Islamic Self Help – Page 37 – Islam + Self Help = Success in Both Worlds

Jun

2018

Studying Islam: Going Beyond Requirements

I have been studying Islam since the age of thirteen across a variety of institutes. During this time, I have observed the study habits of different students. I have also observed the impact these habits have on that student’s life.

In doing so, I noticed a very important trend: The students who became the leading scholars of their communities are…Those students who not only excel at the prescribed work but went beyond that and dedicated extra time to studying Islam.

Curriculum and Limitations

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Every Islamic institute has a set curriculum. The curriculum serves multiple benefits. These include giving students a structured approach to learning. As well as taking them from elementary knowledge progressing upward towards more complicated books. And finally providing a framework of reference to evaluate learning.

However, many people misunderstand the purpose of a curriculum. They look at it as all they need to study. As a result, they never study anything outside the curriculum. The problem with this approach is that it leads to a limited understanding of the subjects. The danger is compounded when the student thinks he is knowledgeable in the field.

Students of knowledge must realize that their prescribed curriculum is not a comprehensive study of everything there is to know of each topic. Rather the curriculum usually includes introductory level books to familiarize the student with each science and field.

The people setting the curriculum do so with the understanding that the chosen book will give the student the necessary tools to explore advanced books in the field on their own or with other teachers. It was never meant to be a limit on their knowledge intake.

Types of Students:

The few students who realize this are the ones who truly excel and become the leaders in their field. Imagine for example, if a university is offering an introductory level course on Fiqh Maxims.

In such a course, it is common to find three types of students:

1) The lazy student who just passes the exams by memorizing the minimum that is necessary to pass. Such a student is most likely to forget that knowledge afterwards. And will not be able to apply it outside the examples mentioned in the textbook.

2) The dedicated student who limits himself to the textbook. This student will likely do well in the exam. Maybe even be able to benefit from the knowledge and utilize it outside the classroom. However, such a student may not be aware of the detailed application of the principles, the differences of opinion and the intricate details because he limited himself to an introductory textbook.

3) The student who is dedicated to master the topic. This student will not only learn what is in the textbook but will go beyond that. He will ask the teacher for recommended resources on the topic, ask questions about differences of opinion and intricate issues, study each topic from multiple angles and viewpoints, and emerge from the course with a stronger understanding of the topic.

This is the kind of student who is most likely to become a Mujtahid and utilize his knowledge to solve contemporary Fiqh issues and lead his society in reformation.

Why it matters

While studying on this level is not obligatory, it is definitely beneficial and something that the ummah is in dire need off today.

We live in a time when the majority of Muslims are confused and do not have scholars who are qualified to solve their problems. The current generation of students need to make it their objective to grow into such scholars.

We need to dedicate our lives to going beyond what is expected of us and to go deeper into every field we study. Our objective being to benefit the ummah through that knowledge.

How to go deeper

There are many ways to go deeper into a field while studying the textbook with your teacher. The following are some of the most practical methods:

1) Study longer hours than the average student. There is big difference between someone who studies two hours a day and someone who studies five hours a day. The latter is likely to end up with more than double the knowledge of the former in the same time-frame. Make it a habit to go the distance and dedicate extra time to study.

2) Ask a lot of questions. The leading students of knowledge throughout history were known as inquisitive students before they become scholars.

Even among the companions, Ayesha Bint Abi Bakr (RA) and Abu Hurairah (RA) were known for asking deeper questions. This led to them become the leading scholars of their generation. The same method applies today. If you want to understand a concept deeper, ask your teachers the kind of questions that will give you a stronger understanding of the topic.

3) Study beyond the textbook. Ask your teachers or the senior students for recommended resources in the field that you are studying, make it a point and study those resources.

If there are four famous books on a topic, don’t limit yourself to the one prescribed as your textbook. Make time to read the other three as well. Studying such resources will give you a deeper understanding of the topic as well as open your eyes to differences of opinion and different approaches.

4) Attend supplementary classes. Research and find other classes on the topic you are studying, even if it means requesting a scholar to teach you a deeper book privately. Many scholars teach private classes outside their work time for the dedicated students and will be happy to accommodate such a request.

5) Never stop studying. This final point is crucial. Many people never study beyond the curriculum for the rest of their lives and are content with the introductory level courses. This limits your ability to benefit from your knowledge or benefit others with it.

