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Jennifer Anderson
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1 Our beloved brother Umar Quinn embarks on a four- part lecture seminar titled Take Account of Yourself Before It's Too Late (Feb.2014 Toronto, Canada). Review - Umar Quinn discusses the natural inclination of the soul, its dangers and the manner in which it should be controlled. This thorough and example ladened series of lectures explains in details the various aspects of how our souls can lead us to evil without the steadfastness and the mercy of Allah and concludes with the tools and techniques one must develop to defeat it. Opening Statement - Every affair of great importance that will bring a person the good in this world and the hereafter, protect him from harm, the evil of this world and the hereafter. That which will bring him close to Allah (subhaanahu wa ta aala), endear him to Allah (subhaanahu wa ta aala), distance him far from the fire and protect him from the punishment of Allah (tabaaraka wa ta aala). Every affair of great importance has been explained in great detail in the book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Nabee (sallallahu alayhi wa salaam). Verily this is a religion of details (Tafseer). Lesson 1 notes: Al- Muhaasabah - Judging oneself before they are judged. A person is going to be held responsible for their actions. The more one focuses on this aspect the better off they will be. Muhaasabah: Two things are the wings of the believers by which they fly towards Allah (subhaanahu wa ta aala). 1. Recognizing one s many uncountable flaws, shortcomings and defects.. 2. Observing, recognizing and steadily being cognizant of the favors of Allah. The purpose of the sending of the Revelation is two things: 1. To teach the creation how to show gratitude to Allah for his many favors. 2. To teach the creation how to use those favors in a manor that is pleasing to Allah. When a person realizes the tremendous favors of Allah upon him. The fruit that comes from that is the love of Allah (subhaanahu wa ta aala). The more a person loves Allah (subhaanahu wa ta aala), the more that recognition and love will drive them to be a better and more obedient slave of Allah. There is nothing more effective in erasing a person's sins than the tawheed of Allah. The things a person must have to be a Muslim: 1. The Love of Allah (subhaanahu wa ta aala). 2. The fear of Allah (subhaanahu wa ta aala). 3. The hope of Allah (subhaanahu wa ta aala). 4. The veneration of Allah (subhaanahu wa ta aala). No matter what the Muslim falls into of sin and disobedience to Allah (tabaaraka wa ta aala). He is still upon the recognition of the fact that Allah (tabaaraka wa ta aala) alone is his Lord, is the bestower of blessing and is in control of the entirety of every affair (whether for the benefit or the harm). The soul inclines to that which it desires, that which brings it pleasure and that which it knows it has been forbidden from. So whoever forbids his soul from what Allah (tabaaraka wa ta aala) has forbidden, then paradise will be his abode. As for the one who goes beyond the bounds and he prefers the life of this world. Then verily the hell- fire will be his abode.

2 As for the one who fears the standing with his Lord, and he forbids his soul from his desires then the paradise will be his abode. Indeed the soul is constantly ordering with evil. Except with those Allah has mercy upon. The soul that is shown mercy is the soul that Allah (tabaaraka wa ta aala) protects. When the soul strives to commit that which Allah has forbidden. It will then chastise and criticize you on the Day of Judgement for that same sin. The intelligent person forces himself to take precaution against his own soul and to struggle against it as if fighting for his own life. Lesson 2 notes: There is tremendous danger in one s soul. His soul is his worst enemy and is more dangerous to him than a person that wants to violate his honour. This life is a transaction, a covenant that Allah (tabaaraka wa ta aala) has with you. Allah has purchased from the believers their lives and their property so that the Jannah may be for them. They are in a business transaction with Allah (tabaaraka wa ta aala). The profit of which will be seen on the day when the people (the disbelievers) see the reality of how they have cheated themselves. There are two aspects of which many people are deceived and cheated: 1. Their health. 2. Their free time. Those people who are journeying with their hearts to Allah (tabaaraka wa ta aala) are all unanimous upon the fact that the soul is an obstacle between their heart and arriving to Allah. The soul of the person is like an enormous mountain that is standing in the middle of a road that leads to Allah (tabaaraka wa ta aala). There is no way for a person to enter upon a meeting with Allah (tabaaraka wa ta aala) except by abandoning and conquering the desires of the soul. There are two types of people: 1. The kind of people who self- destruct and are beaten by their own selves. Their nafs get the better of them and enslave them. They become subservient to the command of their own souls. 2. The kind of people who ve concurred themselves and overcame their soul, which was calling them to evil. And their souls began to co- operate with them. The journey to Allah (tabaaraka wa ta aala) consist of two steps: 1. Taking your heart entirely out of the dunyaa and transplanting it in the hereafter. 2. Taking the book of Allah (tabaaraka wa ta aala) and reading it with contemplation and reflection, one verse at a time. All of the diseases of the heart come from the soul which orders it with evil. If a person allows his soul to take control and does not take control of himself and his desires. His self will plot a plot that is greater than any plot that the shaytaan could ever plot against him. If your worst enemy took your honour, stole all your wealth and killed you, It would be a means of your sins being expiated due to the hardship of the dunyaa. And your level being raised by Allah (tabaaraka wa ta aala) for fulfilling your right of defending yourself and dying defending yourself. But if your nafs were to overtake you it would place you in the punishment of Allah (tabaaraka wa ta aala) in the worst way. The journey of those that are seeking nearness to Allah (tabaaraka wa ta aala) often ends up

