The document provides 4 practical steps to improve oneself: 1. Taking one's soul into account by regularly reflecting on actions and seeking to improve shortcomings through repentance and making up for obligations not fulfilled. 2. Disciplining the soul when falling short of obedience through self-punishment like giving extra charity to motivate continued improvement. 3. Exerting the soul towards obedience by utilizing time for worship and righteous deeds once the importance of the afterlife is understood. 4. Choosing good company to support one's efforts to develop taqwa and obedience to Allah.

1. 4 P R A C T I C A L S T E P S T O A B E T T E R Y O U
M U M I N B U I L D E R R E T R E A T - J A N 2 0 1 6
TAQWA

2. Importance of Beneficial Knowledge
 Story between Al-Muzani and Imam Shafi
 Prophet asked for beneficial knowledge
‫اللهم‬‫انفعني‬‫تنفعني‬ ‫علما‬ ‫وارزقني‬ ‫ينفعني‬ ‫ما‬ ‫وعلمني‬ ‫علمتني‬ ‫بما‬‫به‬
‘O Allaah benefit me with what You have taught me, and teach me that which
will benefit me, and grant me knowledge which will benefit me.’ [Tabarani]
 Prophet sought refuge from non-beneficial knowledge
 ْ‫ل‬َ‫ق‬ ْ‫ن‬ِ‫م‬ َ‫و‬ ُ‫ع‬َ‫ف‬ْ‫ن‬َ‫ي‬ َ‫َل‬ ٍ‫م‬ْ‫ل‬ِ‫ع‬ ْ‫ن‬ِ‫م‬ َ‫ك‬ِ‫ب‬ ُ‫ذ‬‫و‬ُ‫ع‬َ‫أ‬ ‫ي‬ِِّ‫ن‬ِ‫إ‬ َّ‫م‬ُ‫ه‬َّ‫الل‬ٍ‫س‬ْ‫ف‬َ‫ن‬ ْ‫ن‬ِ‫م‬ َ‫و‬ ُ‫ع‬َ‫ش‬ْ‫خ‬َ‫ي‬ َ‫َل‬ ٍ‫ب‬ُ‫ع‬َ‫ب‬ْ‫ش‬َ‫ت‬ َ‫َل‬ْ‫ن‬ِ‫م‬ َ‫و‬
ُ‫اب‬َ‫ج‬َ‫ت‬ْ‫س‬ُ‫ي‬ َ‫َل‬ ٍ‫ة‬ َ‫ْو‬‫ع‬َ‫د‬‫ا‬َ‫ه‬َ‫ل‬
“O Allah, I seek refuge in You from knowledge which does not benefit, from a
heart that does not entertain the fear, from a soul that is not satisfied and the
supplication that is not answered.” [Muslim]

3.  "The Day on which neither wealth nor sons will be of any
use, except for whoever brings to Allah a sound heart."
[Quran 26:88-89]
 “Piety is here” – and he pointed to his chest three times.”
[Muslim]
Therefore, Taqwa will clean our hearts & benefit us in the
Hereafter

4. Benefits of Taqwa
1. Guidance, because of His words: “guidance for the muttaqin (the people of taqwa)” (2:2);
2. Help, because of His words: “Truly, Allah is with the people who have taqwa”(2:194);
3. Close Friendship [with Allah], because of His words: “Allah is the close friend of
the muttaqin” (45:19);
4. Love, because of His words: “Truly Allah loves the muttaqin” (3:76);
5. Covering over [of wrong actions], because of His words: “If you have taqwa of
Allah He will make for you a discrimination and He will cover over for you your wrong
actions”;
6. A way out from unhappiness, and provision from where one does not
expect, because of His words: “Whoever has taqwa of Allah He will make a way out for
him and provide him from where he does not expect” (65:2-3);
7. Facilitation of affairs, because of His words: “Whoever has taqwa of Allah He will
make ease for him in his affair” ( 65:4);

