Learn from the ant’s determination

O devotees of the Prophet! We come to know from this account that continuously striving never goes to waste. In achieving our goals, we can learn much from the ant. No matter how distant and difficult the destination, the ant shows great determination, moves towards its goal, and only stops once it has reached the highest peaks. In a similar manner, several small-bodied ants can get together and drag relatively large seeds into their nests, which is also a result of them continuously putting in effort.

We should also learn from ants by making striving continuously a part of our lives. Constantly making an effort allows a person to complete the most difficult of tasks, but even the easiest of things can seem difficult without putting in any effort.

Where should one focus his effort?

Dear Islamic brothers, we should focus our efforts on those things which earn the pleasure of Allah Almighty and His Messenger صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم: the things which result in the goodness of this world and the Hereafter and are a means of preserving Islam, and the things which allow us to fulfil the purpose of our creation and bring benefit to our nation and people. We should focus our energy on matters which benefit the creation and not become a means of harming others.

In the holy Quran, Allah Almighty gives glad tidings of success to those who struggle in His way. He states in juzˈ 21, verse 69 of Sūrah al-ꜤAnkabūt:

وَ الَّذِیْنَ جَاہَدُوْا فِیْنَا لَنَہْدِیَنَّہُمْ سُبُلَنَا ؕ

And those who strived in Our path, We shall most definitely show them Our ways.^[1]