ISLAM: The Religion of Positive Thinking & Balanced Self-Esteem

Ahmed H. Mirza M.D.Naqshbandiya Foundation For Islamic

Educationwww.nfie.com

ISLAM:The Religion of Positive Thinking & Balanced Self-Esteem

• Islam is the Positive Way of Life• Islam is the Religion of Nature (Din al- Fitra )• Islam is the Religion of Balance( Din al- Mizan)• Islam is the Religion of Moderation(Wast)• Islam is the Religion of Balanced Self Esteem• Quran is a Positive Guidance• Prophet Muhammad (saws) is a Positive Role

Model for Humanity & Mercy for the Mankind

ISLAM,IMAN,IHSAN

HADITH GABRIEL

ISLAMSubmissionSurrender

IMANFaith

IHSANPerfectionExcellence

Hadith Gabriel

What is Islam? Submission, Surrender What is Iman? Faith, Belief. What is Ihsan? Perfection & Excellence

• “A state of being such that when you pray you so adore God as though you see Him or at least realize inwardly that if you do not see Him, He nevertheless sees you.”

• Ihsan means doing good and being kind to others. Enlightenment

Islam,Iman,IhsanBody, Mind,Spirit

• Islam• Body• DoingDoing• RitualsRituals• SocialSocial• PersonalPersonal• Five PillarsFive Pillars• FiqhFiqh• JuristJurist

• ImanIman• Mind Mind • KnowingKnowing• FaithFaith• ReasonReason• Articles of FaithArticles of Faith• TheologyTheology• PhilosophyPhilosophy• TheologianTheologian• PhilosopherPhilosopher

Ihsan:Spirit

• Ihsan, being, actualization, virtue & goodness, deepest awareness of self. Direct communion with Ultimate Reality- God.

• Developing traits & virtues of Prophets, Adam --to- ---Muhammad. Love, generosity, nobility,justice,sincerity, forgiveness

• Tasawwuf, Sufism• Sufi

Sufism:Science of the Heart

• Tasawwuf– “Islamic Spirituality”– “Sufism”– “Islamic Mysticism”– “Esotericism”

• Tazkiya– Purification of the heart

• Ihsan– Perfection and excellence – Most Beautiful

Shariah,Tariqah,HaqiqahLaw,Way,Experience

• “ Shariah is my words (aqwali) , • Tariqah is my actions (amalie), • Haqiqah is my interior states (ahwali)” Hadith

• Shariah (Law),Tariqah (Way)and Haqiqah(Experience)are mutually interdependent

Shariah(Law)&Tariqah(Way)

• Shariah consists of 3 parts, Knowledge(ilm), Deeds (amal) & Sincerity(ikhlas)Until all 3 are realized,Shariah cannot be fulflled. When Shariah is fulfilled,the pleasure of God Almighty results &this is superior to all forms of happiness.The Shariah is guarantor of all happiness both in this world&hereafter.Tariqah is servant of Shariah & perfects the Sincereity (Ikhlas). Ahmad Sirhindi (d.1624)

Human Being(al- Insan)

Body(Jism)

Soul(Nafs)

Spirit(Ruh)

Nafs,Ego

Qalb,Heart

Ruh,Spirit• 1.Ruh,Spirit--Dimensionless

point,Source of our life & Conciousness,Profoundly Spiritual,Able to access divine qualities,Knowing,Luminous and Conscious

• 2.Qalb,Heart--Sensitve,Knowing,Can be diseased or healthy,Meeting place of Nafs(gives energy & support) & Ruh(receives guidance & inspiration)

• 3.Nafs,Self,Ego—Surface & Superficial part,Self Operating,Actions & Desires ,Insecurities, Fears, Disappointments as well as moments of happiness,pleasure,satisfaction,peace

SPIRITUAL PSYCHOLOGY

Human Being

Structure of Self

Conscious MindEgo “I”

PersonalityIntellect/Reason

ReflectionAwareness

False Self--------(conscious presence, will, love)----------Essential Self

Subconscious MindEmotion

HeartIntuition

CreativityWisdom

The Body ( Jism )

• Living,Physical,Animal Part,Breaths, Eats, Moves,

• Exists in Physical Universe ( Alam al-Shahada) Universe of Witnessing

• Mortal part of man, Illness—Old Age—Death—Destruction of Body—Separation from Soul & Spirit

