Allah (SWT) said:” O you who believe! Enter into Islam whole-heartedly, and follow not the footsteps of the evil one, for he is to you an avowed enemy.” (2: 208)
To succeed in life, a Muslim has to undertake a positive change. It should not be resisted because change is what keeps a person from getting stale and stagnant, even backsliding. Change is what keeps him going forward, what keeps him fresh, creative, imaginative, and innovative. Change is what keeps him energetic and forward-looking to attain the good of this world and the next. He should deal with change actively and positively. Change is an inherent part of life. Our views, actions, and reactions are often molded by the changes we experience around us. So, do not be afraid to undertake change; you will find that change can be a wonderful opportunity to fulfill your aspirations.
The Muslim, apart from being creative and innovative, should also be able to move and think fast to capitalize on opportunities. And to grab any opportunity that might come by, you need to be prepared for it: you must have the requisite educational or technical qualification. Even more important is the necessity to have the right attitude and the right mindset to be able to face the imposition and challenges of the opportunities presented.
In a fast-moving and progressive society like Singapore, where many youths are polytechnic and university graduates, the Muslim youth cannot afford to be complacent in their studies. Given the virtue of being born in Islam, a religion that commands Muslims to be educated, the Muslim youth should do well in their studies. If the Muslim youth lacks educational qualifications, he will have no confidence in facing the challenges of life in Singapore.
The pursuit of educational qualifications does not mean that you cannot pursue your interests and pastimes in other areas. You can. You can get involved in various pastimes and activities, including sports and games, hobbies, music, community work, cultural activities, and seminars, as long as these activities and your association with them conform to Islamic norms. You must take part in such activities as well as attend religious classes and talks organized by mosques and Muslim organizations. These are part and parcel of personal development. Have friends, both Muslims and non-Muslims. Laugh and enjoy yourself. What is unwelcome is doing nothing or wasting time on unproductive activities.
Changing attitudes and mindsets may not be easy, but in this era, it must be done. Be determined in it; otherwise, you will be left behind, even ignored. If you are not equipped with the relevant knowledge and skills, you could be swept away by the tide of change. Muslims should be talented, if not multi-talented, to remain relevant and sought after in the workforce. They should be afraid to adapt to new changes, initiate new approaches, and face new challenges. Indeed, those who are not afraid to face the challenges of change are those who are always not afraid to learn new knowledge and skills.
Today, people are expected to keep tight schedules, come up with new ideas, cut down costs, and do multitask, all at the same time. While this might be challenging to some people, others may find this very distressing. Those who find the pace of present-day living distressing should find means to remedy the situation. They should cope with the stress by learning to relax, such as reading, exercising, and performing optional salat (prayers) to acquire their meditational benefits.
A mental revolution should take place to lay the foundation for changing the old ways of thinking, working, and living to new, progressive ones, such as doing new things and doing old things better, or doing them in new ways. Set special goals and work hard to achieve them over a specific time frame. Develop confidence to achieve your plans. Remember that there is no achievement without action.
You would have read and known that when Europe was in the Dark Ages, a time of cultural stagnation, it was the opposite in the Muslim world. Muslims were enjoying a cultural Renaissance due to the impetus given by Islam to learning and the acquisition of knowledge.
Muslims were in the forefront of progress in mathematics, medicine, astronomy, and various other branches of science. Cities like Baghdad, Damascus, Cairo, and Cordoba were the centers of learning and civilization. Muslim scientists were well-respected and well-known. Islamic sciences flourished from the 7th century right up to the 15th century.
But what happened to that glory? Isn’t it an irony that Muslims who had played the roles of leaders of knowledge among the nations of the world, and who had been the torch bearers of civilization, have remained stagnant for a long time?
They did not keep up with the progress that they had spearheaded. They did not keep up with the changes and challenges of the last four centuries in the Islamic way. As a result, they suffered a moral decadence that caused a general decline in everything worldly, including academic and scientific studies and research. They developed an inferiority complex.
Shaik A. Kadir
