We need to try our best

 I hope Egypt wins the World Cup. May Allah forgive us. Mediocrity was never the standard of a Muslim. I am so blessed with my family and friends, and I love Islam

Mediocrity was never the standard of a Muslim.

A believer is not meant to simply get by, do the bare minimum, or settle for something that "just works." Islam calls us to Ihsan - excellence - in everything we do.

One of the reasons blessings disappear is not always because of major sins.

Sometimes it is because we become comfortable with mediocrity.

Allah blesses you with kids, but you are content with being an average family. No serious desire to practice the Deen. No ambition to build the kind of household from which scholars and people who serve Allah's religion emerge.

Allah opens a door for you to serve His religion, but you let it pass without a second thought.

Allah gives you health, time, wealth, and intelligence, and even shows you where to spend them. Yet you never push yourself to do it and get closer to Him.

Then one day, those blessings and chances are gone.

The opportunity to work for Da'wah is given to someone else. Your children grow up as average Muslims, and you realise you can never get those years back. Your health weakens. Your free time disappears. Your energy declines.

The blessing was not only in having these things. The blessing was in what you could have become through them.

Allah says:

لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ ۖ وَلَئِن كَفَرْتُمْ إِنَّ عَذَابِي لَشَدِيدٌ

If you are grateful, I will surely increase you. But if you are ungrateful, indeed My punishment is severe. (Surah Ibrahim 14:7)

Gratitude is not merely saying Alhamdulillah. It is using Allah's blessings in ways He loves. And if you don't, remember that every day spent in mediocrity is a day that can never be recovered.

Al-Hasan al-Basri رحمه الله said:

"The life of this world is made up of three days: yesterday has gone with all that was done; tomorrow, you may never reach; but today is for you, so do what you should do today." (Al-Bayhaqi, Al-Zuhd al-Kabir, p.197)

The Prophet ﷺ said:

"Indeed, Allah has prescribed Ihsan in everything." (Sahih Muslim 1955)

If excellence is expected in everything, even simple things such as making Wudu, then what about raising your children? Serving your parents? Seeking knowledge? Calling people to Allah? Fulfilling the trusts He has placed in your hands?

Mediocrity whispers: "This is enough."

Ihsan asks: "Is this the best I can offer Allah?"

Some people think the greatest loss is when Allah takes a blessing away.

Sometimes the greater loss is that He leaves the blessing with you, but removes its Barakah, because you never valued it enough to give it your best.

If you grow too comfortable with what Allah has given you today, do not be surprised or get jealous when He places it in more grateful hands tomorrow.

Allah does not need us. We are the ones in need of Him.

So whenever Allah opens a door to do good, give it everything you have, before that door closes forever.

Because years later, you will be left with nothing but the regret of what you let slip through your hands just because of your mediocrity.

A believer is not meant to get by, do the bare minimum, or settle for something that "just works." Islam calls us to Ihsan - excellence - in everything we do.

One of the reasons blessings disappear is not always because of major sins.

Sometimes it is because we become comfortable with mediocrity.

Allah blesses you with kids, but you are content with being an average family. No serious desire to practice the Deen. No ambition to build the kind of household from which scholars and people who serve Allah's religion emerge.

Allah opens a door for you to serve His religion, but you let it pass without a second thought.

Allah gives you health, time, wealth, and intelligence, and even shows you where to spend them. Yet you never push yourself to do it and get closer to Him.

Then one day, those blessings and chances are gone.

The opportunity to work for Da'wah is given to someone else. Your children grow up as average Muslims, and you realise you can never get those years back. Your health weakens. Your free time disappears. Your energy declines.

The blessing was not only in having these things. The blessing was in what you could have become through them.

Allah says:

لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ ۖ وَلَئِن كَفَرْتُمْ إِنَّ عَذَابِي لَشَدِيدٌ

If you are grateful, I will surely increase you. But if you are ungrateful, indeed My punishment is severe. (Surah Ibrahim 14:7)

Gratitude is not merely saying Alhamdulillah. It is using Allah's blessings in ways He loves. And if you don't, remember that every day spent in mediocrity is a day that can never be recovered.

Al-Hasan al-Basri رحمه الله said:

"The life of this world is made up of three days: yesterday has gone with all that was done; tomorrow, you may never reach; but today is for you, so do what you should do today." (Al-Bayhaqi, Al-Zuhd al-Kabir, p.197)

The Prophet ﷺ said:

"Indeed, Allah has prescribed Ihsan in everything." (Sahih Muslim 1955)

If excellence is expected in everything, even simple things such as making Wudu, then what about raising your children? Serving your parents? Seeking knowledge? Calling people to Allah? Fulfilling the trusts He has placed in your hands?

Mediocrity whispers: "This is enough."

Ihsan asks: "Is this the best I can offer Allah?"

Some people think the greatest loss is when Allah takes a blessing away.

Sometimes the greater loss is that He leaves the blessing with you, but removes its Barakah, because you never valued it enough to give it your best.

If you grow too comfortable with what Allah has given you today, do not be surprised or get jealous when He places it in more grateful hands tomorrow.

Allah does not need us. We are the ones in need of Him.

So whenever Allah opens a door to do good, give it everything you have, before that door closes forever.

Because years later, you will be left with nothing but the regret of what you let slip through your hands just because of your mediocrity.