There is something so incredibly profound about the way Rabia al-Adawiyya speaks to the very core of our intentions. When we look at this quote, it isn't just about a religious ritual or a fear of the afterlife; it is about the purity of our hearts. It asks us to move beyond the transactional nature of how we treat others and even how we treat the Divine. It is a beautiful, challenging call to seek goodness simply because goodness is beautiful, not because we are afraid of getting in trouble or because we are hoping for a shiny reward at the end of the road.
In our daily lives, we often fall into this trap of transactional living without even realizing it. We might be kind to a neighbor because we want them to like us, or we might work hard at our jobs only because we are chasing a bonus. We act out of a sense of 'if I do this, then I will get that.' While there is nothing wrong with enjoying rewards, this quote invites us to find a deeper, more stable source of motivation. It asks us to find a way to act from a place of pure, selfless love that doesn't need a receipt or a thank-you note to feel valid.
I remember a time when I was feeling quite overwhelmed with my writing. I found myself constantly checking my stats and worrying about whether people were enjoying my words, mostly because I wanted the validation of being a 'successful' writer. I was working out of a fear of being forgotten and a hope for praise. It felt heavy and exhausting. One afternoon, I decided to just write a small note to a friend, with no intention of anyone ever seeing it but them. In that moment of writing purely for the sake of connection and love, the weight lifted. I wasn't looking for a reward; I was just sharing a piece of my soul.
As I sat in my cozy nest thinking about this, I realized that the most healing moments in life happen when we let go of the 'what's in it for me' mindset. When we shift our focus from the outcome to the intention, our entire perspective changes. We become lighter, more present, and much more compassionate toward ourselves and the world around us.
Today, I want to gently nudge you to look at one small thing you do. Is there a way you can do it purely for the joy of the act itself? Try to find one moment today where you can be kind, or creative, or helpful, without expecting a single thing in return. Just let your kindness flow, simply because it is who you are.