In the previous article I talked about the many desires that are at work within us, some of which are obviously sensual passions, but not exclusively limited to them. Many of us become over zealous and greedy for money - workaholics who lose sight of ethnics, family and health. While children become a weakness for some people. They are ruled by their rowdy toddlers. Others overindulge in cars, for some technology is an addiction; many more are hooked on big beautiful houses. We all have an achilles' heel. The good news is that there is a cure for these obsessions.
In this article, I will discuss practical tips to overcome our obsessions and passions:
1. Turn the page, start fresh
يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَآ إِنَّنَآ ءَامَنَّا فَٱغۡفِرۡ لَنَا Be aware of your vulnerabilities and ask Allah to forgive you the times you have fallen weak. Feel ashamed of your lusts, covetousness and overt pride. Ask Allah to cover your embarrassing mistakes and move on. Don't dwell on your past, turn the page and start over.
2. Remember the fire of Hell
وَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ Try to cringe at the thought of Hellfire. A forest fire is distressing - the fire climbs up the trees like it was a step ladder. The flames wrap their way around the green shrubbery, tightening its grip, turning it to a crisp. An unbearable ashy smoke hangs over and the heat melts nearby cars. People flee from their homes like ants under a magnifying glass.
The actual Hellfire is far more mortifying. Regulate your sensual passions and lusts with the thought of هاوية Hawiyah (Qu'ran, 101:9-11), a place in Hellfire that will tightly clap and squeeze the life out of you. It is so ferociously hot and feverish that all the other parts of hell fire seek protection in Allah for it.
When you are frugal with your family, remember لظى Ladha, one of the gates of hellfire (Qur'an, 70:15-18). This portion of Hellfire scorches the inward organs and the outward flesh of a person. It is reserved for those who collect wealth for the purpose of hoarding it. Work very hard to be generous with your money (time and emotions) otherwise one day, the fire of Hell will eat away at your body parts one by one, both internally and externally.
When you are consumed with arrogance, the thought of الحطمة Hutamah (Qur'an, 104:4-9) should humble you. It is a crushing fire, designed to reduce people with large egos into small pebbles and dust. It will pulverize your pride along with your bones and flesh. Imagine a chamber of burning inferno with grate bars and grinding plates also made of blazing fire. The spark from each flame from this fire is as enormous as columns in a colosseum. اَللَّهُمَّ أَجِرْنِي مِنَ النَّارِ
3. Nurture and Exercise Patience
ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ Moreover, be continuously patient. Sabr is holding oneself back from entering into temptation. Sabr is to staving off the greed before it becomes a green-eyed monster. Sabr is disallowing any and all engagement with the opposite sex that will lead to a sexual longing. Sabr is curbing one's pride. Sabr is not letting any object or person receive such affection in our hearts that is due only to Allah. Someone who is patient will not make this world the apex of their existence.
4. Knowing is half the battle
5. Challenge yourself to do more Ibaadah
وَٱلۡقَـٰنِتِينَ Have a sincere resolve and commitment with Allah. You should not have to be asked or nagged. Incessantly be ready to obey Allah. For example arrive early for Salah. Also, be consistent in your subservience to Allah. Your worship should not a once in a blue moon ritual. It should be an unfailing, everyday affair.
6. Invest in the next life
وَٱلۡمُنفِقِينَ Give up stuff. Charity is key in strengthening one's faith in the afterlife. All earthly donations are actually an investment in the afterlife. When you part with something in this world, you look forward to the day (the next life) when you can cash it back at a higher value. Charity reminds us that the next life is far more lucrative than any business and far more profitable than any relationship in this world.
7. Start your day early
وَٱلۡمُسۡتَغۡفِرِينَ بِٱلۡأَسۡحَارِ Sacrifice your sleep and wake up extra early to ask Allah for forgiveness in the morning. If your morning start starts with a heartfelt plea for forgiveness, your day will be in order. When your day is in order, everything in your life will fall into its right place. You will be more patient, more obedient, more giving - all because you asked Allah to give you strength early in the morning.