5. 8. Full covering over of wrong actions and magnification of rewards, because of
His words: “Whoever has taqwa of Allah He will cover over his wrong actions and magnify a
reward for him” (65:5);
9. Acceptance of actions, because of His words: “Allah only accepts from the people
of taqwa”(5:27);
10. Success, because of His words: “Have taqwa of Allah in order that you might
succeed” (3:200);
11. Good news, because of His words: “For them [i.e. people of taqwa] there is good news
in this world and in the next” (10:64);
12. Entrance into the Garden, because of His words: “Truly, there are for the people
of taqwa with their Lord Gardens of bliss” (3:133);
13. Salvation from the Fire, because of His words: “Then We will save the ones who
had taqwa“ (19:72). [Tafsir of Ibn Jawzi]

6. 4 Steps to Taqwa
1. Taking one’s soul into account
2. Disciplining the soul during shortcomings
3. Exerting the soul to obedience
4. Good company

7. Step 1: Accounting
 Key to success in Hereafter
 َ‫غ‬ِ‫ل‬ ۡ‫ت‬َ‫م‬َّ‫د‬َ‫ق‬ ‫ا‬َّ‫م‬ ٌ‫س‬ۡ‫َـف‬‫ن‬ ۡ‫ر‬ُ‫ظ‬ۡ‫ـن‬َ‫ت‬ۡ‫ل‬ َ‫و‬ َ ‫ه‬‫اّٰلل‬ ‫وا‬ُ‫ق‬َّ‫ت‬‫ا‬ ‫ا‬ ۡ‫و‬ُ‫ن‬َ‫م‬ٰ‫ا‬ َ‫ن‬ۡ‫ِي‬‫ذ‬َّ‫ال‬ ‫ا‬َ‫ه‬ُّ‫ي‬َ‫ا‬ٰٰۤ‫ي‬َ ‫ه‬‫اّٰلل‬ ََّّ ِ‫ا‬ َ ‫ه‬‫اّٰلل‬ ‫وا‬ُ‫ق‬َّ‫ت‬‫ا‬ َ‫و‬ ٍ‫د‬ََّ ۡ‫و‬ُ‫ل‬َ‫م‬ۡ‫َع‬‫ت‬ ‫ا‬َ‫م‬ِ‫ب‬ ٌِ‫ر‬ٌِۡ‫ب‬َِ
“O ye who believe! Observe your duty to Allah. And let every soul look to that
which it sendeth on before for the morrow. And observe your duty to Allah! Lo!
Allah is informed of what ye do.” [Hashr 59:18]
 “Take yourself to account before you are taken to account” [Saying of Umar].
 ِ‫س‬ۡ‫ف‬َّ‫ن‬‫ال‬ِ‫ب‬ ُ‫م‬ِ‫س‬ۡ‫ق‬ُ‫ا‬ ٰۤ َ‫َل‬ َ‫و‬ِ‫ة‬َ‫م‬‫ا‬ َّ‫و‬َّ‫الل‬
“And nay, I swear by the self-reproaching soul!” [Qiyama 75:2]
“A believer will always be critical of himself
in food, drink, and speech. A sinner will not
criticize himself” [Hasan Al-Basri]

8.  Take into account
 Prohibitions if violations Repentance*
Perform deeds to remove bad deeds
 Obligations if losses Make up
 Tongue, feet, hands, eyes, ears Why did I do that?
َ‫ص‬َ‫ب‬ۡ‫ال‬ َ‫و‬ َ‫ع‬ ۡ‫م‬َّ‫س‬‫ال‬ ََّّ ِ‫ا‬ ٌ‫م‬ۡ‫ل‬ِ‫ع‬ ٖ‫ه‬ِ‫ب‬ َ‫ـك‬َ‫ل‬ َ‫س‬ٌۡ‫ـ‬َ‫ل‬ ‫ا‬َ‫م‬ ُ‫ف‬ۡ‫ق‬َ‫ت‬ َ‫َل‬ َ‫و‬ُ‫ه‬ۡ‫ن‬َ‫ع‬ ََّ ‫ا‬َُ َ‫ك‬‫ك‬ِٕ
ٰٰۤ‫ول‬ُ‫ا‬ ُُّّ ُُ َ‫د‬‫ا‬ََُ‫ف‬ۡ‫ال‬ َ‫و‬ َ‫ر‬ً‫َل‬ ۡ‫و‬ُٔ‫ـ‬ۡ‫س‬َ‫م‬
“…surely the hearing, sight, heart - each of these shall be called to account” [Isra 17:34]
 Moments of distractions if guilty Remembrance of Allah
*Sign that Allah wants good for a person

