There is 10 more minutes for my first day back at work to begin.
I realise I need to make a decision for the year going forward.
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I don’t particularly enjoy my job. I sit in front of a laptop, moving from one excel sheet to the next for 40 hours per week. Some people enjoy the work, and that is totally cool. I am not saying this work is worthless or that it useless to society. But, it’s just not my cup of tea.
Sometimes I wonder if my whole life has just been a series of wrong choices. But then I remind myself that I am only here through a series of decisions I made with Allah by my side.I took no step forward, except that I turned to my prayer mat and had a conversation with Him first, through Istikhaara. Which means only one thing. That this path that I’m on is best for me — in this life and the hereafter. I am here today on this job because He knew it is the best for me.
I am meant to be here at this moment.
Which means I need to refocus myself.
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Intentions for the Muslim
As Muslims we know every moment we breath can be an act of worship if we repurpose the action to be for Him alone.
And so today, I sit in front of my laptop and think — how can I make this job for Him. How can I make these 40+ hours I spend every week be something more than a job.
What intentions can I have to make this an act of worship?
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This is what comes to mind.
I am going to this job everyday to learn skills that I can use in other projects to serve the Ummah with.
I’m sure being an excel wizard will be helpful somewhere lol. But apart from that, being in such a big firm means being in constant interaction with various types of people. Maybe I am here to learn how to be a better communicator, a better team player, a better leader.
I am going to this job everyday to learn more about a sector that isn’t well explored.
Although finance and money is something that the world revolves around, most Muslims tend to stray far from working in it (understandably) because of all the haraam it involves. But this means we, as an ummah, have very little knowledge or expertise to set up halal financial systems either. Maybe Allah placed me here to gain the expertise to set up solutions for the Muslim community.
I am going to this job everyday to earn money to give more in charity.
Being financially independent means that I can give more in charity and support more projects that I would never have been able to if I just continued studying, for example.
I am going to this job everyday to become more productive with my time.
Staying at home after my degree without a job, with the excuse of ‘looking for my purpose’, may have resulted me in just becoming lazy in all aspects of my life.
Like the quote goes: “If you want something done, ask the busy person’. It’s just natural that when you have things to be done, more responsiiblites to fulfil, you manage your time better. As a result, you do more. I know for a fact that my exam seasons were always more productive than my summer holidays, for example. So maybe Allah gifted me this job to have more barakah in my time.
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And with that, I begin this new year with a new set of intentions.
No longer will I complain, feel lost and unsure as to why am I here. I know why I am here now.
I put my trust in Allah about today, give it my all AND continue to search for my calling. I put my trust in Allah about today and continue to tie my camel for tomorrow.
