Haitham Al-Hatmi, an expert speaker on Islam, education and youth development, spent 8 years in the United Kingdom, doing his higher education, before returning back home to Oman to seek employment, while utilising his talent to lecture on a host of motivational topics, including religion.
Following are his replies to a questionnaire on the importance of inspired living:
What is your philosophy on life and living?
To sum up my core philosophy on life, it is the statement of the Prophet of Allah, Muhammad (peace be upon him), who said, ‘The most beloved people to Allah are those who are most beneficial to people’. And so, I like to consider myself as an individual trying to live life in order to benefit the people around me; whether it’s through giving a motivational lecture, or conducting workshops for the youth. Whether it’s benefiting family, friends or colleagues, I believe the best of legacies is the legacy that helped people enjoin the good and forbid the evil.
How much of your personal life lessons do you incorporate into your talks?
Not much. Most of my talks incorporate life lessons of the prophets of God, those who were guided by God and were chosen by Him to be examples to mankind, says Haitham Al-Hatmi.
What are some of the challenges Haitham Al-Hatmi faces as a motivational speaker?
Where do I start…? I guess the underlying issue for me is my need to know who my audiences are. I have no problem with confidence because I am normally passionate about what I say, but when I do not know my audience, I can say the most irrelevant things that put the listeners off completely.
Is positive thinking all that it is made out to be?
Well, positive thinking is certainly necessary, because if you are not positive, then you are not trying to solve any problems. You are actually just focusing on the problems. The focus of any speech, in my opinion, should be the benefit that your message offers to the audience. Whether your message is positive or negative, if it does not hold any benefit to the audience, then it does not deserve to be mentioned. Wise is the one who utters good or keeps silent.
What are the values you endorse to foster self-growth among children?
The youth of today are the youth of tomorrow, and so every stage of their development is key. From the values that I endorse, the value of being humble is especially for children. In order for children to grow into the leaders of tomorrow, they need to have their feet grounded and show appreciation for the life that is around them. This leads me to the second value I like to mention: allow children to have achievable targets and, towards this, educate them on being focused on their goals. Once children are used to the concept of staying focused on a task, they will grow into problem-solvers and not problem-makers – God Willing!
Are we focusing overtly on the concept of success and not grasping the import of personality development among children?
Well, you see, the problem at its core is this: what is the yardstick being used to measure success? Success, in my eyes, is when we leave behind a generation that will make this world a better place. Be it from our own children or the youth at large. And the best way to do that is to help develop and nurture our children’s personalities in order for them to be pioneers in helping the world tomorrow, advises Haitham Al-Hatmi.
What is needed to help children learn the positive facets of sharing and caring?
It starts with parents. I would strongly encourage parents to practice selflessness as much as possible around their children. Also, there is no stronger incentive to sharing and caring like the incentive of pleasing God Almighty. If children know that Allah loves those who give and that the reward is mighty in this world and the next, then this is enough positivity for children to strive to become caring individuals. Work for the hereafter, and Allah will be enough for you in your worldly concerns.
What is your most important advice for people to stay motivated in their lives?
Seek the purpose of your existence. Why are we here? What is the purpose of my life? Finding the answers to these questions might give you something to be motivated about in your life. And, if you want advice on where to start to look for the answers, then I recommend the book (which has no doubt in it), which is the word of our Creator in the Glorious Quran.
How can the season of Ramadan help one to become mentally and emotionally strong?
Fasting is not about abandoning evil for one month. Fasting is a training centre, a boot camp; a one-month intensive course on the art of complete self-devotion to the almighty God. If you can do it in one month, then let’s try walking this same journey through the entirety of our life. That is the way Ramadan helps one become mentally and emotionally strong.