9. Benefits of Accounting
 Realizing mistakes
 “No one can achieve complete understanding of Islam until he
condemns the people for the sake of Allah & then he returns home
and condemns himself even more” [Abu Darda]
 Humility
 Recognize Allah’s rights
Can only be achieved through God’s Mercy

10. Step 2: Disciplining the Soul
 In obedience there are shortcomings
“Our Lord! Take us not to task if we forget or commit mistakes.
Our Lord! Lay not on us a burden such as You laid on those gone before us.
Our Lord! Lay not on us burdens which we do not have the power to bear. And overlook our
faults, and forgive us, and have mercy upon us. You are our Guardian; so grant us victory
against the unbelieving folk.” [Baqara 2:286]
Examples of discipline:
 Umar – missed Asr in congregation
 Donated land
 Talha – preoccupied with bird while praying in orchard
 Donated whole orchard

11. “This is how the people of determination disciplined
themselves.
The amazing thing is that you are willing to punish your
family members for their blunders and shortcoming on the
pretense that if you let them off they would rebel against you.
But you let yourself off the hook even though it is our biggest
enemy and most likely to rebel against you. The harm it
inflicts upon you is far greater than the harm your family can
inflict. The most they can disturb is your worldly life which
will perish one day. Your self, on the other hand, ruffles the
everlasting life of the Hereafter.
It is much more worthy of punishment.” [Imam Ghazali]

12. Step 3: Exerting the Soul Towards Obedience
 Acquired when the servant
knows the value of Hereafter
∴ important to use time wisely

