What?

v Excelling

® An ongoing lifetime journey, not a destination

v In this life for the next

® Excel as God's servant on earth to please Him and invest for the hereafter

Why?

v God commands it!

® “Verily God enjoins ihsan and Justice” the primary dual goal of the Prophetic Method

® “Verily God has prescribed ihsan in all things. So if you kill then kill well; and if you slaughter, then slaughter well. Let each one of you sharpen his blade and let the slaughtered animal die comfortably”

® Excelling is one of the three meanings of ihsan as defined by Imam Yassine

v God intends it!

® “He Who created Death and Life, that He may test you, who is best in deed?”

v God loves it!

® “Verily God loves that if someone performs a work, he perfects it.”

® “For those who righteously excel is paradise and more”

® Best result & reward in this life [serve & enjoy] and in the next [triple delight]

v God does it!

® Absolute Perfection & Power are attributed to none but God, the Greatest!

® “This is the handiwork of God Who has perfected everything that He created.”

® “Truly, God has power over all things.”

® Excel in Harmony with God’s Perfect Plan

How?

v Apply the ten attributes of the Prophetic Method

accompany the best in order to guide youremember God in order to empower yoube truly committed to excellence in order to achieve itgive your best in order to get the bestlearn in order to be on the right pathpractice in order to become an expertoutshine in order to join the best of the bestspersevere patiently in order to overcome the journey’s obstaclesbe balanced and purposeful in order to best serve God’s creationstrive to finish the journey and return to God with an excellent soul

v Example of attribute #2: remember God in order to empower you

Proximity to God

® … hence truer and greater success; you can achieve more in quantity and better in quality with less amount of time, effort, and resources

® “I am with my servant when he remembers Me.” [وأنا معه إذا ذكرني]

Power

® … to exert the necessary effort to excel; prayer generates power

Patience

® … to face any hardship in your journey; excelling is an act of jihad

Perseverance

® … not to give up and continue the journey until death no matter what; meticulous attention to detail necessitates patient perseverance

Protection

® … from evil thoughts and corrupt intentions that may result in doing “great” work but for the wrong cause

Peacefulness

® … of heart and mind, which is very much needed to relax and counter any potential distress or stress resulting from the journey’s obstacles

Next

v Who are the best of the bests in the sight of God, the Absolute Best?

® The Best of Deeds - Best People

® Best Teacher - Best Student

® Best Employer - Best Employee

® Best Husband - Best Wife

® Best Parent - Best Child

® Best Friend

® Best Speaker

v Organizational excellence in this life for the next