Hidden Greatness: Why Your Small Acts Matter
Open any news app, turn on the TV, or scroll through social media, and you're immediately confronted with a barrage of global crises.
Wars tearing apart nations.
Masses of people forced into perilous migrations.
The ever-widening economic divide.
Climate change wreaking havoc on communities.
There's no shortage of problems in our world.
As we absorb these stories of suffering, two conflicting impulses often arise within us.
There's an urgent desire to act, to do something – anything – to help. But simultaneously, the sheer scale of these issues can leave us feeling utterly helpless.
How can one person possibly make a dent in problems so vast and complex?
We oscillate between motivation and despair, often landing in a place of resigned cynicism. But what if we're approaching this all wrong?
What if our understanding of impact and success needs a shift?
This is what the following Sufi Comic is about:
Art by Charbak Dipta
We live in a world obsessed with metrics.
Even when it comes to measuring good that we do we look at the number of lives saved, books written, people helped. These are the yardsticks by which we often measure success. The greater the impact, the greater the success, right?
But here’s the question: Are small, everyday actions less important than big, measurable ones?
For example, we all know the name Jalaluddin Rumi, the famous poet whose words still inspire millions.
But what about Rumi's mother? We don't know her name or her story, yet her impact on Rumi – and by extension, on the world – was likely immeasurable.
If it weren’t for Rumi’s mother, Rumi wouldn’t be what he is today.
So who's greater in God’s eyes? Rumi or his mother?
The answer isn't clear-cut. It challenges us to reconsider how we value contributions to the world.
While Rumi's impact is widely recognized, his mother's influence was less visible. However, no one would say that Rumi’s mother didn’t make an impact in this world.
There are countless people who contribute to the well-being of our world in ways we can't see or measure:
The nurse tenderly caring for the elderly
The farmer toiling in fields to put food on our tables
The mother spending sleepless nights nurturing future leaders
Their impact isn't plastered across headlines or social media feeds, but that does not make it any less valuable.
A Spiritual Perspective on Success
So if we can't rely on external metrics, how do we measure success? Here’s what the Quran says:
God will not call you to account for thoughtlessness in your oaths, but for the intention in your hearts; and He is Oft-forgiving, Most Forbearing. (Quran 2:225)
Success according to the Quran isn't about the scale of our impact, but the quality of our intention. It is doing our work with as much sincerity as possible, trusting that it's making an impact in ways we can't even imagine.
But one may ask "How can we know we're making a difference if we can't see the results?"
This is where a shift in worldview comes in. Every time you approach a task with genuine care and intention, you're growing spiritually.
You're developing patience, compassion, and resilience. These inner qualities will shape how you interact with the world around you, creating ripple effects that extend far beyond what you can see or measure.
So, don't be disheartened if you can't point to grand, world-changing achievements. Instead, take joy in the sincerity and care you bring to your daily actions.
Remember, in the eyes of the divine, it's not the scale of our actions that matters, but the sincerity of our hearts.
Trust that when we nurture our inner world, we’re contributing to a better outer world in ways we may never fully comprehend.