In order to become a true scholar of Islam, you must embark of a life-long journey of seeking knowledge. You must be dedicated to being a student of knowledge for life. The thirst for knowledge should never feel quenched. There should always be a desire to learn more, to understand deeper, and to get closer to Allah through such knowledge.

Written by Shaykh Ismail Kamdar. Shaykh Ismail has spent almost two decades studying Islam and is the author of multiple books. All his ebooks can be found here.

Apr

2018

5 Ways To Build Your Self-Confidence

There are many ways to build your self-confidence. In my book, Best of Creation: An Islamic Guide To Self-Confidence, you will learn dozens of self-confidence boosting tips and lessons.

Here are 5 tips extracted from that book. You can purchase the full eBook here.

1. Focus on your strengths

Every one of us have both strengths and weaknesses. When we focus too much on our weaknesses, we tend to become pessimistic and lose our confidence. A simple shift in attitude towards thinking about your strengths instead will give you a boost in confidence.

Identify your strengths, give them attention, develop them, and choose goals that utilize them. In doing so, you will maximize the productivity of your life and maintain high levels of confidence.

2. Learn new skills

There are so many things we don’t know, and every new skill we learn can transform our lives for the better. Learning a new skill gives you confidence in your own abilities. You realize that you have the capabilities to continuously grow and become a better person, and it motivates you to pursue even higher goals.

It could be a simple skill like driving or using or computer, or something more complex like learning new languages or studying towards a degree. Whatever it is, learning new skills benefits you as an individual, gives you more value as a person and helps you fulfil your life goals.

3. Increase your knowledge

Never stop learning. Too many of us close our books forever after school or university and as a result, we limit our potential. The truly great people who accomplish wonders with their lives are those who remain students for life.

Take up new courses, explore new areas of interest, read new books, or attend a new class. Whatever method you choose to study, just keep at it and keep learning new things. In this way, you are always growing, and continuous growth continuously increases confidence.

4. Take up public speaking

The number one fear of most people is public speaking. In fact, some people fear public speaking more than death itself!

This is why learning to speak in public is one of the most powerful ways to build self-confidence. If you can overcome your fear of public speaking, you can overcome any other worldly fear.

Take up a course in public speaking, and slowly start developing this skill and overcoming this fear. You might just discover that you have a talent for it and then you can use this talent to benefit the ummah. Even if you don’t, the very task of overcoming this fear will give you confidence in other areas of your life.

A True Story

When I was a child, I was very timid and quiet. I was the quiet boy at the back of the class who never spoke up or put myself in the spotlight. I never imagined that one day I would speak in public professionally. During my teenage years, a classmate and I used to skip our turns at public speaking class by pretending to be sick. One day, we made a deal that if he speaks during his turn, I will speak during mine.

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He ended up holding up his end of the deal so I was forced into a situation in which I had to speak in front of a group of a few dozen fellow students. I still remember my nervousness and fear. I had written out a speech about unity and read it directly from the paper in front of the group, and afterwards many students came to praise me telling me I had a natural public speaking voice.

My friend never spoke again in public since that day, but I am grateful to him for pushing me to break my fear. Over the years, I attended courses, listened to criticisms and slowly improved my public speaking skills as it became something I do professionally and enjoy doing too.

Learning to speak in public was one of the defining moments in my life that boosted my confidence and shaped my future. You too can have such a confidence boost by overcoming your fear of public speaking too.

5. Practice, Practice, Practice!

Nobody is born a master of any skill. We all are born with certain built in strengths and weaknesses, but we can develop those strengths into real assets with constant practice. As a child, I loved to write, and as a teen I discovered that I was good at public speaking.

Looking back though, my early writing and public speaking skills weren’t all that good. I just kept practicing over the years, listening to criticism, reading articles, attending courses, and working on continuous improvement, and I continue to do so today.

If you discover you are good at something, don’t let it stop there. Take whatever you are good at and practice it until you become an expert in it. Doing so will boost your confidence and make you an asset to your community.

Learn more self-confidence tips!

These are just five, out of dozens, of self-confidence building lessons that you will learn from Best Of Creation. Purchase the eBook today to continue your journey towards Self-Confidence. Click here to purchase the eBook.

Feb

2018

4 Things About Barakah Every Muslim Must Know

Barakah is one of those Islamic concepts that many people know of, but don’t know much about. In this short article, I will explain four important things every Muslim must know about Barakah.

