Motivation is a psychological feature and a process that directs a human being to act towards a desired goal. It can be considered a driving force that compels or reinforces an action towards a destination. For example, hunger is a motivating force for eating. Motivation results from the interaction of both conscious and unconscious factors such as the intensity of desire or need, incentive or reward, value of the goal, and expectations of the individual.
For a person to be motivated, he first needs to know his goal or purpose because a person who is living without any goal or objective might be motivated for a short period but will fail to maintain it in the long run. Thus, Allah wants people to be motivated all the time, so He says in the Qur’ān, “And I have not created the jinn and mankind except that they should obey Me” (Qur’ān 51:56). Thus, the verse clearly explains the ultimate objective behind the creation of mankind and other creatures.
Islam entrusts a lot of responsibility on the Muslims, and for a person to fulfil the responsibility, he needs to be constantly motivated. Thus Allah the Exalted motivates an individual by promising him Paradise as his ultimate reward. Allah says in the Qur’ān, “But those who believe and do righteous deeds – We will admit them in gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they abide forever. For them therein are purified spouses, and We will admit them to deepening shade” (Qur’ān 4:57).
The Qur’ān is a book which is full of motivation. There are many verses we find in the Qur’ān which directly motivates its readers on various aspects. Allah says in the Qur’ān, “For indeed, with hardship (will be) ease” (Qur’ān 94:5). This verse motivates people to be patient when they are facing hardship.
Allah says in the Qur’ān, “…Allah loves those who are constantly repentant and loves those who purify themselves” (Qur’ān 2:222). This verse motivates people to constantly repent and purify themselves.
Allah further says in the Qur’ān, “Indeed, Allah has purchased from the believers their lives and their properties (in exchange) for that they will have Paradise…” (Qur’ān 9:111). This verse motivates a person to lead his live as per the guidelines of Allah to attain Paradise. Thus, we can understand that it is surely a book which is full of motivation for mankind.
The sayings of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) motivate people to perform certain actions and restrain from certain actions. For example, the Prophet said, “Be in the life as if you were a stranger or a traveller on a path” (Bukhari). It motivates a person not to be greedy and run behind the worldly desires.
The Prophet further said, “The best among you are those who learn the Qur’ān and teach it.” It motivates people to teach and learn the Qur’ān. The Prophet also said, “The best of the Muslims is he from whose hand and tongue the Muslims are safe” (Muslim). This motivates a person to ensure that he does not make wrong use of his hands or tongue.
The Prophet said, “The best of people are those with the most excellent character” (Tabarani). This motivates a person to develop a good character.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) would always identify the skills or speciality in a people and would praise them and that praise would ultimately motivate them to do better and feel good. When he saw Zubair with a turban, he told him, “What Zubair, today angels have come on with the red turbans to fight.” He said to Ali, “I am from Ali and Ali is from Me.” He said to Abu Bakar, “Had I made anyone a friend other than Allah, it would have been Abu Bakar.” He also said about Abu Bakar in his last sermon, “No one has been a better companion for me than Abu Bakar.” He said to Abd Allah ibn Rawaha, “His words are more penetrating to the Quraysh than arrows.”
The companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) were highly motivated people. They were so very motivated that they were ready to sacrifice their wealth, time, family and their life as well in the way of Islam. When the Prophet asked to give charity, Abu Bakar gave everything and left his house empty. When Madina was facing drought, Abdur Rahman came forward and donated almost everything he had in gold. Hanzalah, who was 24 years of age, got married a day before the Battle of Uhd and when he heard about the call to Jihad, he left the very next day and was martyred. Saad got married to the daughter of Umar bin Wahab. After the Nikah, he went to the market to buy something for his wife. When he heard the call of Jihad, he looked up to the sky and said, “I have got married and I have heard the call of Jihad and I will go for it.” When Abu Darda realised that his trade was holding him back from making greater sacrifices in the path of the religion, he stopped his trade and spent his time for the cause of Islam. Shuayb ar-Rumi on his way to Madina was captured by some Quraysh. They commanded him to give all his wealth as he had acquired the wealth in Makkah. He left all his wealth and continued with his journey. The companions were motivated at such high degrees because of their strong belief in Allah; strong belief in the reward in the hereafter and strong commitment toward the mission.
Islam intrinsically and extrinsically motivates people. Intrinsic motivation refers to the stimuli which come from within. It is about the spirituality of an individual. It is very important for a person to be motivated from within, as Allah the Exalted might not give him the reward in this world itself but he will have to wait and be patient. Allah says in the Qur’ān, “O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger…” (Qur’ān 4:49). This verse intrinsically motivates the individual to perform certain actions only to obey Allah and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be to him). Extrinsic motivation refers to the individual’s motivational stimuli which are coming from the outside. Allah says in the Qur’ān, “…and spend (in charity) from what We have provided from them secretly and publicly and prevent evil with good…” (Qur’ān 13:22). The verse commands people to give charity in public, as giving charity in public will motivate others to also come forward and give charity as well.
On the other hand, Islam also adopts a reward and punishment approach to motivate people. In accordance with the reward approach to motivation, Allah says in the Qur’ān, “Those – their reward is forgiveness from their Lord and gardens beneath which rivers flow (in Paradise), wherein they will abide eternally, and excellent is the reward of the (righteous) workers” (Qur’ān 3:136). Thus, for desiring to gain the pleasure of Paradise, a person will strive to do as much good as possible in the world and become a righteous slave of Allah the Exalted. In accordance with the punishment approach to motivation, Allah says in the Qur’ān, “As for those who were (destined to be) wretched, they will be in the Fire. For them therein is (violent) exhaling and inhaling. (They will be) abiding therein as long as the heavens and the earth endure, except what your Lord should will…” (Qur’ān 11:106-107). Thus, the Hell motivates a person to abstain from all the disobedience of Allah the Exalted.
Islam motivates people to compete with one another in good deeds, as competing with one another in good deeds will help the person in the hereafter and his path to paradise will become easy. Allah says in the Qur’ān, “…so try to excel one another in virtues…” (Qur’ān 2:148). The verse motivates people to compete with one another in good deeds. Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) also at many instances motivated people to compete in gaining the pleasure of Allah.
On the other hand, Islam does not encourage people to compete in worldly matters as it will only make the person greedy and may also prevent him from entering Paradise. Thus, ultimately Islam motivates people to indulge in acts which will lead them to Paradise and demotivates them to abstain from acts which will lead them to Hell.
The best tool of one’s motivation is the Qur’ān, the more you read, the more you are motivated. The second source of motivation is the life of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him), the more you read, the more you get inspired and the more you are motivated to fulfil your responsibilities.
All material things can only keep a person motivated for a short time. But if a person has to be constantly motivated, he should have strong unshakable belief in Allah, strong belief in the reward and punishment in the hereafter and strong commitment towards the mission.