Himmah 'Aaliyah

BIsmillahirrahmnirrahim....

Those who do wish for the (things of) the Hereafter, and strive therefore with all due striving, and have Faith,- they are the ones whose striving is acceptable (to Allah) (17:19)

Dan sesiapa yang menghendaki akhirat dan berusaha mengerjakan amal-amal yang baik untuk akhirat dengan usaha yang layak baginya, sedang ia beriman, maka mereka yang demikian keadaannya, diberi pahala akan amal usahanya. (17:19)

remember the times when you wanted something so badly, how you worked your heart out to get it? remember how oblivious you are to the world when the only thing you think about is that 'something'? i recalled a few weeks before sitting for my SPM, i was so into studying, revising, not forgetting praying, qiam, reciting the Quran, etc. i remembered how determined i was to win that story telling competition at my school when i was in standard three. (spent nights and days talking to myself in front of the mirror, haha...but i lost..huhu). these were the times when we are at our best, the moments when we portray resiliency, passion, determination and endurance. Himmah A'aliyah. Means high-spirited and driven.

However it is essential that we are driven for the right causes. In our case, the utmost important cause is to inculcate that himmah in our iman towards Allah Taala. nevertheless, to have himmah in worldly affairs is not entirely wrong. it is just that the worldly himmah is not as 'divine' and not as 'highly'.

What is the life of this world but play and amusement? But best is the home in the hereafter, for those who are righteous. Will ye not then understand? (6:32)

Dan tidak (dinamakan) kehidupan dunia melainkan permainan yang sia-sia dan hiburan yang melalaikan: dan demi sesungguhnya negeri akhirat itu lebih baik bagi orang-orang yang bertaqwa. Oleh itu, tidakkah kamu mahu berfikir? (6:32)

Abu Qassim al-Junaid once told:

"the beginning to every matter is himmah. so, bear that himmah,"

To err is human. to maintain that himmah is not all easy. often we have many matters at hand and we tend to forget our main purpose of life. therefore to renew that himmah is crucial. say if you failed in something, you wouldn't want to stay in that sorry state for long, would you? you would want to 'recharge' and pull yourself back on track.

A few ways to renew your himmah is doa, ibadah, get busy with things to bring you closer to Allah, and zikrulmaut. for myself, it takes a bit of effort to gain that enthusiasm in obtaining that himmah aaliyah. at times i find myself thinking and pondering irrelavant matters. childish and immature, that's how i think of myself. many times, my friends would tell me how i think too much and i don't give myself much 'space to breathe'. (this is totally out of topic, but apa salahnya luahkan perasaan skali skala kan..haha)

whereas some of the factors that weaken our himmah is wahan (love of the world and dislike of death), futur, waste of time, laziness, and being acquainted with people of low himmah.

Narrated Thawban:

The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: The people will soon summon one another to attack you as people when eating invite others to share their dish. Someone asked: Will that be because of our small numbers at that time? He replied: No, you will be numerous at that time: but you will be scum and rubbish like that carried down by a torrent, and Allah will take fear of you from the breasts of your enemy and last enervation into your hearts. Someone asked: What is wahn (enervation). Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him): He replied: Love of the world and dislike of death.

may our efforts in increasing our himmah be accepted by Him and may we be the true winners in the end.

Wallahu a'alam...