Analysing Oneself

[greenwater]

In Islam we are required to continously analyse our lifestyle, actions, thoughts, intentions, even health etc.

I'm just wondering what different methods fellow muslims use to analyse themselves, and how they go about remedying aspects that need correcting.

I find that Thoughts and intentions are probably one of the hardest to control. e.g. little things like you start thinking ill of others especially when they do something annoying e.g. speaking loud in main prayer hall while your praying, asking you the same question a hundred times, trying to force their opinion on you, them being ungrateful when you do a kindness or favour for them etc.

I know some of these thoughts can be cured by having the right intention in the first place, e.g. Do not expect thanks when you do someone a kindness or favour, instead do that kindness with intention that Allah will reward you.

Anyway, how do you go about analysing yourself, and remedying aspects that are found wanting?

[Arifa]

Al Maidah
Chapter 5: Verse 105

O you who believe! Take care of your ownselves.


Commentary:

It is very important to have the understanding that all of us, individually and collectively, will be under scrutiny and will have to face a day of Reckoning.

Difficult Indeed

Of the most difficult of deeds that an individual must perform is Muhasabah (Taking account of his own actions). It takes an enormous will and effort to judge and take account for one's own deeds. A person may fall into two problems:

He may be too excessive in his accounting and thus begin restricting himself from lawful things.
On the other hand, there are those who will be deficient in their Muhasabah and therefore will fall into many sins out of desires and wishful fantasies.
No Tawbah without Muhasabah

Sins are a fact of life. All human beings fall into error. Yet, Tawbah (repentance) is compulsory to erase the sin from one's record. Repentance will only come after the realization of one's mistakes and errors. This realization is a direct result of Muhasabah. There are too many witnesses against us. We must repent for our sins before the time when come one Tawbah is no longer accepted.

Reaching The Level of Taqwa

The believer will never reach the level of Taqwa without making Muhasabah. This is the secret of success and the path to salvation. Muhasabah will lead to repentance and that will lead to Taqwa. The Messenger (peace be upon him) said:

"The intelligent person takes account of himself and acts for (that which will benefit after) death." Reported by At-Tirmidhi.

It's not an overnight process

Correcting one's actions and establishing Tawbah and Muhasabah is not a process that takes place over night. It is a whole way of life that must be established throughout one's life. We must establish Muhasabah over an extended period of time. It is a process that must be constantly upgraded.

The Risk Is Too Great

When an individual or nation falls into a dilemma that shakes them into their very essence, they must look at themselves critically to find the source of the problem. Once the problem has been found, after a through self-assessment, immediate repairs are in order. The individual or nation must take it upon themselves to begin an immediate self-reformation. A whole nation can fall collectively into a state of slumber and inactivity upon the orders of Allah. Equally, an individual can fall into a state of slumber. An individual's slumber can last for days, while a nation's slumber may last for years.

ME: Check up "Muhasabah" and "Muraqabah" in Google. InshaAllah you'll find a clear cut answer. But one way we (me+friends) used to analyse ourselves is...We made a list of "Do's and Don'ts". In islamic terms eg. Pray 5 times a day, do something useful, no swearing etc etc. And at the end of each day you tick of the things you've done and haven't done...and from that you reflect on it and see what things you need to improve on. If you're not a self-motivated person than prize yourself for doing good things and take things away for not ammending certain things (a bit like a diet :) ).

Its very helpful. Its a sunnah. :up:

[neelu]

Be polite, approachable and patient, but that doesn't mean you have to take crap from people. If someone gets on your nerves cos' of a habit of asking the same question 50 times, remind them the second or third time that the question was discussed earlier so you don't expect to be asked about it again and make sure that the person fully understands what you're explaining at the time. That person should then not need to repeat the question and automatically think twice before asking you the same thing a third time.

[Nawar]

hmm...

Well in regards to thoughts that may come to someones mind, we are human at the end of the day, and no on is perfect. These whispers are from the whispers if shaiytan..as well as deterring you from the path of Allah (swt) in your actions, speech etc, he will try and deter you in your thoughts. There is nothing you can do except seek refuge in Allah (swt)..and not act on those thoughts, if you think about saying something that may be sinful, think again, and dont say it etc..and inshallah ask Allah (swt) to give you sabr..

Actually a du'aa from the Qur'aan comes to mind...its not a very long one, inshallah one can learn it by heart...comes in handy....lol...look it up in the Qur'aan inshallah, to make sure the tajweed is right too :embar:

Rabbi a'uthoobika min hamaza tis shayatin, wa a'uthooika bika rabbi ay yahduroon... (23:97-98)

'My Lord! I seek refuge with You from the whisperings of the shayatin, and I seek refuge with you my Lord lest they should come near me...