ISLAM: The Religion of Positive Thinking

1
ISLAM The Religion of Positive Thinking
Balanced Self-Esteem

• Ahmed H. Mirza M.D.
• Naqshbandiya Foundation For Islamic Education
• www.nfie.com

2
ISLAMThe 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

3
ISLAM,IMAN,IHSAN
4
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

5
Islam,Iman,IhsanBody, Mind,Spirit

• Islam
• Body
• Doing
• Rituals
• Social
• Personal
• Five Pillars
• Fiqh
• Jurist

• Iman
• Mind
• Knowing
• Faith
• Reason
• Articles of Faith
• Theology
• Philosophy
• Theologian
• Philosopher

6
IhsanSpirit

• 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

7
SufismScience of the Heart

• Tasawwuf
• Islamic Spirituality
• Sufism
• Islamic Mysticism
• Esotericism
• Tazkiya
• Purification of the heart
• Ihsan
• Perfection and excellence
• Most Beautiful

8
Shariah,Tariqah,HaqiqahLaw,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

9
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 worldhereafter.Tariqah is servant of
  Shariah perfects the Sincereity (Ikhlas).
  Ahmad Sirhindi (d.1624)

10
(No Transcript)
11

SPIRITUAL PSYCHOLOGY Human Being

• 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,EgoSurface Superficial part,Self
  Operating,Actions Desires ,Insecurities, Fears,
  Disappointments as well as moments of
  happiness,pleasure,satisfaction,peace

12
Structure of SelfConscious MindEgo
IPersonalityIntellect/ReasonReflectionAwaren
ess False Self--------(conscious presence,
will, love)----------Essential Self
Subconscious MindEmotionHeartIntuitionCreat
ivityWisdom
13
The Body ( Jism )

• Living,Physical,Animal Part,Breaths, Eats, Moves,
• Exists in Physical Universe ( Alam al-Shahada)
  Universe of Witnessing
• Mortal part of man,
  IllnessOld AgeDeathDestruction of
  BodySeparation from Soul Spirit

14
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
  attentionhealthy, balanced self-esteem,
  integrated ego

15
Soul, Nafs,Ego

• 1.an-Nafs al-ammarah bis-su the soul that
  incites evil Yusuf-1253
• 2.an-Nafs al- lawwamah the soul that blames
  Qiyamah- 752
• 3.an-Nafs al- mutmainnah the soul at peace
  Fajr-8927
• Psychology-knowledge of soul Id, Ego,Super Ego.
  Freud did not believe that Id could come to
  Peace or Return to Lord

16
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

17
The Spirit (Ruh)

• The life within body, Divine Breath within man.
  
• Than He fashioned him (man) breathed into him
  His Spirit as- Sajdah 329
• 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 Lords command, and of knowledge you
  have been given but little al- Isra 1785

18
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
  lifeleads to richer, deeper happier life

19
Classification of Nafs -Self

• Nafs-e-Ammara Commanding Self
• Nafs-e- LawwamaRegretful 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

20
Nafs- e-AmmaraCommanding 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) Quran1253

21
Nafs-e-LawwamaRegretful 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 Quran752

22
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,Grati
  tude, Patience, Repentance, Humbleness,Knowledge,C
  reative 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 ruinedQuran917,8,9,10

23
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 GardensQuran8927,28,29,30

24
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

25
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.
• Attributesof 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,

26
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

27
Sufism,Tasawwuf,Tazkiya, Ihsan

• Spiritual Journey, Saluk
• Traveler (Salik)Guide (Shaykh)
• Stations and States
• Elimination of Blameworthy Behaviour(Akhlaq-e-Mazm
  uma)
• Adoption of Praiseworthy Behavior
  (Akhlaq-e-Hamida)
• Transformation from Selfish Self
  (Nafs-e-Ammara)toContented Self
  (Nafs-e-Mutmeinna)

28
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

29
Goals of Sufism

• To achieve contented self ( Nafs- ul-Mutmainna)
• To cultivate God awareness (Taqwa)
• To transform self (Tazkiya -e-Nafs)
• Removing the bad habits and acquiring the good
  manners

30
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 ones self, knows ones God
  Whoever purifies ones self for forty days, the
  spring of knowledge will flow from his heart onto
  his tongue Said the Prophet (PBUH)

31
Words of Wisdom

• The best people are those who are useful to
  others. Hadith

32
Practice Perfection Excellence in Shariah

• Dhikr Spiritual method to cleanse Heart
• Invocation, Remembrance, Mention.
• Allah, Lailaha illalah,99 Names
• Salutations on Prophet (saws)

33

• 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

34
Be Tolerant Like Sea Rumi

• In generosity and helping others, be like a
  RiverIn compassion and grace, be like the Sun
• In concealing other's faults, be like the
  NightIn 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

35

• 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

36
Dont go back to Sleep--Rumi

• The breeze at dawn
• has secrets to tell you
• -Dont go back to sleep
• You must ask
• for what you really want
• -Dont go back to sleep
• People are going back and forth
• across the doorsill
• Where the two worlds touch
• -Dont go back to sleep
• The door is round and open
• -Dont go back to sleep