Perfection in Islam: Why is life imperfect?
❝Whoever seeks a friend without faults will live life alone. Whoever seeks a spouse without shortcomings will live life as a bachelor. Whoever seeks a loved one without problems will live life forever searching. And whoever seeks a relative who is perfect will live life cutting ties.❞
– Shaykh Muhammad Mutawalli Ash-Sha’raawi
We as a human being are driven by our ambition, by our hopes, our desires and our needs. Our nafs and shaitan takes a better control of us and pushes us to seek the glitter of the duniya, while deep down in our heart we know that this life is nothing but a test by Allah subhan ta’ala and we are slowly moving towards our final hour.
Why is life imperfect?
No two humans are completely alike so why should we assume that there is a specific way to do certain things or a specific way to be?
As we strive for perfection, we should not forget that only Allah is perfect and we cannot hope for perfectness in this duniya. If the duniya had to be perfect, there would have not be any need for Jannah.
Allah says, لَا نُكَلِّفُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَآ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْجَنَّةِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ
“We do not burden any human being with more than he is well able to bear – they are destined for paradise, therein to abide(Quran:7:42)
In Jannah, the imperfection of people will be removed.
Allah says, وَنَزَعْنَا مَا فِى صُدُورِهِم مِّنْ غِلٍّ
after We shall have removed whatever unworthy thoughts or feelings may have been [lingering] in their bosoms. (7:43)
Embracing flaws
Embracing flaws can be difficult but if you divert everything for the sake of pleasure of Allah swt and knowing that what you have is what Allah wanted to give you. you will sense a peace. If the pleasure of our Rabb becomes our pleasure, embracing flaws becomes easy because you realise that what you got was what your lord desired and you are happy to get your share. Remember that there are many others who are misfortunate than us and whatever we have is definitely a fazl of Allah. We should not belittle our blessings by comparing it with them who have more than us bus instead do shukr and sabr.
The beauty of Imperfection
“Life is not always perfect. Like a road, it has many bends, ups and down, but that’s its beauty.”
-Amit Ray, ‘World Peace: The Voice Of A Mountain Bird’.
Fighting Life’s Imperfection
Do the best you can, be as sincere as you can and be as kind as you can. Leave the rest to Allah.
When Allah sees sincere effort and hardwork, when Allah sees you seriously trying no matter how imperfect that effort looks to people of this world He will open doors of Rizq, doors of rehma, doors of forgiveness, door of righteousness and doors of love.
Quran brings itminaan of heart and salah connects us with Allah. May Allah make Quran and salah our best companion.
Sawm/ fast helps curbs the desire of heart.
Life is meant to be imperfect. May Allah makes our affairs easy and keep us under his protection and rehma.
Allah says,
وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَٱتَّبَعَتْهُمْ ذُرِّيَّتُهُم بِإِيمَـٰنٍ أَلْحَقْنَا بِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ وَمَآ أَلَتْنَـٰهُم مِّنْ عَمَلِهِم مِّن شَىْءٍ كُلُّ ٱمْرِئٍۭ بِمَا كَسَبَ رَهِينٌ
And as for those who have attained to faith and whose offspring will have followed them in faith, We shall unite them with their offspring; and We shall not let aught of their deeds go to waste: [but] every human being will be held in pledge for whatever he has earned (Quran: 52:21)