1. What is Barakah?

Barakah is often translated as Blessings in English. But that doesn’t tell us much about Barakah and what it actually is.

Barakah can be defined as spiritual blessings in any thing. It is the phenomenon of getting more done with less, in a manner that defies logic.

Three Examples of Barakah:

A) Getting five hours worth of work done in an hour
B) Writing an entire high quality book in a day
C) Money not getting finished despite spending a lot and giving a lot of charity

Barakah can occur in anything: money, time, family, work, results, dawah, writings, effects on others, food, and even life itself. A person who gets more done in a short 35 year lifespan than someone who lived 95 years had Barakah in his life.

Simply put, Barakah can’t be explained in a single English word. So we should stick to using the Arabic word. It is a type of Karamat (miracle) that Allah can grant to any believer.

2. How to get Barakah?

There is no single method of getting Barakah outlined in the Quran and Sunnah. But there are core Islamic concepts that definitely lead to Barakah for those who do it properly and sincerely. These can be listed as:

A) Earning and eating Halal only
B) Fulfilling the commands of Allah
C) Making dua for Barakah
D) Giving Charity
E) Praying Qiyam Al-Layl (Tahajjud)

The above have led to Barakah for thousands of Muslims throughout history. And when done properly with sincerity can lead to Barakah for you and me too.

3. If you have it, don’t question it

A lesser known aspect about Barakah is what to do when you experience it. Based on authentic Hadiths, we can conclude that if someone experiences Barakah, they shouldn’t tell question it. Doing so may lead to the Barakah disappearing.

The following two Hadiths are evidence of this:

Jabir reported that a person came to Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) and asked for food. And he gave him half a load of barley, and the person and his wife and their guests kept on making use of it (as a food) until he weighed it (in order to find out the actual quantity, and it was no more). He came to Allah’s Prophet (ﷺ) (and informed him about it). He said, “Had you not weighed it, you would be eating out of it and it would have remained intact for you.” (Sahih Muslim 2281)

Jabir reported that Umm Malik used to send clarified butter in a small skin to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). Her sons would come to her and ask for seasoning when they had nothing with them and she would go to that (skin) in which she offered (clarified butter) to Allah’s Apostle (ﷺ), and she would find in that clarified butter and it kept providing her with seasoning for her household until she had (completely) squeezed it. She came to Allah’s Apostle (ﷺ) and (informed him about it). Thereupon, he (ﷺ) said, “Did you squeeze it?” She said, “Yes.” Thereupon he (ﷺ) said, “If you had left it in that very state, it would have kept on providing you (the clarified butter) without ending.” (Sahih Muslim 2280)

In both of the above hadiths, the Barakah only ended when the individual questioned how it was happening by inspecting it. So if you experience Barakah, don’t question how it is happening. What should you do instead? Read on!

4. Express gratitude to Allah for it

“And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you are ungrateful, indeed, My punishment is severe.” (Surah Ibraheem 14:7)

The key to successful living is an attitude of gratitude. If you experience Barakah in anything, then express gratitude to Allah for it and don’t dwell on how it is happening. Accept it as a gift from Allah and try your best to use it in a way that is pleasing to Allah.

The most basic way to show gratitude is to say Alhamdulillah (All Praise is for Allah) and to use it to earn Allah’s pleasure. But for really amazing occasions of Barakah, we should make Sajdah Shukr (prostration of gratitude). This is done by immediately going into Sajdah and thanking Allah for His Blessings on you.

So there it is, four key points about Barakah that every Muslim must know. We end by asking Allah to put Barakah in this article, this website, these ebooks and all our efforts. Ameen!

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Feb

2018

5 Mental Blocks in the way of your goals

It can be very frustrating. You’ve read every book, watched every video, and tried every tactic. But you still have mental blocks preventing you from taking control of your time.

I understand. You are not alone.

Below are five common mental blocks that get in people’s way of managing their time. Remember: understanding the root cause is the first step to eliminating the problem.

So read on!

1. You are not serious about your goal

Some goals seem nice. They look fun. It may be something you think you want, but you are really not sure. It just sounded nice at the time.

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Well if this is the type of goal you have, then procrastination will become a lifestyle. If you want to achieve goals, take them seriously. Or at least set goals that you can take seriously.

