Al Salam Alaikum 🌱 

Welcome back to another edition of, “Everything I Learned About Entrepreneurship, I Learned from the Quran.”

After a short break, I’m happy to restart this series as we continue our journey of learning from the Quran. We are now in lesson #28 out of 40, and today’s topic is an essential one: ambition and striving.

☪️ Redefining Ambition: Self Self-Centered to God-Centered

In my early entrepreneurial days, ambition meant personal success- accumulating wealth, gaining recognition, and surpassing competitors. Success was measured with profit margins, market share, and the scale of my startup.

I often found myself caught in the relentless hustle culture, striving for self-advancement, often times at the expense of what truly matters.

But the more I immersed myself in the Noble Quran, the more my understanding of ambition began to shift.

Striving and having aspirations are not inherently wrong- on the contrary, they’re encouraged. But the true measure of ambition lies in its purpose and alignment with divine guidance.

The Quran reminds us that our ultimate purpose is to worship Allah (SWT). So when we strive, whether in business or life, it should be in service of this higher calling.

Worldly success isn’t inherently bad- but it should never be the end goal. Instead, it becomes a means through which we seek Allah’s pleasure and serve others.

🌟 Striving with Ihsan and Responsibility

The concept of Ihsan is central to this conversation. Our efforts must be rooted in sincerity, integrity, and a genuine desire to please Allah (SWT).

This ties into our role as Khalifa (stewards)- those entrusted with resources, skills, and opportunities, to serve Allah and His creation.

Rather than measuring success by numbers, titles, and accolades, we’re invited to strive sincerely and courageously.

The Quran warns us time and time again about competition for fleeting gain and redirects us to compete in good deeds and strive for eternal rewards.

🌱 Lessons from the Righteous Predecessors

Consider the example of Abdulrahman Bin Auf (RA), one of the wealthiest companions and among the ten promised Paradise. And yet, his ambition was never self-serving.

When he migrated to Madinah, he started with nothing and refused charity. He built his wealth ethically through trade and used it to support the Muslim community, finance battles, and care for the poor.

Or take Sayyiduna Uthman bin Affan (RA)-not only the third Caliph of the Muslims but also a highly successful merchant. He purchased and endowed the well of Rumah- ensuring that the people of Madinah had access to clean water.

This act of courageous striving and generosity transformed his wealth into an ongoing charity (sadaqah jariyah) that continues to benefit people to this day. Now that’s true barakah in wealth!

Their wealth was never hoarded; it was channeled. Their ambition and business acumen weren’t driven by personal luxurt but by a higher purpose- to please Allah and uplift the Ummah.

Their stories show us that ambition can be God-centered.

🏔️ True Striving Requires Effort and Endurance

High aspirations in faith, character, and purpose don’t come easy. They demand hard work, patience, and steadfastness.

But Allah doesn’t leave the sincere struggler without help. In Surah Al Ankabout (one of my favorite verses):

Our efforts are seen and appreciated. In Surah Al Insan, Allah (SWT) promises:

We’re not striving in vain. The day will come when Allah (SWT) Himself honors your efforts. What greater success is there?

🧭 Prophetic Perseverance: The Ambition of Musa (AS)

In the story of Musa (AS) and Khidr, found in Surah Al Kahf, Musa (AS) embarks on a long journey to seek knowledge and understanding after being informed that there was someone more knowledgable than him.

Despite being a prophet himself, he humbly sought to learn:

This wasn’t a pursuit of material gain- it was a passionate, relentless pursuit of truth and divine knowledge.

That’s real ambition: one driven by the thirst to get closer to Allah (SWT) and understand His wisdom.

⚠️ The Warning Against Misguided Ambition

But not all ambition is righteous.

The Quran warns us about misguided striving in Surah Al Kahf, Allah (SWT):

This verse wasn’t revealed about a specific group of people. Rather, it is a timeless warning for anyone who may pour their life into pursuits that seem meaningful but are ultimately disconnected from the divine, misaligned, and empty. 

Misguided ambition is not just ineffective- it’s dangerous. May Allah protect us from such an outcome.

🔑 Key Takeaways

🌱 Refocus Your Ambition: Shift from self-centered goals to ambitions aligned with your divine purpose- worshipping Allah (SWT) and serving His creation.

🌱 Strive with Ihsan: Let sincerity, integrity, and ihsan define your entrepreneurial journey as a form of worship.

🌱 Embrace Your Role as a Steward (Khalifa): Recognize your business as a trust from Allah (SWT), and use it responsibly.

Take five minutes daily this week for a moment of reflection on your ambition and striving:

🔍️ Reflect (2 minutes): What are you currently striving for in your business and life? What are your primary goals?

🎯 Align (2 minutes): Do these ambitions align with your faith and divine purpose? Are they benefitting you in both this life and the Hereafter (inshAllah)?

💗 Set Intention (1 minute): Consciously direct your ambition toward pleasing Allah (SWT) and benefitting others. Write down one specific action you will take this week.

💌 P.S. If this series has been valuable to you in some way, why not share it with your friends?

🤲 Closing Supplication

"O Allah, grant us a noble ambition aligned with Your pleasure. Guide our striving in business and life to be for Your sake and the benefit of Your creation. Protect us from selfish desires and grant us success in this world and the Hereafter.”

Ameen