Stepping Out of Comfort Zone in the Words of Imam Shafi’i (RA)

Stepping Out of Comfort Zone in the Words of Imam Shafi’i (RA)

Stepping Out of Comfort Zone in the Words of Imam Shafi’i (May Allah Have His Mercy on Him)

The concept of stepping out of the comfort zone is not a new one. In fact, it is a universal concept, which has transcended ages, cultures, and civilizations. It is a concept that has been explored and expounded upon by philosophers and writers throughout history, from ancient Greece to Islamic literature to the modern West.

There is a lot of material on this subject throughout history finding its purest and most comprehensive articulation in the timeless wisdom of Islamic literature. Modern Western writings may also offer some of its fragmented glimpses and scattered parts in incomplete form.

Thirteen centuries ago, the Muslim scholar Imam Shafi'i (May Allah have His mercy on Him) penned a beautiful poem in which he eloquently articulated profound exploration of this timeless truth.

Full Excerpt of the Poem

Here is the full excerpt of Imam Shafi'i’s elegant poem.

ما في المَقامِ لِذي عَقلٍ وَذي أَدَبِ

مِن راحَةٍ فَدَعِ الأَوطانَ وَاغتَرِبِ

There is no comfort in staying for the wise and the cultured,
So, leave your homeland and travel.

سافِر تَجِد عِوَضاً عَمَّن تُفارِقُهُ

وَانصَب فَإِنَّ لَذيذَ العَيشِ في النّصبِ

Travel and you will find a replacement for those you leave behind,
And strive, for the sweetness of life is in striving.

إِنّي رَأَيتُ وُقوفَ الماءِ يُفسِدُهُ

إِن ساحَ طابَ وَإِن لَم يَجرِ لَم يَطِبِ

I have seen that standing water spoils,
If it flows it is pure, but if it does not move it is not pure.

وَالأُسدُ لَولا فِراقُ الأَرضِ ما افتَرَسَت

وَالسَهمُ لَولا فِراقُ القَوسِ لَم يُصِبِ

Lions would not hunt if they did not leave the land,
And arrows would not hit if they did not leave the bow.

وَالشَمسُ لَو وَقَفَت في الفُلك دائِمَةً

لَمَلَّها الناسُ مِن عُجمٍ وَمِن عَرَبِ

If the sun had stood still in the sky forever,
People would have grown tired of it, both Arabs and non-Arabs.

وَالتِّبرُ كالتُربِ مُلقىً في أَماكِنِهِ

وَالعودُ في أَرضِهِ نَوعٌ مِنَ الحَطَبِ

A gold nugget is like dirt when it is in its place,
And oud in its land is a kind of firewood.

فَإِن تَغَرَّبَ هَذا عَزَّ مَطلَبُهُ

وَإِن تَغَرَّبَ ذاكَ عَزَّ كَالذَهَبِ

But if this one travels; its value is increased,
And if that one travels; it becomes precious like gold.

Imam Shafi'i's (May Allah have His mercy on Him) poem is a reminder that true growth and fulfillment can only be achieved by challenging ourselves and venturing beyond the familiar.

Dr. Tahir Mahmood

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