The World Of Soul

Muhasaba

The ability to see the true nature of things or the analysis of soul.

A believer regularly (every day, every hour) analyses his deeds and actions: whether he treated the matter well or badly, sinfully or piously, thoughtlessly or with due attention. The Muslim thanks the Almighty for good results and when he notices any slips or faults, he prays God to forgive him or her.

 It is so far as outer deeds and actions are concerned. As for the inner world of soul which is not limited by physical laws, and is therefore multifaceted and enormous, muhasaba – the inner investigation is of equally great significance: the inner despondency or rise, mobilization of spiritual aspirations in achieving the set goals or apathy, drowsiness, scamping one’s work. The ability to pluck up one’s spirits requires from a man attention and effort. Such self-discipline, efforts and reflections on the matter help man to move towards life success quickly and efficiently, for he defines the correctness of the path of life, the rightness of the speed of the course in motion and without any unnecessary stops. He comes easily and quickly to distinguish the harmful from the useful, the good from the bad. For when living consciously, man does not go there and back the same way mechanically (as is usually the case in our everyday life: from home to work, from work – back home). Every day is a new section of the path, which has never been followed before. The experience of the past, self-discipline and attention at present, as well as aspiration for the future are extremely important for a good and satisfactory progress in life.

 When analysing one’s past and present life, as well as planning for the future, a man begins to understand his vocation, the essence of his life. Investigating his soul and its feelings thoroughly, a believer goes through a spiritual renovation and gets closer to Allah, the Lord of the world.

 One of the central Qur’an’s ayah, which leads man to muhasaba, runs as follows: “Oh believers! Fear Allah [be devout and righteous, do not sin]. Let your soul [the soul of every man] see what it has prepared for tomorrow [both for the next day and Judgement Day, for eternity]"[1].

 Perceiving this important lesson with his heart and soul, a man wakes up, opens his eyes and begins to walk uprightly. He begins to distinguish fuss, hypocritical activity and talkativeness from important things and troubles. He sees where the wheat and where the chaff is. “Verily, when Satan seduces those who are devout [aspire with their hearts and deeds to the Most high] [when they are stricken by mental anguish or when Satan is whispering in their ear trying to lead them astray] they wake up at once [become again watchful remembering the Lord and aspiring to his mercy and surveillance] and you see that they become sighted (vigilant, piercing) [they can estimate the actual state of affairs, distinguish evil from good, harmful from useful, vanity from important things]".[2]

 Muhasaba in the world of soul is similar to the light of truth and freedom, or to a noble warm-hearted teacher. By the way this feature is the mortal enemy of such satanic feelings as nagging grief and despair.

 The more experienced and shrewd a believer is in the analysis and the investigation of his inner world, the world of impressions, reactions and aspirations, – the more progressive and successful current life appears to be in contrast to his yesterday.

 Objective analysis and self-criticism are one of the manifestations of absolute faith. Man, striving for the higher and the perfect, never gets tired criticising himself fairly and honestly, treating watchfully everything new, which goes beyond his healthy thinking.

 Every evening a Muslim, who is attentive to himself, analyses his deeds and acts of the past day, draws conclusions and learns valuable lessons. On the next morning he feels renovated (through reappraisal, revaluation of the past), he is steadfast before sins, inspired by new objectives and filled with aspiration.

Imam ash-Shafi’i wrote:

  If you are from the early morning steadfast and full of desire to be devout,

  And you fear the punishment,

 That will overtake the sinners on the Doomsday,

 Be sure, that your Guardian forgave you,

 And the good, which He will give you, will be inexhaustible.[3] 

***

Carrying out objective analysis of one’s deeds and actions, as well as inspecting one’s soul impressions and feelings, is extremely difficult for those, who do not possess the following three features:

• the light of wisdom;

• the ability to treat oneself critically;[4]

• the ability to distinguish the good from temptation.

