Self-improvement through the purification of one’s personal qualities. Islam is a way of life that teaches Muslims to focus on bettering themselves by following the Quran and the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). We should respect the dignity and interests of others. We should also safeguard our dignity and long term interests. Allah says
هُوَ الَّذي بَعَثَ فِي الْأُمِّيِّينَ رَسُولاً مِنْهُمْ يَتْلُوا عَلَيْهِمْ آياتِهِ وَ يُزَكِّيهِمْ وَ يُعَلِّمُهُمُ الْكِتابَ وَ الْحِكْمَةَ وَ إِنْ كانُوا مِنْ قَبْلُ لَفي ضَلالٍ مُبينٍ
“He is the one who has sent amongst illiterate people an apostle from among themselves who recites to them His verses and purifies them and teaches them the Book and the wisdom.” (Surah Al-Jumu’ah 62:2)
A faithful Muslim is alone by himself, he is not lonely. When a Muslim lives in dedicated pursuit of self-improvement in every aspect of his or her life, their good character will radiate to others and, therefore, serve to improve society as a whole. This dynamic change begins at the individual level by defining and cleansing one’s intention. Allah says
كَما أَرْسَلْنا فيكُمْ رَسُولاً مِنْكُمْ يَتْلُوا عَلَيْكُمْ آياتِنا وَ يُزَكِّيكُمْ وَ يُعَلِّمُكُمُ الْكِتابَ وَ الْحِكْمَةَ وَ يُعَلِّمُكُمْ ما لَمْ تَكُونُوا تَعْلَمُونَ
“As We sent to you an Apostle from among yourselves, who recites to you Our signs, and purifies you, and teaches you the Book and wisdom, and teaches you what you did not know.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:151)
It is important to at least try to find out what our selfish desire wants us to do. God has given us the ability to distinguish between what our egoism or greediness wants from us and those things which are in our ‘real’ interests. Improve your moral standards by cultivating integrity, conscientiousness, and right action. Allah says
Islam gives too much importance to seeking knowledge, and self-improvement:
- Islam strengthening our relationship with Allah
- Islam emancipates the mind from superstitions
- Islam gives importance to seeking knowledge
- Islam teaches that God is the Most Justice
- Islam emphasizes both evidence and faith
- Islam allows a person to truly God’s love
- Islam gives a person a clear perspective
- Be always employed in something useful
- Be true to find your hidden values
- Cut off all unnecessary actions
- Create an inspirational room
- Be challenging to practice daily
- Resolve to perform what you ought
- To be authentic to feel at home in yourself
- Having faith provides a spiritual foundation
- Positive thoughts prevent negative emotions
- Detach yourself, and your ability to be happy
- Forgiveness, making room for peace and love
- Motivate yourself to increase your good deeds
- Speak up for yourself and do what’s in your heart
- Practice courage is to do something new every day
- Forgiveness started, and then put steps into action
- Understand how to react to different situations in life
- Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself
- Practice authenticity, do something that reflects needs
Allah has created us in a way that when we serve ourselves, then we serve all human beings. Allah is telling us to take care of ourselves, to pay attention to ourselves, that we must be careful about the well-being of our spirits, that we must be aware of the diseases of our souls, and how to cure them. Allah says
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا عَلَيْكُمْ أَنْفُسَكُمْ ۖ لَا يَضُرُّكُمْ مَنْ ضَلَّ إِذَا اهْتَدَيْتُمْ ۚ إِلَى اللَّهِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ جَمِيعًا فَيُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
“O you who believe! Take care of yourselves; he who errs cannot hurt you when you are on the right path.” (Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:105)
He also tells us that we should pay attention to our duties, made obligatory on us as Muslims. Allah tells us that if we understand the way if we are faithful and committed believers, those who are misled will not harm us. From this, we understand that our first duty is to take care of ourselves spiritually.
Allah Almighty says in The Holy Quran:
- “Say with your mouth what is in your heart.” (Quran-3:167)
- “And say: My Lord, increase me in knowledge.” (Quran 20:114)
- “Indeed he succeeds who purifies his himself.” (Ash-Shams 91: 9)
- “Always speak the truth. Shun words that are deceitful and ostentatious.” (Quran-22:30)
- “Talk straight, to the point, without any ambiguity or deception.” (Quran-33:70)
- “We will soon show them Our signs in the universe and their souls until it becomes quite clear to them that it is the Truth.” (Quran 41:53)
- “Verily never will Allah (Exalted and Majestic) change the condition of a people until they change what is in their hearts.” (Ar Raad, 13: 11)
- “Choose the best words to speak and say them in the best possible way.” (Quran-17:53, 2:83)
Islam commanded to advise people to do good and forbid them from evil deeds. Islam taking care of oneself spiritually is closely interwoven with being concerned with the welfare of the society as well. God declares that the person who purifies his soul will be successful. A purified person desires nothing except what is good and moral for himself and others. Allah says
لَهُ مُعَقِّبَاتٌ مِّن بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِ يَحْفَظُونَهُ مِنْ أَمْرِ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُوا مَا بِأَنفُسِهِمْ وَإِذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ بِقَوْمٍ سُوءًا فَلَا مَرَدَّ لَهُ وَمَا لَهُم مِّن دُونِهِ مِن وَالٍ
“For him (are) successive (Angels) before him and behind him, who guard him by (the) Command of Allah. Indeed, Allah (does) not change the condition of a people, until they change what (is) in themselves. And when Allah wills for a people misfortune, then (there is) no turning away of it, and not for them besides Him any protector.” (Surah Ar-Ra’d 13:11)
Thus, we cannot simply go after our whims and desires and do whatever we want. We need to have self-control and self-discipline which leads to self-purification. If we purify our hearts we will no longer need to resist our temptations and control ourselves against lower desires and lusts. We study the necessity of self-control and self-purification. Quran emphasizes the importance of seeking knowledge. We should try to seek knowledge for the sake of Allah Almighty.
