In today’s world, human development has become a central topic for many who seek to develop themselves and make the best use of their capabilities. Books, articles, and training courses on personal development thrive everywhere, all aiming to motivate individuals and push them towards achieving their personal and professional goals. But have we ever wondered how the teachings of the Quran can summarize all these books and methods in a few simple words that carry unparalleled depth and beauty?
Brevity and Precision in the Quran
Allah says in the Quran in Surah Luqman: “وَاقْصِدْ فِي مَشْيِكَ” (And be moderate in your pace). This short verse contains deep developmental principles. While motivational books remind you to invest in your capabilities and potentials and encourage you to develop yourself, the Quran summarizes all of this in this brief phrase. But what makes this verse superior to all those books?
Goal Setting in the Quran
While motivational books urge you to define your goals and work towards achieving them, the Quran acknowledges that humans are naturally in motion and not stagnant. “وَاقْصِدْ فِي مَشْيِكَ” means that movement and striving towards a specific goal is an integral part of human nature. The verse encourages you to set a beneficial goal that becomes the purpose of your striving. This movement is not random but is directed towards a noble and useful goal.
The Difference Between Quranic and Book-Based Motivation
Motivational books often try to get you to stand up and pursue your goals through a series of advice and guidelines. The Quran, however, tells you that if you are not moving and striving, you are in a state of regression and decline. “وَاقْصِدْ فِي مَشْيِكَ” is not just an invitation to movement but also a warning against stillness and inertia.
Achieving Goals from a Quranic Perspective
Books call on you to create a goal in your life and work towards it. The Quran goes further, telling you that the goal you should pursue must be your intended purpose for which you exert your efforts. This goal is not only worldly but transcends the boundaries of time and space, connecting the worldly life with the hereafter, action with intention, effort with reward.
Conclusion
While today’s libraries are flooded with thousands of books on personal development, we can find in the Quran the essence of these concepts in a few words that carry unparalleled depth and beauty. “وَاقْصِدْ فِي مَشْيِكَ” is an invitation to move towards a noble goal, a warning against stillness and inertia, and an affirmation that striving towards a goal is an integral part of human nature. Let us contemplate this verse and strive to apply it in our daily lives, hoping to find in it the wisdom and insight that guide us towards achieving our goals in ways that transcend traditional books and methods.
