In Islamic teachings, working hard is a tangible expression of gratitude to Allah SWT. A truly grateful person does not merely utter Alhamdulillah; they also utilize the blessings bestowed by Allah—such as health, intellect, time, energy, and opportunity—to produce something beneficial. Gratitude fosters the awareness that every potential is a trust for which one is accountable, rather than something merely to be enjoyed or squandered. Therefore, hard work is not pursued solely for wealth or status; it is an act of worship, a responsibility, and a form of devotion to Allah and fellow human beings. As Allah states in Surah Ibrahim, verse 7: "If you are grateful, I will surely increase [My favor] upon you." Thus, those who are genuinely grateful are motivated to work hard, create, and provide the greatest possible benefit, understanding that expressing gratitude for blessings requires not only words but also concrete actions.
The
family of Prophet David worked out of gratitude for Allah’s blessings. This is
the true meaning of work. Within the Emotional Spiritual Quotient (ESQ)
concept, we see indications that successful work stems from an obedient heart—a
heart that is steadfast, strong, and grateful.
ESQ
is an intelligence concept that integrates three forms of intelligence: Intelligence
Quotient (IQ), Emotional Quotient (EQ), and Spiritual Quotient (SQ). IQ was
first recognized as the ability to remember, memorize, and perform numerical
calculations, a concept introduced by Alfred Binet in 1905. EQ was identified
by Daniel Goleman; it is understood as the ability to understand oneself,
others, and the environment, as well as the capacity to make the right
decisions—in the right way and at the right time. EQ is considered a key to
personal success. However, reality has shown that IQ and EQ alone are
insufficient. Many successful people feel "empty," stressed, and
unappreciated. In essence, they lack a sense of purpose or suffer from
spiritual pathology. The 1990s saw the emergence of an awareness regarding the
need to consider the spiritual aspect (SQ).
Ultimately,
it is believed that for individuals to effectively manage their lives, they
require all three forms of intelligence simultaneously: IQ, EQ, and SQ. The
function of IQ—"what I think"—is to manage physical or
material wealth (physical capital); the function of EQ—"what I feel"—is
to manage social wealth (social capital); and the function of SQ—"who
am I"—is to manage spiritual wealth (spiritual capital). The
conclusion is that the ideal human being—a person of excellence—is one who is
intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually intelligent. These three elements
must coexist; they cannot be separated.
"The
ESQ Way 165" offers a path to develop these three forms of
intelligence in a systematic and integrated manner. The first step is to
cultivate "God Consciousness"—an awareness of both seeing God
and being seen by Him; this is where Spiritual Intelligence (SQ) is formed.
Divine attributes are then adopted as the highest values, giving rise to
universal values—such as honesty, peace, togetherness, compassion, discipline,
responsibility, and justice—that are rooted in the Asmaul Husna (the
Beautiful Names of God).
The
second step involves establishing six mental principles to develop Emotional
Intelligence (EQ), inspired by the six Articles of Faith (Rukun Iman).
The third step focuses on applying these spiritual (SQ) and mental (EQ) values
within the physical dimension (IQ)—translating them into tangible actions
that align with the natural order, thereby ensuring that one's conduct remains
consistent with spiritual values. These actions are derived from the five
Pillars of Islam (Rukun Islam). Thus, "The ESQ Way 165" is
inspired by the Ihsan-Iman-Islam trilogy; it offers a comprehensive
answer to the fundamental question of how to maintain a balance between SQ, EQ,
and IQ by integrating Sufism, philosophy, and science through a scientific,
elaborate approach infused with a profound spiritual-transcendental dimension.
Within
the five steps to success based on the Pillars of Islam—specifically regarding
"social strength"—there are two crucial points. The first is
"strategic collaboration," which involves unlocking the potential of
the conscience (rooted in the Asmaul Husna) and collaborating with the
social environment through the habit of giving. The second is "total
action," which entails transforming one's full potential (IQ, EQ, SQ) and
conscience—again, rooted in the Asmaul Husna—into decisive,
all-encompassing action in every aspect of life.
Achieving
this requires a series of training programs. The "ESQ Character
Building" training transforms participants into individuals with strong,
resilient characters. This is followed by "ESQ Self-Control"
training, designed to enhance self-regulation skills and enable individuals to
overcome their weaknesses. In the ESQ Strategic Collaboration training,
participants are guided to discover the invaluable potential of collaboration
and build a solid team, while the ESQ Total Action training equips them with
execution skills to turn ideas into reality.
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