“Beautified for people is the love of that which they desire – of women and sons, heaped-up sums of gold and silver, fine branded horses, and cattle and tilled land. That is the enjoyment of worldly life, but Allah has with Him the best return.” [Q, 3:14]

Introduction:

Attend the school, graduate, get a job, get a house, get married, have children, go on holiday, go on Hajj. And the list can carry on, however what we forget is that we are not meant to be human doing. We are created to be human-beings. The successful measures in our life should not be only defined by external validations but also those internal, spiritual, eternal.

زُيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ حُبُّ ٱلشَّهَوَٲتِ مِنَ ٱلنِّسَآءِ وَٱلۡبَنِينَ وَٱلۡقَنَـٰطِيرِ ٱلۡمُقَنطَرَةِ مِنَ ٱلذَّهَبِ وَٱلۡفِضَّةِ وَٱلۡخَيۡلِ ٱلۡمُسَوَّمَةِ وَٱلۡأَنۡعَـٰمِ وَٱلۡحَرۡثِ‌ۗ ذَٲلِكَ مَتَـٰعُ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا‌ۖ وَٱللَّهُ عِندَهُ ۥ حُسۡنُ ٱلۡمَـَٔابِ

Psychology had played part in creation of successful measure under the clinical trial, and decided that some mental health tips can predict higher level of achievements, assertiveness, happiness , better quality of relationships, and even longevity. Have you noticed, how it is all centred around Dunya? No mainstream scientist will approach the phenomena of success from the spiritual perspective. Yet the reality is as such , that we were a spiritual being before we incarnated in this reality, and guess what..? We will go back to life of  the spirt after experience of this Dunay as well.

ذَٲلِكَ ٱلۡڪِتَـٰبُ لَا رَيۡبَ‌ۛ فِيهِ‌ۛ هُدً۬ى لِّلۡمُتَّقِينَ / ٱلَّذِينَ يُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱلۡغَيۡبِ وَيُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقۡنَـٰهُمۡ يُنفِقُونَ / وَٱلَّذِينَ يُؤۡمِنُونَ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡكَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ مِن قَبۡلِكَ وَبِٱلۡأَخِرَةِ هُمۡ يُوقِنُونَ / أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ عَلَىٰ هُدً۬ى مِّن رَّبِّهِمۡ‌ۖ وَأُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلۡمُفۡلِحُونَ

“This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah – Who believe in the unseen, establish prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them, And who believe in what has been revealed to you, [O Muhammad], and what was revealed before you, and of the Hereafter they are certain [in faith]. Those are upon [right] guidance from their Lord, and it is those who are the successful.”
[Q; 2:2-5]
Islam does not measure success accordingly to results but rather effort and intentions. How many times life took  a U Turn and turned it’s back on You? Do you remember how hard you worked on that project or invented your self completely in relationships and eventually nothing good came out of it. Maybe you even feel it was a complete waste of time, and you see this period of your life as a Shame. The psychology of Islam will encourage you to paradigm shift. Try to remember what were your Niya and dedication to attain that goal? If you were diligent, believed in your self and the righteousness of this plan and for most it was truly for the sake of getting closer to God…than you are already victorious. Remember where you are going with this. Jannat Firdous inshallh is build on intentions , effort and purity of your heart.

“Allah ordered (the appointed angels over you) that the good and the bad deeds be written, and He then showed (the way) how (to write). If somebody intends to do a good deed and he does not do it, then Allah will write for him a full good deed (in his account with Him); and if he intends to do a good deed and actually did it, then Allah will write for him (in his account) with Him (its reward equal) from ten to seven hundred times to many more times: and if somebody intended to do a bad deed and he does not do it, then Allah will write a full good deed (in his account) with Him, and if he intended to do it (a bad deed) and actually did it, then Allah will write one bad deed (in his account) .(Bukhari)

The step by step program of self-reformation relies on you being aware of inner inclinations and hidden drives at the level of spiritual heart – Qalb and own soul -Nafs. Quran sanctified the process of Taskiya by mentioning it’s benefits on numerous occasions for you:  “He who purifies it will indeed be successful,” (Q, 91:9). If only you are prepared to reframe you points of reference you will slowly become disillusioned and realise that your ultimate success lies in how you preserve you mental health, spiritual stamina and religious duties for the sake of pleasing Him. The Messenger of  (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is reported to have said, “Be in this world as though you were a stranger or a wayfarer.” (Nawawi)

The success is understood in Islamic Psychology as the journey of returning to God through effective spiritual actualisation and psycho-emotional health maintenance. One you trained your self to truly recognise his sovereignty over your definition of success then you can rest in peace. ‘Successful indeed are the believers ‘(Q, 32:1).  They are on (true) guidance from their Lord, and they are the successful’.(Q, 2:5). How can you recognise that you on the right path, you might ask. Working towards achieving Islamic concept of success  involves setting up a personal goals and maintaining balanced relationships with significant others and God Himself. You will recognise that tin those successful moments you feeling an inner peace, because you are at the peak of reconnection with own Fitrah ( the pure self). ‘So direct your face toward the religion, inclining to truth. [Adhere to] the fitrah of Allah upon which He has created [all] people’ (Q, 30:30).  In essence, the victorious moments in your life are more than possible and attainable through simple (not easy)  inner and outwards acts of worship.

تِلۡكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ وَمَن يُطِعِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ ۥ يُدۡخِلۡهُ جَنَّـٰتٍ۬ تَجۡرِى مِن تَحۡتِهَا ٱلۡأَنۡهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا‌ۚ وَذَٲلِكَ ٱلۡفَوۡزُ ٱلۡعَظِيمُ

“These are the limits [set by] Allah, and whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger will be admitted by Him to gardens [in Paradise] under which rivers flow, abiding eternally therein; and that is the greatest success.”

[Q; 4:13]

Start your own healing Journey with AJ!

Here is a quick checklist to get you started with free therapy session. Remember imperfect action beats inaction, get started and keep re investing in your growth for Khair!

• Create your vision board

• Reflect on things which you know Must Go in order for your life to change

• Start planning your therapy sessions topics by Identifying what resonates with your Heart.

• Create an outline the list of your Eternal Life goals.

• Write down the conversations you normally have with your self, like if you were telling a story to a friend

• Pick the most disturbing sentences and connect them with emotions you feeling when you hear them

• Perform several Ibadah types consciously (taddabur, dua, prayers, sadaka, fasting) and Honestly reflect on what is it you experiencing and what is it that you were hoping to experience

• Write down reasons why some of your relationships broke down and be clear on your ways about it as well

• Have a courage to name things you appreciate about your self, or are proud of - or ask you family and friends to remind you

• Take 10 minutes to edit your list and BOOK A CALL WITH AJ !