“Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves.”
Quran 13:11
Why self-improvement is so complex and energy-consuming?
Just like many, when engaging in improvement, I failed every time to maintain the same energy and desire I started with (If I manage to start in the first place).
Then Islam points me to the source of my struggle:
Just like many, when engaging in improvement, I failed every time to maintain the same energy and desire I started with (If I manage to start in the first place).
Then Islam points me to the source of my struggle:
It’s all about the WHY!
A self-improvement attempt that originates from comparison, envy, jealousy, lust, or vanity will get me nowhere and feed on my energy instead of delivering. Those are diseases, and I kept treating them as cures.
This is why, in Islam, the illness of the heart is treated like that of the body. And just like a sick body will be hard, if not impossible, to develop, the ill heart will block physical and intellectual improvement efforts, and every attempt for advancement will encounter tedious friction caused by an agitated soul.
You see, every goal you set for yourself is challenged with two fatalities:
. First, it is a finite goal, limited by time and circumstances. Thus, you find yourself repeatedly changing your direction toward a new goal every time the situation changes, and that’s frustrating.
. Second, the desire behind it (the fuel that provides the energy for achieving every goal) is ever-changing in intensity and aspiration, but also it’s beyond our control.
So, you’ll spend your life following your unrestrained changes of heart: at a young age, you work hard and set all your life around getting the other gender’s attention and admiration; in your 30s, it’s all about money and professional success, in your 40s, it’s stability, then it is health and family …
Each one of those goals requires a whole specific world of preparation, will power, set of skills and commitment.
The smart thing to do then is to attach your hard work and commitment to an everlasting constant goal, then control and rectify your desires so your energy is not drained on versatile temporary delusions.
This is why, in Islam, the illness of the heart is treated like that of the body. And just like a sick body will be hard, if not impossible, to develop, the ill heart will block physical and intellectual improvement efforts, and every attempt for advancement will encounter tedious friction caused by an agitated soul.
You see, every goal you set for yourself is challenged with two fatalities:
. First, it is a finite goal, limited by time and circumstances. Thus, you find yourself repeatedly changing your direction toward a new goal every time the situation changes, and that’s frustrating.
. Second, the desire behind it (the fuel that provides the energy for achieving every goal) is ever-changing in intensity and aspiration, but also it’s beyond our control.
So, you’ll spend your life following your unrestrained changes of heart: at a young age, you work hard and set all your life around getting the other gender’s attention and admiration; in your 30s, it’s all about money and professional success, in your 40s, it’s stability, then it is health and family …
Each one of those goals requires a whole specific world of preparation, will power, set of skills and commitment.
The smart thing to do then is to attach your hard work and commitment to an everlasting constant goal, then control and rectify your desires so your energy is not drained on versatile temporary delusions.
“If We had willed, We would have elevated him with Our signs, but he clung to this life—following his evil desires. His example is that of a dog: if you chase it away, it pants, and if you leave it, it ˹still˺ pants. This is the example of the people who deny Our signs. So narrate ˹to them˺ stories ˹of the past˺, so perhaps they will reflect.”
Quran 7:176
First thing first: The heart
Islam teaches that every act is judged by its intention; that concept plays a crucial role in determining the quality of one’s actions and outcomes. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) emphasized that in his saying:
“Actions are but by intention, and every man shall have only that which he intended.”
(Sahih Bukhari)
Thus, Islam grounds every effort toward self-improvement in Purity of Heart:
A sincere intention rejects any commitment or a plan that seeks the admiration or attention of another human being but involves striving for goodness that aligns every goal with God’s will and guidance.
By attaching the heart to pleasing God, you attach it to an eternal and consistent goal, which provides a constant, everlasting energy source for every aspiration or ambition you set for your life.
When individuals align their goals with the aspiration to seek God’s satisfaction (eternal goal) and develop their character (desires) according to His guidance, their journey becomes more meaningful, rewarding, and, most importantly, filling the void in their souls before, even, achieving any personal goal.
It’s easier said than done, especially in the world of wild desires and distractions we are living in, that infect every soul and heart, so let’s see how Islam deals with that:
A sincere intention rejects any commitment or a plan that seeks the admiration or attention of another human being but involves striving for goodness that aligns every goal with God’s will and guidance.
By attaching the heart to pleasing God, you attach it to an eternal and consistent goal, which provides a constant, everlasting energy source for every aspiration or ambition you set for your life.