Example of not serious goal: It would be nice to own my own home.
Example of serious goal: I will sell X amount of my product to earn X amount of money, so I can purchase my dream home. And I will try to do get this done within five years.

Think about it, which of the above two goals are more likely to lead to action and achievement?

2. Your goal is too materialistic

As a Muslim, it is hard to focus on goals that are purely materialistic. This is because we are spiritual beings, and we know that we have obligations to our Creator and His Creation. Because of this, purely materialistic goals cause cognitive dissonance which leads to lack of motivation to achieve them.

The fix: edit your goals to contain a spiritual element. This will make it purer, more beneficial in both worlds, and easier to achieve with Allah’s Help.

Example of materialistic goal: I want to be a millionaire.
Example of spiritual, yet worldly, goal: I will work to become financially free, so that I will have the time and resources necessary to complete my Dawah projects.

Both of the above want money, but one wants it for purer reasons, and so will be more motivated to get it the right way.

3. Your goal is too individualistic

Individualism is such a normal part of Western culture that many Muslims are unaware they have become individualistic. And they are unaware of how unislamic this lifestyle can be.

As Muslims, our fellow humans all have rights over us. We are meant to be contributors to the ummah, not focused entirely on our own desires. This is why our goals need to beneficial for the ummah. If your goals are selfish, then this too may lead to cognitive dissonance.

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The fix: Set goals that benefit yourself and others, and you will find deeper motivation to achieve them.

Example of individualistic goal: I want to write a book, so that it can sell millions of copies and I can become a bestselling author.
Example of ummah-centric goal: I want to write books that will benefit the ummah, and I hope that these books will reach and benefit millions of Muslims.

The second goal is purer, and more likely to lead to Allah’s Divine Assistance in achieving it.

4. You lack a strong why

If you have goals that lack a strong reason, then you will never gather enough strength to do what is necessary to achieve them. Goals are by their nature challenging. And only people who have a strong reason to achieve that goal will put in the necessary work to get it done.

If you find yourself not really interested in your goals, ask yourself why? Why is this my goal? And if you can’t find a deep enough reason, then replace it with a better goal. You owe it to yourself to only chase goals that are worth the chase.

Example of goal without a why: I want to write a book.
An Example of goal with a weak why: I want to write a book, so I can become famous.
Example of a goal with a strong why: I want to write a book about X topic, so that I can benefit millions of people with my experience in that field.

Only a strong why will lead to the necessary action needed to get it done!

5. You depend on mood and emotion

If you only work on your goals when you are in the mood, or pumped up, then chances are that you aren’t making progress. Goals should never depend on your emotional state. Goals worth achieving should be fixed parts of your daily life.

They should be at the top of your to-do list. And they should get worked on regardless of how you are feeling. If you want to achieve your goals, you need to stop depending on mood, and need to put your head down and work, whether you are in the mood to or not. Only then will you truly make progress.

Example of goal dependent on mood: I might write an article this week, depending on how I feel.
Example of serious goal: I will write and publish an article by Saturday, regardless of what happens or what my mood is.

You have to separate mood and emotions from your goals if you want to get them done.

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Feb

2018

Ertugrul Season 1: 4 Lessons I Learned

Note: Dirilis Ertugrul (Resurrection: Ertugrul) is a Turkish Historical Fiction TV Series.
Seasons 1-3 are currently available on Netflix.

This isn’t a review of Ertugrul Season 1. It is a reflection on some lessons that hit me when watching it. It took me a while to get down to watching the show, but after several recommendations, I am glad that I did.

Ertugrul is everything I wished for in a Muslim TV series. It is grounded, realistic, well acted, and portrays Islamic teachings is a practical, non-preachy, manner. I really love the show. Having finished watching Season 1 a few weeks ago, I decided to reflect on it for a while before writing.

I learned a lot watching Ertugrul but here are the four things that really hit me, which many people aren’t talking about:

1. The power of Media (especially TV Series) in shaping our cultures

I always knew that TV Series played an important role in shaping cultures. But until now almost any example I have seen is negative. Over the past two decades, I have seen the cultures of many Muslim homes eroded by Secular TV Series and their (lack of) morals. Slowly, some Muslims became accepting of Zina, Homosexuality, and all kinds of sin. The power of TV to influence the minds of the average person is scary.

