How to Boost Our Morale and the Umma’s in Times of Weakness?
Answered by Shaykh Abdul Sami‘ al-Yaqti
Question
How can we elevate our and the umma’s morale in times of severe weakness?
Answer
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. Blessings and peace be upon the Master of the Messengers, his Family, and all his Companions.
High morale is the motivator and driver towards seeking lofty and noble matters. Achieving it involves several steps, beginning with reflecting on the purpose for which humans were created, then setting the intention and determination to achieve it, while seeking the help of Allah (Most High) and taking material means, such as starting with oneself and available resources. It also involves avoiding lazy and idle people, as well as other demotivators and obstacles, and accompanying determined and resolute individuals.
Learning about their lives and conditions and emulating them, hastening to achieve goals without succumbing to despair, pessimism, or stumbling at obstacles, while continuously reviewing and monitoring one’s actions, holding oneself accountable, feeling a sense of vigilance and excellence in actions, and persistently supplicating in all stages and conditions; by doing so, a person reaches the desired virtues and attainments. Allah knows best.
Explanation and Details
In the language, “himma” (aspiration) is like “hamm” (concern), both referring to what one intends and decides to do. “Ham” means to intend, desire, and resolve to do something.
“Hamma” and “Himma” refer to what one is concerned with doing.
“Humam” refers to a great king with high aspiration, as it is said because when he intends something, he executes it and is not deterred, but proceeds as he planned. [Ibn Manzur, Lisan al-Arab]
Some define high aspiration as considering anything less than the ultimate in noble matters insignificant.
Raghib Isfahani says: “The person with high aspiration in absolute terms is the one who does not settle for animalistic aspirations as much as possible; he does not become a slave to his stomach and private parts, but strives to specialize in the noble aspects of the Sacred Law, becoming one of Allah’s friends and His successors on earth and among His neighbors in the Hereafter.” [Isfahani, Kitab al-Dhariya]
Hussayn Ibn Ali (Allah be pleased with them) reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: “Indeed, Allah loves lofty matters and noble deeds and dislikes trivial matters.” [Bayhaqi, Shu‘ab al-Iman]
Steps
After this important introduction to the meaning of aspiration (himma), we mention a number of practical steps to elevate and enhance it:
First: Reflect on Your Life’s Purpose
Reflect on your role in life and your purpose for being created. Allah (Most High) says:
“‘Did you then think that We had created you without purpose, and that you would never be returned to Us?’ Exalted is Allah, the True King! There is no god (worthy of worship) except Him, the Lord of the Honorable Throne.” [Quran, 23:115-116]
Ibn Kathir, in his commentary on this verse, says, “Did you then think that We had created you without purpose?” this means, did you think that you were created in vain, without purpose, intention, or wisdom on Our part?
As He says: “And (do you think) that you would never be returned to Us?” meaning, hereafter, as He says: “Do people think they will be left without purpose?” [Quran, 75:36]
Allah (Most High) then says: “Exalted is Allah, the True King! There is no god (worthy of worship) except Him, the Lord of the Honorable Throne.” This means that Allah is far above creating anything in vain. He is the True Sovereign, free from such things.”
Second: Firm Intention and Determination
Have a firm intention and determination to achieve the purpose for which humans were created, which is to worship Allah alone and be His vicegerents on earth according to His methodology. As Allah (Most High) says:
“I did not create jinn and humans except to worship Me.” [Quran, 51:56]
And Allah (Most High) says:
“(Remember) when your Lord said to the angels, ‘I am going to place a successive (human) authority on earth.’” [Quran, 2:30]
Third: Seek Help from Allah
Seek help from Allah (Most High). Ibn Qayyim, in his valuable book “Madarij al-Salikin,” says: “Among the stations of ‘You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help’ is the station of aspiration… He then defined it by saying: ‘Aspiration is an act derived from concern (hamm), which is the beginning of intention, but it is specified to the ultimate end of intention. So, concern is its beginning, and aspiration is its end.’”
Fourth: Self-Improvement First
Start with yourself and correct it. As Allah (Most High) says:
“Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves.” [Quran, 13:11]
Fifth: Utilize Available Means
Start with the available means at your disposal and do not wait for everything to be perfect, as this will not happen.
