Setting a goal in life, read through a Moneysworth magazine article on personal mission statements, leads to the Quran's answer: worship God alone and lead a righteous life to please Him, with priority on the Hereafter. Letters from prisoners and a chaplain thank Masjid Tucson for Qurans and newsletters. A closing piece presents the Quran's mathematical code as proof it is God's authentic message.
One of the most challenging aspects of our
lives is to keep our priorities straight and to keep ourselves focused
in the purpose of achieving a specified goal. This is, of course, after
we have set up or defined a goal for ourselves. Unfortunately, many people
do not have a clear sense of purpose in life. Therefore, when they set
up goals for themselsves, they usually do so for the wrong reasons. This
is because they lack the scriptural guidance from God in their lives.
God tells us in His scriptures what this life is all about. He also informs
us what our goal in this life should be. This is especially clear in the
Quran, the Final Testament for humanity. All we need is to follow the
prescribed instructions in the scripture to achieve that goal.
There was an interesting article published in September 1996 issue of
Moneysworth magazine. The title of
the article was “How to Develop a Mission
Statement” and it addressed the importance of having a goal in life
to be successful. The article was about how successful top executives
develop a mission statement to focus their energies, target their initiatives
and keep on track to achieve their goals. The author of the article was
Stephanie Culp, president of a consulting company that focuses on productivity
and organization.
Since the article was published in a financial magazine, it was geared
for those whose priorities are the materials of this world. Even though
the objective of the article was materialistic success, it could apply
for gaining spiritual success as well if one read the article from a different
perspective. The article emphasizes the fact that we need to have a mission;
we need to have a goal in life. We must constantly remind
ourselves what this goal is in order for us
to keep focused. We, the submitters, can use these principles to be successful
and happy both in this life and in the Hereafter, as long as we define
our priorities correctly, based on the Quran.
Here are some quotes from this article.
A clear sense of purpose in life will do much more than
prevent late-life regrets. It will help you prioritize your efforts, accomplish
meaningful goals and more effective decisions.
Your personal mission statement is a tool for commitment,
inspiring you to keep striving and to overcome fears and self-imposed
limitations.
What is Your Mission?
Consider your personal legacy—the way the world will
remember you after you’re gone.
Page 2
Goal in Life
Most people find that the single most useful question
in defining their personal mission is “What would I want
people to say about me if I were to die tomorrow?”
From our perspective, we should replace the word “people”
with the word “God” so that the last statement would
read: What would I want God to say about me if I were to die
tomorrow?
We know that it will be to no avail for us on Judgment Day what
anybody thinks of us in this world, if God is not pleased with us.
This becomes clear once we understand who God really is—His
qualities or attributes—and why He sent us to this earth in
the first place. As a blessing from Him, God defines and clarifies
our mission and purpose of our existence in this worldly life in
many verses of the Quran.
I did not create the jinns and the humans except
to worship Me alone. (51:56)
God created the heavens and the earth for a specific
purpose, in order to pay each soul for whatever it earned, without
the least injustice. (45:22)
The One who created death and life for the purpose
of distinguishing those among you who would do better. He is the
Almighty, the Forgiving. (67:2)
We created the human from a liquid mixture, from
two parents, in order to test him. Thus we made him a hearer and
seer. We showed him the two paths, then he is either appreciative,
or unappreciative. (76:2-3)
Every soul will taste death, after we put you to
the test through adversity and prosperity, then to us you ultimately
return. (21:35)
We will certainly put you to test, in order to distinguish
those among you who strive, and steadfastly
persevere. We must expose
your true qualities. (47:31)
Beware of the day when no soul can avail another
soul, no intercession will be accepted, no ransom can be paid, nor
can anyone be helped. (2:48)
Take It With You
It’s a fact that people who write down their
goals are far more likely to achieve them.
Your personal mission statement can be anything from
a single sentence to several paragraphs. But you can’t just
sit down and dash it off. These are issues that you want to think
about, live with, mull over for a few days.
Concentrate on content and forget about style. Your
personal mission statement needn’t be perfectly punctuated
or grammatically correct.... Once you’ve written your personal
mission statement, make it part of your daily life. Carry it with
you in your wallet. Put it next to your bed. Stick it on your bathroom
window. Whenever your life seems to be out of control... contemplate
it.
Renew your commitment to your personal mission regularly
by asking yourself—perhaps once a week—how well you’ve
been serving your ideals. “Was I generous? Was I a good
parent? A good friend?”
As submitters, we realize that our goal in this life is to be
a righteous person so that God will be pleased with us. In all our
actions and decisions, our priority should be the eternal life,
not the temporary one in this world. Therefore, our mission statement
should reflect that purpose. If we can maintain this throughout
our lives, then we can be a winner both in this life and in the
Hereafter. The Quran states that God loves those who strive to improve
themselves, maintain righteousness and are appreciative of His blessings.
If we have better resources in this life, this gives us the ability
to do more in the cause of God (16:75). In return, God showers us
with His mercy and grants us eternal happiness.
