A Clichéd question

What is your aim in life?

You would probably be regretting by now for even reading the first sentence of this article. I mean, come on! How many times more do you have to listen to this customary question in your life? Enough is enough, isn’t it? Well, I don’t know about you but it has never been enough for me because I wonder as Shakespeare says, “To be or not to be, that is the question.” But my version is a little different-“What to be and what not to be, that is the question.” Confused? Well! Don’t stop! Come on now! Keep reading!

Elders always ask this question more often than anything else as if they have this only divine job left for them on the face of this earth before they pass on to the next one. But before we could hate them for this we, to our utter astonishment, find ourselves standing on the same ground asking the same clichéd question, to our juniors of course. As if we had our DNA synchronized with our elders!

My question is what does this stereotypical, timeworn and hackneyed question supposed to do? Does it aim to understand the true nature of a person? Does it reveal of a person the deep dark personality which would remain dormant for a very long time and will suddenly plague the poor unsuspecting being and make him or her villain in this society? Or is it meant to guide a person or provide him or her with the food for thought? I will leave it to the reader to decide.

Normally any usual answer that contains hint of future achievement in this world would instantly quench the thirst of the intrigued questioner. But the danger lies somewhere else.

The question is not for the inquisitor as much as it is for the person being asked. But we often avoid the beauty of this question as our disgust overpowers our judgment. We think why even bother thinking, just give ‘em what they need and be done with this problem. But we forget that it is the moment of truth. It is not necessary to always answer the question promptly. Better if we take days to think and even better are to do some soul searching along with it.

I remember and regret not being the student that my parents always wanted me to be. I was obsessed with story books and would read all but study book with religious devotion when I was in the high school. I would either fail or do poorly in the exams as a result but always survived the final somehow, Alhamdulillah, ^_-.  In section A of my class there was this boy, very brilliant student and always came out as one of the toppers in the class. My mom said to me, “if you want to be my son then be like him.” There! There! Elder is pointing and shaping my destiny on her own accord, I wish she could see the ending before she could make a statement she would regret. He used to come to my house to borrow story books. As “success is sweeter to the unsuccessful persons” I almost worshipped him and innocently almost gave away my priceless collection of “three detectives”. But my fascination came to an abrupt ending when he started holding on to my book as if they were his. I would go to his house and wait for endless time to at last see him and he would send me back. One day he said that he had given the books to another boy so I should not waste any of his time! Perplexed and helpless me! I went to that guy and waited the same. After few days of continuous nagging, he came to me saying, ”These are not your books. I got them from my friend. As you can see all the books were in pretty torn up condition and I had to repair them and spend a lot of money. So, they should be my books”, and showed my books. OH! Dear!! My precious books! I used to hoard them as if they were diamonds, they were new and in pristine condition! Now look at them! Taped around like worn off rug! Speechless I asked in shaking voice, “What should I do now?” “Give me 5 taka for each of them and they are all yours.” Guess what I did? Beat him? Complained to his mom? Wrong! I rebought the books. I almost cried. Even now I can feel the hatred for this betrayal as I write this article.

The same thing happened over and over again as I kept on trusting wrong people with my feelings. I was cheated over and over again. And now I am a boy of 29 with serious trust issues.

But with this Alhamdulillah my Iman grew stronger (not that I am a saint). When I thought I could never get justice anywhere and started to believe that I am like the football to the world and the people in it would kick me around at will, Allah show that HE IS there and watching even when we are sleeping. HE never sleeps, never rests, and always keeps note of everything done to HIS creation. HE has HIS ways of punishment and people often don’t realize what hit ‘em if they are not believers.

The last time I checked on that rich brat, the so Called ideal son and student, he was smoking and loitering in the nearby market with his LOT. He came out poorly in S.S.C and couldn’t even make it to H.S.C in a good shape. He was destroyed. I felt pity for him. And the others were not in good condition either. Then I believed that if no one is there to help you always count on ALLAH for HE never leaves your side even when you do something wrong but you have to repent.

I told my mom what happened and after that she never wanted me to be someone else, she still is a firm believer that one day I will be that son of hers and will do good to the family and society and the humanity.

But my point is how can we tell what is good and what not? Is it really necessary to be a good student than being a good human being? Our beloved Prophet (SAW) was illiterate yet Allah has chosen him to be the light and the guidance to the ignorant of the contemporary Arab world and the time until the Day of Judgment. He is the only key to our final destination either in endless jeopardy or in unimaginable bounty.

Now tell me what should be our real aim- success as short lived as this earth or as endless as the bountiful life in the hereafter or to be proud, smart and cunning like the Shaitan as at first he was successful and was made the leader of the angels because of his devotion and ibadah to Allah until his pride ruined him for eternity?

Surely shaitan is our open enemy and we must not follow him.

The honorable founder of our university was a man of visions. Right now our university may not be in its best shape but he gave it a name that we can be proud of. Darul Ihsan- abode of excellence, where excellent human beings will be prepared for the greater good of the humanity. No other university of our country has an asset so precious as ours. Therefore, I call upon my fellow students to fulfill the aim  Prof. Dr. Sayed Ali Ashraf, founder of this very prestigious alma mater, has set for us and be the pioneers of the society, and the country as always. May Allah accept us all.