How Realigning Your Life To Islam Will Make You Win
Life on Autopilot
Each morning, many of us awaken already racing, rushing to work, school, or commitments. Phones are checked before a simple alhamdulillah, achievements compared on social media and attention drawn to what others have or do. Life can feel like a continuous race: who’s faster, who has more, who is “winning.”
Yet in this constant motion, how often do we pause to reflect: What am I truly running for?
Life’s True Purpose
Allah reminds us in the Qur’an:
وَمَا خَلَقۡتُ ٱلۡجِنَّ وَٱلۡإِنسَ إِلَّا لِیَعۡبُدُونِ
“And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.”
(Surah Adh-Dhariyat 51:56)
Imam al-Fakhr al-Razi explains that humans and jinn were created to know and serve Allah, not merely to exist.
Shaykh al-Sha‘rāwī adds that worship is not confined to ritual acts like prayer or fasting; it permeates our ethics, work, relationships, and the sincerity behind every action.
Allah further warns:
أَفَحَسِبۡتُمۡ أَنَّمَا خَلَقۡنَـٰكُمۡ عَبَثࣰا وَأَنَّكُمۡ إِلَیۡنَا لَا تُرۡجَعُونَ
“Did you think We created you in vain and that you would not be returned to Us?”
(Surah Al-Mu’minun 23:115)
Every breath, every decision, and every trial carries meaning. Life is not arbitrary; it is a bridge leading to something far greater than the fleeting concerns of this world.
Actions with Intent
We recite daily:
إِنَّ صَلَاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
“My prayer, my sacrifice, my life and my death are for Allah, Lord of the Worlds.”
(Surah Al-An’am 6:162)
The Prophet ﷺ said:
إِنَّمَا اْلأَعْمَالُ بِالنِّيَّاتِ
“Actions are judged by intentions.”
(Narrated by Bukhari 1 & Muslim 1907)
Imam Ibn Daqiq al-Eid explains that intention forms a third of every action, while the heart, tongue, and body make up the rest. The insight is profound: when our lives are directed toward Allah, even ordinary tasks, such as preparing a meal, completing a work assignment and helping someone in need, can become acts of worship.
Why Worship if Allah Doesn’t Need Us?
Allah tells us:
I seek no provision from them, nor do I need them to feed Me. (57) Indeed, Allah ˹alone˺ is the Supreme Provider—Lord of all Power, Ever Mighty. (58)
(Surah Adh-Dhariyat 51:57-58)
It is not Allah who benefits from our worship, it is we who gain. Worship offers:
- Peace and tranquillity in prayer
- Stability and calm through remembrance
- Purpose and meaning in every effort
Without a higher objective, life may appear busy yet feel hollow. For Allah is the self-sufficient, free of need from his creations.
Life Beyond the World
Life is not defined by wealth, status, or social media accolades. Consider crossing a bridge: would you pause midway or journey fully to the other side? Life is similar, our focus should be on meaningful progress.
Principle from the Ulama:
الأمور بمقاصدها
Actions are judged by their objectives.
In today’s age, pressures abound: examinations, careers, societal expectations and online trends. Recognising our actions as a form of worship transforms these struggles into opportunities for growth, contribution, and spiritual connection:
Work becomes more than a salary; it becomes service and self-development.
Setbacks in relationships or careers are part of a purposeful journey.
Social media engagement can be intentional: are we sharing for praise, benefit, or reminders of good?
Reflections from the Scholars
Imam al-Ghazali reminds us:
الدنيا مزرعة الآخرة وهي الآلة الموصلة إلى الله عز وجل لمن اتخذها آلة
“This world is the farm of the Hereafter and it is the means to reach Allah for those who use it rightly.”
Our lives gain richness when filled with purpose rather than distractions. Begin with istighfar, reflect quietly and allow every action to connect you to Allah.
TL;DR
- Life may feel like a race, but its higher purpose is to worship Allah.
- Worship extends beyond rituals to work, ethics, and intention in all actions.
- Allah does not need our worship — we need it to find peace, stability, and meaning.
- Every action can be transformed into worship with the right intention.
- Life is a bridge to Allah, not merely a pursuit of worldly gains.