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High aspiration (himma)

علو الهمة

High aspiration as Sheikh Omar Abdelkafy presents it: great souls exert themselves for their aims, the person with a goal does not settle for what is base, and aspiration shows in asking, in giving and in setting a clear goal; with a saying of Ibn al-Jawzi whose attribution is not yet verified.

Depth

At a glance

Region
Global / Diaspora
Review

Ethics and character

Summary

Sheikh Omar Abdelkafy discusses high aspiration (himma), holding that great souls wear out their bodies in pursuit of their aims and that the person with a goal does not settle for what is base. 1 He gives a saying of Ibn al-Jawzi on loftiness of aspiration, calls for high aspiration in asking and in giving, and stresses that a clear goal is needed. 2 3 4

The speaker's view on high aspiration

The Sheikh says that great souls wear out their bodies in pursuit of their aims, and holds that the person with a goal does not settle for what is base (needs_source: garbled-passage). 1

Ibn al-Jawzi's saying on aspiration

The Sheikh relays a saying of Ibn al-Jawzi to the effect that one whose aspiration reaches the sky is not content with the stars; he says he read it when he was young (needs_source: quote-attribution). 2

Asking and giving

The Sheikh says that whoever asks God for Paradise should ask for its highest part (needs_source: hadith-unnamed). 3 He tells of asking a wealthy man to give a small sum to the needy, and by this calls for high aspiration in asking and in giving. 3

Defining the goal

The Sheikh says that whoever wants success needs a clear goal, and that the Prophet ﷺ made clear to us what he loved among matters. 4

Opinions on the question

First opinion · Sunni tradition (the museum's frame) · Sunni view: not yet sourcedMain reference

not yet sourced.
More opinions (3)

speaker's view (Omar Abdelkafy) viewOther opinion

The Sheikh holds that high aspiration marks great souls and people with a goal, and that whoever asks Paradise should seek its highest part and give generously. 1 3

academic view: not yet sourced viewSecondary opinion

not yet sourced.

other view: not yet sourced viewOther opinion

not yet sourced.

People and things also explored

Ada' al-dayn (paying a debt: its ruling, the manner of payment, insolvency and the debts of the dead)· Ada' al-shahada (performing testimony: the duty on request, the excused witness, and the wording)· Manners of the Qur'an bearer· Biting and the liability for injury it causes (add)· Adha (harm of a slight kind: removing harmful things and the duty not to harm)· Justice and grace (adl wal-fadl)· Pardon (afw) in purity, worship, contracts and penalties· Covenant (ahd) and the duty to keep it; oath by the covenant of God

Sources

  1. Assabile archive of Omar Abdelkafy's lectures (audio and video) , Al Fawzu Al Moubeen, episode 2, at 00:11:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  2. Assabile archive of Omar Abdelkafy's lectures (audio and video) , Al Fawzu Al Moubeen, episode 2, at 00:11:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  3. Assabile archive of Omar Abdelkafy's lectures (audio and video) , Al Fawzu Al Moubeen, episode 2, at 00:12:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  4. Assabile archive of Omar Abdelkafy's lectures (audio and video) , Al Fawzu Al Moubeen, episode 2, at 00:12:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
Cite this page

islam.museum contributors. “High aspiration (himma)”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/concept/himmat-al-nafs/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Last updated 2026-10-25.

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Wing

Ideas

Beliefs, concepts, sciences and schools, explained in plain words. Related

Ada' al-dayn (paying a debt: its ruling, the manner of payment, insolvency and the debts of the dead)

Paying a debt in the form owed is obligatory by consensus. A debt due now must be paid on demand when the debtor can pay; a deferred debt is not due before its term. Payment is made in like items, with value owed where there is no like; a better payment is allowed when unconditioned. Remission, gift, assignment, set-off and settlement take the place of payment. A solvent debtor who refuses is compelled, imprisoned and his apparent property sold; the majority hold that a bankrupt is put under interdiction and his property divided among creditors, against Abu Hanifa. The insolvent is given respite, and his debt may be paid from zakat if he borrowed for himself in a lawful matter. A dead person's debt attaches to his estate and takes precedence over bequests and inheritance.