Ikhlas (Sincerity) Check | Deception on the Road to Achieving Your Grand Goal

Suppose you managed to work towards reaching the milestone of now living under a proper Islamic country. Don't be deceived thinking it means you are now going to Jannah.

Thus, prioritise working on yourself in line with having taqwā - i.e. doing what would be the best/right/most pleasing thing in the sight of Allāh at different periods of your life - which includes praying consistently on time [particularly the Fajr salāh which we find to be the most challenging one]; developing important character qualities and skills such as humbleness, humility, respectfulness, courage, team management, having unity, leadership etc.; addressing matters in relation to the ummah/public if it's the best/right time for you to engage in such tasks, including matters pertaining to establishing justice and working towards achieving needed goals for the ummah.

But don't forget, the ultimate goal is to succeed in the Ākhira (Hereafter) and you don't necessarily have to achieve the goal of having millions of subscribers, being a famous speaker who delivers speeches around the globe, establishing global justice, becoming an islāmic scholar, a leader and so on, to achieve that. 

Introspect your heart. What do you truly seek. Is it the reward/success of the Hereafter? 

Remember, Sa'd Ibn Abī Waqqās, the great genius commander, one of the best commanders in history, was highly respected and famous during his life. Having said that, later on in his life, he chose to live a lifestyle of simplicity, away from the fame and attention of people. Such a lifestyle was influenced by what the Messenger of Allah ﷺ taught him. Sa'd reported, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

“Verily, Allāh loves a servant who is righteous, independent, and unnoticed (obscure).” [1]

The Ākhira was more important to Sa'd and so he made the smart decision to live a simple life similar to that of a bedouin, based on the new context/situation in his life. Let’s learn this deeply, valuable, lesson from Sa’d, one of the ten who were promised Jannah.

Therefore, if you don't need to be in the limelight and it will overall be better in line with having taqwā, that you live a simple, low-key lifestyle, then take that path. It doesn't mean you don't engage/contribute towards your community or work towards the needed goals of the ummah. You're just opting for a more low-key approach as that would be better for your Deen (Islām), thus also render you more productive. As for other individuals, they may have to take on responsibilities/duties/roles in line with having taqwā which incorporate experiencing a lot of fame/attention, as it will overall bring more benefit to the community/ummah, as well as for their own Deen.

So introspect yourself and make the right decision in terms of how you should go about. 

Remember, the ultimate goal is success in the Hereafter. Don't allow the love of dunyā (worldly life), including the desire/love for millions of subscribers, fame/popularity, praise of people, power/authority and so on, to cloud your judgement on what the best route would be for you personally.

Remember also '...the life of this world is only the enjoyment of deception (a deceiving thing)' Allāh says. [2]

Moreover, 'whosoever desires honour, power and glory then to Allāh belong all honour, power and glory [and one can get honour, power and glory only by obeying and worshipping Allāh (Alone)]...' He says. [3]

Footnotes

[1] Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 2965. Translation amended. Accessed from:

https://www.abuaminaelias.com/dailyhadithonline/2011/06/17/allah-loves-taqwa-ghani#:~:text=Sa'd%20ibn%20Abi%20Waqqas,%2C%20independent%2C%20and%20obscure.%E2%80%9D   

[2] Al-Qur'ān, 3:185

[3] Al-Qur'ān, 35:10