When individuals align their goals with the aspiration to seek God’s satisfaction (eternal goal) and develop their character (desires) according to His guidance, their journey becomes more meaningful, rewarding, and, most importantly, filling the void in their souls before, even, achieving any personal goal.
It’s easier said than done, especially in the world of wild desires and distractions we are living in, that infect every soul and heart, so let’s see how Islam deals with that:
Detoxification
Living comfortably with your bad habits and the altered state of your heart is the main obstacle to improvement. Therefore, the top priority is to uncover the purity of that heart from all the layers of impurity that have accumulated during past years and life experiences.
This requires confronting moral vices such as envy, hypocrisy, arrogance, vanity, and love of the material world through awareness, self-accountability, and repentance.
This requires confronting moral vices such as envy, hypocrisy, arrogance, vanity, and love of the material world through awareness, self-accountability, and repentance.
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah S.A.W said:
“Verily, when the believer commits a sin, a black spot appears upon his heart. If he repents and abandons the sin and seeks forgiveness, his heart will be polished, but if he increases in sin, the blackness increases. That is the covering which Allah has mentioned in his Book: ‘Nay, but on their hearts is a covering because of what they have earned’ .”
Embellishment
Now that your heart is freed from sins and bad habits shackles, it is time to occupy that void with the love of God Almighty, acts of generosity, bravery, good manners, gratitude, and remembrance, for the admiration of the Creator will not leave room for doubts, hypocrisy, grudges or seeking the admiration of the creation.
Flashing away all the negative emotions and heart-destructive grudges clears the way for pure and abundant energy to circulate freely to serve you in your quest for perfection.
The practical shortcut to that freedom of heart is generosity, sharing your blessings with others, volunteering your time and resources to those in need, standing up for what is right, even when difficult, and facing challenges with courage and faith because anxiety and crowdedness is one of the most spread illness of the heart in our time.
Practicing good manners will further enhance your heart’s capacity for love. Treat others with kindness and respect, promotion positive relationships through compassion.
Commit to worship by dedicating time to prayer and remembering God throughout your day. This will allow you to engage in daily practices that remind you of His presence, which drives away negativity and fear of the future or the unknown and leaves no room for doubts, hypocrisy, or the pursuit of love through worldly accessories.
Consequently, your body and soul stand on solid ground, using the confidence in the All-powerful, All-knowing and feeding from pure and abundant energy to flow into your life, empowering you on your journey toward continuous improvement.
Flashing away all the negative emotions and heart-destructive grudges clears the way for pure and abundant energy to circulate freely to serve you in your quest for perfection.
The practical shortcut to that freedom of heart is generosity, sharing your blessings with others, volunteering your time and resources to those in need, standing up for what is right, even when difficult, and facing challenges with courage and faith because anxiety and crowdedness is one of the most spread illness of the heart in our time.
Practicing good manners will further enhance your heart’s capacity for love. Treat others with kindness and respect, promotion positive relationships through compassion.
Commit to worship by dedicating time to prayer and remembering God throughout your day. This will allow you to engage in daily practices that remind you of His presence, which drives away negativity and fear of the future or the unknown and leaves no room for doubts, hypocrisy, or the pursuit of love through worldly accessories.
Consequently, your body and soul stand on solid ground, using the confidence in the All-powerful, All-knowing and feeding from pure and abundant energy to flow into your life, empowering you on your journey toward continuous improvement.
“Surely those who say, “Our Lord is Allah,” and then remain steadfast—there will be no fear for them, nor will they grieve.”
Quran 46:13
Don’t be hard on yourself, be hard on your sins and bad habits
God Almighty created the human soul to be prone to disobedience, error, forgetfulness, sin, regret, and repentance, but relying on God’s mercy and guidance makes elevating it easy and achievable.
The Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace,
said:
“By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, if you did not sin, God would replace you with a people who would sin and seek forgiveness from God Almighty, and He would forgive them”
Every human spends his life walking toward God, goodly or poorly, and that’s where self-improvement comes in.
Just keep in mind that success is guaranteed with a pure heart, good intentions, and positive actions.
Just keep in mind that success is guaranteed with a pure heart, good intentions, and positive actions.
“As for those who believe and do good, We certainly never deny the reward of those who are best in deeds.”
Quran 18:30