Etiquitte towards oneself

A Muslim believes that his happiness in these two worlds is determined by the extent that he disciplines and trains himself, betters himself, purifies himself and refines himself. Similarly he knows that his unhappiness comes about by him ruining, desecrating and spoiling his self. This is based on the following evidences.

Allah says:

“Indeed, he succeeds who purifies his own self. And indeed he fails who corrupts his own self.” (91:9-10)

“Verily, those who believe Our Ayats (signs) and treat them with arrogance, for them the gates of heaven will not be opened, and they will not enter Paradise until the camel goes through the eye of the needle. Thus do We recompense the Mujrimun (evildoers). Theirs will be a bed of Hell, and over them coverings. Thus do We recompense the Zalimun (Polytheists and wrongdoers). But those who believed and worked righteousness, and We tax not any person beyond his capacity, such are the dwellers of the Paradise. They will abide therein.” (7:40-42)

“By Al-Asr (the time). Verily! Man is in loss.

• Except those who believe (in Islamic Monotheism) and
• do righteous deeds, and
• Recommend one another to the truth [i.e., order one another to perform all kinds of good deeds (Al-Ma’ruf) which Allah has ordered, and
• abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds (Al-Munkar) which Allah has forbidden] and
• Recommend one another to patience.” (103:1-4)

We should make this Surah the essence of our thinking.

Allah’s Messenger (SAWS) said: “All of you enter Paradise except for those who refuse.” They said, ‘O Allah’s Messenger (SAWS), who refuses?’ He (SAWS) said, “Whoever obeys me enters Paradise. And whoever disobeys me has refused,” (Al-Bukhari)

The Prophet (SAWS) said: “All men go out in the morning selling themselves, thereby setting themselves free or destroying themselves.” (Muslim)

A Muslim also believes that what purifies his soul and further cleanses him in the beauty of faith and good deeds. The aspects that ruin and destroy his soul are the evil of disbelief and disobedience.

If we hear something and do not implement it, then we might fall into disbelief

Allah says:

“And perform As-Salat (the prayer) at the two ends of the day and in some hours of the night (i.e., the five compulsory Salat). Verily, the good deeds remove the evil deeds.” (11:114)

Allah also says:

“Nay! But on their hearts is the ‘Ran” (coverings of sins and evil deeds) which they used to earn.” (83:14)

How to remove ‘RAN’ from our hearts??

• Reciting Quran
• Remembering death

The Prophet (SAWS) said: “When the believer commits a sin, a block spot is spotted on his heart. If he leaves that and repents, his heart is cleansed of that dot. If he continues such acts, his covering is increased over his heart until it covers it entirely.” (An-Nasai and At-Tirmidhi)

The Prophet (SAWS) also said: “Have fear of Allah and obey Him wherever you are. Follow up an evil deed with a good deed that wipes it away. And behave with the people with a good behavior.” (Ahmad, At-Tirmidhi and Al-Hakim)

Due to that, a Muslim is always living in a state where he is refining his SOUL, purifying it and cleansing it. He is the first one to refine it. He uses the means of purification for it and purifies it from its impurities. He keeps it from everything that ruins or spoils it, whether it be erroneous, evil beliefs or impure speech and actions. He struggles against it night and Day. He holds it to account for every moment. He encourages it to do good deeds and pushes it to acts of obedience. He completely turns it away from evil and depravity. In order to purify it and make it wholesome, he follows the following steps:

• Repentance: What is meant by this is the ceasing of all sins and acts of disobedience, feeling remorse for every sin one committed in the past and firm conviction not to return to perform any sin for the rest of one’s life.

  Allah has said in the Qur’an:

  “O you who believe! Turn to Allah with sincere repentance! It may be that your Lord will expiate from you your sins and admit you into Gardens under which rivers flow.” (66:8)

  Allah also says:

  “…And turn you all together towards Allah in repentance. And all of you beg Allah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful.” (24:31)

  Allah’s Messenger (SAWS) said: “O people, repent to Allah. Verily, I repent to Allah one hundred times in a day.” (Muslim)

  Allah’s Messenger (SAWS) also said: “Whoever repents before the sun rises from the West, Allah will forgive him.” (Muslim)

  Our forgiveness will be accepted by Allah

  • Before the sun rises from the west
  • Before the soul is taken away from the throat

  Allah’s Messenger (SAWS) also said: “Verily, Allah stretches out His hand with repentance for the one who commits sins in the night until the daytime. And for the one who commits sins in the daytime until the nighttime. He does this until the sun rises from the West.” (Muslim)

  In another Hadith, the Prophet (SAWS) said: “Allah is more pleased with the repentance of His believing slave; than a person in a waterless desert whose camel has all of his food and drink with it. He sleeps and the camel leaves him. He looks for the camel until he is about to die from thirst. He then returns to his place in which he was and then he sets to sleep until he dies. He puts his head on his pillow to die. Then he wakes up and find his camel with his provisions, food and drink with it. Allah is more pleased with repentance of a slave than that believer is with finding that camel and his provisions.” (Al Bukhari and Muslim)

• Watchfulness and being on guard: This is where the Muslim makes his soul realize that Allah is watching him. He keeps adhering to this belief and understanding in every moment of his life until he becomes absolutely certain that Allah is seeing everything he is doing, knows all of his secrets, and is watching all of his actions. Allah will then judge the person and every soul shall receive what it has earned. With this understanding, the person becomes filled with recognizing the greatness and perfection of Allah. He feels great pleasure and welcome upon remembering Allah. He finds rest and pleasure in obeying Allah, turning to Him and turning away from everything else.

