Quranjournal.id and QAC Jakarta are collaborating. Yay for free (short) course! Their theme is pursuit of excellence. And it starts with the most important part of the act; niat. Intention.

This ayah completes the previous ayahs on the topic of hajj and qurban. The strongest and most important part (or parts?) probably:

(1) “what reaches Him is piety from you”

What Allah sees from us is taqwa. It could mean

piety,

dutiful,

fearing Allah,

mindful or conscious of Allah.

Fear?

If Allah loves us and we (try to) love Allah too, how does love bring about fear?

Because there is always a risk in loving.

The risk of loss. The risk of independence. The risk of rejection.

Because we (try to) love The Almighty. The Karim. With only the capacity of a slave, who has no power besides what his Master gives. Who are to be boastful in our deeds?

Secondly, because Allah see what is not seen (taqwa), it means Allah appreciates the process. Abundantly. Because He is As-Syakur.

Just like in the hadits,

Allah does not look to your appearance or your colors, but He looks to your hearts and deeds.

We may not always be able to choose what comes next in our way (i.e who in their right mind would choose to have corona all over the world?), but we can always take a pause (i.e pray) and choose to act the best deeds according to Allah’s ridho and guidance.

(2) “and give glad tidings to the doers of good”

Mukhsinun.

Not muttaqin, those who are mindful of Allah.

But mukhsinun, those who strive for the best.

To do good to anyone,

even to the person who hurt you.

Just for the sake of Allah.

Because everything is about seeing Him and getting close to Him.

Reflection

When we put Allah first,