Intention, Cause, and Effect: Where Are We Heading in Life?

13 March 2021

The Path That Begins with Intention

Question: What do we ask ourselves before beginning a task?

While seeking what is good, we need to look not only at our desire but also at our intention. When emotions are intense, making a quick decision is easy; pausing to reflect may lead us to a different outcome.

Seeking Allah’s pleasure means questioning whether what we do is right, beyond our own desire.

People’s Goals

From choosing what to eat for breakfast to undertaking a major venture, a desire and a goal may lie behind every action.

A goal alone is not enough. There are things to do and things to avoid along the way. We should consider which causes we are putting in place to reach an outcome.

Question: Are we really doing our part on the path toward the outcome we want?

Musa and the Children of Israel

The Children of Israel, who experienced deliverance under Musa’s leadership, later envied a community that turned to idols. This shows how people can go astray despite the great events they have experienced.

Seeing a sign and establishing its requirements in one’s life are different things. We need to remember, reflect again, and persist in making the right choice.

Prayer and Effort

For cooked rice to reach the table, the rice must be prepared, water added, and effort made. Merely wanting the result is not enough.

We should not substitute prayer for the relationship between cause and effect in daily life, or vice versa. Turning to our Lord while doing what we can does not diminish the value of effort.

Finding Our Own Measure

People’s abilities and temperaments differ. Judging everyone by the same measure often does not produce a fair outcome.

Just as telling a fish to climb a tree is inappropriate, judging people solely through someone else’s abilities is not right.

Can we look more carefully today at our own responsibility and our actual means?