How many times do we hear speakers or people who are masha’Allaah achieving their
goals tell us that motivation is key to their success. Most of the times we roll our eyes,
and say “yeah sure, it was motivation. Masha’Allaah they just got lucky!” What I will
be going through in this article are: What is motivation? How do we get motivated?
How do we keep going when our motivation is burning out?
So lets’ talk about what is motivation? “Motivation is the activation or
energization of goal-orientated behavior. Motivation is said to be intrinsic or extrinsic .”
This means that motivation comes from one trying to achieve a goal they really want to
achieve, in’sha’Allaah. Once they decide they really want to achieve this goal, they will
in’sha’Allaah through motivation they will find the energy to work on their goal, and
in’sha’Allaah achieve it. An individual can be motivated from things that they cannot see
as well as things they could see and desire. An example of intrinsic motivation that
motivates me very much is doing everything for the sake of Allaah (Subhana wa tala),
and praying that He accepts it, and that through His mercy He forgives my sins, and let’s
me into Jannah, in’sha’Allaah. An example of extrinsic motivation would be if someone
wants a specific house, or a specific car. If they really want this certain car, let’s just say
Mercedes Benz, then they will work either 2 jobs, or save every penny that they can until
they achieve this goal. It all depends on how bad they want the car. Most people who
are motivated are usually motivated by what results that they can see. However, we as
Muslims should be motivated intrinsically and extrinsically in’sha’Allaah. Especially
when it has to do with our health sisters and brothers. You might be saying, Zohra I
know I could extrinsically be motivated to lose weight for I will be able to see the weight
loss.
However, how could I be intrinsically motivated? The Prophet
Muhammad(Sallalahye Alyhee Wa Sallam) said: “Take benefit of five before five: your
youth before your old age, your health before your sickness, your wealth before your
poverty, your free-time before your preoccupation, and your life before your death.”
(Bayhaqī ) Each of us will be asked on the Day of Judgment about our health. That
means sisters and brothers we will be responsible to Allaah (Subhana wa tala) to answer
how did we take care of ourselves. This should be enough motivation to make us think,
and to literally change our ways, for on that day what will our excuse be? No excuses
will be accepted. NONE. So sisters and brothers, yes a new image is great to achieve,
but beyond the image, we should have new eating habits, exercise habits, and remember
that this too is ibidah to Allaah (Subhana wa tala). Sisters and brothers it is time to start
anew, it is time to motivate us ourselves from the inside to the outside, and make a
commitment for the sake of Allaah (Subhana wa tala). It is time to stop the excuses, and
just go do it. Just begin, and don’t worry about how long it will take you, just keep going
for Allaah (Subhana wa tala) will not care about how much weight you lost, but about
how much you tried for His sake, as well as your own sake. Make it happen sisters and
brothers- in’sha’Allaah!