In this article, I will discuss practical tips to overcome our obsessions and passions:
Those who say, "Our Lord, indeed we have believed, so forgive us our sins and protect us from the punishment of the Fire," The patient, the true, the obedient, those who spend [in the way of Allah ], and those who seek forgiveness before dawn. (Qur'an, 3:16-17)
1. Turn the page, start fresh
يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَآ إِنَّنَآ ءَامَنَّا فَٱغۡفِرۡ لَنَا Be aware of your vulnerabilities and ask Allah to forgive you the times you have fallen weak. Feel ashamed of your lusts, covetousness and overt pride. Ask Allah to cover your embarrassing mistakes and move on. Don't dwell on your past, turn the page and start over.
2. Remember the fire of Hell
وَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ Try to cringe at the thought of Hellfire. A forest fire is distressing - the fire climbs up the trees like it was a step ladder. The flames wrap their way around the green shrubbery, tightening its grip, turning it to a crisp. An unbearable ashy smoke hangs over and the heat melts nearby cars. People flee from their homes like ants under a magnifying glass.
The actual Hellfire is far more mortifying. Regulate your sensual passions and lusts with the thought of هاوية Hawiyah (Qu'ran, 101:9-11), a place in Hellfire that will tightly clap and squeeze the life out of you. It is so ferociously hot and feverish that all the other parts of hell fire seek protection in Allah for it.
When you are frugal with your family, remember لظى Ladha, one of the gates of hellfire (Qur'an, 70:15-18). This portion of Hellfire scorches the inward organs and the outward flesh of a person. It is reserved for those who collect wealth for the purpose of hoarding it. Work very hard to be generous with your money (time and emotions) otherwise one day, the fire of Hell will eat away at your body parts one by one, both internally and externally.
When you are consumed with arrogance, the thought of الحطمة Hutamah (Qur'an, 104:4-9) should humble you. It is a crushing fire, designed to reduce people with large egos into small pebbles and dust. It will pulverize your pride along with your bones and flesh. Imagine a chamber of burning inferno with grate bars and grinding plates also made of blazing fire. The spark from each flame from this fire is as enormous as columns in a colosseum. اَللَّهُمَّ أَجِرْنِي مِنَ النَّارِ
3. Nurture and Exercise Patience
ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ Moreover, be continuously patient. Sabr is holding oneself back from entering into temptation. Sabr is to staving off the greed before it becomes a green-eyed monster. Sabr is disallowing any and all engagement with the opposite sex that will lead to a sexual longing. Sabr is curbing one's pride. Sabr is not letting any object or person receive such affection in our hearts that is due only to Allah. Someone who is patient will not make this world the apex of their existence.
4. Knowing is half the battle
وَٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ Don't be delusional about your habits. Don't deceive yourself regarding areas of your weakness. Admit your vulnerabilities candidly and ingeniously seek help against temptations. Be frank with yourself about your impulses and keep them in check.
5. Challenge yourself to do more Ibaadah
وَٱلۡقَـٰنِتِينَ Have a sincere resolve and commitment with Allah. You should not have to be asked or nagged. Incessantly be ready to obey Allah. For example arrive early for Salah. Also, be consistent in your subservience to Allah. Your worship should not a once in a blue moon ritual. It should be an unfailing, everyday affair.
6. Invest in the next life
وَٱلۡمُنفِقِينَ Give up stuff. Charity is key in strengthening one's faith in the afterlife. All earthly donations are actually an investment in the afterlife. When you part with something in this world, you look forward to the day (the next life) when you can cash it back at a higher value. Charity reminds us that the next life is far more lucrative than any business and far more profitable than any relationship in this world.
7. Start your day early
وَٱلۡمُسۡتَغۡفِرِينَ بِٱلۡأَسۡحَارِ Sacrifice your sleep and wake up extra early to ask Allah for forgiveness in the morning. If your morning start starts with a heartfelt plea for forgiveness, your day will be in order. When your day is in order, everything in your life will fall into its right place. You will be more patient, more obedient, more giving - all because you asked Allah to give you strength early in the morning.
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