How do we balance between hope and fear? | Sayyid Moneer Al-Khabaaz | Ramadan Reflections

How do we balance between hope and fear?
Sayyid Moneer Al-Khabaaz, The Holy City of Najaf

#Ramadan​​ #Islam​​ #Quran​​ #IslamicSeminary​​ #RamadanReflections​​ #Najaf​​ #Qum​​

BIOGRAPHY
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Sayyid Moneer al-Khabbaz, is a scholar, thinker, author, and professor of Islamic sciences. At the age of 14, he traveled to the Holy City of #Najaf​ to begin his training in the Islamic seminary. He studied under renowned scholars such as Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Abulqasim al-Khoei, Grand Ayatollah Sheikh Murtada al-Boroujerdi, Grand Ayatollah Mirza Jawad Tabrizi, Grand Ayatollah Wahid Khorasani, and Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali al-Sistani.

TRANSCRIPTION
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Humanity is embattled by two instincts.
The instinct of fear and the instinct of hope.
The instinct of fear plants anxiety in the heart.
Fear of illness. Fear of death.
Fear of poverty. Fear of homelessness.
Fear of failure at the job.
Fear of missing valuable opportunities.
If fear controls an individual, it will paralyze them.
They will not be able to move.
The instinct of hope gives a person a broad imagination.
I want to be a famous doctor.
I want to be a known engineer.
I want to be a giant in human society through inventions and achievements.
I want to be a shining sports' star.
These hopes give a person a wide space to move in.
But fear shortens those hopes.
And hope reduces fear.
They are two instincts that battle within a person.
For a person to reach balance and tranquillity
between the instincts of fear and hope
they need two pillars, trust and planning.
How does a person begin to trust themselves?
So that they are not controlled by fear.
So that they are not controlled by anxiety.
A person must fill their heart with trust in themselves.
And that they are able to make accomplishments;
able to create something original
and able to make great and novel accomplishments.
This trust in oneself is gained through connection with God.
God says,
"And in Allah let all the faithful put their trust."
And God says,
"Behold! The hearts find rest in Allah’s remembrance!"
God also says,
"And whoever puts his trust in Allah, He will suffice him."
When a person has trust that their Lord will protect them -
that their Lord will guard them
and provide them with power, ability, and energy -
this trust in God will root self-confidence in a person.
This allows them to cross the barrier of trust
Which reduces or quell fear.
So a person can be proactive in work and achievement.
The second pillar is planning.
Planning has three components.
It is putting in place three components.
A goal, a program, and the tools.
You must put a goal for your life.
What do you want to be in your life?
What do you want to achieve in your life?
You must identify the goal from day one.
After putting a goal, you need to put a program.
To be a famous engineer
I must follow this program and this plan.
I must walk this path.
After putting a program comes the matter of the tools.
How will I effectuate this program?
What are the means? What are the mechanisms?
What are the tools that allow me to reach this goal through this program?
Once you identify the goal, program, and tools,
having self confidence based on your reliance on God Almighty,
you will achieve balance between fear and hope.
You will be able to make achievements.
Able to give and create.
These are the two pillars, trust and planning.
This is your life.
The Quran says, "Take provision, for indeed the best provision is God-wariness."
And the Quran says, "Let every soul consider what it sends ahead for tomorrow."
The Quran also says, "Alas, had I sent ahead for my life [in the Hereafter]!"
Be proactive in doing good. Take the lead in good deeds to achieve forgiveness.
And hasten to your Lord's forgiveness.
Be proactive. Don't let time be lost.
Don't procrastinate.
Be proactive in good deeds.
Proactivity in good deeds
will create balance between fear and hope.
If you only live in hope, will never achieve anything today.
Because you always delay.
And if you live only in fear,
you will never build a life or make an achievement.
But be proactive and put a plan.
What will I do this Month of Ramadan?
I want to achieve a goal during this Month of Ramadan.
I want to be a believing and religious person. That is the goal.
What is the program to reach this goal?
A program of worship to be acted on during this blessed Month of Ramadan.
What are the tools to achieve this program of worship?
I must know my schedule for every day.
What are the most appropriate times and ways of worship?
Thus I can accomplish a program to reach the desired goal.
"Take provision, for indeed the best provision is God-wariness."