Use the provisions bestowed
upon you by God to seek the abode of the Hereafter, without neglecting
your share in this world. Be charitable, as God has been charitable
towards you.... (28:77)
Your Lord has decreed: “The more you thank
Me, the more I give you.” But if you turn unappreciative,
then My retribution is severe. (14:7)
Staying the Course
Use your mission statement in formulating both short-
and long-range goals. Many goals, of course, will have little to
do with your mission—cleaning your desk, saving money for
a trip to Europe or getting an important report written.
But returning to your mission statement will ensure
that, in the barrage of life’s demands, you don’t lose
sight of the big picture and veer off track. It will help you prioritize
and fine-tune your goals.
Competing demands on your time, energy and money
are endless, but these resources are limited. When it’s hard
to choose how to spend your money, your sense of mission will cut
through conflicts and clarify decisions.
Commitment to Your Mission
We live in a world that glorifies gratification.
But a truly rewarding life requires working toward goals and nurturing
relationships even when immediate pleasures seem more appealing.
Keeping your personal mission statement in mind will give you a
strong sense of commitment with the power to achieve more genuine
satisfaction....
With an eye on your personal mission, you will find
it easier to focus your energies on what’s truly important—and
kindly but firmly reject demands that fritter away your time.
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Goal in Life
Beyond the everyday payoff of a more organized, effective way of
life, your sense of personal mission can bring you peace of mind—even
when things don’t seem to be going well. Too little money?
Disappointment at work? If you stay focused on the ideals that mean
the most to you, whatever the setbacks, your life will be moving
in the right direction.
Yes, indeed. If we can stay focused and be steadfast in worshiping
God alone by following His commandments, God will help us to go
through all the tests with ease. He will also strengthen our foothold
by channeling our energy and effort in more effective ways. Our
lives will be moving in the right direction, heading for the greatest
triumph by the grace of the Most Merciful. That will then be the
fulfillment of our goal in this life.
Absolutely, God’s allies have nothing to fear,
nor will they grieve. They are those who believe and lead a righteous
life. For them, joy and happiness in this world, as well as in the
Hereafter. This is God’s unchangeable law. Such is the greatest
triumph. (10:62-64)
Abdullah Arik
Letters From Prisons
ICS/Masjid Tucson
Dear Friends,
I wish to take this opportunity to thank you for your generous
donation to the Islamic community here at Madison. These materials
are being distributed amongst the community at every opportunity.
Thank you for keeping us in mind as other materials become
available.
Sincerely,
C.W. Sprouse
Superintendent
Richard D. Prentiss
Senior Chaplain
Madison Correctional Institution
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
As-salamu Alaikum:
My dear brothers and sisters at Masjid Tucson. May Allah
bless you all for helping me and other brothers and sisters
too. Thank you all for sending me a Quran.... I also would
like to thank you for sending me the submitters perspective
too; and I would love to get one every month.
All praise is to Allah, the Almighty.
So thank you all once again.
As-salamu Alaikum:
E. Washington
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
I greet you ICS in the Arabic language of peace.
As-salamu Alaikum wa-Rahmatullah:
...My beloved Muslim brothers and sisters, I am a member
of the S.O.I. or should I say a student of Islam to correct
all misconception and innovated teachings of Islam. I am writing
in request for a newsletter and any other knowledgeable material
that can help me grow in the religion of Islam. I am incarcerated
and the place where I’m held do not furnish any Islamic
material. We have to struggle for every piece of information
on Islam.
So I’m asking if it’s possible you could all
bless me and my brothers with some proper information on Islam
and some books, Qurans from your source and pamphlets so we
can move to the next level of this religion. Your assistance
really would be some help. Thank you.
I leave you as I came in the Arabic language of Peace.
As-salamu Alaikum wa-Rahmatullah.
Minister: H.A. Shabazz
Page 4
Quran: God’s Authentic
Message to the World
The Quran is characterized by a unique phenomenon never found in any human authored book. Every element of the Quran is mathematically composed—the chapters, the verses, the words, the number of certain letters, the number and location of key words or statements in the text, unique spelling of certain words, and many other elements of the Quran besides its content.
There are two major facets of the Quran’s mathematical system:
1) The mathematical literary composition, and
2) The mathematical structure involving the numbers of chapters and verses.
Because of this comprehensive mathematical coding, the slightest distortion of the Quran’s text or physical arrangement is immediately exposed.
One of the important functions of the Quran’s mathematical code is that it proves and authenticates by physical evidence all the miracles of the previous prophets and messengers. Noah’s flood, Moses’ parting of the Red Sea, Jesus’ reviving of the dead and healing of the hopelessly blind and the lepers, and so on. Now, these miracles are mathematically composed within the Quran and proven by this code to be true. God was the witness. His words are divine. And what He has proven by means of the “ultimate” miracle is that the Quran is indeed His word. The word of God. The Final Testament to the world.
The mathematical coding of the Quran is easy to verify, simple to understand, but impossible to imitate. To obtain detailed information and for a free catalog, write to:
ICS/Masjid Tucson
PO Box 43476
Tucson AZ 85733
Phone/fax: (520) 323-7636
About this work
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International Community of Submitters
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International Community of Submitters / Masjid Tucson