Knowing yourself to know GOD (Part 2)

Ok I know myself. Now what?

So how do we go about perfecting our essence? The answer is introspection and correction. Reflect on your life, repent for your mistakes, renew your commitment to Allah (swt) and move on. This is not something you do once but over and over and over again. Because the life of the true Muslim is one of continuous progress. If you’re not progressing, the soul feels empty and aimless. This is that feeling so many people have in the world today. They have everything and yet they still feel empty because while the body and mind might be getting nourishment, the soul is not.

When we speak of “feeding” the soul, we all intuitively know what needs to be done; we recognize those things that nourish us and by equal measure those that deplete us. If we don’t know then we need to ask ourselves. Are we spending our time with bad company? Are we overly preoccupied with listening to music and watching movies? Or do we balance our pursuits by providing the soul a healthy dose of Qur’anic recitation, dhikr, attending the masjid, giving charity and surrounding ourselves with people that remind us of God? Feeding the soul is a slightly different undertaking for each and every one of us but there are some common strategies than can help.

Strategies

As the Quran so powerfully warns, “DO NOT BE OF THOSE WHO FORGOT ALLAH SO HE MADE THEM FORGET THEIR OWN SELVES” (Hashr: 19).

So what are some specific things we can do to “know ourselves”?

1. Meditate

Praying and reciting Qur’an and making dhikr are all great and should be practiced frequently for they cleanse us internally and make us more receptive to Allah (swt) and His message. But one thing people often overlook is the emphasis on meditation in Islam. Reflecting, contemplating and meditating are mentioned again and again in the Qur’an. Furthermore, Allah (swt) is perpetually reminding us that He has provided us with the special gifts of reason and understanding to undertake this important task. That is essentially what makes mankind so special. In Surah Ali-Imran, for example, Allah (swt) specifically praises those people who contemplate the wonders of Allah standing, sitting and lying on their sides. We all know that the Prophet used to frequently retreat to Mount Hirah in order to be alone and contemplate Allah. Moreover, Ali (ra) is reported to have said that one moment of true mediation is better than a whole night of prayer.

We have all had glimpses of that intense spiritual feeling that meditation brings; maybe on a trip to Umrah or in the midst of a particularly powerful dua. We suddenly realize the magnitude of Allah and how utterly dependent we are on Him. We taste the sweetness of true faith. But it is hard to maintain that feeling. The point is not to feel it perpetually because then it would lose its delight. The point is to strive to feel it more often and we can do that by reflecting–in silence and in solitude–about life, about Allah (swt), all His blessings and the countless signs all around us that point to His existence.

2. Be one with Nature

The second thing we can do is immerse ourselves in nature. Know the Creator through the creation. One of the reasons I suspect we are so far removed from God these days is because we are so out of touch with nature. We no longer awe at the beauty of the moon because we have electricity. We no longer marvel at the intricacies of a flower because we would much rather watch television. We are too busy looking at our tablet to notice the sunset. And it is truly a shame. I guarantee that if we pause and allow ourselves to take notice of these things, really, deeply take notice, we would find in our hearts a deep attachment to Allah (swt), an attachment that is already there, just waiting to come out.

Ask a fellow believer who goes camping for a week, totally detached from technology, how they feel afterwards and they will undoubtedly tell you they feel humbled and closer to God. Modern technology and conveniences are great but they have taken somewhat of a toll on our souls. The spirit does not always know how to navigate in a world dominated by such a myriad of distractions. We really need to unplug ourselves once in a while, take a break from it all and spend time outdoors.

3. Enlist Help.

The third thing is obvious, we need to make dua. Dua is a powerful force. We need to treat it as something constant in our lives, like a never-ending direct conversation with Allah (swt). Allah (swt) is the best listener and He does not judge, so what are you waiting for?

4. Make Excellent Friends.

As the Prophet (sas) said “You will be with those you love.” Having good company is not only important for our akhirah, it is also important for this life. True friends will tell you the truth, show loyalty and be supportive in times of need. We must surround ourselves with people who grow us. These are usually the same people who are closest in their relationship with God. Friends chosen wisely can be one of our greatest allies in the quest to know ourselves and thus grow closer to Allah.

5. Make God the Focus of Your Marriage.

The fifth thing is to make Allah (swt) and striving for His pleasure the focus of your marriage. A lot of us do not necessarily get married for deen but marriage is one of the greatest things you can do for your religion. We all know the hadith of the Prophet (sas) about marriage representing half the deen so even if we did not choose our spouses based on this criteria, it is never too late to start making Allah the focus of our relationship. At the end of the day, your husband or wife is with you more than anyone else. My husband and I certainly have our differences but I also know he knows me better than anyone else. If there’s even a touch of hypocrisy or contradiction or laziness, any shortcoming at all in the practice of my religion, he is usually the first to let me know.Allowing our spouses to be like mirrors for us can be very empowering for our personal growth.

6. Literally Get to Know Yourself

The last point I want to make is that we literally need to get to know ourselves. Life is too short to be living in contradiction with the personality and natural talents Allah (swt) gave you…yet so many of us do. If you’re a very creative person who thrives on making something out of nothing and using your imagination, and you end up being an accountant, you’re doing your soul a great injustice. If you love to read or dance or help others and never find the time or the opportunity, you’re denying yourself a fundamental pleasure and the soul responds by slowly contracting. These things are important. If you are not sure what you are passionate about, do a personality test, do an aptitude test, ask yourself “who inspires me” and “why” because the reason they inspire you is a part of you wants to be like that person.

You cannot practice your deen with true fulfilment and sincere devotion until you figure these things out. Otherwise, you’re always swimming against the tide. As the Prophet (sas) said “Allah has given each of you his characters just as he’s given you your provisions.”The Prophet’s corecompanions each had very distinct personalities and yet they were all among the foremost people to have ever lived. Their approaches to Islam and their various activities were all very different, but they managed to get close to Allah following different paths based on their natural traits and inclinations. They did this because they took the time to understand their strengths and weaknesses and constantly questioned their priorities, intentions and methods. We need to do the same.

The point here is not to become set in your ways but to use “your ways” as a catalyst for perpetual growth. The true Muslim is always interested in his or her personal growth and no one will come into your life and manage this for you. You have to study yourself with the right intentions and improve yourself for the sake of Allah. You have to be your own life coach.

A word of caution: donot become so absorbed in self-analysis that you forget that it is simply a means to an end. Some people, myself included, just love psychology. They get totally absorbed in studying themselves and rather than gaining anything from it, they spend inordinate amounts of time and money on therapy and self-help books. Usually, they end up feeling more lost. So please remember the point. Know yourself to know God. Connect everything you learn back to your relationship with the Almighty. Analysingour character, thought patterns and feelings is all good, but we are doing it with the intention of better controlling our worst impulses and refining our best characteristics. We are doing it to better understand Allah (swt) and His unique purpose for us.

May Allah (swt) enable all of us to understand ourselves with the intention of growing closer to Him and May He Guide us and strengthen us in this most important endeavour. Ameen.