| I'm gonna try out Google's Blogger. I've made it so anyone can post comments, so plzzz drop by!
http://fearhopelove.blogspot.com/ |
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| Morality and faith coexist and are codependent of each other.
You can not attain the status of piety simply by doing dhikr and praying a whole lot and committing evil or sinful acts in between. Similarly, you can reach piety by avoiding sins if you are not doing obligatory acts of prayer and voluntary acts of worship and remembrance.
I think many people can relate to feeling stuck at a certain level of faith.
I, for example, do the obligatory acts of worship and voluntary acts of worship. I do Sunnah prayers, dhikr, and Qur'anic memorization. I also commit some substantial sins. Why don't I have the energy to do Qiyam ul-Layl? or taraweeh every night? or pray fajr in the masjid a few times a week? This is where people dismiss it as laziness or unwillingness to do these things. I agree on some level, but in my case I know I'm stuck. I lack what seems to be motivation and this stems directly from my sins.
Let's say an electric car can only drive 40 miles in a days time (and each day it resets). Every deed would be equivelant to using a few miles. So if, I spend miles on sins then I have less miles for good deeds. Now, someone who doesn't sin would be like the hybrid car. Two engines that feed off each other so the person needs little breaks and can keep goin with their good deeds.
That's kind of a vague analogy. But I think everyone will get the picture.
If you feel stuck and dunno why, there somethin in there that's limitin your daily mileage and limitin you from reaching the level of hybrid  . These things are numerous and we overlook them.
Here are some examples:
disobedience to parents
backbiting
casually mixing with nonmuslims (incl. chatting online)
casually mixing with the opposite gender (incl. chatting online)
checkin out the opposite gender
lying
lying in jest (the Prophet p.b.u.h. would often joke but never lie jokingly)
cursing or ill talk/behavior
regularly witnessing cursing or ill talk/behavior (including tv, movies, games, music, books, etc)
excessive laughter
listening to music
shunning other muslims (especially due to societal reasons)
These are a handful of common ones. All MAJOR sins are assumed, of course. Now if you feel stuck, see how many of these you engage in and start to limit and eliminate them. I would start with what's easiest then work your way through [your] list. Your taqwa will increase as you do this, insha Allah.
Also, as you are getting rid of those add some of these:
practicing Khushu' in prayer
visiting the masjid (which would lead to acts of sadaqah - smiling to your bro/sis in islam is a sadaqah)
Qiyam ul-Layl
reciting and memorizing Qur'an
reflecting on meaning in the Qur'an
doing dhikr (this could turn ANY permissable thing into an act of worship, insha Allah)
making du'a
Let us ask Allah to increase us in steadfast worship, and iman, and taqwa, and knowledge and patience. Let us also ask Him to remove what burdens we have in our breast and make ease of trials and tribulations we may endure. Insha Allah we will be of the people guided to Paradise and not mislead to Hellfire. |
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| I live my life in the moment.
I'm an idiot for that. |
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| True love is not a flower
That springeth in an hour;
Its flint will not strike fire
At casual desire.
Love is an infant rare
Begotten, slow to bear;
Its lime must mingle long
Before its base is strong.
And then not soon will it
Be undermined, and split;
Firm will its structure stand,
Its fabric still expand.
This truth is readily
Confirmed, because we see
That things too quickly grown
Are swiftly overthrown.
Mine is a stubborn soil
To plough with arduous toil,
Intractible indeed
To tiller and to seed.
But once the roots begin
To strike and thrive therein,
Come bounteous rain, come drought,
The lusty stem will sprout.
Poem by ibn Hazm from his book The Ring of the Dove ("tawq al-hamama") from chapter "Of Falling In Love After Long Association" |
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