It is proven that those who are closer to nature tend to have calmer temperaments, are more relaxed and are more forgiving
One day, Archangel Gabriel presented himself to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), while the Prophet was sitting with his companions.
Angel Gabriel was dressed in pure white attire. He asked:
"What is Islam?
What is Iman (faith)?
What is Ihsan (excellence)?"
In his answer, the Prophet explained in details the five pillars of Islam. He then went on to describe the six tenets of Iman and the signs of Judgment Day.
Then he went on to describe what Ihsan is in his own words.
"The act of Ihsan is you worship Allah as though you can see Him. And if you cannot feel it, then (do know that) He sees you." (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
The act of believing just because of believing in God's presence is something that everyone needs to reach as a Muslim. We know we can't see God, but the manifestation of His presence is everywhere – yet there are those who continue to deny His presence - and that is what really differentiates a successful person from a skeptical one. So how do we reach excellence to the point that we fear God, even though we can't see Him – and continue to worship as if we see Him?
This is the peak of success for Muslims. We are driven by emotions to please God, just because we believe in God, without having to show Himself to us. And as we worship, while believing in His presence, we are also reminded that God can see us very clearly.
In today's busy world, it can be said that it is not always easy to reach this level of faith and excellence. Sometimes we do things to hide away from other people who may not approve, but God sees everything we do, and understands all what is in our hearts as well. And honestly, if God is not displeased with our intentions and actions, then we have nothing to fear.
Take Time to Be on Your Own
| Cherish every movement you make during prayer, every word that you recite ... |
Everyone needs to take time out and spend time being alone. It doesn't matter if it is for five minutes a day, but being alone allows one not to be defined or judged by others. It gives us a moment to think about who we are and how we come across in this world. It also removes relationships that we think about and focus on being small creatures of the Universe.
When feeling small, we feel the grandiosity of God. We can revel in the fact that God has given so much, without having to look at people who have more than us. It reminds that God has created "me," a single human being, and given me life, and drawn out a plan for me. Even if your life seems meager, it has been written by God with good reason, so use the time you have to worship God whole-heartedly andinshallah you won't go wrong.
Perfect Your Prayers
Take time to perfect your prayers: the actions, the recitations, your concentration. When in prayer, think of how God has chosen you to worship Him at that very moment in time, while out there in the world, there may be those who have never once thought about saying a prayer.
God has chosen you out of the millions to cultivate that special bond with Him at that particular moment. Cherish every movement you make during prayer, every word that you recite, and know that once many decades ago, Prophet Muhammad had prayed like you do, and God has chosen you to follow the path He provided through Prophet Muhammad. While all this is happening, ask God to allow you to see the next prayer of the day – to be able to cherish those moments too, and the next and the next and the next….
Make a Date with Nature
| There is nothing that can attain the level of grandiosity of creation as compared to what God has created |
Nature holds a special place for all Muslims. Trees, mountains, the sky, the oceans – they are all mentioned repeatedly in the Quran for us to think about and to reflect on. God even goes on to remind us not to cut down trees, even in the case of war, unless they are needed for protection.
Planting a tree reaps lifelong rewards as the tree is alive, bears fruit and provides shade for creatures big and small. Knowing all that, make a date with nature and marvel with what God has provided for us. Some things are for our sustenance, like food and water. Some of these creations work well to cultivate our mental and emotional health, like taking a swim in the ocean, or taking a hike up in the mountains.
All of nature is to balance out our wonderful ecosystem in our earth to function properly. And most importantly, nature is a reminder that God exists. There is nothing that can attain the level of grandiosity of creation as compared to what God has created. The horizon in the distance, the floating clouds in the blue sky, the sound of the wind rustling through the leaves of a swaying tree – no one can create all of that except God.
It is also proven that those who are closer to nature tend to have calmer temperaments, are more relaxed and are more forgiving – perhaps this is their manifestation of how they appreciate what God has provided for us, every single day.
Marvel in the Recitation of the Quran
Switch off the television, turn off the phones – select a Quran reciter, and take deep breaths. Marvel at the beauty of the Quran. Listening to the Quran in peace and quietness allows us to be showered with God's mercy, and take our time to de-stress from our busy lives.
Reading the Quran, understanding the translation, and studying the tafsir(interpretation), takes our spiritual journeys even further. The Quran is a blessing in itself and knowing that the Author of the Quran is no other than God helps us be reminded of God's presence and message to the world.
Purify your Intentions Every Day
Every day think about how you spend your day, why you have your meals, why you need to get on the train, why you go to work, what did you do at the end of the day, how do you speak to other people...
And then ask: "Am I doing this for the sake of God? Would God be pleased with me if I did this, said this, or should I do otherwise? What can I do to better please God?"
Planting the seeds of conscientiousness for the sake of God helps us remember our purpose in life – to actively worship God no matter what the situation is. If God is pleased with us, we have nothing to worry about, and by that, we need to cultivate the strongest level of excellence possible.
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