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Br. Abdisalam Adam, Board member, Islamic Civic Society of America

Dear brothers and sisters, what if you were asked to describe the kind of legacy you would leave behind when you die. How would people talk about you? What motivates you to do what you do? I am honored to share with you some of the ways I would like to be remembered. As you all know, life is short and death is a reality. The Qur’an says, “Blessed be He in Whose Hand is the Dominion; And He has Power over all things; He Who created death and life so that He may try which of you is best in deed: And He is the Exalted in Might, Oft-Forgiving,” (Surat Al-Mulk, 67:1-2)

With this reality in mind, you must remain focused and plant righteous deeds for the Blissfulness of the Hereafter. You must be conscious of the relationship between the temporal life in this world and everlasting reality of the Afterlife. I would like to provide you with some reminders, so that you don’t get carried away in the routine pressures of daily living. Can you answer these fundamental questions? What is the purpose of your life? Who deserves your time and energy the most? Are you leading a balanced life between spirituality and everyday life commitment? What must you do to succeed in both worlds?  I recently read a book titled, Caring Enough to Lead: How Reflective Practice Leads to Moral Leadership by Leonard O. Pellicer in which he shares his years of leadership experience with educators. Pellicer (2008, p. 165) outlines some golden opportunities for becoming a caring leader. I would like to use some of Pellicer’s advice while customizing them to my particular situation:

Serve as a bridge builder between peoples: Our world is afflicted with racism and exploitation of people by other people. I want to be engaged in social justice. I have multi-cultural background as I have lived Ethiopia, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, and the United States. I want to use that cultural competence to create space for dialogue and understanding among people of different languages, religions, and cultures. Humanity needs peaceful co-existence over fear and domination.

Be compassionate and caring role model for others: I understand that my capabilities are limited. Therefore, I should never feel arrogant and proud over fellow human beings regardless of the their station in life. I must display kindness, compassion, and empathy for people. The weak, the poor, the young, and the elderly all need respect and gentleness in dealing with them.

Define and prioritize my values: My key values stem from the Islamic faith. The Six articles of Faith (belief in Allah, His Angels, His Books, His Messengers, the Day of Judgment, and Devine Fate); the Five Pillars of Islam (Testimony of Faith, Prayers, Fasting, Charity, and Pilgrimage); and Protection of the Five Essentials of Life (religion, life, the intellect, property, and dignity) serve as the guide for my life. At the same time, the universal values of peace, justice, and equality shape my outlook on life and interactions with people.

Accept the fact that becoming the person and the leader that I want to be is never-ending journey: I firmly believe in this principle as well. Human beings are fallible and can never attain perfection. So, the best approach is to do my best with patience and hope for Allah’s Mercy and forgiveness for my shortcomings.

Emphasize doing what’s right rather than not doing what’s wrong: I believe that Allah, the Creator of the universe decrees matters and I do not have control over them. So, I must obey what Allah and His final Messenger, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) legislate as the truth. The concept of enjoining good and forbidding evil calls on Muslims to be active agents of change. I should therefore take a stand on issues in a respectful way, while fully explaining the reasoning behind my position.

Remember that the only real joy in life is the result of serving others: Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever removes a worldly grief from a believer, Allah will remove from him one of the griefs of the Day of Judgment. Whosoever alleviates the suffering of a needy person, Allah will alleviate his hardship in this world and the next. Whosoever shields a Muslim, Allah will shield him in this world and in the next. Allah will aid a person so long as that person aids his brother”, (Related by Imam Muslim). The number of people we helped for better measures our legacy. Luckily, teaching is a profession that gives us many opportunities to make a difference for others. I will continue to strive in this noble profession as long as I live. Teachers are doing the work of the Prophets and should take heart at the difference they are making in the lives of children and families.

Maintain an optimistic and grateful attitude: It is very important that we realize the many good things we have in our lives. We are subservient to Allah at all times. He has given us many bounties and we should be very grateful to Him and those who do us favor. Sometimes, we go through tests and trials. But that makes us better human beings.

I hope you take these pieces of advice and do good work while we are still able to do so in this world. Do not procrastinate! Rise up and take action for yourself, family, community, and nation. Happy Eid Al-Adha and May Allah accept our righteous deeds.

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