Amr Khaled: Surah Al-Najm protects you from frustration, despair, and internal burnout.
Your value before God is in your striving, not your accomplishment (the best way to protect yourself from internal burnout)
Surah Al-Najm plants the idea of striving in your soul, consciousness, mind, and heart without requiring achievement
Learn how to be among those with enduring spirits through this Surah
Khaberni - Islamic preacher Dr. Amr Khaled stated that human evaluation in the world of humans is measured by achievements, unlike God's view of an individual, which is linked not with achievement but primarily with striving, as stated: "And that man will have nothing but what he strives for* And his striving will soon be seen* Then he will be rewarded with the fullest reward."
And Khaled added in the tenth episode of his Ramadan program “Dalil - A Journey with the Quran” that this verse focuses on the importance of striving over achievement, then achievement comes when God wills from where you least expect, and multiplied "Then he will be rewarded with the fullest reward.".
Striving is prioritized over achievement
Nonetheless, he clarified that the Quran does not neglect achievement, but it prioritizes striving as a criterion for your value to God, protecting you from frustration, despair, and internal burnout, so you do not fall mentally, and the only condition: good striving, which is a 100 percent guarantee of achievement someday.
Khaled highlighted the benefits of clinging to striving and the harms of clinging to achievement, saying: "Whoever attaches himself to good striving lives happily and at peace, with long patience, and will see the achievement someday; whereas those who cling only to achievement will live troubled, burnt out, short of breath all their life, even if they see the achievement someday.
Furthermore, Khaled emphasized the value of striving compared to achievement, explaining that achievement is momentary while striving is a journey, illustrating with the story of Hagar when she ran between Safa and Marwah seven whole laps in search of water, and she did not despair until God allowed the spring of Zamzam to burst forth under the foot of her infant Ismail.
Continuing to strive despite delayed results
He mentioned that Surah Al-Najm embodies the concept of striving, and instills it in your soul, consciousness, mind, and heart, having been revealed in Mecca amid the persecution of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, and his companions without achieving any milestones, for it tells him: continue in your striving no matter how delayed the results are without feeling frustrated or despairing.
Despite its encouragement to strive, Khaled also points to an important issue that Surah Al-Najm warns of its dangers, namely corrupt and unlawful striving in a rush to achieve, like what Quraysh did when they placed idols around the Kaaba to enhance their trade with the Arabs.
Khaled brought out the profound meanings in the three pivotal verses in the Surah that call for clinging to them in life's journey of striving: "And that man will have nothing but what strives for* And his striving will soon be seen* Then he will be rewarded with the fullest reward," emphasizing that the value of a person lies in striving and not in achievement.
- "And his striving will soon be seen": (The word ‘soon’ is postponed to test the sincerity of striving. God will see and also be seen in the human world your hidden striving like the star will appear and be seen by everyone however well they hide).
-"Then he will be rewarded with the fullest reward": (Again postponed.. but not just any reward but a great divine promise.. God's fulfillment is the greatest fulfillment).
Focus on God: Excellence
Then Khaled moved to the short consecutive verses in the form of very impactful strong strikes, saying that their purpose is: "Isn't it enough for you that God sees your striving, and that it is He who will reward you for it, not people?.. shift your gaze from people to God.. Focus on God.. Excellence"."
In the context of clarifying the meaning intended from the saying of God: "And to your Lord is the final goal," Khaled explained that the ultimate reference and endpoint for everything are with God, for not every command proceeds on Earth; they proceed in heaven.. All provisions are divided in heaven and not on Earth.. Isn’t it enough that God looks at you?, focus on God alone and forget the people."
Meanwhile, Khaled warned of the danger of following corrupt striving if results are delayed, citing God's saying: "And He destroyed the former Ad* and Thamud, so He spared not* And the people of Noah before. Surely they were more unjust and insolent," interpreting the reference to the people of Noah who did not respond to him for 950 years: striving with no results.
Finally, he laid out a plan for living by striving as a way of life, as follows:
-Memorize Surah Al-Najm.. Note down the verses of striving and read them every day.
-Write every night: What did you strive for today in excellence.
-Feel the three verses of striving as you move through your life and work.
Watch the episode:
