Behind the Name
According to Merriam-Webster’s, the term distinction has many usages. I’m sure you’re familiar it’s meaning but it’s here if you’d like to review it. My first exposure to this term in the context we use it in on this blog, was in the book: “Awaken the Giant Within” by Tony Robbins. Here is the paragraph in which the term is introduced, copied verbatim from the book as it appears on page 43:
“There will be times when you’re on the river solo and you’ll have to make some important decisions on your own.
The good news is that if you’re willing to learn from your experience, then even times you might think were difficult become great because they provide valuable information –key distinctions– that you will use to make better decisions in the future. In fact, any extremely successful person you meet will tell you–if they’re honest with you–that the reason they’re more successful is that they’ve made more poor decisions than you have.”
I was humbled when I read this because this is a non-Muslim passionately articulating the attitude generally unique to a believer as our Prophet, SAW described:
Amazing is the affair of the believer. Everything is good for him - and that is for no one but the believer: If good times come his way, he is thankful and that is good for him. If hardship comes his way, he is patient and that is good for him.
Of course the complete actualization of this statement is only available to someone with firm knowledge and belief in the hereafter. Nevertheless, I find it intriguing that someone, not yet part of our faith, sincerely articulates such an attitude that assigns benefit to a result that is negative from a worldly perspective. It also gave me an additional reference to the fact that we know intuitively, but are always adding more references to, the fact that Islam is the best path for success in this life and the next. Part of the process of patience mentioned in the hadeeth, is that when we experience hardship we should also take the lessons in the experience. We’re patient upon hardship but if there is a lesson to be learned from the experience to avoid it in the future, we must take it, as the Prophet SAW informed us:
The believer should not be stung from the same hole twice.
What I also took from the Tony Robbin’s passage cited above is the important difference between knowledge and a distinction. Not all knowledge results in a distinction. In fact it is safe to say that most knowledge and information conveyed does not trigger a distinction. A key distinction shows up in your decisions, changing the course of your life. Based on that definition, the readiness and intention of the seeker is every bit as important if not more than the knowledge being disseminated.
One could attend a lesson packed with all new information, packaged in the best way, but the seeker just has not come with the presence of mind or openness to change. (Amazingly this person is still eligible for reward if it is religious in nature, just by the good of the gathering.) By the same token, one could read a book for a second or third time or attend a seminar that is a complete review of information. Despite having been exposed to the material before, this person ends up benefiting tremendously, making one or two key distinctions, leading to a new decision, thereby altering the trajectory his life.
Upon reflecting on your own experience I suspect this will become clear. Haven’t some of your biggest breakthroughs come while interacting with material you were already familiar with? But you were different. You were ready for change and wanted something from that material. One of the universal laws of life is that you must give in order to receive. You must give your heart and mind in order to receive distinctions. Distinctions Magazine was built on that premise. We do not expect that the Islamic references cited are brand new to you. However, we hope that the context they are put in helps facilitate a new way of looking at them that directly relates to your life.
We’ll try to do our part in creative framing and offering insight. But the fact remains that the heavy lifting is on your end. What do you want to change? What are you unsatisfied with? Don’t underestimate the power of Allah. That is a bigger problem in itself. Take this moment to make a firm intention to upgrade this part of your life that nags you, whatever it may be, make dua for strength and success, and then stay with us for support and ideas.
May Allah grant you fulfillment of your dreams in this life and the next! Ameen.
