16th Safar 1447H | Assalamu'alaikum, | Over the weekend, I received a call from an old friend who found himself at one of life's crossroads. | A few months ago, he made what seemed like a smart career move: leaving his comfortable position at a Big Four accounting firm in the UK to join their Middle East office. | Beyond the career advantages, he made some beautiful intentions: to perform Hajj, be closer to Makkah and Madinah, move his family to a more Islamic environment, and reconnect with his aging parents in Pakistan. | But after 2 months in his new position, he was having regrets. | The new office turned out to be a nightmare: A toxic boss seemed determined to make his life miserable. Office politics threatened to derail his career. The very opportunity he thought would bring him closer to his personal and professional goals was now jeopardizing everything. | "I can't go back to the UK, I've already resigned," he told me, frustration heavy in his voice. "I might lose this job too. I don't know what to do." | As we talked through his options, I found myself asking him a simple question that changed our entire conversation: | "What was your no.1 intention for making this move?" | "To perform Hajj," he replied without hesitation. | "You still have about 10 months until Hajj," I reminded him. "Focus on that for now, and after Hajj, Khair! Allah might open unexpected doors for you." | In that moment, something clicked for both of us. When you have a clear, Allah-centered intention, it doesn't eliminate difficulties; it gives you a framework for navigating them. | I told him that maybe this difficult boss, this toxic environment, maybe it's all part of the test. Allah is checking his sincerity: Will he stay the course when it gets hard, or will he abandon his intention at the first sign of difficulty? | We all know that actions are judged by intentions, but I've learned that intentions also give us the strength to persevere through the inevitable challenges those actions bring. | If you're facing a difficult situation right now, whether it's a career crossroads, relationship challenges, or simply feeling lost about your next steps, ask yourself: | "What's my true intention here? And how can I connect this intention to serving Allah SWT?" | My friend will still have to deal with his tough office situation. The toxic boss won't transform into a warm friend overnight. The office politics won't magically disappear. But something might shift in how he approaches each day. | When you're driven by a God-centered intention rather than circumstance, you stop asking "Why is this happening to me?" and start asking "How can I serve Allah SWT through this challenge?" | The next time life throws you a curveball, don't just focus on solving the immediate problem. Step back and reconnect with your deeper intention. Let that intention be your Qibla, guiding you through whatever storms lie ahead. | May Allah grant us sincere intentions and the strength to pursue them regardless of the obstacles we face. Ameen. | Sincerely, | |
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