykh Faraz. With each challenge, Shaykh Faraz simply said “no problem” and adapted to what was going on with a smile. It was beautiful, and one of the most memorable things I’ll take away away from these sessions. Here are a few gems from the tenth session of the course.

•  Social relations are a key to turning to Allah.
• Qiyam Layl is any worship you do after nightfall. After maghrib is the time you do night worship. A recommended prayer is Salat Awwabin, which is 6-20 rakats after maghrib. Useful to know because in the summer, it can be difficult to do worship after Isha.
• If hear of a virtue, should try and do it at least once, so that can be counted of the people who did that thing. And insha’Allah Allah will facilitate that habit for you.
• Nafl is an open door.
• Qiyam Layl is to stand in worship. Doesn’t have to be prayer, but often is prayer though because prayer is the best of outward worship.
• A lot of people find it easier to learn then to engage in worship. Have to be careful because knowledge can give you a sense of elevation.
• Don’t be excessive, even in the acquisition of the virtues. Essence of Islam is balance. Remain directed straight.
• Give everyone who has a right their due right. Adab is to do the right thing at the right time in the right way with right spiritual intention.
• Rights of parents summarized in Surah Isra, verses  23-24. Right of parents is ihsan (excellence) in words, actions, attitude, and in our responses. Should speak with gracious words, respectfully, with generosity.
• There are certain signs of our care for parents. One sign is to make dua for them after the five obligatory prayer. This is a way to express thankfulness.
• Choose to keep company of virtuous and to keep company in a good way. For the company that you choose, choose beneficial company.
• Relate to people through excellence of character. Uphold good character. Be willing to overlook people’s faults. Fulfill people’s rights with excellence and don’t be that demanding of your own.

My Mother and Father are Two Rivers That Come Together in My Heart

In the March 11th SeekersHub Newsletter, we were recommended to watch a lecture by Dr Umar titled “Marriage as a Cosmic Ideal and Social Reality.” Below are a few of the things Dr Umar said that stood out for me.

Important verse to reflect on: Surah Rum, Verse 21: “And among the signs of God is having created mates for you from yourselves that you may feel at home with them, creating love and compassion between you. Surely there are signs in that for people who reflect.” (The Quran: A New Translation by Thomas Cleary)

Mawadda is a special kind of love. A protective kind of love where you care about the future and wellbeing of your spouse. And rahma (mercy) is what makes everything work, what makes everything go.

When Allah speaks about marriage in the Qur’an, He says your wives are a garment for you. They give you beauty, protection, honour, status. And you are a garment for them.

Many scholars say that purpose of marriage is to live together in a good way. To live together in a way that we communicate, respect each other, and have communion between us that is dignified and proper.

When we have that, when a husband and wife relate to each other and understand each other and respect each other, so much good comes out of it.

Mawadda is defensive protection. Special care in a way that is not suffocating, but positive and of mercy and love.

Men and women are guardians of each other. We all have a common fidelity and loyalty to the deen.

My Favourite Response to Conversations on Marriage

In marriage, true commitment is even more romantic than true love. (In my humble opinion:) (~@DebbieMolnar )

Love is a Verb: Take-aways from Conversations on Marriage

It’s nearing the end of the term, which is generally a tough time to attend events. But tonight at the University of Toronto, the Muslim Students’ Association put on an event called “Conversations on Marriage” in conjunction with a number of amazing cultural clubs on campus, and the topic was intriguing enough to pull us away from our books. The attendance was wonderful, the discussion was interesting, and there were so many gems to take away throughout the night! In my own discussion circle there were a couple of participants who had been married for a while, and they had advice worth sharing. Notes below.

