Focus on Your Inner Self

Bismillahirrahmanirraheem

Reforming the Inner Self is Indeed Difficult

The pious elders didn’t focus much on outward deeds because they believed that reformation could be achieved in an instant through a mere change of intention. A person who neglects prayer can start praying within a minute, a man without a beard can begin growing one in a minute, and a drunkard can give up drinking just as quickly. Even a person engaged in sinful behavior can become pious in a minute. However, the elders emphasized that true reformation involved the purification of one’s inner self, such as overcoming pride, which was a challenging task. Overcoming spiritual diseases like the love of fame, pride, jealousy, self-centeredness, resentment, and the desire for praise was a difficult process. While being in a righteous environment may inspire a person who neglects prayer to start performing the Tahajjud prayer in the Masjid al-Nabawi, it does not guarantee that their pride will easily disappear from their heart. Similarly, being in the holy city of Makkah may prompt someone to arrive at the mosque before the prayer begins, but it does not mean that they will instantaneously overcome jealousy and resentment. Ending the pursuit of fame and worldly desires is not an easy task. Therefore, although a person’s external appearance can change quickly, the healing of spiritual diseases takes time as one progresses on the spiritual path. In fact, the significance of a person’s outward deeds depends solely on the purity of their inner self. The cleaner the heart, the greater the weight of their external actions, and the more radiant their light. It is considered fortunate for a person to be liberated from their spiritual diseases.

A person may engage in establishing Tahajjud salah, yet still harbor resentment in their heart and possess a love for worldly things. The love for the world is not solely limited to wealth, but it also encompasses the desire for honor, fame, and praise. A prevalent issue in society today is the tendency to excessively praise individuals directly on their faces. This act is akin to harming them with a sharp knife. Even a person who may be insignificant can develop a high opinion of themselves when constantly showered with praise. In order to accomplish their objectives, people often use extravagant words to praise others, elevating their self-importance. This environment is becoming increasingly widespread. It is a disease wherein a person yearns for praise, and as a result, they are surrounded by people who offer empty flattery. Those who speak the truth and advise them for their betterment are usually not in their company. Only those who falsely praise them tend to associate with them. Therefore, our elders found it relatively easy to bring about a change in a person’s outward appearance by surrounding them with a positive environment. This change could transform someone who neglects prayer into an avid worshipper, a man without a beard into one who grows a beard, and a habitual drinker into a non-alcoholic individual. Many individuals flock to the mosque during the blessed atmosphere of Ramadan. However, attaching a person’s heart to the Hereafter and detaching it from this worldly life is a much more challenging task. Acquiring the detachment from worldly possessions and developing a sincere desire for the Hereafter takes time and great effort to overcome spiritual diseases. Due to these inner afflictions, the light of external good deeds does not illuminate the heart. May Allah protect us from such trials. It is said that the disease of love for fame is difficult to recognize. Only when we hear something related to it do we realize that we are afflicted with this ailment. Understanding our pursuit of honor and fame is not a straightforward matter.

Be in a Righteous Environment

It is often said that lowering one’s gaze is challenging, and if one violates this rule, they should pray 50 units of voluntary salah as a penalty. Only by being strict with oneself and imposing severe consequences can true reformation occur. Protecting one’s gaze is of utmost importance. The signs of acceptance by Allah Almighty are as follows: holding correct religious beliefs, remaining steadfast in righteous actions, abstaining from sins, and detesting worldly attachments. Once, a man approached the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and asked him to show him an action that would make him beloved to Allah and the people. The Prophet (peace be upon him) responded, “Do not love this world, and you will become beloved to Allah. Do not covet what people possess, and you will become beloved to the people.”

The absence of hatred for sins and the lack of attachment to Allah’s obedience are signs of a hardened and rusted heart. May Allah protect us from such a state. Hatred for sins is crucial because it is only through this that one can safeguard themselves from committing sins. A highly effective way to protect oneself from falling into this state is to distance oneself from sinful environments. Even if a person refrains from committing sins, continuously being in a sinful environment can lead to a point where they no longer detest those sins. It is akin to someone living in a cowshed; over time, they become accustomed to the foul smell of cow dung. When they step out of the shed, they may even lose consciousness. Attempts to awaken them using various methods may fail, but as soon as they are presented with cow dung near their nose, they immediately wake up. Similarly, when a person becomes accustomed to a sinful environment, not only do they lose their aversion to sin, but they may even take pleasure in committing those sins. May Allah protect us from such a situation.

When a person is in a righteous environment, Allah grants them the blessings of righteousness. How many of us were unaware of our spiritual ailments until Allah sent someone with a pure heart to awaken us, making us uncomfortable with our sinful surroundings! People may claim that we lack good intentions or perception, but in reality, we have become a reflection of our environment. Therefore, the absence of hatred towards sins and the desire to perform righteous acts are signs of a hardened heart. As mentioned earlier, creating a righteous environment around us is an effective way to overcome this condition. If we are compelled to enter a sinful environment for our needs, we should strive to leave as quickly as possible. Failing to do so makes it increasingly difficult to perceive the sins as abnormal, as we become accustomed to witnessing them continuously.

Prioritize Your Health Over Voluntary Acts

It is often advised to prioritize one’s health over recommended or voluntary acts. For instance, sitting in the mosque after Fajr prayer and waiting for Ishraq prayer is a voluntary act that brings reward. However, if a person’s health requires them to take a daily walk, and the only feasible time for that is during this particular period, then going for a walk in a safe and healthy environment is better for them than engaging in the voluntary act. They can pray Ishraq at home instead. When there is a choice between voluntary acts and one’s health, it is important to prioritize health. Taking care of one’s well-being is more important than engaging in recommended acts, and going for a walk in a pleasant setting is better than sitting in the mosque waiting for Ishraq prayer with devotion. Ishraq prayer can be postponed and performed at home. We should value our health because we are weak beings. You may have noticed that when you are in good health, you find joy in reading the Quran and performing other voluntary acts of worship. Good health enables us to engage in numerous righteous deeds. On the other hand, if our health deteriorates, we may struggle to even maintain our current level of worship. For instance, if someone experiences headaches or hip pain, it becomes challenging for them to carry out their usual activities. Therefore, it is essential to prioritize our health. SubhanAllah! Our religion is moderate and balanced, but if we start interpreting it according to our own understanding, it may appear difficult.

Focus on Allah’s Pleasure

It is often said that a sincere seeker of truth is not concerned with the hostility of others, as their main focus is to seek the pleasure of Allah. While one should not intentionally create enmity, if it arises while preaching the truth, Allah is there to provide assistance. The primary concentration should be on pleasing Allah alone. Many times, the displeasure of people can actually protect one from numerous calamities. Friends may become displeased when one strives for piety, but adherence to the path of faith safeguards against various tribulations. Therefore, when one is dedicated to pleasing Allah, there is no need to worry about the displeasure of others. What can be more dangerous than committing sins? And what can be more hazardous than remaining in a sinful environment? So if someone becomes angry while one seeks to please Allah, there is no cause for concern. Who knows how many sins and calamities one has been saved from! Therefore, it is essential to prioritize the pleasure of Allah, and not worry about the displeasure of His creation.

Morning Tarbiati Majlis 15.07.2016