Random concepts (makes sense to me)

Some people refuse to embrace themselves, with their character and personality, their strengths and weaknesses, their positive points and their flaws because they think that embracing themselves as they are will hinder their progress.

What they fail to realize, however, is that self-love is a very important motivational factor to get you where you want to be.

If we did not love ourselves enough, how would we find the motivation to go to Jannah? Why do we want ourselves to go there? Why do we want the best reward from Allah?

Also, accepting yourself as you are does not have to mean that you are happy with your current state; it just means that you stop blaming yourself all the time and instead propel yourself forward using your strengths. It means being grateful with your body and appearance, your provision, your health and your opportunities because they are all gifts from Allah. As for your spiritual condition, then you can always improve it.

The road to Tazkiyah is always open.

“Indeed, your efforts are diverse. As for he who gives and fears Allah And believes in the best [reward], We will ease him toward ease.”

Al-Layl (92: 4-7)

Our diversity of personalities will most inadvertently affect what path we decide to take towards Allah. And instead of letting that be simply a coincidence, we can deliberately use our unique talents and abilities to aid the Deed of Allah.

But it starts with loving yourself enough to do the best and the willingness to turn that into the da’wah track of your life.

Disclaimer: By “path we take towards Allah”, I do not mean any sect and any ideology. We must adhere to the Qur’an & Sunnah and the path of the Salaf but what I do mean are the modes for da’wah. For example, if you are a good writer, you can write and publish Islamic articles or if you’re a good speaker, you can make youtube videos giving advice, etc.

Reflection (stages)

We all have stages through which we wish to proceed in the journey of change.

If I was to split up my journey into stages, I’d say I’m on the 2nd stage out of 3. This is not necessarily in terms of goals, but in terms of tarbiyah, behavior and lifestyle changes.

1st stage: Lost and trying to find my way; not knowing what to do and/or knowing the right thing but not doing it. (This part is now over by the Grace of Allah).

2nd stage: Knowing what path I am on, what I have accomplished, what I have yet to accomplish, what my strengths are, what are the things that keep pulling me back, and what my game-plan needs to be. InshaAllah, this year and onward, I want to be able to improve myself in all the ways that I know how to.

3rd stage: This is the one that will go on forever, because improvement is a life-long journey. It includes perfecting my akhlaq, always keeping tabs on myself, attempting to make progress without regressing and teaching others bi idhnihi ta’ala.

When I was in the 1st stage, which mostly consisted of my high school and early college years, I always asked Allah for help to guide me and to help me understand others’ points of view and to make my character better as a Muslim. I was kind of lost, kind of making it to guidance. I knew what I ought to be doing but had no idea how to get there. My mistakes served as quicksand and the vines that I used to lift me back up were often too weak.

The ayah that kept me going, along with a few others, was:

“And those who strive for Us – We will surely guide them to Our ways. And indeed, Allah is with the doers of good.” Al-‘Ankabut (29:69)

Now, I feel as if Allah has answered my du’as and I have consequently landed at stage two.

That’s why this quote hit me like an arrow: “After asking Allah to guide you to the straight path, don’t just stand there … start walking!” – Albaz Poetry

I feel like that’s exactly what I’m doing: standing in the middle of a train track whose destination is clear without having the daily consistency to move upon it successfully.

And I keep forgetting what a big ni’mah it is from Allah that everyone in my family is so supportive of me, that I know what my passion is, and that I am provided with all the resources to pursue it.

Whenever I see people who are lost in their career paths or are consumed by the stress of poverty or the depression that has resulted from a bad relationship, I am constantly reminded about how blessed I am.

Having all of these blessings and then declining to take advantage of them is a type of ungratefulness.

I hope that Allah gives me the ability to overcome my personal challenges so that I can actually start moving on the path of action.