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by Judith K. Muhammad
As a psychologist a significant part of my work is to facilitate the improvement of the quality of life. In preparation for this, it is often necessary to identify the specific personality traits that are causing problematic situations in the life of a patient. For my non-Muslim patients this is more difficult because their understanding of what will make them 'happy' and/or more 'comfortable' in their lives is often skewed. For my Muslim patients it is much easier because Qur'an and hadith make clear to us what will make us happier in this world and comfortable and happy in the next. As a Muslim I am concerned for myself, and for the Ummah, about which personality traits can cause us problems as Muslims - and which can be helpful. This is the first in a series of articles about the traits in the Islamic Personality that are most helpful to Muslims. I love hadith. I am a very visual person and hadith provide a visualization of Islam. Reading hadith is, for me, an experience similar to sitting in a group of Muslimah observing their behaviors or looking at the pictures my husband and I took of Makkah and Madinah. Both bring clear, vivid pictures in living color to my mind that are, indeed, worth a thousand words to my understanding. For this series of articles, I have chosen those hadith that, for me, are the most visual. I pray that they will provide, for the reader, the same experience. I have chosen this article, "Roaming" as the first because when I read this hadith it presented such a clear metaphoric visualization and because it felt like it had been written specifically for me. The hadith reads as follows: From Abu Sa'eed al-Khudree (who said that Allah's Messenger (pbuh) said: As a 'revert' I believe I have a unique appreciation for Islam and for the peace it has brought and continues to bring into my life because I have had the experience of not having Islam and the confusion that existed then. Still, as a revert, I sometimes 'revert' my thinking/feeling patterns to those of my life before Islam. I go, sometimes, to the 'ends' of the tethering strap. I even, sometimes, pull at it, trying to lengthen it. However, the stake (of Islam) is firmly planted and the strap strong. It only allows a specific amount of 'wandering'. Recently, as I wandered off again, I had the occasion to consult with one of our local scholars regarding a specific problem I was having within myself. His advice was simple. "Maintain salat and remember Allah often". I respect this Scholar more than I can tell you. So, when he gave me this simple yet complete advice, I took it. I had been delaying salat. I returned to making salat as soon as it came in. I also increased my remembrance of Allah. The simple advice helped. As I became more aware of my commitment to Allah and to Islam, the turmoil within me subsided significantly. I was able to see through the storm I had created. I, truly, had created it. (The good in our life comes from Allah and the bad from our own hands/hearts) As the storm clouds cleared I was able to see that, what I had perceived as a problem was indeed, a blessing. It not only enhanced my relationship with Allah and elevated my status, it also afforded me the opportunity to be of service to a fellow Muslim. AlHamdullillah!!! The 'feeding' in this case, came from the Scholar who so generously assisted me and from my following of his advice. He did, in fact, put the 'feed' out for me but it became necessary for me to 'eat'. When I did so, I became satisfied and calm. Probably, the best part in all of this for me is that I realize that I fit into the category of a Muslim. Because of my Christian upbringing, when I stray from the tethering stake, I begin to believe that I may not be Muslim at all - and that if I were, I would be 100% faithful all of the time. But, in reviewing this hadith, I have come to understand that we are always working toward total submission and that, while wandering takes me further away, the return provides me with support in my knowledge that I am, sincerely, Muslim. I am often reminded of the ayat in Qur'an that says that "Allah will not change the condition of a man until he changes what is in his own heart". Even in this endeavor, however, the changing of the heart, Allah assists. The Qur'an and hadith provide us with the help we need to 'see our way clear' to making the changes in our heart so that He can, then, change our condition. I have been able, AlHamdullillah, to change my heart in this matter. I now only have to be patient and wait for Allah to change the condition. In the meantime, Islam has given me peace with the situation. I pray that Allah will keep both you and I tethered firmly and will give us peace with our situations
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