The Soul (Nafs)

• The Soul (Nafs) of Human Being is really man himself, His/Her particular Personality, ”I”, Ego, Self, Soul, Psyche, Nafs-sense of self & self-worth, identified with nationality, religion, status

• The Nafs,Ego is ruled by fear & desire• Its servant include: ambition, self- Impotance,

selfishness, rationalization ,fantasy, delusion,• self-righteousness &aggression• If a person is criticized,belittled & shamed, the ego may

lack confidence, self-esteem & self-worth• If a person receives healthy amount of love & attention—

healthy, balanced self-esteem, integrated ego

Soul, Nafs,Ego

• 1.an-Nafs al-ammarah bis-su “the soul that incites evil” Yusuf-12:53

• 2.an-Nafs al- lawwamah “the soul that blames” Qiyamah- 75:2

• 3.an-Nafs al- mutmainnah “the soul at peace” Fajr-89:27

• Psychology-”knowledge of soul” Id, Ego,Super Ego. Freud did not believe that Id could come to “Peace” or “Return to Lord”

Soul, Nafs, Ego

• Nafs- e- Ammara-Instinctive or Selfish, Imperative Self, Animal, Lower Self inclined towards negative, Sinful behavior. Munkir,Haram(forbidden)

• Nafs-e- Lawwama - Quarrelling Self inclined towards positive.Maruf(Right,Halal)

• Nafs-e- Mutmaina - Selfless Contented Self. Highest State of Spiritual Development

The Spirit (Ruh)

• The “life” within body, Divine Breath within man. • “Than He fashioned him (man) &breathed into

him His Spirit” as- Sajdah 32:9• Spirit is superior to soul & body &is immortal,

belongs to alam al- malakut• “They ask you about the spirit .Say” The Spirit is

of my Lord’s command, and of knowledge you have been given but little” al- Isra 17:85

Spirit, Ruh

• Spirits servant include:• Conscious Presence. awareness of our

thoughts, feelings & actions• Conscious Will. Ability to make conscious

choice, intention, decision• Conscious Love. can recognize & do what is

right, regardless of self-interest, desire or fear. Conscious love perceives & feels the unity of life—leads to richer, deeper & happier life

Classification of Nafs -Self

• Nafs-e-Ammara— Commanding Self• Nafs-e- Lawwama—Regretful Self• Nafs -e- Mulhema----Inspired Self• Nafs -e- Mutmeinna —Contented Self• Nafs-e - Radiya --------Pleased Self• Nafs –e – Mardiya ------Self Pleasing to

God• Nafs -e- Kamila -------Pure Self

Nafs- e-Ammara:Commanding Self

• Domineering, Incites to Evil, Seeks to dominate & control

• Unbridled Selfishness, No sense of Morality or Compassion, Linked to lust, aggression, wrath, greed, sensual appetite, passion, envy

• Realm of physical & egoistic desires• “Surely the self is ever inciting to evil”

( ammaratum bis-su) Quran12:53

Nafs-e-Lawwama—Regretful Self

• Constantly reproaches itself for its own sinful inclinations

• As light of faith grows, insight dawns, the negative effect of a habitually self-centered approach to the world becomes apparent to regretful self

• At this level wants & desires still dominate but now person repents from time to time &tries to follow higher impulses

• “Verily I swear by Regretful Self” Quran:75:2

Nafs al-Mulhima----Inspired Self

• Seeker begins to take genuine pleasure in prayer, meditation & other spiritual activities, is motivated by ideals such as compassion, service & moral values

• Attributes: Endurance,Contentment,Generosity,Gratitude, Patience, Repentance, Humbleness,Knowledge,Creative acts,Compassion,Gentleness,

• “And by the soul & Him that formed it,Then inspired it with (knowledge of) sin and piety, He has indeed prospered who purifies it, And he who stunts it is ruined”Quran:91:7,8,9,10

Nafs-e-Mutmainna-Contented Self

• It is tranquil &contented because of inspiration &light from Nafs e Mulhima• Made the choice of piety (taqwa), All the inclinations of rebellion towards Allah

Taala &His ordinances has disappeared• Attributes: Deep Reflections, Enjoyment in worship, Ascetic discipline, Being

accustomed to hunger, Submission & resignation, Good deeds, Endurance, Satisfaction, Contentment, Generosity, Gratitude, Patience, Repentance, Modesty & humbleness, Knowledge

