The Importance of Aiming High   ‘Indeed, We have made that which is on the earth adornment for it that We may test them [as to] which of them is best in deed.’ (18:7) What is zeenah? We recite surah Kahf every Friday. And in this surah, Allah Almighty says we have made what is on the earth an adornment for it in order to test our conduct. The Arabic word for adornment is zeenah and there are many verses in the Qur’an mentioning zeenah. But what is zeenah? We have two meanings: The first is the linguistic definition of zeenah:  What do scholars say it means? It’s a comprehensive word for beautification. In another definition, we are told that everything that pleases the eye is called zeenah. Allah Almighty created horses, mules and donkeys to ride on and they are a luxury for people, as riding them pleases us. And [He created] the horses, mules and donkeys for you to ride and [as] adornment. And He creates that which you do not know. (16:8) Our modern equivalent is of course cars, whether they are Ferraris or Lamborghinis or Maseratis which people boast about. In another place, Allah Almighty mentioned wealth and children are zeenah for this life. They too bring us pleasure and happiness to our eyes. Wealth and children are [but] adornment of the worldly life. But the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for [one’s] hope. (18:46) How Adornment is Linked to Test Allah Almighty has mentioned zeenah in twelve verses and Imam Isfahan in his book Al Mufradat al Gharib Al Qur’an and his tafseer divided zeenah into twenty sections. Generally zeenah, as we see in surah Kahf, is beautification, but it is very much linked to the concept of a test. Thus … Continue reading Are You Settling for Mediocrity or Aiming for Excellence?