Have You Lost Hope While Climbing the Spiritual Height? There is a Way- Out

By Mubarak Abdul-Wahab

Every one of us wants to die in the state of spiritual purity but is everyone treading the path? As a believer, one's heart is supposed to crave for spiritual purity or else one may slip and fall into the gloomy pit of spiritual laxity which may impact negatively in one's earthly sojourn and eternal life. Also remember the benefits of climbing this height because you will be close to Allah and become pious. You will be of those who will always find it difficult to disobey his /her Lord. Most importantly you will be of those who will be successful in this world and the hereafter. Our sojourn in planet earth will be a waste if all these are not achieved. Do you want to be among those who make it? The following are ways of purifying thyself

1.  Iman

This is absolute negation of the dual concept of God. It means affirming the uniqueness of Allah, which is summarily proclaimed as lailaaha Illa Allah Muhammadu Rasuulilah (There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and Muhammad is his messenger).This is obviously the denial of claimants to divinity. Consequently, one who believes in Allah is a believer and thus must be faithful to Allah by worshiping Him alone and submissive to His authority by not negotiating His commands in anyway.

Allah says in Surah Aal-e-Imran, Verse 19

“Truly, the religion with Allah is Islam. Those who were given the Scripture (Jews and Christians) did not differ except, out of mutual jealousy, after knowledge had come to them. And whoever disbelieves in the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allah, then surely, Allah is Swift in calling to account.”

Whatever befalls you is of His desire. Whatever you achieve or lose is destined by Him. You need to always accept His judgment in your life and do not blame any or praise fellow creature with regards to your fortune, for neither man nor jinn can decide your affair except by Allah's leave.  Allah asserted in Surah Al-Qamar, Verse 49

“Verily, We have created all things with Qadar (Divine Preordainments of all things before their creation, as written in the Book of Decrees Al-Lauh Al-Mahfuz).”

2. Knowledge

Seeking knowledge prevents you from being witless and ignorant; it sustains your spiritual commitment while ignorance is the bane of laxity. No wonder the pre-Islamic era was characterized by ignorance. While the Islamic era started by commanding to read, "Read in the name of your Lord who created." The Caped command to read in the name of Allah while the Quran is opened in the name of Allah;

Allah asserts in Surah Al-Alaq, Verse 1

“Proclaim! (or read!) in the name of thy Lord and Cherisher, Who created”

I.                     The first kind of knowledge to be acquired is therefore that of Allah as asserted in the Quran and sunnah

II.                  Learn the language of the Quran so that you can hear Allah talk

III.                Study the sunnah and imbibe the practice

IV.                Search for the knowledge that will grant you means of livelihood and sustenance

V.                  Know the fundamentals of your Religion

The Prophet (PBUH) said: “Seeking for knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim.” (Muslim)

The Prophet (PBUH) was also reported to have said: "Whoever follows a path seeking knowledge, Allah makes their path to Jannah easy for them" (Sahih Muslim)

3. Devotion

Devotional exercises are nourishments to faith. They take you higher and make more you rejuvenated and refreshed. They bring about tranquility, serenity and contentment of the heart. They balance your health and sustain your mental alertness. To be candid, they are the seeds that bring about fruit and piousness making you sinless.

 Ibadaat are the most fundamental devotions. Pray at right time with khushuu (humbleness). Pray as though Allah is watching you; pray as though it is your last, be firm in concentration, recitation and supplication. Do not ever rush in the front of your Lord. Take your time to stand, bend, prostate and sit before Him. Every stage of salt deserves calmness and serenity.

 Add value be patient and add value to your obligatory salaam be patient, rise for nawafil. It is an additional source of you earning rewards for. It uplifts your righteousness and moves you closer to Allah. Always remember to observe nawafil

 Start your day with devotions, arrive the mosque early, observe your pre-subhi  two Rakaat, start your dhikr, read your morning adhkar and read the Quran. Read your salaatil duha, and fast on Mondays and Thursdays, 13th, 14th and 15th of the Islamic month.

4. Good conduct

Good conduct is the flesh of spirituality. It means humility and obedience to the Almighty. It is exhibiting modest character.

Narrated Abu Hurayrah:

The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “Anybody who believes in Allah and the Last Day should not harm his neighbor, and anybody who believes in Allah and the Last Day should entertain his guest generously, and anybody who believes in Allah and the Last Day should talk what is good or keep quiet (i.e. abstain from all kinds of evil and dirty talk).” (Sahih Al Bukhari, Vol: 8 Hadith 47.)

It is pivotal to be kind to others to have this feature one must avoid:

1. Lust which is a spiritual disease associated with the heart and thus leads to many other diseases. If one has this disease he is led astray by his desires and sees this desires as good even though it is otherwise, it is the root of all evils in life. Its cure is restraint and abstinence.
2. Denying the blessings of Allah, lack of abstinence and domination of ignorance. Its cure is to inculcate habit of critical thinking
3. Avoid being envious, envy is a fatal disease that destroys one and make one a jealous person. The jealous person feels highly irritated. It cure is acceptance of one's destiny and total submission to the will of Allah. 
4. Greediness. This disease is a miserable one that obliterates disease from the heart. It spoils mutual relationship and the greedy covets the things of his friends. The real root of greediness is ignorance and stupidity. Its cure is contentment. Worldly comforts should not be overemphasized and the attitude of indulgence renounced. Its remedy is not to covet what belongs to others.

Allah says in Surah Al-Muddathir, Verse 6:

“And give not a thing in order to have more (or consider not your deeds of Allah's obedience as a favour to Allah).”

Jabir reported that The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“If the son of Adam had a valley of date palms, he would wish for another like it, then another and another, until he wished to have many valleys. Nothing will fill his belly but the dust of the grave.”(Source: Musnad Ahmad 14255 Grade: Sahih)

The Propphet (PBUH) said:

"Verily, Allah does not look at your appearance or wealth, but rather He looks at your hearts and actions.Source: Sahih Muslim 2564, Grade: Sahih”

Also in Surah Ash-Shams, Verse 9-10 Allah says

“Indeed he succeeds who purifies his own self (i.e. obeys and performs all that Allah ordered, by following the true Faith of Islamic Monotheism and by doing righteous good deeds).

And indeed he fails who corrupts his own self (i.e. disobeys what Allah has ordered by rejecting the true Faith of Islamic Monotheism or by following polytheism, etc. or by doing every kind of evil wicked deeds).”

Therefore my beloved brothers and sisters in Islam, let's try to purify ourselves and make it to Jannah so that we can fulfill our reason for being in this world. May Allah bless us all and make us of those who purify themselves and thus make it to Jannah.

By Mubaraq Abdul-Wahab