• “O Serene Soul! Return to your Lord, pleased and well pleasing, Enter among My servants, And enter My Gardens”Quran:89:27,28,29,30

Nafs-e-Radiya--------Pleased Self

• Seeker is content with his lot, pleased with the difficulties & trails of life, realizing that these difficulties come from God

• Attributes: of Nafs e Mutminna + Miracles, Asceticism &piety, Constant remembrance of Allah,Renunciation of Non-sense, Sincerity & enlightenment

Nafs-e-Mardiya-Self Pleasing to God

• The self pleasing to God has achieved genuine inner unity &wholeness. All power to act comes from God, They no longer fear anything or ask for anything

• A broken mirror creates a thousand different reflections of single image. If mirror could be made whole again,it would then reflect the single, unified image.

• Attributes:of Nafs e Radiya + Attainment of Divine Gnosis, Deep reflection on creation, Nearness to Allah, Kind treatment of all creatures of Allah, Renunciation of everything other than Allah,

Nafs-e-Kamila-------Pure Self

• Those few who attain the final level have transcended the self entirely. There is no ego or separate self left, only union with God. At this stage, the individual realized the truth," There is no god but God”

• “If you could get rid-Of yourself just once• The secrets of secrets-Would open to you• The face of the unknown-Hidden beyond the

universe-Would appear on the-Mirror of your perception” Rumi

Sufism,Tasawwuf,Tazkiya, Ihsan

• Spiritual Journey, Saluk • Traveler (Salik)Guide (Shaykh)• Stations and States• Elimination of Blameworthy

Behaviour(Akhlaq-e-Mazmuma)

• Adoption of Praiseworthy Behavior (Akhlaq-e-Hamida)

• Transformation from Selfish Self (Nafs-e-Ammara)—to—Contented Self (Nafs-e-Mutmeinna)

Goals of Sufism

• “Acquire attributes of God”– Takhhaluque bi akhlaquillah

• “Die before your death”– Mootoo qabla unta Mootoo

• “The faithful is the mirror of the faithful”– Al-mumin mirat al-mumin

• To acquire nearness of God (Qurb)– Practice Ihsan

Goals of Sufism

• To achieve contented self ( Nafs- ul-Mutmainna)

• To cultivate God awareness (Taqwa)

• To transform self (Tazkiya -e-Nafs)– Removing the bad habits and acquiring the

good manners

Words of Wisdom

• The intension of Fasting and Prayer is to transform the earthly qualities into higher qualities & to discover the essence of Humanity within & becoming knowledgeable of the essence of self, a doorway to understanding Divine, as

• “Whoever knows one’s self, knows one’s God”&” Whoever purifies one’s self for forty days, the spring of knowledge will flow from his heart onto his tongue” Said the Prophet (PBUH)

Words of Wisdom

• The best people are those who are useful to others”. ‘Hadith

Practice

Perfection &Excellence in Shariah

Dhikr: Spiritual method to cleanse Heart “ Invocation, Remembrance, Mention.”

Allah, Lailaha illalah,99 Names

Salutations on Prophet (saws)

Come, come, whoever you are,Wanderer, idolater, worshiper of fire,Come even though you have broken your vows a thousand times,Come, and come yet again.Ours is not a caravan of despair

Rumi

Be Tolerant Like Sea: Rumi

In generosity and helping others, be like a RiverIn compassion and grace, be like the Sun

In concealing other's faults, be like the NightIn anger and fury, be like Dead

In modesty and humility,be like the earth

In tolerance be like Sea

Either appear as you are, or be as you appear

• There is candle in your heart, ready to be kindled

• There is a void in your soul, ready to be filled.

• You feel it, don't you?• You feel the separation from

Beloved• Invite Him to fill you up,

embrace the fire• Remind those who tell you

otherwise that love• Comes to you of its own

accord• And yearning for it• Cannot be learned at any

school

Don’t go back to Sleep--Rumi

• The breeze at dawn• has secrets to tell you• -Don’t go back to sleep• You must ask• for what you really want• -Don’t go back to sleep• People are going back and

forth• across the doorsill• Where the two worlds touch• -Don’t go back to sleep• The door is round and open• -Don’t go back to sleep