*"I LOST MY WAY: Finding Happiness after Despair" by Ustadha Yasmin Mogahed*
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SORRY FOR ALL THE TYPOS!
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*Fear, Anxiety...what should I do if there is something I'm afraid of?*
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(1) Make dua about what you're afraid of. "Ya Allah Azzawajal protect me from this, prevent this from happening." Maybe because of this dua you will be protected.
(2) Ask yourself: is there an action that I can take or need to take to protect myself or others from what I fear. If yes and the action is halal, then take that action.
(3) Let it go. Don't open the door. If it comes knocking again, repeat (1)+(2)
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Fear is a tool of Shaytan to lock us in anxeity. It stops us from getting closer to Allah and from living more fulfilled lives. If you do the steps above then you are using the fear to get closer to Allah instead. Shaytan will have to eventually stop specifically because you are getting closer to Allah.
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Replace negative thoughts with positive ones.
.
*Ways to increase happiness from the field of "Positive Psychology"* - similar concepts to #risinghigh
.
(1) Mindfulness - Being aware and being present in the current moment with whatever you're doing. Islamic examples are on a higher level: Khushu in solah, mindful of your remembrance of Allah, present with the Quran.
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(2) The practice of gratitude - Writing a journal of 3-5 points of gratitude each day. This can treat Depression. This is effective by shifting the focus from what we don't have to what we have. Allah says in the Quran, "If you are grateful, then I will give you more." When you appreciate what Allah has already given you, then He will give you more. Be appreciative of the people around you too, that's how we get more love/kindness/appreciation from them as well. Giving appreciation is giving respect.
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(3) Focus shift. Focus on what you have and it will grow, you will feel rich. Focus on what you don't have and it will also grow, you will fell poor. Focus on problems (be a problem solver) and you will drown (always with problems). *Allah Azzawajal is the one who solves problems so don't attempt to do it on your own. It's not in your power, it's in His.*
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What about doing your part so that Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala can take the wheel?
.
Your part is the first set of steps 1-3 above. Do that then let it go! Don't think about it anymore. It is also doing what you can, then having tawwakal. Tie the camel then trust in Allah. That's it. Don't keep thinking about it like a mental treadmill that goes nowhere. You will just tire yourself out and end up with the same result. Know when to let go.
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(4) Serve others and to be generous. People who serve others and spend on others that increases happiness.
.
*Spiritually, one of the reasons for our suffering is the lack of dhikr (remembrance) of Allah.*
.
Ask:
(1) Am I Praying. Am I praying on time? It is like medicine that has to be taken on time for the best effect. Don't compromise it (solah). Solah is what separates a Believer and a Rejector. When solah is missing Shaytan becomes your advisor and this is why this person will go downward, be easily led to sin/shamelessness, they will also be blind (spiritually blind to their Deen, sin and misdeeds) and they will have a narrow miserable life. Lack of oxygen (solah) leads to weakness and the inability to see properly: black seems white (sin looks attractive), white seems black (righteousness seems oppressive). Something ugly is beautified.
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*THERE IS NO USE REMINDING AND TALKING TO SOME PEOPLE ABOUT HALAL AND HARAM. THEY JUST CANNOT IMPROVE OR COME OUT OF SIN, WHY? OFTEN IT IS BECAUSE THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH ALLAH AZZAWAJAL. AND IT STARTS WITH A PROBLEM WITH SOLAH... PARTICULARLY LEAVING SOLAH.* Remember your solah is what Allah Azzawajal loves more. This is how you gets close to Allah. There is no way to get closer to Allah than what He has made obligatory.
.
HOW DO WE GET ALLAH TO LOVE US?
Always do the Obligatory then top up with the Sunnah acts of worship. And, stay away from innovation (bid'a)...as if what is in the Fard and Sunnah is not enough. Everything we need to get close to Allah is already in the Quran and Sunnah. If you start adding and thinking more can be done then it can be a trap of Shaytan.
