Refined Heart

Sunnah and Wellness - Gratitude and Positive Thinking (02/08/2020) by Spiritual Development

The rapid advances in technology have, over the years, allowed us to yield results quickly with only minimal effort. Items can be purchased with the swipe of a button, relatives can be contacted within seconds, and “fast food” can be ordered and consumed without moving from our couch. However, progress in deen takes time and is not hastened by human advancements. Achieving our goals of attaining Allah’s ﷻ pleasure and emulating the lifestyle of Rasulullah ﷺ requires a consistent effort, even if the effort is minimal, and its results are only seen over time. Hence, one key to succeed in this endeavor is to create opportunities for ourselves that maximize on small deeds that may be performed consistently. One example includes placing a miswak next to our toothbrush, so that we reflexively cleanse our teeth with the tool that is most beloved to the Prophet ﷺ. As the Prophet ﷺ has informed us: “The most beloved actions to Allah ﷻ are those that are performed consistently, even if they are few.” The benefits of

Sunnah and Wellness - Simplicity & Decluttering (02/08/2020) by Spiritual Development

Sunnah and Wellness - Finance (02/08/2020) by Spiritual Development

As human beings, we struggle to act in a manner that aligns with our long-term goals, as its benefit is not readily apparent to us. For example, if we set a goal that will provide us benefit in 5 years, we struggle and succumb to temptation that would bring a mere short-term benefit. One way to bypass this challenge is by creating a system that rewards short-term behaviors that benefit us in the long-term. As believers, our long-term encompasses another life i.e. the akhirah. The rewards that are present in jannah are not perceivable in this moment. As a result, we tend to behave in ways that please our nafs (desires) as we are rewarded immediately, even though it may ultimately be of detriment. But, by designing systems that provide a short-term reward, we can motivate ourselves to perform righteous deeds and refrain from sin -- i.e. behaviors that are aligned with our long-term goal -- and earn the pleasure of Allah ﷻ.

The Believer should recognize that only Allah ﷻ is capable of fulfilling all of his or her needs, and therefore, only Allah ﷻ is worthy of his or her full attention. The attention of human beings has inherent limitations, due to which human beings are limited in their ability to direct their attention in multiple directions. The human mind can only attend to one, maybe two, tasks at any given time. The goal of the believer is to focus his or her attention exclusively toward Allah ﷻ, not just while engaged in acts of worship, but at all times. However, this becomes challenging when our attention is being pulled in multiple directions in the form of people, lifestyles, devices, etc., all of which are vying to draw our attention towards them. The one who seeks nearness to Allah ﷻ recognizes that only Allah ﷻ is worthy of attention. Our focus should be on Him and our attention should be directed toward Him. Turning one’s attention away from Allah ﷻ and toward that which distracts us from Him carries certain i

Every human being desires attention. While the majority of the world is concerned with seeking the attention of human beings, often to the point of obsession, the believer is concerned with obtaining the attention of Allah ﷻ. The attention of people inherently carries two possible harms: (1) it may carry with it the evil eye that the Qur’an and the Prophet ﷺ have warned us about; (2) it comes with judgment and criticism that is damaging to the human psyche. The attention of Allah ﷻ, however, is inherently beneficial, and carries with it a resulting goodness, both in this life and in the hereafter. Today, many of us have chosen to make our lives public, in hopes that the attention of others will fulfill us in some way. Instead, we see around us the damaging effects of the attention of public life. We should seek to fill the void of desiring attention only through the special attention of Allah ﷻ.

Among the most powerful forces in the universe is the force of love. It is love that drives a human being to undergo extreme sacrifices. An example of this is the love that a mother has for her child; the sacrifices she is willing to make for her child would otherwise be unfathomable, but her love for her child drives her to do so, without any hesitancy or expectation. As Muslims, if we desire to make sacrifices for our deen, then our focus should be on developing a deep love for Allah ﷻ in our hearts. This will, in turn, allow us to make consistent and meaningful strides in our deen. If our heart is devoid of His ﷻ love, then our actions will simply be motions, our responsibilities merely a burden. But, if we were to fall in love with Allah ﷻ, then all of the sacrifices would become pleasurable. We should all reflect on the state of our hearts and on the depth of our love for Allah ﷻ.

When a patient struggles with symptoms of physical disease, they receive some comfort in knowing the cause and the source of the symptoms. Similarly, when a believer is afflicted with a difficulty, they receive comfort in knowing its origins, specifically that it is from Allah ﷻ. As believers, we have a distinct advantage over others in knowing where our tribulations come from, whether they be individual tests such as illness or financial hardship, or communal tests such as natural disasters. Allah ﷻ reminds us in Surah Yunus that only He can afflict difficulties and only He can remove difficulties. Thus, the true believer turns to Allah ﷻ at the onset of difficulties, recognizing they only come from Him, and also seeks alleviation from those difficulties from Allah ﷻ, recognizing that all the worldly means that have been designed to alleviate tribulations are dependent on the permission of Allah ﷻ, however independent they may seem. Depth in dhikr allows us to fully internalize these two notions.

Tests, trials, tribulations and tragedy are all intrinsically part of the human experience, and our faith in Allah ﷻ makes it easier for us to handle them whenever they befall.. We believe that tests are for everyone, including those most beloved to Allah ﷻ -- even the prophets, such as Ibrahim (AS), were tested by Allah ﷻ. By appreciating that we are not alone, we are provided with a sense of relief. Whenever a difficulty afflicts us, the appropriate response of the believer is “inna lillahi, wa inna ilayhi raji’un” -- Indeed to Allah ﷻ we belong, and indeed to Him is our return. This statement provides a sense of comfort for the believer. We find solace in recognizing that a Higher Being is fully responsible for us, and that, ultimately, we will return to Him in the hereafter, a time and place where all prior difficulties will be forgotten.

Allah ﷻ tests all believers in various ways in order to verify their weighty claim of iman.

Our obedience to Allah ﷻ occurs year-round and is not confined to specific seasons.

Session 7 - Protection from hypocrisy, provides the face's radiance, and the witnessing of the world by Spiritual Development

Session 5 - Replaces superogatory acts, Makes deen enjoyable, Soothes from difficulty by Spiritual Development

Session 6 - Physical strength, the currency of jannah by Spiritual Development

Session 4 - Salah: the pinnacle of remembrance by Spiritual Development

Session 2 - Stations of sulook, wilaayah, & cure for the heart by Spiritual Development

Session 3 - Gratitude, attracting mercy by Spiritual Development

Session 1 - Remembrance is a light by Spiritual Development

The month of ramadan is specially designed to force spiritual benefit upon the believer.