***

“When you worry about the absence of interest and attention towards you on the part of other people, when blames and reproaches about you disappoint you and inflict a mental anguish, appeal to the Creator. When His complete knowledge of all and everything will soothe you, then everything is all right. But when it will not fill your soul with peace and will not give you strength, then it is, as compared to the first situation, a real problem, a trouble",- said wisely one of Muslim theologians.[5]

 The link between the believer and the Almighty is much more important, than his connection with people. The opinion of people about the rightness or erroneousness of this or that is not the final verdict yet. People’s opinions are often shallow and thoughtless. A valuable conclusion is the result of a thorough investigation and analysis.

 Since it is the conscience of man that is the centre of spiritual renaissance and renovation, and his final goal is the aspiration for the contentment of the Almighty, the Muslim does not pay a lot of attention to the attitude of people towards him, he does not really care, whether they are with him or against him.

 Certainly man, no matter whether he wants it or not, lives in a close relationship with the society. He cannot remain completely indifferent to the barrage of criticism or praise about him. But his true nobleness consists in the fact, that when not hearing thanks or seeing success, he keeps moving forward and does not lose heart.

 Undoubtedly, a believer can and sometimes even must protect himself against unjust criticism and take preventative measures against the damage of bitter tongues. At the same time he should preserve generosity of soul and good behaviour.

***

Is it lawful for a man to find pleasure in worldly (spiritual or material) success? Yes, he may, provided he has always been and keeps being honest before the Almighty, and is able to guard his heart against hypocrisy and self-admiration. One day the companions of the Prophet (let Allah’s blessing be upon him) asked him about the pleasant feeling which arises in the heart as a result of people’s praise of some sincerely performed good deeds. And the Messenger of the Most High answered: “This is a quick joyful message from the Most High for a believer".[6] And the Holy Qur’an reads: “Those who believe and are guarded (against evil): They shall have good news in this world's life and in the hereafter; there is no changing the words of Allah; that is the mighty achievement. [For what they have acquired is the result of a firm and unshakeable faith, work at self-improvement, the sincerity of generous deeds and acts]".[7]

 Improving oneself is a difficult process, a thorny path. It is not very easy, but extremely noble to check one’s sincerity, detect fundamental mistakes, slips or delusion from the very moment of their emergence in one’s thinking, to aspire for Allah with all one’s essence, asking Him for mercy and forgiveness, remain indifferent to what people say or think about you, always be active and useful to other people. Faith leads to this loftiness. Muhasaba, the ability to carry out an objective analysis of one’s deeds and acts, helps in it, making free from the burden of useless mistakes, negative experience or unavailing activities.

 Yes...How weak we are, and how great the greatness and how infinite the mercy of the Lord of the world, Allah is, He is Holy, Great.

***

“Oh, believers! Have fear of Allah [be devout and righteous, do not sin]. Let every soul [the soul of every man] look to what it offers for the morrow [both for the next day and Judgement Day, for eternity] Be devout. Verily, Allah is cognizant of all your actions. [For your good] do not act like those, who have forgotten the Almighty [about His prescriptions, the limits of righteousness and rightfulness, outlined by Him in the Holy Scripture] so that He has caused them [who have forgotten the Almighty] to forget themselves [lost their life values, the same as those small ships, lost their anchors and cast by strong winds to the ill-fated bays of alleged happiness or cast up by the vawes of the immense sea of life on the shore of adversity, weariness, discouragement and lack of faith]. Such people [who forgot about the Creator and His injunctions] are evil-doers"[8].

Prophet Mohammed (let peace and Allah’s blessing be upon him) said: “The best of you are those, who do not leave [without due attention] the eternal for the temporal, and the temporal for the eternal. Those, who do not repose as an onerous burden on the shoulders of others [those, who do not lead a parasitic way of living]".[9] With these words the Messenger of the Most High calls people for a golden mean in their life- for happiness and welfare both in the temporal and in the eternal abode (which was actually one of the main purposes of his mission). And this depends on the result of personal efforts, activities and the mercy of the Creator.

 May the Most High Allah forgive us and our descendants, and give us His blessing for becoming the best. Amen.