Balancing Ambition and Spirituality in Modern Arab Life

As the modern Arab world moves swiftly, people have been trying to create balance between their ambitions and spirituality. With increase in the modernity of the societies, the urge to attain education, career growth, and financial prosperity increases. However, spiritual and cultural traditions still remain at the center of the identity and value construction. This is a balancing of these two forces that has become a fundamental endeavor – a pursuit that characterizes the contemporary Arab. The ability to attain professional milestones is now only a portion of true success and the capacity to remain peaceful, grateful, and have a higher purpose. The process of moving towards this balance is one that demonstrates a larger shift in the way modern Arabs perceive faith and development in their daily lives. Get the latest stories and insights on our Gulf Independent News page.

Ambition with Purpose

Ambition has been privileged in the Arab world since time immemorial as an aspect of perseverance and strength. It is an empowering symbol of opportunity today especially in the youth who are hoping to leave a mark in the business, science and arts field. Nonetheless, the contemporary definition of success is prone to certain materialistic and competitive drift. The trick is to direct ambition by ethical will – to do the giving, to do the contrasting. Ambition that is directed towards spiritual enlightenment and virtues leads to positive development, rather than self-interest.

Spirituality as a Guiding Force

Spirituality is still being used as a stabilizing element in spin-spinning social change. Religious activities such as prayer, reflection and community service assist people to re-establish purpose and humility. Ideas like qana’ah (contentment) also help the people to seek pleasure in other things other than material possessions. Embracing spirituality in everyday life promotes the concept of balance -making success an external only endeavor to a state of inner accomplishment. To most Arabs nowadays, it is not the ambition or faith that should be chosen but a combination of the two into a purposeful and harmonious life.