"The way we define things determines our attitude towards them" Aamir Amin
It is very important to have a right definition of important aspects of our life. It is important because it determines our attitude towards them. It determines how we react to them. So, i decided to start with the definition of 'Life' itself. As they say "life is 10% how we make it and 90% how we take it". Hence, the definition of life is a very fundamental question which may determine the way we take our lives.
I have seen people defining life in various ways. Some define it as "Life is all about Fun". Such people will try to find fun in almost every aspect and phase of their life. For such people, anyone who will hinder the 'fun' part of their life will be an enemy. Some times the enemy can be their parents, some times friends, sometimes a teacher and even worst it can be God. The problem with such a definition is that sooner or later the reality-hit will shackle it, as life does show its colors one day.
Another wrong way of looking at life is believing in phrases like "do good have good" or "everything happens for good". Although such phrases are good to motivate someone to do good with others or in a situation when somebody is emotionally down because of a misfortune. But in my opinion, such an attitude, again, does not represent the real face of Life. It is not always true that if you will do good, you will have good. Similarly it is not always true that everything happens for good. An individual, with a positive attitude, should try to find positive out of every situation, however, we all experience that many times an event carries nothing but trouble for us.
As a result of such definitions and perspectives, people either start blaming life and other people for their miseries, or they become too arrogant. Other definitions and perspectives on life also do not comprehend it fully and fail to give a right attitude to the person.
This lead me to a definition which echoed around me several times, but i did not put my ears on it. According to this definition "Life is nothing but a test". Test of our decisions, choices and personality, with the intervals of happiness and grief, which are themselves parts of this test. A sage once rightly said that "this life is nothing but a test of gratitude and patience". Keeping this in mind, an individual will stand on the ground of reality. He will accept pain and sorrow as part of life, will know that his actions may not be responded in a similar fashion, will expect that sometimes life does give you trouble to test your patience. In case of a 'Gratitude-Test' the individual with such an attitude will not be arrogant and in case of a 'Patience-Test', he will be patient and positive.
Hence in my opinion, the definition that "Life is a Test", not only defines it realistically but also gives a right attitude to the individual.
Looking forward to your definition of life :)
Hence in my opinion, the definition that "Life is a Test", not only defines it realistically but also gives a right attitude to the individual.
Looking forward to your definition of life :)
Wherever you live, be a source of joy and blessing for all the creatures !
God bless you all
It might look the fundamental question but hardest to answer. Good effort though :-)
ReplyDeleteFor me, life is among foremost of those things that can not be defined,even in the presence of thousands of available quotes dedicated to define it. It's definition, being relative rather than absolute, would be different for different people and even different for same person at different times. What one can do at most is to feel it rather than define it, in my humble opinion.
Thanks a lot Faizan for your valuable comment. I somehow agree with you. the way i tried to define it was by keeping in mind, the scheme on which God has created this world. and at the same time, other definitions could not comprehend it completely. so those definitions did not seem plausible to me.
ReplyDeletei would love to see how you define life :) looking forward to learn from you ... :)
About the scheme on which God has created this world....
ReplyDelete"I want to know the God's thoughts-the rest are details"(Albert Einstein)"
Thanks for appreciating the comment but I am not in position to define life--knowing God's thoughts-- at this moment.
Have fun and keep more topics coming.
Thanks again for your comments. Well for me, we are somehow in a position to know God's thoughts. there can be two ways of doing it. One through the message which God conveyed through His Messengers (pbut) and which is preserved in the Books. And secondly by observing the world.
ReplyDeleteWhen i observe the word, i see its completeness and synergy, but yet i observe incompleteness and disturbance. I see that i am not the Sole "creator" of my own life. People, circumstances and events keep changing my plans and routes. I have an inner world, the moral being, which naturally demands a good act to have a good ending and a bad to have a bad. But sometimes i observe that i do good and have bad in return or bad happens without any bad done by me.
apart from the above observations of my outer and inner world, when i consult revealed knowledge, i come to the same definition.
i.e. in Quran:
[He] who created death and life to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed - and He is the Exalted in Might, the Forgiving. (Quran, 67:2)
in Bible:
"God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him."
I hope my points are clear :) thanks again for your interest in the blog. I will keep posting. Thanks my teacher :)
Hi Aamer, its very interesting topic, and i like it. "Definition of Life" it depends on individual, u have your say on the definition of life, and i enjoy reading it. So how i define my life? I define my life as a test, its a journey that i have to go through. Its a full of challenge, part of happiness and sadness, its nothing but a test from God, from my only one creator "Allah s.w.t". Life never stop giving me test since i was kid, i lost my dad, but i never blame life for treating me bad, cause when i blame life, i blame my God, which it was destiny that my dad was meant to be gone, and i have to live independently. When i was 22, i lost a person i love the most, his name is Syed Ariff Shah, his my best friend and the one that i love, his everything to me.But we meant not to be together, should i blame life on it? no. Even i was so sad, and i still feel the pain, but i am grateful for the things happen. Why? Cause it is how life teach me, its how God want me to see, to learn, noted and be strong. I cant learn all these things from book, but i learn all these things from LIFE.
ReplyDeleteHey Amy, it was amazing to read your reply. You just nailed it. I totally agree, i love the part where you said,
ReplyDelete" i never blame life for treating me bad, cause when i blame life, i blame my God,"
wonderful :D
and the way you have reacted to the tests which God has put forth, shows your strong character :), InshAllah God will bless you, He always does to His patient people. May Allah bless your Dad in the life where he is at the moment.amen
Thanks Teacher :)