1. Marriage is for mature people. And in particular, men have to be very mature, and be able to balance between their wife and their mother. A man has to be able to be just with both.
2. In a marriage, the two people involved have to make the intention that they are just going to make things work. That no matter what happens, they are going to make things work between them. That intention is what will help make your marriage last.
3. It’s important for spouses to have compatible goals. They don’t have to be identical goals, but you need to be looking in the same direction, and not have dramatic differences. If you want to go into politics and your spouse hates everything political, not going to work…
4. People should take a course on interpersonal relationships before they get married. Today people often think about what the other person will do for them, how they will treated and get in the relationship but they never consider what is it that they will be contributing, what is it that they will be doing in the marriage. It’s an important question to ask yourself.
5. You can assess if someone is right for you by asking them what their expectations are of married life. If one spouse imagines ironed clothes every day and the other spouse can’t iron, need to talk about that.
6. Ultimately the success of marriage is about the feeling and softness in your heart for that person, and kind words. The basis of marriage is love, mercy and being reasonable.
7. You can like someone before marriage, but ultimately love is work and sacrifice.
8. Love is also about respect
9. (Reflections from a married participant): When I met my wife, I thought, “I wish I had met you sooner so we could have grown up together! That was a missed opportunity to not have spent my formative years with her.
10. Ultimately to find the right partner and to find success, ask for guidance and pray that you meet the right person. And read the Qu’ran, there is so much power in doing that.

The Doors of Good Are Beyond Counting (Purifying our Hearts at U of T Session 8)

In our eighth session with Shaykh Faraz at the University of Toronto studying Imam Haddad’s poem of counsel, we had a beautiful evening with so many wonderful gems. Masha’Allah it’s a gift having these classes so accessible for us on campus, and we hope that these notes can be a small complement to those who could not make it. As always, these notes are not complete, but we hope they are of benefit.

Spiritual Living. Provision. Wealth. Poverty. Trials. Navigating the World of Means.

Adab of Wealth: If people turn to you, answer their need. Realise that the wealth you have is from Allah, and there are adab related to it. One’s rizq is from Allah.

1)   Provision and Giving

Rizq (provision) is all from Allah. Rizq is not just material wealth. Rizq is material and also spiritual. Not just wealth. Allah facilitates means for us to benefit even in our worldly life. From Allah’s provision. Allah grants us certain aptitudes. Called provision because Allah apportioned if for you. Perhaps the least significant of one’s provision is one’s material provision and the most fleeting of them. Very limited role in acquiring it and not much we can do to retain it. Basis of wealth is that it comes and goes. Any attempt to secure it is delusion. There are other types of provision. Allah provides us at the level of our limbs, provides us health, provides us all  kinds of worldly means. Also your family. You did not choose them, they came to you from Allah. Your background. Your society. The aptitudes that He granted you. The inclinations that you have and the temperament that you have, all from Allah. Realise that ultimately that whether you have wealth or not, ultimately not that significant if you consider all that you do have.

Allah provides to bodies and also provides rizq to the aql through knowledge and understanding and thought and contemplation and reflection. This is intellectual provision. All gifts from Allah. Allah also provides us provision for nafs for the inclinations and desires that we have. For the appetites. Those inclinations from the rizq of Allah. All from what Allah has granted. Can turn to Allah through them.There is the rizq of hearts. Seeking Allah’s pleasure. Rizq for souls.  All that from the rizq of Allah. Sometimes rizq comes to you directly, sometimes rizq is evident and sometimes is there and not evident.

2 Adab of Rizq

1)   Seeing it from Allah so you recognize and appreciate it. Then try to express gratitude in appropriate way.

2)   If see from Allah, should have concern of sharing it with others. Creation has rights over you, how do you share this with others?  That applies to all that one has. Tangible and intangible. Have to choose right way of expressing that.  How do you express that concern of giving? Look at the prophetic example for what would be the appropriate way of giving.  What one is giving is not merely one’s wealth.

Reminder: Verse 57:7.  Believe in Allah and His Messenger and spend out of that in which He has made you successors. For those who have believed among you and spent, there will be a great reward..

Directly related to belief.  Those of you who believe have great reward from Allah. This is not specific merely to wealth. Theme in Qur’an of linking giving with faith. Above all, an expression of thankfulness and trust in Allah and with respect to others, an expression of care for them.

Numerous Hadiths Exist About the Virtues of Giving

• Among them, Prophetic promise that “Allah says, spend and I will spend on you. Give and I will give to you.
• 57.11, 2:274. 92:5-11.  2:237..and other verses.
• The one who gives is close to Allah. No one is diminished by giving.

Note

• Tested in many areas of life, if give, Allah expands your provision.
• Gifting books makes you rich. The same amount in gifting books, is greater in benefit than the same amount given in wealth. One of the things to be considered in giving, to give in the most beneficial way so consider circumstances

Generosity has many different manifestations. Many different things that cause one to have the motive, inclination of giving.

