Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Female: I have worn Hijab for only one year. Before, that I used to wear very provocative clothes and makeup, and cut my hair stylishly. When I went to college, people looked down on me. I felt socially unacceptable. My mother used to push me a bit to wear something less tight, but I always liked my-self. Although I became a friend of many religious colleagues, they respected me very much, so I really enjoyed their company.
After a year, they started to encourage me to pray, as I would not always pray. I started to bring a Hijab and a loose skirt to pray. Eventually I personally felt it is better to go to college with looser clothes. I also became quite punctual in praying. I started reading from the Mosque's library, as well as going with my friends to Islamic lectures. I realized then that I had the Unserious Self.
The decisive moment came because of a peculiar situation. One of my friend's mother died without an alarming sicknesses. I patted on her shoulder in the funeral, and she was admitting for dental major. That night I felt how close death is. And that night I made the solemn decision of wearing the Hijab.
Another audience: My mother and the entire family were against my idea of wearing the Hijab. Now my mother enjoys to see me wearing it. Amr Khaled: Have you guys noticed how girls associate wearing the Hijab with Jihad An-nafs! It is difficult. Now, what are the emperical steps to perform Jihad An-nafs? Anyone? A lot are raising hands.
1- Ask Allah for provision and support. I have supplicated to Allah to make me hate anything that angers Him. And I have experienced that in my nature afterwards very distinctively. Amr Khaled: God bless you! Guys, this is the strongest and most significant point that can ever be said. I have known people who supplicated for 2-3 years, without any fruitful results. And in a moment, the transgression of the heart leaves completely. It feels like it has never been inside.
This is a message to youth who has become addicted to a temptation: alcohol, illegal drugs, parents disobedience, or whatever that you would say about "I cannot resist this." That is why it is known from the Sunnah to say after every Salaat "O Allah, support/help me remembering, thanking, and perfecting my worshipping to you." This is a very workable solution. Never forget your heart is owned by Allah.
He may delay your request, for no reason but to see how sincere you are. But eventually He must accept it. #2? 2- Do Thikr (remembrance of what is Islamic). Allah says "And remind (by preaching the Qur'an, O Muhammad) for verily, the reminding profits the believers(55)" (Tharyat). So Allah says it empirically profits.
3- Audience: Determine the goal, so you have a greater ambition in Jiad. The goal should be Heaven, which should be a very watchful a goal. 3- Amr Khaled: the more loving to Heaven and Allah's satisfaction your heart is, the more Jihad your heart will be capable of. So far we have said 3 steps/ways, so can you repeat them? *repeated*
4- Have good friends! Tell me about your friends, and I will tell you if you even can repent. See what Allah says "And (remember) the Day when the Zalim (wrong-doer, oppressor, polytheist, etc.) will bite at his hands, he will say: "Oh! Would that I had taken a path with the Messenger (Muhammad)(27) Ah! Woe to me! Would that I had never taken so-and-so as a friend!(28)" (Al-Furqan). Don't be like that.
The episode's time is almost over, but we have to remember that Jihad is our solution. Time must come to stop my great weaknesses. Listen, in this Dunya you have the option to choose, as Allah says "And by Nafs (Adam or a person or a soul, etc.), and Him Who perfected him in proportion (7) Then He showed him what is wrong for him and what is right for him (8) 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)." (Ash-Shams)
But in the hereafter, you can be only one of 2: extraordinarily happy self. Allah says for them "no person knows what is kept hidden for them of joy as a reward for what they used to do (17)" (As-Sajdah). O to good selves: I wish you know how happy you will be then.
Otherwise: a self living in Hell and says as in the Quran "Lest a person should say: "Alas, my grief that I was undutiful to Allah (i.e. I have not done what Allah has ordered me to do), and I was indeed among those who mocked [at the truth! i.e. La ilaha ill-Allah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah), the Qur'an, and Muhammad and at the faithful believers, etc.](56) Or (lest) he should say: If only Allah had guided me, I should indeed have been among the Muttaqoon (pious and righteous persons). (57) Or (lest) he should say when he sees the torment: If only I had another chance (to return to the world) then I should indeed be among the Muhsinun(58)" (Az-Zumar) You choose... you choose.
A companion came to our last Messenger PBUH and asked him to be his companion in the hereafter. He responded "help me on your-self with increasing your Sujood/prostration." Another companion asks him to be one of who go to Heaven, so he responded "You have known (the truth), so be disciplined (in obeying Allah)." After 3 years, that companion became a martyr. So would any of us after this episode say it is time to straighten my path in Allah's?
I conclude with a word by Abu Bakr (May Allah be satisfied by him) narrated by Umar Ibn Alkhattaab when Abu Bark nominated him. He said "O Umar, the most I warn you is your-self that is between your 2 sides. If you become victorious over it, you will be on otherwise more powerful. And if you become a loser against it, you will be on otherwise more impotent." And I advise you the same. You must win this war against your-self.
To our audience, is it important for you to meet Allah with a Tranquil self? Or is it okay to meet Him with an Inclined-to-Evil self? Do you want to be called upon as "(To the righteous soul will be said:) O (thou) soul, in (complete) rest and satisfaction!(27) Come back thou to thy Lord well pleased (thyself), and well-pleasing unto Him!(28) Enter thou, then among my Devotees!(29) Yea, enter thou my Heaven(30)" (Surat Al-Fajr). What could be more beautiful!
Or do you like Him to call upon you as "My salve, I am angry on you. I verily dislike you. My Angels, take him to Hell" Which one are you? I hope this episode is a start to a life-long Jihad, and a great change to the better, until we meet Allah so that He is satisfied.