Transcript ISLAM: Religion of Positive Thinking & Balanced Self

ISLAM: The Religion of Positive
Thinking & Balanced Self-Esteem
Ahmed H. Mirza M.D.
Naqshbandiya Foundation For Islamic
Education
www.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
ISLAM
Submission
Surrender
IMAN
Faith
IHSAN
Perfection
Excellence
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,Ihsan
Body, Mind,Spirit
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Islam
Body
Doing
Rituals
Social
Personal
Five Pillars
Fiqh
Jurist
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Iman
Mind
Knowing
Faith
Reason
Articles of Faith
Theology
Philosophy
Theologian
Philosopher
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,Haqiqah
Law,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)
SPIRITUAL PSYCHOLOGY
Human Being
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
Qalb,Heart
Nafs,Ego
Structure of Self
Conscious Mind
Ego “I”
Personality
Intellect/Reason
Reflection
Awareness
False Self--------(conscious presence, will, love)----------Essential Self
Subconscious Mind
Emotion
Heart
Intuition
Creativity
Wisdom
The Body ( Jism )
• Living,Physical,Animal Part,Breaths, Eats,
Moves,
• Exists in Physical Universe ( Alam alShahada) 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-eMazmuma)
• Adoption of Praiseworthy
Behavior (Akhlaq-e-Hamida)
• Transformation from Selfish
Self (Nafs-e-Ammara)—to—
Contented Self (Nafs-eMutmeinna)
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- ulMutmainna)
• 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
River
In compassion and
grace, be like the Sun
In concealing other's
faults, be like the Night
In 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