  We should worship Allah in such a manner as if we can see Him or as if He is seeing us.

  The meaning of “submitting one’s face” in the verses in the Qur’an:

  “And who can be better in religion than one who submits his face (himself) to Allah and he is a doer of good.” (4:125)

  Allah also said:

  “And whosoever submits his face (himself) to Allah, while he is a doer of good, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold.” (31:22)

  It is the essence what Allah is calling one to in the verse:

  “…And know that Allah knows what is in your minds, so fear Him….” (2:235)

  Allah also says:

  “…Surely Allah is ever an All-Watcher over you.” (4:1)

  Allah also says:

  “Neither you (O Muhammad) do any deed nor recite any portion, of the Qur’an – nor you (O mankind) do any deed (good or evil) but We are Witness thereof when you are doing it.” (10:61)

  Allah’s Messenger (SAWS) said: “Worship Allah as if you see Him. Though you do not see Him, know that He sees you.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

• Taking account of oneself: This is that the Muslim works all of this life day and night, for what will help him in the Hereafter, that will make him qualified for its honors and the pleasure of Allah. This world is the time for deeds and, therefore, the Muslim considers his obligatory deeds like a merchant treat his capital. He should consider his voluntary deeds like extra profits that he makes above his capital. He should look to his sins and evil deeds like losses in his trade. Then he should sit by himself at the end of every day and make an account of himself concerning the deeds of that day. If he sees that he has a shortcoming in his obligatory deeds, he should blame and censure himself. If it is something that he can rectify at that moment, he should stand to fulfill that obligation. If it is something that he can no longer fulfill, then he should make up for it by performing more voluntary deeds. If he finds that he has had a shortcoming in his voluntary deeds, he should find some compensation for that shortcoming. If he sees that he has a loss due to the sins he committed, he should seek Allah’s Forgiveness, have remorse, repent and perform the good deeds that he believes will rectify the evil that he did.

  This is what taking account of himself means. It is one of the means by which a person can purify himself, rectify himself and make himself grow. The evidence for that includes the following:

  Allah says in the Qur’an:

  “O you who believe! Fear Allah. Let every person look to what he has sent forth for the morrow, and fear Allah. Verily, Allah is All-Aware of what you do.” (59:18)

  In this statement, it is a command for everyone to do an account of what deeds he has done before the coming of the next day.

  Allah also says:

  “And all of you beg Allah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful.” (24:31)

  The pious followers of this religion would make an account of their own souls for the wrong that they did. They would blame themselves for their shortcomings and make sure that they had Taqwa.

  They would keep themselves away from following their desires, in accord with the verse of the Qur’an:

  “But as for him who feared standing before his Lord, restrained himself from impure evil desires and lusts, verily, Paradise will be his abode..” (79:40-41)

• Struggle and striving against oneself: This is where a Muslim realises that his greatest enemy is his own soul that is within his skin. By its nature, it leads him to evil and makes him flee from good. It orders him to do evil, as mentioned in the Qur’an:

  “And I free not myself (from the blame). Verily, the (human) self is inclined to evil, unless my Lord do bestow his mercy, surely is Oft Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (12:53)

  The soul loves calmness and relaxation. It desires free time and idleness. It is swept away with desires. It will happily follow its present lusts even though they may lead to his misery and destruction.

  If a Muslim realises that, he takes it upon himself to struggle against his soul. He declares war against it. He prepares his weapons to do battle with it. He determines to struggle against its heedlessness and immaturity. He is ready to contend with his desires. If his soul wants rest, he puts it to work. If it seeks desires, he forbids it. If it falls short in obeying Allah or doing good deeds, he punishes it and censures it. Then he makes it perform that which it failed to do by making up what it had missed. He follows that disciplining course until the soul becomes tranquil, pure and wholesome. This is the goal of striving against oneself. Allah has said:

  “As for those who strive hard in Us (Our Cause), We will surely, guide them in our paths. And verily, Allah is with the Muhsinun (good doers).” (29:69)

  If a Muslim strives against his base self for the sake of Allah, in order to purify it, refine it, make it wholesome and tranquil, he becomes befitting of Allah’s special blessings and His pleasure. This is the training of the pious and the path of the sincere, true believers. The person follows the path in imitation of their example and following along in their footsteps.

  Allah’s Messenger (SAWS) for example, would pray at night until his two noble feet would be swollen. When he was asked about that, he would say: “Shall I not be a thankful slave?” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

  Allah’s Messenger (SAWS) said: “The best of people is one who lives a long life and whose deeds are good.” (At-Tirmidhi)