Captain Ahmed Aidoo's Triangle
Memento Mori, Tawakkul, and Existentialism
A Framework for Purposeful Living: Urgency, Surrender, and Action
The Note
"We are not here for long. Believe in the Almighty and believe in yourself. Just do it. In Shaa Allaah it will happen (Egohappen)." Captain Ahmed Aidoo.
At first glance, these words appear simple; a brief handwritten reflection on mine. Yet beneath their simplicity lies a profound philosophy of life. Embedded within this short message are three enduring principles that address some of humanity's most persistent struggles: procrastination, anxiety, and passivity. Together, these principles form what I call Captain Ahmed Aidoo's Triangle.
The Triangle is founded upon three distinct yet complementary traditions of thought: the Stoic principle of Memento Mori, the Islamic doctrine of Tawakkul, and the existential emphasis on choice and responsibility. Each principle answers a fundamental question of human existence. Why should we act now? How should we relate to uncertainty? Who bears responsibility for the direction of our lives? Individually, each offers valuable insight. Together, they form a practical framework for living with purpose, conviction, and peace of mind.
Corner One: Memento Mori
The Imperative of Time
The Latin phrase Memento Mori translates as "Remember that you will die." For the Stoics, this was not an invitation to pessimism but a discipline of clarity. Mortality is life's most undeniable reality. Yet it is often the reality we are most inclined to ignore. We behave as though time is abundant, postponing meaningful action until a more convenient moment arrives. More often than not, that moment never comes. Memento Mori confronts this illusion. It reminds us that every day spent delaying a worthwhile pursuit is a day permanently removed from our finite allocation of time.
In this sense, death functions as life's great editor. It strips away distractions, exposes misplaced priorities, and compels us to focus on what truly matters. When viewed through the lens of mortality, many fears lose their influence. The fear of failure diminishes. The pursuit of approval becomes less important. The temptation to postpone meaningful work weakens.
Memento Mori answers a simple but transformative question:
Why act now?
Because tomorrow is a possibility, not a guarantee.
Because time is continually diminishing.
Because the pain of regret often exceeds the discomfort of effort.
Urgency, therefore, is not panic. It is wisdom applied to time.
Corner Two: Tawakkul
The Discipline of Trust
If Memento Mori teaches us the value of time, Tawakkul teaches us how to engage uncertainty.
In Islamic thought, Tawakkul is often summarized through a famous teaching: Tie your camel, then trust in Allah. This principle captures a profound balance between effort and faith. Human beings are commanded to act responsibly and diligently, yet they are not granted ultimate control over outcomes. Modern life often encourages the illusion that success is entirely self-generated. As a result, many individuals carry burdens they were never meant to bear. They strive relentlessly, yet remain anxious because they believe every outcome rests solely upon their shoulders. Tawakkul offers a corrective perspective. It distinguishes between what belongs to us and what belongs to Allah. Our responsibility is effort. The outcome belongs to the Almighty.
This distinction is liberating. It allows individuals to pursue excellence without becoming enslaved by uncertainty. It encourages ambition without arrogance and perseverance without despair.
Memento Mori creates urgency. Tawakkul creates serenity. One compels movement; the other preserves inner peace. Together they enable a person to move decisively without being consumed by worry.
Corner Three: Existentialism
The Responsibility of Choice
While mortality reminds us that time is limited and Tawakkul reminds us that outcomes are ultimately beyond our control, a third reality remains. No one can choose on our behalf. Existential thinkers such as Kierkegaard and Sartre emphasized the centrality of human choice. Regardless of circumstance, individuals must decide how they will respond to the opportunities, challenges, and responsibilities before them. Life does not reward perpetual hesitation. Meaning emerges through commitment. Identity is shaped through action. Character is formed through repeated choices. Existential responsibility therefore asks, who decides? The answer is both simple and demanding:
You do. No individual can delegate the responsibility of living. Advice may guide us. Circumstances may influence us. Faith may illuminate the path. Yet the decision to act remains ours alone. This does not imply that human beings create ultimate truth or determine ultimate outcomes. Rather, it recognises that each person bears responsibility for responding to the opportunities and obligations entrusted to them. You choose the action. Allah determines the result. You take the step. The Almighty determines where the journey leads.
The Triangle Law
The strength of Captain Ahmed Aidoo's Triangle lies not in any single principle but in their integration. Urgency without surrender produces anxiety. Surrender without action produces passivity. Action without urgency produces stagnation. Each corner corrects the excesses of the others.
The Triangle Law may therefore be stated as follows:
Act as though time is limited.
Work as though effort matters.
Trust as though outcomes belong to Allah.
When these principles operate together, they produce a balanced approach to life:
Memento Mori provides urgency.
Tawakkul provides peace.
Existentialism provides responsibility.
Together, they create purposeful action.
The Significance of the Triangle
Captain Ahmed Aidoo's Triangle addresses three obstacles that frequently prevent human flourishing.
Memento Mori overcomes procrastination. Tawakkul overcomes anxiety. Existential responsibility overcomes passivity. The framework transforms awareness into action, uncertainty into trust, and intention into commitment. It may be reduced to three daily questions:
Is this worth doing now?
Have I done everything within my control?
Have I taken responsibility and acted?
If the answer to all three questions is yes, then one is living according to the Triangle.
Conclusion: The Way to Live
Captain Ahmed Aidoo's Triangle is more than a philosophical framework; it is a practical philosophy of deliberate living. It is built upon three enduring truths: life is finite, outcomes are uncertain, and responsibility cannot be delegated.
Memento Mori reminds us that time is our most precious and irreplaceable resource. Every day that passes is a day removed from the account of our lives. Therefore, act while the opportunity exists.
Tawakkul reminds us that while effort is our responsibility, outcomes remain within the domain of Allah. Therefore, strive with excellence, but do not become captive to anxiety. Work diligently, then trust completely.
Existential responsibilityreminds us that no one can choose, act, or become on our behalf. Therefore, accept ownership of your decisions and the direction of your life. Meaning is not found in hesitation; it is forged through commitment and action.
Together, these principles form a balanced approach to life; act with urgency, work with excellence, trust with sincerity and choose with courage.
The individual who lives by these principles neither procrastinates nor despairs. Such a person understands that time is short, effort is required, and outcomes are ultimately entrusted to Allah. They move forward with conviction, finding peace not in certainty, but in faithful action.
The Triangle therefore offers a simple test for every decision:
Is this worthy of my limited time?
Have I done all that is reasonably within my power?
Have I accepted responsibility and acted?
If the answer is yes, then proceed with confidence and leave the rest to Allah.
Life is brief.
Do not postpone what matters.
Believe in the Almighty.
Believe in the potential entrusted to you.
Act with purpose.
Move forward without fear.
And, In Shaa Allaah Egohappen. What is written for you, will arrive at its appointed time.
© Captain Ahmed Aidoo