.
Credit to: officialalizakim
.
SORRY FOR ALL THE TYPOS!
.
*Fear, Anxiety...what should I do if there is something I'm afraid of?*
.
(1) Make dua about what you're afraid of. "Ya Allah Azzawajal protect me from this, prevent this from happening." Maybe because of this dua you will be protected.
(2) Ask yourself: is there an action that I can take or need to take to protect myself or others from what I fear. If yes and the action is halal, then take that action.
(3) Let it go. Don't open the door. If it comes knocking again, repeat (1)+(2)
.
Fear is a tool of Shaytan to lock us in anxeity. It stops us from getting closer to Allah and from living more fulfilled lives. If you do the steps above then you are using the fear to get closer to Allah instead. Shaytan will have to eventually stop specifically because you are getting closer to Allah.
.
Replace negative thoughts with positive ones.
.
*Ways to increase happiness from the field of "Positive Psychology"* - similar concepts to #risinghigh
.
(1) Mindfulness - Being aware and being present in the current moment with whatever you're doing. Islamic examples are on a higher level: Khushu in solah, mindful of your remembrance of Allah, present with the Quran.
.
(2) The practice of gratitude - Writing a journal of 3-5 points of gratitude each day. This can treat Depression. This is effective by shifting the focus from what we don't have to what we have. Allah says in the Quran, "If you are grateful, then I will give you more." When you appreciate what Allah has already given you, then He will give you more. Be appreciative of the people around you too, that's how we get more love/kindness/appreciation from them as well. Giving appreciation is giving respect.
.
(3) Focus shift. Focus on what you have and it will grow, you will feel rich. Focus on what you don't have and it will also grow, you will fell poor. Focus on problems (be a problem solver) and you will drown (always with problems). *Allah Azzawajal is the one who solves problems so don't attempt to do it on your own. It's not in your power, it's in His.*
.
What about doing your part so that Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala can take the wheel?
.
Your part is the first set of steps 1-3 above. Do that then let it go! Don't think about it anymore. It is also doing what you can, then having tawwakal. Tie the camel then trust in Allah. That's it. Don't keep thinking about it like a mental treadmill that goes nowhere. You will just tire yourself out and end up with the same result. Know when to let go.
.
(4) Serve others and to be generous. People who serve others and spend on others that increases happiness.
.
*Spiritually, one of the reasons for our suffering is the lack of dhikr (remembrance) of Allah.*
.
Ask:
(1) Am I Praying. Am I praying on time? It is like medicine that has to be taken on time for the best effect. Don't compromise it (solah). Solah is what separates a Believer and a Rejector. When solah is missing Shaytan becomes your advisor and this is why this person will go downward, be easily led to sin/shamelessness, they will also be blind (spiritually blind to their Deen, sin and misdeeds) and they will have a narrow miserable life. Lack of oxygen (solah) leads to weakness and the inability to see properly: black seems white (sin looks attractive), white seems black (righteousness seems oppressive). Something ugly is beautified.
.
*THERE IS NO USE REMINDING AND TALKING TO SOME PEOPLE ABOUT HALAL AND HARAM. THEY JUST CANNOT IMPROVE OR COME OUT OF SIN, WHY? OFTEN IT IS BECAUSE THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH ALLAH AZZAWAJAL. AND IT STARTS WITH A PROBLEM WITH SOLAH... PARTICULARLY LEAVING SOLAH.* Remember your solah is what Allah Azzawajal loves more. This is how you gets close to Allah. There is no way to get closer to Allah than what He has made obligatory.
.
HOW DO WE GET ALLAH TO LOVE US?
Always do the Obligatory then top up with the Sunnah acts of worship. And, stay away from innovation (bid'a)...as if what is in the Fard and Sunnah is not enough. Everything we need to get close to Allah is already in the Quran and Sunnah. If you start adding and thinking more can be done then it can be a trap of Shaytan.
.
Credit to: officialalizakim