3 being accomplished after defeating oneself. Allah (subhaanahu wa ta aala) gave the soul three conditions: 1. The soul that is in a state of tranquility and rest and has found pleasure in the worship of Allah (tabaaraka wa ta aala). 2. The soul which is ordering a person with evil. 3. A self reproaching soul: A soul which is rebuking and casting blame on the person. There is no situation or moment where a person is free of needing Allah (subhaanahu wa ta aala). And when the soul is found to be contrary to this affair, then it is ordering the person with that which they desire. If then a person cooperates with that matter it will lead them to every disgusting affair and evil. That is the nature and constant habit of the soul. Unless Allah (subhaanahu wa ta aala) makes the soul pure in ordering its possessor with every good. If a person finds that their soul is ordering and encouraging them with good then that is from the mercy of Allah (subhaanahu wa ta aala). When Allah (subhaanahu wa ta aala) wants good for a soul of a person. Then Allah (subhaanahu wa ta aala) will place within it that which will purify and develop correct intentions and understandings. Lesson 3 notes: Every soul will blame itself on the day of judgement and nobody will be exempted. When the people see the hellfire far from a distance they will hear it inhaling and exhaling. If Allah (subhaanahu wa ta aala) was to place his punishment upon all of the inhabitants of the earth he would do so without oppressing a single one of them. And if he showed them mercy, it would be better for them than all of their actions. No human being will feel as though they ve done enough to enter Jennah without the mercy of Allah (tabaaraka wa ta aala). The believer is constantly criticizing himself and never feels as though he has given the rights of Allah as it is binding upon him. He holds his soul in contempt no matter what he is doing. There are two cures for the sickness of the heart: a) The reckoning with the soul; taking the soul to account. b) Opposing the soul; fighting and struggling against the soul. The soul with its possessor is like two individuals partnered in a business venture. There is a continual argument between a man s eemaan and his nafs as regards to his good deeds, bad deeds, his blessings and all other situations. The science of Al- Muhaasabah: a) Coming to a terms of agreement with the soul. This is the initial agreement between one's eemaan and one s nafs. b) Supervise yourself - Be shy over the fact that the one who is greater than everything else is watching you. c) Perform the accounting Reckoning with yourself before the action. Reckoning with yourself after the action. d) Rebuking oneself - If one finds any treachery after performing the accounting he prevents himself from any further treachery. Lesson 4 notes:

4 The first step in the process of dealing with the soul is coming to a preliminary agreement. An agreement that you will restrict yourself to that which will benefit you and prevent yourself from that which will harm you. The seven limbs of a person (eyes, ears, tongue, private parts, hands, feet and nose) are the vessels which lead a person to either ruin or salvation. Safeguarding them is the foundation of every good and ignoring them is the foundation of every evil. Once a person has come to agreement with his soul regarding preserving his limbs he must constantly observe and supervise them. For verily if he was to leave them unsupervised they would fall into treachery. When one feels that he is falling short with the agreement he has with his limbs he transitions from the perspective of supervising himself to reckoning with himself. The different points of reflection a person goes through when he acts to do a thing: a. Question: Is the thing he is trying to do decreed for him or not? Does he have the ability or scope to do it? b. Question: Is doing that thing of benefit or is it better to leave it? i. Answer - No: If it is better to leave it then he leaves it. ii. Answer - Yes: If it is of benefit then he ways the harms and the benefits. If the benefits are good he considers the next question. c. Question: Is the driving force to do this thing the seeking the face and reward of Allah (subhaanahu wa ta aala) or is the true intention to be praised, for status or wealth from the people? i. Answer - No: If it is not leading him to Allah (subhaanahu wa ta aala) then he does not do it. ii. Answer - Yes: If it is for the sake of Allah (tabaaraka wa ta aala) then he proceeds to the next question. d. Does that thing require him to have the support of the people? i. If he does not have the support to do what he needs he holds back. ii. If he has the support then he proceeds with that thing. The general conditions for the acceptance of actions: a) Sincerity for Allah. b) A genuine sincere determination - That you give your greatest effort and not get distracted. c) Following the sunnah. d) That you worship Allah (tabaaraka wa ta aala). e) He observes the favours of Allah (subhaanahu wa ta aala). f) That you realise the shortcoming in regards to everything you ve done.

5 The benefits of reckoning with the soul and holding the soul accountable - It provides a perspective and outlook regarding one s shortcomings and flaws.

Version 1.0 November 27 th Regarding the last ayah of Soorah Yoosuf (alayhis-salaam) wherein Allaah subhaanahu wa ta aa'la says,

Version 1.0 November 27 th Regarding the last ayah of Soorah Yoosuf (alayhis-salaam) wherein Allaah subhaanahu wa ta aa'la says, INDEED IN THEIR STORIES, THERE IS A LESSON FOR MEN OF UNDERSTANDING By Imaam Abdur-Rahmaan Ibn Naasir as-sa dee (rahimahullaah) Translation by Hishaam Ibn Zayd Version 1.0 November 27 th 2003 As-Shaykh