Potential?...

My brain stem feels like it has a thorn stuck in it since I had a conversation with Irwan Aka Wawa. We discoursed about potential. Does everyone have the potential to be great? Or are those who don't have potential doomed to be ordinary?

In the context of education or being a scholar, levels of abilities vary. Abilities here can be defined as skills in presentation and its subs, performance is tests or exams, the ability to think critically and being able to peal into the core of an issue, and many more.

This is very complicated. Then again, when has conversing with Wawa been simple? How do we know we have potential to be better? Is it the feeling that we could've done better in a presentation? Is it when somebody tells you that you have potential? What stops you from being able to fully grasp the potential? Is potential released through realization or hard work? How do we define hard work? Some people work harder than others but achieve less. What if you don't have potential? Would you be wasting time chasing an illusion?

I've had these questions in my head and it's bursting quite a lot of veins in my brain.

What's Missing?...

Reflecting on today's CIE class, I ponder upon the question; "what is missing?", for parents, in making sure that children grow up with a strong foundation in Islam.

I totally agree with my lecturer's answer; establishing the child's the relationship with Allah SWT. Getting the child to know Allah. Letting the child feel the presence of Allah. And finally teaching the child to love Allah.

At first I suggested teaching the child the fathilat (rewards) of 'ammal, but that was before I realized that 'ammal would probably have a different effect on those who may not have a strong relationship with Allah.

For me, I love hearing about the rewards of 'ammal because it lets me know that if I practice it, it will please Allah SWT. The more frequent I read the hadiths, the easier it is for me to be istiqamah (consistant).