Six Inclinations for Giving

1) First one, to see Allah’s rights over yourself and your wealth. Who are you? You are the servant of Allah and He has commanded you to give. Giving is tricky. Some giving is obligatory. The danger is that many of the rights that Allah has over our wealth is non quantifiable. You don’t have to give individually to support any particular project, but societally you do. Part of generosity is the sense that Allah has this sense over you.

2)  Characterizing oneself with traits of Allah’s Names. Be the servant of the One who has these qualities.

3) To seek Allah. Seek with what Allah has granted you the next abode. The next abode is meeting Allah and one’s eternal station with Allah.

4) Fourth impulse of generosity is recognizing the rights of people over you. The one who is concerned goes beyond the bare minimum. And the thing about relationships is that they cannot be quantified.  Although the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)  gave us keys. Like he told us that when you cook something, make extra sauce and share with your neighbour.

5) sincere concern for others.  Reality of religion is seeking good when it comes to the other. One has the concern.

6) thankfulness to Allah. When see rizq from Alah, want to deal with blessing in way that is pleasing Allah

Wealth Management

• Have to look at different faculties one has and aptitudes. Like one’s attention and how one directs it.
• Early Muslims used to do wealth management. Not how to maximize wealth but how to make eternal investment through work, earnings, investing, for eternal rewards
• Many Muslims would divide wealth in thirds: third for themselves and family (living expenses), third save for future (future needs) and third (direct toward charity). But charity would look at how to maximize for benefit.
• Zakat: different kind of need that one has at some level responsibility for. Shafi school, need to give zakat to different individuals in different categories.
• Same principle need to be considered in other things. For ex: time. How much of your time should be for other people?
• Good sometimes to sit down and think what has Allah given me and make mental map and think what do have.  Helps to put things in context.
• True wealth is wealth of spirit. (Hadith)

Consideration is not religious preference or own inclinations,  but consideration is what is most pleasing to Allah. Sometimes immediate religious inclination is a form of stinginess and weakness. This second guessing puts oneself in awkward position where thinking what will people do. Sincerity is both not doing things for people but also not leaving things for people.

Time:

• time isn’t linear and incremental. If you do the right thing, Allah will place barakah in time, Barakah is the secret in increase.
•  It’s also deceiving oneself because you actually have a lot of hours in the week. Say can’t go the mawlid because  you have to study. But actually what are you doing? On Facebook. Looking up frying pans.
•  Be generous and attentive with times.
•  Important because so many people disconnected from friends and family.

Allah promises it and all kind of studies show it that this kind of good grants contentment.  Good to give directly, many of us give distantly.

Trials

• What is hope? Seeking desired outcome while taking the means to attain it.
• Be watchful of adab and of the response.
• Sometimes Allah opens doors but we don’t notice.
• Sometimes haeve to ask yourself, what is Allah telling me in my situation? But don’t wallow in confusion.
• Act with yaqeen and certitude. Act with knowledge. Knowledge that shows you to the way of the pleasure of Allah.
• Sins prevent worship (ie- rude to mother, don’t wake up for fajr)

Reality of trials (bala’a)

• Trials are an opportunity to express your thankfulness to Allah.
• In all trials key thing is what is the right response.
• Thinking about the situation that you’re in won’t help. Worrying and saying “oh my God I don’t have a job” will not get you a job.
• One of the adab of poverty is contentment and hope. Longing for desired outcomes and taking the means to get them. Actually very empowering. Studies show people who been out of job for a while lose hope because their hope was attached to their qualifications and their aptitudes. But believer doesn’t lose hope because he or she is attached to Allah.
• Believer neither reliant or dependent on means. Attachment is to Allah. Direct yourself to what seems most pleasing to Allah in the circumstancs you’re in.
• In both things, in divestment from means or moving towards means question is what is most pleasing to Allah. One of the benefits of proactively having good company is that they can advise you.
• Your place is where Allah places you.
• Sometimes inclination is toward means and is errant. Sometimes inclination away from means and that is errant.
• Question is what is more likely to be pleasing to Allah. If not sure, ask. We could all benefit more from consulting. Very often we put ourselves in very complicated situations where we could just ask. Also ask the right people. Particularly in decisions of religious implication, ask people of maturity and hikma.  And consider ultimate benefit.
• The statistical probability of dying of starvation in Canada is very low, so might as well do something meaningful with your life. One has to look at where is the pleasure of Allah and then pursue it unhesitatingly.