CHAPTER 1

The Beginning

Where? When? Why?

Where, when, and why are three of the most important words in existence. They might seem like simple words we use on a daily basis, but these words have been turning points for countless minds throughout the centuries. Never underestimate the power of your mind or the importance of your questions. They could be turning points in your life.

There is a meaningful tale from A Story of Faith, a book by the mufti of Tripoli. It is about a young man who questioned his existence, his reason for being on earth, and how the universe is connected to all of that. Where, when, and why were words he pondered for years while trying to find answers to the questions he yearned to have answered.

Then on a day that seemed ordinary, the doors of his mind opened to a greater width. He asked himself these questions:

"Am I the creator or creation?"

"Am I the provider or the bestowed upon?"

"At birth, did I choose to be a male or a female?"

"Did I choose to be born at a certain spot of the earth and not the other?" "Did I choose my parents?"

"Does my brain have the power to order my heart to pump blood in my veins to keep me alive while I sleep at night?"

"Does my brain have the power to order my stomach to digest my food and nourish me?"

"What is the power behind my brain?"

"Do I order the sun to rise every day?"

"What am I compared to the multitude of water in the oceans or the distance between the earth and the sun?"

"Why did I come to this world?"

The answers were coming fast to the young man. He felt as though he saw himself and the universe in a different light.

"I did not create myself in my mother's womb, so that means I am a creation."

"I did not feed myself in my mother's womb, so that means I am a bestowed upon creation."

"I did not choose my genitals at birth, I did not choose my parents, I did not choose where I was born, and I did not choose the first language I spoke."

"And I most certainly do not order my heart to work in my sleep, nor do I order my stomach to digest the food I eat. I do not make it rain, and I do not have the power to turn any rain into a flood."

"If I am a creation, then there's a creator. So why did I come to this world?"

The meaning behind this story is that all the questions we could ask ourselves boil down to "Why are we here?" It is a valid question that each of us has asked, and it is the core of why humans create and change history.

Some studies and sciences approach this vital question from different perspectives. Some could make you question your faith rather than restore it with the scientific findings. But there is no denying that there is a tight connection between faith and inner peace. We can make our lives and others' lives better only if we know who we are and what we are capable of. Your mind is more powerful than you think! By having faith in the creator, ourselves, and people around us, we can change lives and history. Anyone can. You can! You just have to believe that you can!

However, it is important that you benefit from the generations of thinkers in human sciences in order to know the secret code to live the life you want. You do not come with a handbook to this world. No one is born knowing how his or her life is going to turn out. But with education and utilizing all the knowledge you learn, you most certainly will live the life you want. This is how humans develop. This is how human development became a science.

Human development is a science that can help anyone shape the course of his or her life through the power of the brain.

Human development is about you, me, everyone, and everything in our lives.

Human development is the foundation for religion, politics, economies, sports, health, and production.

Human development should be the foundation of your career, marriage, your relationship with your parents, and the rearing of your children.

Human development is the pursuit of making our lives better and more meaningful. It is the wisdom that comes with the years the elderly have accumulated, and it is the alphabet our youngsters are learning in order to communicate ideas that could in turn lead to a better humankind and a better world.

Human development is what decision makers in any place or time go back to, whether they are managing a country, a corporation, or a small football league.

Human development is an applied and tried science that has changed lives all around.

It all starts with having faith that you can change circumstances and change situations. It all starts with faith that there is a beginning and there is a purpose for each of us before we reach the end of our lives.

It really is the natural medicine that humanity gives itself in times of grief and sadness.

As you are reading these pages, you could be wondering: How will this change my life and help me achieve a lasting inner peace?

What is different about this book is that it not only shows you the way and guides you with examples from history but also tempts your brain into looking for answers to questions that have to do with every aspect of your very existence.

This book will unlock your hidden strengths and unleash the power that you have been reluctant to use to make yourself happy and successful. This book is not going to be a boring narrative or a detailed scientific thesis. It is a conversation from a heart to another heart, and a soul to another soul. It is a conversation that will leave you thinking about the more important questions in life. It will guide your path without imposing on the road.

A wise person once said, "Happiness is the journey, not the road." Think of this book as your first step toward real, long-lasting happiness. Happiness and inner peace go hand in hand, after all.

Now that you have reached the first step on this journey, we are going to walk together through the pages of this book. Let me give you a hint that the "beginning" starts with you. Just your existence on this earth is all you need to make a difference in your life and others' lives. But you should not just exist; you have to be all there.

