By Wasim Ali  

وَمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَآ إِلَّا لَعِبٌۭ وَلَهْوٌۭ ۖ وَلَلدَّارُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةُ خَيْرٌۭ لِّلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ ۗ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ 

“This worldly life is no more than play and amusement, but far better is the (eternal)  Home of the Hereafter for those mindful (of Allah). Will you not then understand?”

Quran 6:32

Assalamualaikum, I am Wasim.

I grew up in an Islamic family where my parents are practising Muslims and I learnt the basics of what being a Muslim is about. I attended madrasah classes on weekends—where we were taught Fiqh, Islamic history, significant Islamic figures, Quranic recitation and more. With these foundations, I practised my religion as if it were merely a set of rules to follow, lacking a deeper understanding and love for it.

At 19, after junior college, I joined a start-up as an intern and stayed on for four and a half years until my second year of university. During this time, I worked six to seven days a week and was rarely at home, spending most of my time with colleagues who became close friends. As the only Muslim in a small team of ten, I felt the absence of Islamic influence in my life.

AS I BECAME MORE IMMERSED IN WORK, THE PULL OF THE DUNYA GREW STRONGER, AND I GRADUALLY BECAME FIXATED ON SUCCESS AND WEALTH. I BECAME LAX WITH MY PRAYERS, ALLOWING MY SCHEDULE TO DICTATE WHETHER I PRAYED, AND WHEN I MISSED A PRAYER, I FELT NO REMORSE NOR MADE AN EFFORT TO MAKE IT UP.

Part of my job involved selling subsidised enrichment programmes for children, often to families from lower-income households. Sometimes, parents would explain that their children couldn’t attend because they had madrasah classes. I couldn’t understand why they prioritised madrasah over these enrichment programmes that seemed crucial for their children’s success.

My work became my identity. Eventually, I made the difficult decision to leave the start-up to focus on my studies. This was one of the hardest decisions I’ve made. It felt as though I was leaving behind a family, a routine, and an identity that I had built over the years. Before, I would introduce myself as, “Hi, I’m Wasim, and I work at a start-up called ____.” However, now I find myself wondering: “Who am I without this job?”

وَلَقَدْ مَكَّنَّـٰكُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَجَعَلْنَا لَكُمْ فِيهَا مَعَـٰيِشَ ۗ قَلِيلًۭا مَّا تَشْكُرُونَ 

“We have indeed established you on earth and provided you with a means of livelihood. (Yet) you seldom give any thanks.”

Quran 7:10

It took some time for me to feel better again. When the school term resumed, I was finally able to focus on living a normal student life. With more free time, I started forming new relationships at university. Visiting my school’s musollah gave me the chance to meet Muslim friends and get involved in Muslim society. I started spending time with fellow Muslims after classes and attending events organised by the Muslim Society.

That’s how I met my Ustaz, Ustaz Sameer, at an event called Modesty Unveiled. He shared a message that stuck with me: our bodies belong to Allah, and He decides how we should be clothed. This prompted me to re-evaluate my clothing choices, moving from wearing shorts outside to wearing long trousers even at home. This sparked my interest in seeking Islamic knowledge – something I had not prioritised for a while. By the end of that year, I made the intention to attend Islamic classes at least once a week.

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said,

“To whomever Allah wills goodness, He grants him understanding of the religion.”

Bukhārī & Muslim

I chose to attend the Tuesday New Muslims Circle, organised by Ustaz Sameer in collaboration with Converts Central, because I wanted to meet Muslim converts and draw from their experience of finding and choosing Islam, to strengthen my faith. At first, I had doubts about the classes as I was learning things I hadn’t been taught before. I remember Ustaz advising us to come with an empty cup — meaning to come with an open mind and be ready to receive knowledge. He also encouraged us to attend the classes consistently for three months and implement the practices in our daily lives before deciding if the lessons were beneficial.

Alhamdulillah, I’m glad I followed his advice. Over time, I saw changes in my life and in how I perceived my religion. Incorporating dhikr into my daily routine helped me maintain a closer connection to Allah. The weekly lessons on the meaning of our shahadah took time to grasp, but eventually, I began to face setbacks in life with the mindset of La Ilaha Illallah.

فَٱعْلَمْ أَنَّهُۥ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ وَٱسْتَغْفِرْ لِذَنۢبِكَ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مُتَقَلَّبَكُمْ وَمَثْوَىٰكُمْ 

“So, know (well, O  Prophet,) that there is no god (worthy of worship) except Allah. And seek forgiveness for your shortcomings and for (the sins of) the believing men and women. For Allah (fully) knows your movements and places of rest (O people).”

Quran 47:19

I thank Allah for guiding me closer to Him. He ﷻ willed that I would be surrounded by a circle of God-conscious friends and led me to my teacher. He ﷻ made it easy for me to attend the weekly classes and gave me a taste of the life I thought I wanted—only for me to turn back to Him.

Looking back at the past two years, I see how much my mindset has changed. Although I still admire material things, such as a supercar or a fancy house, I am constantly reminded that this dunya is temporary. My ultimate purpose is not to chase worldly possessions but to worship my Creator. While my iman may fluctuate, staying consistent in my deeds and continuously seeking knowledge has become my priority.

KNOWLEDGE IS NOT ONLY AN OBLIGATION FOR EVERY MUSLIM BUT ALSO A POWERFUL TOOL THAT FREES US FROM THE TRAPS OF THIS WORLD.

As I continue on this journey, I remain committed to seeking knowledge and growing closer to Him, knowing that this pursuit will shape my path in this world and also guide me toward eternal success in the next. InshaAllah.

وَمَا خَلَقْتُ ٱلْجِنَّ وَٱلْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ 

“I did not create jinn and humans except to worship Me.”

Quran 51:56

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