Submitted by a Productive Muslimah

Ever felt like your lacking that motivation to excel, be it at home, with your Islamic studies, at work, or with that degree you just seem to be getting through alhamdulillah?(!) and well, feel void of what they call 'Passion and Zeal to do good'?

Here are some small steps I thought I'd share with you because my dear brothers and sisters, working in the way of Allah swt should never be underestimated as a lifelong learning experience, so maintaining that passion with ikhlaas is one we can all work on no matter what stage we are at in our lives...

One of the ways to increase your imaan is to increase in good deeds, and these steps are no easy matter but they are achievable - just as the small pieces in a passion fruit contain a small seed and begin to grow out to the vast collection of seeds, so will your good deeds in accumulation if you work continuously, with sincerity, and without losing hope that your end goal is ever closer every time you do something fruitful to achieve it inshaAllah.

The whole 'ask yourself' bit we'll skip here - because your probably already thinking about how to get the best out of what you are doing, and what you intend to do in the near future inshaAllah.

Remember this though, If your goal is worth striving for, don't stop towards getting there, for giving up is failure whilst failing to try is a greater sob story but success lies in pursuing that road to at least try and change inshaAllah,

Think positive -> people are in a worse situation in life as evident from the world affairs, so what possibly can you be going through to stop you achieving that great grade in the next essay? or completing the memorisation of another surah? if you don't have conviction that you can then the passion sort of starts to fade... and no passion fruit is ripe and beautiful once faded right? so hold firm faith in your heart and have tawakul in Allah - for whoever places his trust in Allah it will suffice him.

Be in the company of good people -> those who will contribute in helping you to fulfiling that ambition, since those friends who are both helpful and inspirational can leave off a good musk smell, don't forget to pray as well that you are amongst these people since maintaining this companionship is a blessing and Allah swt keeps together those who wish to do good as someone once told me.

Have true conviction -> that passion is a admirable thing, think of how many people in the world you admire or know because their passion to do something led to change, coming back to that 'inspiring change from within' is not a fallacy! but true... because of their passion and desire to make a change have really left a legacy? Our Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassalaam loved to be grateful to Allah swt so thank Him swt for giving you the means and tools to get there (yep even your family are a big resource!),

The key is not only to make dua for indeed the believers reliance upon Allah swt will mean doors to achieve what you want are open in manifold ways, but actively work towards it

I hope the above is a passion fruit piece (bitesize - one step at a time before the whole passion fruit!) that you will eat, relish and inshaAllah those seeds will be planted firmly in your heart and maintain dedication, for whoever works righteous deeds is amongst the beloved of Allah swt, May we all be amongst them inshaAllah and steadfast in being so.

Ameen