Ask Yourself

1. Write down some of your special skills:

(a)

(b)

(c)

2. How do you utilize your skills to better and empower yourself?

(a)

(b)

(c)

* * *

Do not underestimate any sin. A lot of smaller sins could weigh as much on the soul as the weight of one big sin. That is how sins burden our souls.

— Ali Ibn Abi-Talib

* * *

Stimulate Your Brain

1. Do you feel the existence of God (the Creator)?

(a) Yes.

(b) No.

(c) I am not sure.

2. Do you believe in a higher power?

(a) Yes.

(b) No.

(c) I am not sure.

3. If you answered yes to the previous question, why do you believe in a higher power?

CHAPTER 2

Be Intentional

One of the greatest blessings in life is the possibility of creating a new beginning at any given moment. The ability to start where other people and generations left off and turn that progress into a better way of life for others is quite fascinating. However, great things and prominent events do not happen by accident. It all starts with having an intention. An intention is the burning force behind changing lives, whether that be through day-to-day situations or major history-changing phenomena.

Throughout the ages, numerous thinkers, philosophers, scientists, and religious leaders have tried to find an answer to the eternal inquiry of "Why are we here?" Since we are the creation of a greater creator, there must be an intention behind human life. How do we manifest our lives into a beautiful version of this magnificent miracle? How do we live every day without having a purpose and intention for time on earth? Is it possible to have an intention for every little action we carry out each day? Is it imaginable that we could still have fun and enjoy life while having an intention and purpose behind everything we do? Could we achieve greatness through focusing on an intention? Does that work in every facet of life — for example, career, politics, economy, and human interactions?

"Actions are only judged with the intentions behind them. Every person gets served with his/her intentions."

— Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)

Our intentions matter. Intentions enforce actions. If you have an intention behind every action, your actions and life in general become more meaningful. If you have an intention to make your relationship happier, your actions will reflect that intention. If you have an intention to improve in your career, you will go to work every day with a different attitude rather than treating it like a job you have to get done to make money. If you have an intention to help others, you will attract like-minded people that will come together and help others.

Lives change because people dare to believe in their ideas enough to use intentions and then turn them into actions. The world changes around us because people have intentions to improve life as we know it every day. Our intentions act as a moral compass that directs us on the right path. They make every step worthwhile.

Ask Yourself

1. Do you have a life goal?

2. Write down your goal(s) no matter how irrelevant or unimportant it might seem to you.

3. How do you feel now that you have found out some of your life goals?

* * *

He who every morning plans the transactions of that day and follows that plan carries a thread that will guide him through the labyrinth of the most busy life.

— Victor Hugo

* * *

Ask Yourself

1. How old are you?

2. Do you feel like you have achieved everything you have wanted when you were younger?

(a) Yes.

(b) No.

(c) I am not sure.

3. Do you think you make the best use of your time?

(a) Yes.

(b) No.

(c) I am not sure.

CHAPTER 3

Be Mindful of Your Time

Place your hand on your chest right where your heart is. Do you hear your heartbeat? It sounds like the sound of a clock, doesn't it? Have you ever made the connection between your heartbeat and your time on earth?

Your life is just seconds and minutes. Some of it has been memorable and well spent, and some has been wasted. Can you picture all the joys and sorrows, successes and failures, and victories and forfeits? They were all moments that made their way into your mind because of how those particular times affected your life and shaped your personality. We are made of flesh and blood and minutes and seconds. Once a second is lost, there is no way to bring it back. We can only make the next one better spent.

Do you think the last few seconds of your life were used well?

Think of every moment of your life as an investment. Little successful moments turn into bigger victories.

Think of your time in life as a sword; either you strike or it will strike. Make sure that you strike joy, success, and victory along the way. Do not have a dull sword or a dull moment.

Ask Yourself

1. 1. What are your priorities in life?

(a)

(b)

(c)

2. Do you commit to your priorities?

(a) Yes.

(b) No.

(c) I am not sure.

3. What are the obstacles that prevent you from committing to your priorities?

(a)

(b)

(c)

4. What is your strategy for beating the obstacles that stand in the way of committing to your priorities?

(a)

(b)

(c)

* * *

Humanity is never so beautiful as when praying for forgiveness, or else forgiving another.

— Jean Paul

Stimulate Your Brain

1. Are you truly content with yourself and your life?

(a) Yes.

(b) No.

