🏵️🏵️🏵️ Dear Ryan Holiday, I would like to express my gratitude for your insightful writings and for sharing your thoughts on the importance of always trying to do it the hard way. Your words resonate deeply with me, and I am reminded of the Islamic concept of "jihad" which means striving or struggling in one's personal and spiritual development.

As Muslims, we believe that the path to spiritual growth and self-improvement is not an easy one, but rather a challenging and arduous journey that requires perseverance, patience, and dedication. The Quran reminds us that "And whoever strives hard and exercises patience, hoping for the mercy of their Lord, will be rewarded with a reward limitless." (Quran 20:76)

The renowned Islamic scholar, Imam Al-Ghazali, once said, "The believer is never at ease until he is engaged in some form of jihad (struggle) or striving for the sake of Allah." This quote highlights the importance of striving for excellence in our lives, not just for personal gain, but for the sake of pleasing our Creator.

From an Islamic perspective, I would like to echo your sentiments and urge all readers to also strive for excellence in their endeavors. May they be inspired by the example of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who was known for his unwavering dedication to his faith and his unrelenting efforts to spread it.

As you so eloquently put it, "The best way to get good at something is to do it the hard way. The best way to learn is to struggle." May we all strive to do it the hard way, not just for the sake of achieving success, but for the sake of pleasing our Creator.

May Allah guide us on our journey towards self-improvement and spiritual growth.

🏵️🏵️🏵️

Mohamed, Ph.D