Friday Nasiha

Surah ash-Shams (The Sun)
Chapter 69: Verse 30-34

Translation:

Successful are those who purify it (ie. their soul), and the losers will be those who corrupt it.

Commentary:

The method laid down by Islam for spiritual development is through:

1. Acts of worship

a) reading the Quran,
b) remembrance of Allah,
c) night vigilance (qiyam al-layl), and
d) spending resources, time, wealth, etc. in the way of Allah,
with an emphasis on their inner dimensions.

In other words, how the soul, heart and mind should be engaged in acts of worship and in developing a feeling of God-consciousness.

2. Personal efforts for inner change and improvement through

a) self-discipline,
b) a regular check on intentions and motives,
c) regular self analysis,
d) creating a sense of time and time management, and
e) attempting to obtain constant feedback from others.

The aim of these exercises is to eradicate inner evils such as

1. arrogance and a superiority complex,
2. selfishness,
3. hate,
4. greed and love of material things,
5. anger for wrong purposes,
6. pretence and show,
7. stubbornness,
8. low-spiritedness and lack of perseverance,
9. fear, and
10. the pursuit of vain desires.

At the same time, a person must endeavour to cultivate inner virtues such as

1. faith,
2. sincerity,
3. piety,
4. hubleness,
5. gratitude,
6. a sense of purpose and mission in life,
7. remembrance and love of God, His Prophets and believers,
8. concern for the Hereafter,
9. softness of heart,
10. control of the ego, and
11. a burning desire to realise the vision of Islam.

[compiled from "Building a New Society" by Zahid Pervez, pp. 218-219]

It's like loosing family and wealth

From Nawfal ibn Mu`aawiyah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said:
"Whoever missed the Prayer, then it is as if he had lost his family and his wealth."
[Reported by Ibn Hibban in his Saheeh and it occurs in Saheehut-Targheeb (no. 576).]

How would you feel, O Muslim!, if you were to lose your precious son? How would you feel if you lost your spouse? What pain would you feel if you lost your family? What would your grief be like if you lost both your family and your wealth? Indeed it would be an agonising blow and terrible grief that a person should lose his family and wealth. Losing his family with whom he lived with and experienced such joy. The spacious earth would seem constricted for one who lost his family. He would experience distress, grief and agony. Then how about one who in addition lost his wealth? Fresh and sweet wealth which Allah made a support for us, how would you feel if that occurred also? Then know that one who misses the Prayer has indeed suffered a huge loss.

[compiled from "The Prayer - Its Effect in Increasing Eemaan and Purifying the Soul" by Shaykh Husayn al-Awaaishah]

3 Tips to Strenghthen your family

To deepen the love and to improve communication between members of your family - spouse, children, parents - your should aim to establish the following three activities in your home.

Firstly, perform some of your daily Salat collectively with your family. The Prophet said that, 'When you have finished your [Fard] Prayer in the Masjid, you should offer the rest of your Prayer at home for Allah will bless your home because of your Prayer.' (Muslim)

Secondly, establish an usra or family circle to study the Quran with your family. The Quran alludes to reading of the Quran in families and in home in the following verse: And remember that which is recited in your houses of the Revelations of God and the Wisdom. [al-Ahzab 33: 34] You should aim to hold these sessions at least twice weekly, if not more regularly. Remember that the first recipients of the Message of the Quran were the members of the Prophet's household. They were the one he paid most attention to in the early phase of his mission in Makka. So, you also must ensure that you spend adequate 'quality' time in educating and training your family.

Thirdly, develop the habit of having meals with your family. This will also provide a golden opportunity to interact with everyone, discuss family matters and reflect upon issues of the day.

[compiled from "In the Early Hours" by Ustadh Khurram Murad, pp. 116-117]