Luxury Cars or Premium Deen?
We often strive for excellence in material possessions, seeking the best in quality, performance, and value. However, when it comes to our faith, we sometimes settle for mediocrity. Why do we not apply the same gold standard to our spiritual journey as we do to our tangible belongings?
The Gold Standard: A Tale of Two Standards
You know the saying: “you get what you pay for.”, people often apply the gold standard to ensure they are getting the best, Let’s face it: when it comes to material things, many of us do not want to settle for less. We invest in high-quality items, whether it is a top-tier kitchen appliance (AMC, SMEG) or a luxury car. For example, someone might splurge on an expensive car like a BMW because they value the experience and the excellence that comes with it or like buying a Swiss/Fajr watch – Similarly, we might demand the best when it comes to food, preferring only the highest quality ingredients and finest preparation.
Our Startling Double Standard in How We Approach Our Spiritual Lives
When it comes to our Deen, we say, “Deen is easy,” we fail to challenge ourselves to go beyond the basics. We often settle for the bare minimum. This is a real problem: the same standard of excellence we demand in the material world should be applied to our spiritual lives as well.
The gold standard is not just about the superficial or the easily approved; it is about striving to understand and live with the deeper, more meaningful aspects of our faith. To live by Islam is to continuously seek knowledge, reflect on our actions, and pray with deep intention.
The Watered-Down Approach: We are all guilty of taking the easy route. We often settle for the “best” that someone else has deemed acceptable, rather than striving for excellence ourselves. It is easy to say, “Deen is easy” and then wonder why our faith feels shallow or disconnected from our everyday lives. The truth is, we cannot expect to apply a low standard to our faith and still achieve excellence in our relationship with Allah Ta’aala.
The Role of Caution in Faith
Islam teaches us to always act with caution, especially in matters of Deen. As Hadhrat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (رحمه الله) reminds us, the greatest amount of pre-consideration and precaution must be shown when making decisions that relate to our faith. The consequences of these choices have far-reaching effects, extending long beyond this life. Better to live with the difficulty of facing the truth than to drown in the false tranquility of ignorance.
In a world where we often seek approval from others, it’s important to remember the words of Rasulullah (صلى الله عايه وسالم) in the blessed hadeeth: “If a person has any doubts or reservations regarding something being permissible or impermissible, then he should exercise caution and refrain, as this is safer for both his Deen and dunya.” (Sahih Bukhari #52). Yet, despite such clear guidance, we find ourselves too often seeking comfort in ignorance and avoiding difficult truths. We do not see anything wrong with a “Halaal friendly” place that serves pork or alcohol.
The Spectrum of Excellence
Excellence in our faith extends beyond mere rule-following. It involves cultivating a profound love for Allah and His Messenger, Rasulullah (صلى الله عايه وسالم). This excellence requires examining our motivations, actions, and intentions, ensuring that every step we take is not just routine, but a conscious choice rooted in reverence.
Raising the Bar in Faith and Spirituality
Do we settle for the “best” that someone else has deemed acceptable, or do we strive for excellence ourselves? Do we take the time to study, reflect, and pray with intention, or do we just go through the motions?
If we are okay with just checking off the boxes, with “going through the motions” of our faith, but without truly striving to understand, embody, and live by the best that Islam offers, then we need to seriously reconsider what we are doing. This is not just about being “good enough”—we are striving to be the best version of ourselves in front of Allah, and that takes effort, intention, and focus. So, to all my fellow seekers of spiritual enlightenment out there, let us take a cue from the gold standard. Let us strive for excellence, not just in our cars, but in our faith.
Ibn Aboobaker
