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There lived a young man famed throughout his village for his notorious laziness.

Across a beautiful mountain lay his true purpose, hidden in the form of a simple feather, waiting to be discovered by him.

It begins with a well-learned monk who, foreseeing a life-changing challenge for the young man, kindly asks him to bring back a single feather from the other side of the mountain only reached by climbing to the top first.

The supposedly lazy boy somehow became intrigued, perhaps because of the unusuality in the request—it sparked an unseen curiosity in him. And so, he embarked on the challenging journey.

The journey up the mountain was rigorous, requiring frequent pauses to catch his breath and wiping away consistent sweat. The task was pushing him to his limit. Yet, as he climbed higher, a paradoxical exhilaration overtook him.

As he reached the top, his exhaustion was replaced by an elating feeling of accomplishment and a glamorous view of the village from an unseen peephole. But the challenge was still halfway done.

The more formidable half of the task was still waiting - descending from the top and reaching a cave on the opposite side. As expected, the downward journey proved treacherous and bruised him repeatedly, but the young man, once known for his laziness, showed unseasoned determination.

The feather, gleaming with hidden wisdom and beauty, awaited in the cave, and upon the brief moment of joy, the young man realized the daunting task of returning it to the monk.

But he didn’t flinch; remembering that feeling he had on the top had fortified his courage and helped him turn his back on his lazy habits.

The initial pain of climbing back sabotaged his lazy habits and evoked a resilience he never knew he possessed.

When he finally approached the monk, reeking of fatigue and pride, he was welcomed with a warming smile.

“You have learned an important lesson today. Laziness is a challenge to be overcome, a hurdle to be hurdled over,” the monk said.

The tale of the young man serves as a poignant reminder that laziness is never to be tolerated but conquered relentlessly. Tackling our goals, no matter how daunting, can help us uncover unseen strength and resilience.

Laziness can only be defeated by challenging ourselves to reach ambitious goals, encouraging disciplined consistency in our daily routines, and cultivating a constant growth mindset.

Experiencing failure is inevitable in the journey of life. However, perceiving it as an opportunity for growth rather than a dead end is the mark of a strong mindset.

Step out of your comfort zone, embrace the challenges that come your way, and feel the feather-like satisfaction of achievement.

Such is the true Islamic way of transcending.