You wonder why these patients can describe their pain so well, even tracing the pattern it takes down their body? It’s because they live with the pain day in and day out. They constantly have the pain on their mind. They’ve been forced to alter their actions to avoid the pain. They know their pain. Makes sense. If my back hurts everytime I stand up quickly, then I’ll stand up slowly. If every time I turn my head to the right, it brings on a migraine, I’ll stop looking to the right.
Before we ever had a body, we had a soul. And just like we can cause harm to our body, we can also cause harm to our soul. The pain we cause to our soul is one that impacts us in more than one dimension. When I break my arm, it is only me who is limited in my ability. I feel the pain and I wear the cast. But, we understand in our deen that Allah has not created us in silos. Rather we are all connected, our sins affecting our souls and those around us: person, animal and earth. That is why when corruption begins, it spreads so quickly. Corruption is a communicable disease.
So how does a person save the “broken arm” of the soul?
-Just like a patient in pain understand their pain so well, we have to learn to understand our souls. How do we do that? That could become an entire series on it's own but here are some of the basics. Start by reflecting on your soul. What matters to you? What actions do you do that make you feel distant from Allah? What brings you closer to Him? Listen to Quran more often, think about the words you hear but even if you don't understand, let the words wash over your heart. Take salah seriously. Stop delaying and disrespecting your meeting with the One who gave you the air you breathe and the mind you use. Be present in your salah. Switch up your language, make it a habit to say "subhanAllah" instead of "oh my God." Work on eliminating cursing and be aware of what kind of media you interact with that makes it so easy to do and say wrong. Stay away from people that make you forget God and be with those who make you remember Him. Give thanks through the ease and through the hardship. Here is just one of thousands of resources to watch on Purification of the Soul
-Do not let a single hour pass except that you’ve made istighfar (said “astughfirAllah”). Whether you remember the wrong you did or not, every sin leaves a dark mark on our hearts and it is tawbah (repentance) that washes away that heart. Tawbah is our antibiotic, but this is one antibiotic that has no risk of resistance.
The Prophet (s) said: “If the servant acknowledges his sin and repents, then Allah accepts his repentance.”
-Be gravely aware of who you’re broadcasting your sin to. Social media is a game-changer in preservation of the soul. I’ve met so many people who, because of awesome youtube channels and instagram accounts, are more generous, pray regularly, have stopped smoking and so on. But on the other hand, instagram/snapchat/twitter can easily display your sins to hundreds of thousands of people. And that is a burden NO OTHER GENERATION has had to bare before us.
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Every one of my followers will be forgiven except those who expose (openly) their wrongdoings. An example of this is that of a man who commits a sin at night which Allah has covered for him, and in the morning, he would say (to people): "I committed such and such sin last night,' while Allah had kept it a secret. During the night Allah has covered it up but in the morning he tears up the cover provided by Allah Himself." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
We all have our struggle. But whatever happened to the days of being embarrassed or ashamed of the wrong we do? Part of the issue is 1) you’ve rejected the sitr (covering) of Allah which only was a mercy He gave to you and 2) you have an influence, so whether you know it or not, there are people looking at you and using your sins to either justify what they assume is a “lesser sin” OR to do the same as you. Imagine on the Day of Judgement the long chain of people standing pointing to you as the person who convinced them that this and that is not a sin. Some people you may not even know, but you taught the person who taught them. Ask God to forgive you for what sins you might have inspired people to do and aim to stop publicizing your wrong. Don’t let yourself be laying in your grave still collecting generation of sin because of a moment’s pleasure.
-Turn your sin into a transaction.
The Prophet (S) said: Have taqwa (fear) of Allah wherever you may be, and follow up a bad deed with a good deed which will wipe it out, and behave well towards the people. [Tirmidhi]
This is one of the first ahadith I learned and it is such a hopeful way to live. There is NO shortage of good deeds available to do. From thikr (remembrance of Allah), to a good word, a smile... I’ve found an endless supply of ahadith describing the reward of good deeds. Walking to a good place is a good deed. Yes, just walking! But remember that intentions matter, so do anything with the intention to bring good into the world and watch your sins get erased and your good deeds pile up. That plus the necessity of tawbah is double insurance.
May Allah forgive us for our short-comings, give us awareness of right and wrong and allow us to be protected from the harm of our souls.
H. Al.
*Note: To stay updated with Muslimah Reflection posts, like us on FB or join the mailing list. Find the button on the main page*