Over the years I've come to see that the people who are having the type of success I want are not necessarily any smarter than me or working harder than me. I witnessed how the world doesn't work based on merit and things just don't seem to make sense. 

I tried to reconcile what I know about Islam with the world and things still didn't seem to add up. I was wondering is something missing? Do I/we have it wrong? 

I did have it wrong.   

Allah had already told me the answer, I just hadn't understood it properly. Now I do, this world is a game: it is the matrix. Like any good game I have to be mindful of the obstacles while making progress on the main objective. The main objective of the game is to worship Allah and collect good deeds. The obstacles are the distractions- making money, collecting things, gaining status and enjoying the comforts and luxuries of the game, each is designed to deter me from the main objective. Now that I have realized that I'm in the matrix, I understand that I need only believe in Allah, speak good words, treat others with compassion and do whatever good I can do in the present moment. 

How was I so far off from what Allah has clearly told us in the Quran? I discovered there is a critical mindset and spiritual component that Islam has lost over time. Since the Golden Age of Islam we have moved away from the mindset that enabled Muslims to bend and manipulate the matrix as the leading inventors, business moguls and nation builders. Islam promises true success and peace, however, we have to practically implement Islamic teachings with the right mindset. Instead, today, we have a lot of rules and regulations about the outer trappings of Islam but not the inner spirit. This is how I got stuck and caught up in the matrix.  

I am finally benefiting from the promise of Islam and understood how to fully turn towards Allah. I had to review the beliefs, ideas and thoughts I had about Allah, myself and others. I found that those thoughts did not align with my goals and desires. After sacrifice and reflection I shifted my mindset, attitude and outlook. 

This space are my notes and reflections that helped me turn inward and find the practical Islam I didn't know I was missing. I share it with the hope that it will help you, as it helped me. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon you. Welcome.