by Yousra Elhawary
PART I
Numerous thinkers in Psychology have contemplated the human motivational forces underlying goal-setting, purpose, and actions in life, viewing motivation as one of the most important pillars that predicts human behavior, commitment, and well-being (e.g., adherence to exercise plans). While motivation is known as “any internal process that energizes, directs, and sustains behavior,” Roy Baumeister suggested a simpler definition: ‘wanting change’.
Why do we do the things we do? People are motivated by different kinds of reasons such as seeking joy, proving something to themselves, gaining rewards, avoiding judgment, or simply following instructions. At its core, motivation boils down to two main types:
Intrinsic Motivation: This is driven from within, when you’re motivated by personal satisfaction, a sense of purpose, or pure enjoyment—not by external factors.
Extrinsic Motivation: This is fueled by external factors, like rewards, recognition, or even the fear of consequences.
Passion, though, is a different kind of motivational force. Unlike intrinsic or extrinsic motivation, passion stands in a category of its own. It is often regarded as the most potent driver of resilience and persistence in the pursuit of higher objectives. For passion to truly have a positive impact on someone’s behavior, a few things need to align: the activity or interest must be something they choose willingly, something they deeply value, and something that feels meaningful to them.
But there’s more—passion happens when a person internalizes this valued activity, making it a part of who they are – their identity. They genuinely love what they do, and that love transforms a simple interest into a full-blown passion!
Proper social conditions are essential for this internalization to occur. For example, environments where people feel a sense of ownership or voice regarding decisions and behaviors, combined with personality factors, play a pivotal role. Highlighting time’s impact, individuals’ personalities become more crystallized as they age, particularly within healthy and supportive social environments.
In an attempt to interpret these concepts in the context of a Muslim’s life, several wisdoms can be elicited!
Genuine Motives
When we talk about intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, it helps to break them down into two key ideas:
Motive (Dafe’a دافع): This is the internal driving force behind why we do what we do. It’s what pushes us forward from within.
Stimulus (Hafiz حافز): This refers to an external factor or reason that prompts us to act. It’s more about what happens outside of us to spark action.
While these terms are sometimes used interchangeably, they’re actually quite different in both language and concept. For example, in Arabic, even a small change in the structure of a word can shift its entire meaning. That’s why true motives are best understood as the forces that come from within us, rather than external triggers.
In reality, these two forms of forces—intrinsic and extrinsic—often overlap in a Muslim’s life, especially as we navigate through different stages of personal growth. This process continues until we “reach our prime” and develop a more refined personality. As Allah ﷻ beautifully describes:
حَتَّىٰ إِذَا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُ وَبَلَغَ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً قَالَ رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِي أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَالِدَيَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرْضَاهُ وَأَصْلِحْ لِي فِي ذُرِّيَّتِي ۖ إِنِّي تُبْتُ إِلَيْكَ وَإِنِّي مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ”
“In time, when the child reaches their prime at the age of forty, they pray, “My Lord! Inspire me to always be thankful for Your favors which You blessed me and my parents with, and to do good deeds that please You. And instill righteousness in my offspring. I truly repent to You, and I truly submit to Your Will.” (Quran 46:15)
But how do we reach that point of spiritual and personal maturity?
As believers, everything we do daily—whether sleeping, eating, working, studying, spending time with family, or even exercising—can become an act of worship, only when paired with pure intentions, as the Prophet ﷺ explained:
“Actions are (judged) by motives (niyyah), so each person will have what they intended. Thus, he whose migration (hijrah) was to Allah and His Messenger, his migration is to Allah and His Messenger; but he whose migration was for some worldly thing he might gain, or for a wife he might marry, his migration is to that for which he migrated.”
However, it’s natural for worldly, eternal, and spiritual forces to overlap at times, and act as external incentives driving our actions and decisions. For instance, we might be motivated to go to work to earn a salary, study to pass an exam or exercise to look good. But here is the key: as part of our ongoing struggle (Mujahadah) to develop our character and become the perfect version of ourselves (becoming virtuous in the process), we should also focus on purifying our intentions. Toward an ultimate goal; to align all our actions solely for the pleasure of Allah ﷻ and the rewards of the hereafter.
وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يَشۡرِي نَفۡسَهُ ٱبۡتِغَآءَ مَرۡضَاتِ ٱللَّهِۚ وَٱللَّهُ رَءُوفُۢ بِٱلۡعِبَادِ
“And of the people is he who sells himself, seeking means to the approval of Allah. And Allah is kind to [His] servants.” (Quran 2:207)
Hence, we may engage in activities that are not interesting to us, motivated by the eternal reward, and eventually become intrinsically motivated by a task because it holds personal meaning, having internalized its value through experience and personal growth.
One Motive
Through this journey of development, gratitude, and servitude, a believer may eventually succeed in internalizing their identity as a Muslim. At this stage, they develop a deep passion and love for what they do, and importantly, for Whom they do it. Only then does the love of Allah ﷻ become the sole motive for human actions:
“قُلْ إِنَّ صَلَاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ”
“Say, “My prayer and my worship, and my life and my death, are devoted to Allah, the Lord of the Universes.” (Quran 6:162)
Ethical Motives and the Self
Similarly, some scholars have elaborated on how human motives (Dawafe’a) in Islam are shaped under the framework of Islamic ethics. In essence, human ethical motives can be understood as existing within a spectrum between two opposing states of the self. The Creator beautifully reminds us of this duality:
وَنَفْسٍۢ وَمَا سَوَّىٰهَا* فَأَلْهَمَهَا فُجُورَهَا وَتَقْوَىٰهَا *
“And the soul, and He who formed it. And inspired it to its immoralities and its righteousness.” (Quran 91:7-8)
Ancient scholars of Psychology (Ilm an-Nafs), like Al-Ghazali, and contemporary psychologists have thoroughly examined this notion. They describe the lower self, similar to the “ego,” as the part of us that reacts to the environment and harbors predatory and hedonistic impulses, pulling the person to immoralities (Fujoor). While not inherently bad, it is malleable and can be refined through discipline and spiritual struggle (Mujahadah).
On the other hand, the higher self governs the human metaphysical element, often linked to the ‘mind’. It enables cognitive and executive functions that help actualize the spirit’s goals through consciousness, knowledge, reflection, and impulse control, allowing the person to reach a state of God-consciousness (Taqwa).
Scholars summarize this ongoing struggle between the lower and higher self as a ‘journey of growth’. Believers who engage in this journey can transcend, reaching a state of complete tranquility, acceptance, and deep love for their Lord.
Now that we’ve explored the core ideas of motivation and passion, it’s time to connect these concepts to our daily lives. How do they help us achieve peak performance? What role do they play in maintaining our spiritual and physical balance? And most importantly, how can we align them with the Islamic way of life?
To bridge theory with reality, let’s switch gears and dive into the practical side of things. In part two of this blog, we’ll explore how motivation and passion can propel us toward excellence—and also examine how losing balance might lead to burnout or even ‘spiritual depletion’!