13. Or To Put it Another Way…

14. Methodology
 ْ‫ن‬َ‫م‬‫ى‬َ‫د‬‫ا‬َ‫ع‬‫ي‬ِ‫ل‬‫ًّا‬‫ي‬ِ‫ل‬ َ‫و‬ْ‫د‬َ‫ق‬َ‫ف‬ُْ‫ه‬ُ‫ت‬‫ن‬َ‫ذ‬‫آ‬ِْ‫ب‬‫ر‬َ‫ح‬‫ال‬ِ‫ب‬‫ا‬َ‫م‬ َ‫و‬َْ‫ب‬ َّ‫ر‬َ‫ق‬َ‫ت‬َْ‫ل‬ِ‫إ‬َّْ‫ي‬‫ِي‬‫د‬‫ب‬َ‫ع‬ْ‫ء‬‫َي‬‫ش‬ِ‫ب‬َّْ‫ب‬َ‫ح‬َ‫أ‬َّْ‫ي‬َ‫ل‬ِ‫إ‬‫ا‬َّ‫م‬ِ‫م‬َْ‫ر‬َ‫ت‬‫اف‬ُُْ‫ْض‬ِْ‫ه‬‫ي‬َ‫ل‬َ‫ع‬
‫ا‬َ‫م‬ َ‫و‬ُْ‫ل‬‫ا‬ َ‫ز‬َ‫ي‬‫ِي‬‫د‬‫ب‬َ‫ع‬ُْ‫ب‬َّ‫ر‬َ‫ق‬َ‫ت‬َ‫ي‬َّْ‫ي‬َ‫ل‬ِ‫إ‬ِْ‫ل‬ِ‫ف‬‫ا‬ َ‫و‬َّ‫ن‬‫ال‬ِ‫ب‬‫ى‬َّ‫ت‬َ‫ح‬َّْ‫ب‬ ِ‫ح‬ُ‫أ‬ُْ‫ه‬‫ا‬َ‫ذ‬ِ‫إ‬َ‫ف‬ُْ‫ه‬ُ‫ت‬‫ب‬َ‫ب‬‫ح‬َ‫أ‬ُُْ‫ن‬ُ‫ك‬ُْ‫ه‬َ‫ع‬‫م‬َ‫س‬‫ِي‬‫ذ‬َّ‫ال‬َْ‫م‬‫س‬َ‫ي‬ُْ‫ع‬ِْ‫ه‬ِ‫ب‬ُْ‫ه‬ َ‫ر‬َ‫ص‬َ‫ب‬ َ‫و‬
‫ِي‬‫ذ‬َّ‫ال‬ُْ‫ر‬ ِ‫ص‬‫ب‬ُ‫ي‬ِْ‫ه‬ِ‫ب‬ُْ‫ه‬َ‫د‬َ‫ي‬ َ‫و‬‫ي‬ِ‫ت‬َّ‫ال‬ُْ‫ش‬ِ‫ط‬‫ب‬َ‫ي‬‫ا‬َ‫ه‬ِ‫ب‬ُْ‫ه‬َ‫ل‬‫ج‬ ِ‫ر‬ َ‫و‬ِْ‫ت‬َّ‫ال‬‫ي‬‫ي‬ِ‫ش‬‫م‬َ‫ي‬‫ا‬َ‫ه‬ِ‫ب‬ْ‫ن‬ِ‫إ‬ َ‫و‬‫ي‬ِ‫ن‬َ‫ل‬َ‫أ‬َ‫س‬ُْ‫ه‬َّ‫ن‬َ‫ي‬ِ‫ط‬‫ع‬ُ َ‫َل‬َْ‫ل‬ َ‫و‬ْ‫ن‬ِ‫ئ‬‫ي‬ِ‫ن‬َ‫ذ‬‫ا‬َ‫ع‬َ‫ت‬‫اس‬
ُْ‫ه‬َّ‫ن‬َ‫ذ‬‫ي‬ِ‫ع‬ُ َ‫َل‬‫ا‬َ‫م‬ َ‫و‬ُُْ‫َّد‬‫د‬ َ‫ر‬َ‫ت‬ْ‫ن‬َ‫ع‬ْ‫ء‬‫َي‬‫ش‬‫َا‬‫ن‬َ‫أ‬ُْ‫ه‬ُ‫ل‬ِ‫ع‬‫ا‬َ‫ف‬‫ِي‬‫د‬ُّ‫د‬ َ‫ر‬َ‫ت‬َْ‫ع‬ْ‫ن‬ِْ‫س‬‫َف‬‫ن‬ِْ‫ن‬ِ‫م‬‫ؤ‬ُ‫م‬‫ال‬ُْ‫ه‬ َ‫ر‬‫ك‬َ‫ي‬َُْ‫و‬َ‫م‬‫ال‬‫َا‬‫ن‬َ‫أ‬ َ‫و‬ْ‫ك‬َ‫أ‬ُْ‫ه‬ َ‫ر‬ُْ‫ه‬َ‫ت‬َ‫ء‬‫ا‬َ‫س‬َ‫م‬
“Whoever shows hostility to a friend of mine, then I have declared war
upon him. My servant does not grow closer to me with anything more
beloved to me than the duties I have imposed upon him. My servant
continues to draw near me with extra works until I love him. When I
love him, I am his hearing with which he hears, his seeing with which
he sees, his hands with which he strikes, and his foot with which he
walks. Were he to ask something from me, I would surely give it to
him. If he were to ask me for refuge, I would surely grant it to him. I do
not hesitate to do anything as I hesitate to take the soul of the believer,
for he hates death and I hate to disappoint him

15. Obligations
(Wajib)
Recommended
(Sunna)
Voluntary that
we incline to
(Nawafil)
ALLAH’S
LOVE

16.  “Whoever respects the signs of Allah, this surely is of
the piety of hearts” [Hajj 22:32]
 “They should be taken neither with excessive license,
nor with obsessive strictness, nor in a way that
undermines one’s submission” [Ibn Taymiyya]

17. Company of Righteous
 Humans beings are imitative by nature
 We are affected by other humans: good or bad
“A man is upon the religion of his friend, so let one of you look at
whom he befriends” [Abu Dawud]
 Benefits:
 Absorb Their manners
 Ex: Imam Malik and Rabi Ar’Rai
 Absorb Their Knowledge
 Pick us up when we are down

19. Also- Quotations of the Righteous
Burying the
dead w/o
taking
lessons
Displeasure
with decree
Eating
Allah’s
sustenance
without
thanks
Practice
without
Sincerity
Seeking
knowledge
without
applying it
Committing
sin in hope
of repenting
Heart becomes corrupt through 6 means
[Hasan al Basri]

20. Example 2: Imam Ahmad