Sixth: Avoid Negative Influences
Avoid associating with trivial people, the lazy, the idle, and those who discourage and hinder you. Allah (Most High) says:
“Allah knows well those among you who discourage (others from fighting), saying (secretly) to their brothers, “Stay with us,” and who themselves hardly take part in fighting. (They are) totally unwilling to assist you. When danger comes, you see them staring at you with their eyes rolling like someone in the throes of death. But once the danger is over, they slash you with razor-sharp tongues, ravenous for (worldly) gains. Such people have not (truly) believed, so Allah has rendered their deeds void. And that is easy for Allah.” [Quran, 33:18-19]
Seventh: Accompany High Aspirations
Accompany people with high aspirations, study the lives of great individuals, and emulate them. Allah (Most High) says:
“And We relate to you (O Prophet) the stories of the messengers to reassure your heart. And there has come to you in this (sura) the truth, a warning (to the disbelievers), and a reminder to the believers.” [Quran, 11:120]
Eighth: Avoid Pessimism
Avoid pessimism and do not give in to despair about self-reformation or societal improvement. Abu Hurayra (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: “If a man says: ‘The people have perished,’ he is the one who has destroyed them” [Muslim]
He also said: “The strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than the weak believer, while there is good in both. Strive for that which benefits you, seek help from Allah, and do not be helpless. If something befalls you, do not say: ‘If only I had done such and such,’ but say: ‘It is the decree of Allah, and He does what He wills,’ for ‘if’ opens the door to the deeds of Satan” [Muslim]
Ninth: Strive and Compete
Hasten and compete in striving to achieve your goals after setting and defining them. Allah (Most High) says:
“And hasten towards forgiveness from your Lord and a Paradise as vast as the heavens and the earth, prepared for those mindful (of Allah).” [Quran, 3:133]
And He (Most High) says:
“(So) compete with one another for forgiveness from your Lord and a Paradise as vast as the heavens and the earth, prepared for those who believe in Allah and His messengers. This is the favor of Allah. He grants it to whoever He wills. And Allah is the Lord of infinite bounty.” [Quran, 57:21]
Tenth: Review and Self-Accountability
Establish a program for review and self-accountability, and evaluate your progress. Allah (Most High) says:
“Tell (them, O Prophet), ‘Do as you will. Your deeds will be observed by Allah, His Messenger, and the believers. And you will be returned to the Knower of the seen and unseen, then He will inform you of what you used to do.’” [Quran, 9:105]
Advice
I advise you and myself to work as much as possible on the steps mentioned above, along with frequently supplicating and seeking refuge in Allah (Most High), for all matters are in His hands. This was the state of our Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) as he would often supplicate to Allah, saying:
“O Allah, I seek refuge in You from incapacity, laziness, cowardice, senility, and miserliness, and I seek refuge in You from the punishment of the grave and the trials of life and death.” [Muslim]
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all worlds. Peace and blessings be upon our Master Muhammad, his Family, and all his Companions.
Allah knows best.
[Shaykh] Abdul Sami‘ al-Yaqti
Shaykh Abdul Sami‘ al-Yaqti is a Syrian scholar born in Aleppo in 1977. He obtained his degree in Shari‘a from the Shari‘a Faculty of Damascus University, a Diploma in Educational Qualification from the Faculty of Education at Aleppo University, and a Diploma in Shari‘a and a Master’s in Shari‘a from the Faculty of Sharia, and Law at Omdurman University in Sudan. He is currently writing his doctoral thesis.
He studied under esteemed scholars such as Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Shaghouri, Shaykh Mustafa al-Turkmani, and Shaykh Dr. Nur al-Din Itr, among others. Shaykh al-Yakti has worked in teaching and cultural guidance in orphanages and high schools in Aleppo. He served as an Imam, Khatib, and reciter at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi and as a certified trainer for Khatibs in Abu Dhabi’s Khatib Qualification Program.
He is involved in developing and teaching a youth education program at Seekers Arabic for Islamic Sciences.
Among Shaykh al-Yaqti’s significant works are “Imam al-Haramayn al-Juwayni: Bayna Ilm al-Kalam Wa Usul al-Fiqh” and the program “The Messenger of Allah Among Us (Allah bless him and give him peace).”