Ertugrul is the first true example I have seen of the opposite. Over the past two months, I have been amazed by how many good qualities my friends, family and myself have picked up from this show. Ertugrul is bursting with good examples of everything: parenting, respecting parents and elders, treatment of spouses, honoring guests and so much more. And it really amazes me at how fast people are picking up these good qualities from watching this show.

Just imagine, two months of watching a Muslim TV series influenced some people so positively, imagine a generation raised on such wholesome media!

2. There is room for Historical Fiction in the Muslim world

I love fiction and believe it to be an extremely powerful tool for motivating people. A lot of people’s minds are captured by fictional stories. And they are influenced by these stories, whether they realize it or not.

However, the Muslim world has mixed opinions on fiction. There are Muslims who consider fiction completely Haraam and a waste of time. I know this, because such people gave me a hard time about my latest book ‘Ahmad Climbs A Mountain” which is fictional.

But there are also many others who appreciate a beneficial fictional story and realize there isn’t anything Haraam about it.

Ertugrul is historical fiction. Meaning that although it is based on history, with Ertugrul, Sulaiman Shah, Ibn Arabi, etc. all being real people from our history. The core story-lines are fictional to create an exciting Action-Adventure series.

And despite this, people have been very accepting of the show. In fact, I am yet to find Muslims bashing it for being fictional. This shows that there is room for more historical fiction in the Muslim world. Which gives me courage to finally work on some ideas I’ve been keeping locked away for the past few years. 😉

3. We really need our own media

It has become extremely difficult for Muslims families to find wholesome programs to watch. Almost every modern-day show promotes the liberal agenda and tries to force the LGBT agenda upon viewers. Now, more than ever, we need to invest in Muslim media.

Ertugrul is a great first step in the right direction. It is proof that Muslims can produce high quality exciting TV series that are grounded in Islamic culture and beliefs. Ertugrul clearly shows what we are capable of producing and that there is a demand for such products.

Now we need more companies to follow in its footsteps and produce more awesomeness. We know that the average person’s beliefs and views are shaped by the media they view. So we really need to invest in and produce our own awesome media.

My hope is that this will lead to a generation of Muslims that will grow up on Muslim media. And as a result, they will be proud of their Muslim heritage and culture. Such a generation could really make a different is revitalizing Islam in their countries.

4. Dignity, Honor and Respect are beautiful but forgotten aspects of Muslim culture

We don’t talk about these topics enough, and as a result we live in a time when the Muslim world lacks honor, dignity and respect. This show is proof that the best way to teach these qualities is not through talking, rather it is through demonstrating.

In this show, we see so many beautiful examples of men and women who are honorable, dignified and respectful to each other. When you see characters like Hayme and Ertugrul, you actual feel respect for them because of the way they carry themselves. It is really something that needs to be seen to be understood.

In an era in which people are confused about gender, Ertugrul teaches us that when men are real men, and women are real women, people will love and respect them. There is no need to try to be like the opposite gender. If you want respect, be true to the teachings of Islam.

If for no other reason, I would love for more people to watch this show just to observe the manners, dignity and respect the characters carry themselves with. I hope that through repeated viewings of such beautiful manners, we will all start to mimic their behavior, and revive these Sunnahs in our lives.

Your Thoughts

So there you have it, four things I learned from watching Season 1 of Ertugrul. Share your lessons in the comments below!

Studying Islam: Going Beyond Requirements

Curriculum and Limitations

Types of Students:

Why it matters

How to go deeper

5 Ways To Build Your Self-Confidence

1. Focus on your strengths

2. Learn new skills

3. Increase your knowledge

4. Take up public speaking

A True Story

5. Practice, Practice, Practice!

Learn more self-confidence tips!

4 Things About Barakah Every Muslim Must Know

1. What is Barakah?

2. How to get Barakah?

3. If you have it, don’t question it

4. Express gratitude to Allah for it

5 Mental Blocks in the way of your goals

1. You are not serious about your goal

2. Your goal is too materialistic

3. Your goal is too individualistic

4. You lack a strong why

5. You depend on mood and emotion

Ertugrul Season 1: 4 Lessons I Learned

1. The power of Media (especially TV Series) in shaping our cultures

2. There is room for Historical Fiction in the Muslim world

3. We really need our own media

4. Dignity, Honor and Respect are beautiful but forgotten aspects of Muslim culture

Your Thoughts

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