(c) I am not sure.

2. Do you think you could be more content with your life?

(a) Yes.

(b) No.

(c) I am not sure.

CHAPTER 4

Be Forgiving

Forgiveness is good energy transmitted from you to your small circle of family and friends and in turn to the world around you. It is like planting a tree for you and others to enjoy the shade for years ahead. Forgiving others starts with forgiving yourself. Forgiveness starts with you.

Holding on to guilt and shame burdens your soul and leaves you going around in circles. It prevents you from focusing on your priorities and reaching your goals. You might think there is no tie between your feelings of guilt and shame and your inability to meet your life goals and thrive, but the two have a very tight connection.

You have the power within you to change any circumstances you are not pleased with, but you first need to let go of the chains weighing your self-esteem down. Making peace with your past mistakes is one of the noblest gifts you could grant yourself. Making peace with others over their past mistakes is a gift to you before it is a gift to others. Forgiveness is a declaration of freedom from negative energy.

In order to reach more peace within your family and your circle of friends and acquaintances, you need to start with yourself. Society is a chain of intertwined relationships between individuals, countries hold many societies, and the world is a system of countries. It all starts with individuals like you.

O son of Adam, so long as you call upon Me and ask of Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and shall not mind. O son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I would forgive you. O son of Adam, were you to come to Me with sins nearly as great as the earth and were you then to face Me, ascribing no partner to Me, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great as it.

— Sacred hadeeth relayed by Prophet Muhammad

Bring your soul peace by forgiving yourself for past shortcomings. Make a habit of looking at your mistakes as lessons and steppingstones to a better, more peaceful you.

Are you wondering, Is this some sort of a religious book? The short answer is no. The more elaborate one is I grew up in Egypt in a practicing Muslim family and in a very tight-knit Muslim-Christian community. A lot of the Christian friends I have made over the years have become as close as family to me. As I ventured into the business world, I met people from all walks of life that believed in different religions and philosophies. Some of my closest friends are Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, and even non-religious. I have close friends in almost every continent, all with different beliefs and views. I noticed one thing in common between all the successful people I have met: their belief and faith in something, no matter what it is, forms their ideals and their way in life. If people really looked at the core of all religions, they would find that they are almost all the same-reaching answers about our existence, finding a purpose for our lives, and spreading love and goodness in any way we can. It would be an ideal world if all people practiced their faith in harmony and spread the message of love and peace. However, it is an unfortunate fact that there are always going to be a few bad apples in every religion. That in no way undermines the power of faith and its ability to turn lives around. I owe my religion for the guidance it's given me on my path through life, and I am simply sharing the wisdom it taught me. My faith, an open mind, and a diverse background all contributed to the person I am today.

I strongly believe that faith is a magic wand to achieve everything we aspire to; Faith is the inner strength and the motivation that gives you the confidence to achieve the goals you want for faith is the inner strength and the motivation that gives you the confidence to achieve the goals you want. I consider guiding others to reaching their best potential as one of my main priorities in life. I visualize my life in seconds and minutes that need to be well spent. I forgive myself for my shortcomings. I recognize that I am the change that I want to see in the world. I know that the golden rule to success is sharing the fruit of your success with others.

Ask Yourself

1. What are the negatives in your life?

(a)

(b)

(c)

2. How can you eliminate the negatives?

(a)

(b)

(c)

3. What are the positives in your life?

(a)

(b)

(c)

4. How can you increase the positives?

(a)

(b)

(c)

* * *

Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.

— Marie Curie

* * *

Stimulate Your Brain

1. Can you picture how you are as person?

(a) Yes.

(b) No.

(c) I am not sure.

2. Do you like yourself?

(a) Yes.

(b) No.

(c) I am not sure.

CHAPTER 5

Be the Change

Be the change you want to see in the world.

— Mahatma Gandhi

Have you ever asked yourself where you stand in this ever-changing world? If you know that you have a vital, dynamic role in changing the world around you, then you have one of the secrets of how the universe works.

Again, it all starts with you. One trait that all influential people in the world have in common is their belief that change starts with themselves, whether that change is in their families, schools, work, or in their communities.

The key that can unlock all the magic in your life and in others' is fully realizing that you are The Change. You need to study and analyze your talents and skills and develop methods to utilize them to serve your goals. Any obstacle in life can be overcome, but your skills and talents are your weapons. Wouldn't it make sense to study and train using your weapons to be better prepared for all the possible battles in life?