Twenty-three years. That is what it took for the Prophet ﷺ to accomplish his duty of messengership. Had it been more, he would have persevered further, for a life defined by a clear vision does not deem time an obstacle; it deems time a refiner. A life defined by a clear vision will also face external resistance—la mahala.
The path was far from smooth for the Prophet ﷺ. While the Almighty could have transformed the world in an instant, He did not. Because the Divine timeline operates differently. There are stages that need to be passed, milestones that need to be reached, and experiences that need to be had. It is a phenomenal thing, the timeline of the Almighty. And this, O slave of Allah, is the long game every seeker must play. It is a timeline not meant to be understood by the masses at once. Perhaps, for some, never. Yet it carries on, just as the Almighty wills, to bring about exactly what He intends.
This truth is worth bearing in mind as you piece together your journey and its laps. The conclusions you come to after using the knowledge Allah blessed you with, the dreams you decide are worth pursuing after your prayers and research, and the goals you set to make the most of this one, single chance of life need steadfastness and perhaps, a rare peseverance until you reach them.
In the tradition of Alimiyyah, the first page of a student’s notebook is reserved for the fundamentals: the mawdoo’ (subject matter), the hadaf (purpose), and the ghayah (ultimate goal). This clarity forms a psychological shield for the efforts spent through the sciences and a “soft landing” as the student goes exploring further and very soon, on their own.
A solid niyyah (intention) provides the soft landing required when external validation is absent. When the sighs of disapproval surround you or self-doubt creeps in from the weight of a stagnant environment, the niyyah is the point of return. Without this clarity for your soul, you risk being pushed back to “square one” by every passing comment, all while the yearning for something greater continues to pain your heart.
Deeds are judged by their intentions. And every person will have what he intended.
(Muslim)
To take the steering wheel of one’s life is a foreign, often threatening, concept in many circles, particularly for a woman. There is a deep, systemic expectation of passivity; an unwritten rule that one must be steerable by others to be “acceptable.” To think for oneself and work for a noble, independent cause is treated as a novelty or a transgression. And sometimes even: a deviance.
This resistance often takes the form of psychological warfare. When you live a reality that others never dared to imagine, they may pathologize your clarity. You will be asked to your face: “Are you sick? Are you mentally okay?”
Remember: the Messenger ﷺ was asked if he was a madman or possessed. You are not an exception to this trial. If your goals were easily understood by everyone, they would not require your specific equipment. You are built for this weight.
Modern society demands “fixed” members. It prioritizes immediate satisfaction, instant gratification, and “clean” portrait photos over internal integrity and purpose. It values the polished exterior even while the inside crumbles.
Freedom through Tawheed and living for Allah is the refusal to “fix” your life according to the hollow standards of a world that is very scared of depth. Becoming a stranger in a strange world—as a traveller or a wayfarer—as the hadeeth has it, means becoming comfortable breaking the moulds that once silenced you. It is a long game. If you are not ready for the duration, the work begins within: on your Iman, your Ihsan, and your Niyyah.
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