Wijhah Initiative Podcast

It is not sufficient that one identifies what the Truth is; it is also imperative that one follows and submits to it. Obstacles that prevent one from submitting to the Truth include pride, ignorance, and heedlessness. How do we overcome these obstacles so that our lives align with the Truth?

This week, we begin a study of some cognitive distortions that can lead to maladaptive feelings and/or behaviours. We begin with a study of Surat Ad-Duha which provides us with a framework on how to begin healing from our pain. In this surah, Allah Most High addressed Prophet Muhammad ﷺ when he was sad and anxious. Ad-Duha is the Arabic word for “dawn,” which is quite an appropriate metaphor for w...

As we resume our weekly sessions in the new year, we will discuss the next section of ‘Treatise for the Seekers of Guidance’ regarding keeping good company on the spiritual path. Since spirituality involves inculcating beautiful traits in one’s life, Imam al-Muhasibi advises us to monitor the company we keep, since ‘a person is on the path of their friend.’

In the next passage of ‘Treatise for the Seekers of Guidance,’ Imam al-Muhasibi teaches us not to complain about Allah to His creation in the hopes of alleviating our difficulties. Islam liberates us from subservience to creation and delivers us to the service of Allah Most High. So, when we want to seek help from anyone, we ought to seek help from the One in whose control lies all matters.

Before undertaking the enormous task of inviting Pharoah to Allah, Prophet Musa supplicates to Allah asking that Allah facilitate ease at every step of the way. In doing so, Prophet Musa demonstrates his utter and complete reliance on Allah for getting the job done. In this, we learn valuable lessons about recalibrating the locus of control in our lives.

On the spiritual path, one of the most beneficial forms of exertion is opposing the whims of one’s soul. God elevates those who exert themselves; any thing of value in this world has to be worked for, and there is nothing more valuable than a purified soul and a rectified heart. How does one engage in this exertion in a healthy and balanced way?

Sometimes, we end up in situations in life where we aren’t sure if we can handle the tasks given to us. We may feel we’re not competent enough or strong enough to handle the pressure. Yet, we learn from the incident of the Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) being tasked to preach to Pharaoh that, with God, nothing is too great to overcome.

Many of us find it difficult to reconcile between planning for the future and trusting Allah’s plan. We might end up at opposing extremes: either obsessing over our plans or refusing to make any plans at all. The correct path is the middle as Imam al-Muhasibi explains in the next section.

At some point in our lives, we find ourselves in a situation where there doesn’t appear to be any hope on the horizon. Doors are shut and opportunities have vanished. What’s the way forward? As we move forward in the life of the Prophet Musa, we discover that he finds himself in such a situation.

Many of us find it difficult to reconcile between planning for the future and trusting Allah’s plan. We might end up at opposing extremes: either obsessing over our plans or refusing to make any plans at all. The correct path is the middle as Imam al-Muhasibi explains in the next section.

One of the hardest practices for the ego is to exercise patience when we’re wronged. We find it very obvious when someone has wronged us; yet, we can often fail to notice that we have wronged others. By practicing patience and focusing on correcting our own flaws, we can earn the pleasure of God.

Following a description of Prophet Musa’s childhood, the Qur’an describes an encounter of his that leaves him a fugitive on the run. He flees the palace of Fir’aun and reaches the desert with no provisions or water. In such a state, as he flees from the tyranny of Fir’aun, Prophet Musa utters some words that contain extremely powerful lessons for us.

Allah Most High revealed verses in the Quran that inspire hope within us for times that we are feeling spiritually low. He also revealed verses that remind us to maintain reverence and respect for Him. In sum, our faith (iman) exists between hope and fear of God.

In the Quran, the story of Prophet Musa begins with an account of his mother’s distress regarding the fate of her child. As she feared for her child’s life, Allah Most High commanded her to do the unthinkable: release him from her protection and cast him into the river. Where does a mother acquire such courage and strength?

The path to developing sincerity and taqwa (God-conciousness) begins with taking account of one’s actions and developing self-awareness. Before we are presented with a summary of what we did in our lives, we would be wise to take account of ourselves everyday.

Our Prophet ﷺ faced immense difficulties and pressure in his early days in Makkah. Surrounded by the tyranny of his people, our Prophet ﷺ was comforted by Allah through the revelation of the Quran. The Quran is filled with stories of the various prophets that Allah sent. Allah Most High explains that the reason He relates these stories to us is so that our hearts may be strengthened: “We have told...

This week, we will wrap up our exploration of “With the Heart in Mind” with a discussion of how the Prophet ﷺ served as the perfect role model of moral intelligence.

After emphasizing that Islamic spirituality must be rooted in the Quran and Sunnah, Imam al-Muhasibi reminds us to examine our intentions in all that we do. By remaining vigilant of and purifying our intentions and objectives, we develop God-consciousness, which is the path to spiritual growth as a believer.

In recent days, we as an Ummah have witnessed unimaginable disregard for the sanctity of human life, specifically the lives of our brothers and sisters in Gaza. In such moments, our hearts may be filled with pain, anger, frustration, and disappointment. We may begin to feel the onset of hopelessness and wonder how to remain optimistic. We may even begin to question why God has not yet intervened t...

Imam al-Muhasibi describes someone who adheres to the teachings of the Quran as someone who has “emerged from the darkness of ignorance into the light of knowledge, and from the torment of doubt into the comfort of certitude.” From this, we understand that the Quran possesses the power to transform individuals, provided they open their hearts to be touched by its message.

Last week, we discussed how a Muslim approaches developing a moral standard which they abide by. This week, we will discuss the first of the five elements of moral intelligence: having a moral compass that is calibrated to Prophetic ideals.

After establishing the Quran and Sunnah as the foundation of Islamic spirituality, Imam al-Muhasibi outlines how a believer ought to approach the book of God: acting according to its commandments and prohibitions; responding to its threats with fear and to its promises with longing; and to reflect on its stories and parables.

Having discussed emotional intelligence in previous weeks, we now turn our attention to the third and final section of “With the Heart in Mind.” This section discusses moral intelligence, which some have defined as “the capacity to process moral information and to manage the self in a way that realizes that moral ideal.”

A well-known narration of our Prophet ﷺ called the Hadith of Jibreel serves as one of the foundational sources for our understanding of Islamic spirituality. In this hadith, our Prophet ﷺ is asked multiple questions about the three aspects of religion (Islam, Iman, and Ihsaan) by the angel Jibreel. This week, we will discuss the answer given by our Prophet ﷺ about Ihsaan: “that you worship God as...

Imam Al-Muhasibi begins his book with a description of Allah’s righteous servants as being people who are faithful, virtuous, fearful, and reverent. He then lays the foundation for how spirituality should always be measured and understood: its adherence to Allah’s guidance in the Quran as demonstrated by the Prophet ﷺ.