Reform

How time flies! I can't believe we're less than a fortnight away from Muharram. I don't know about you but Muharram has always been a time of reform (whether that reform is successful is another matter) for me- even more so than Shahr Ramadhan. I think it's because of the sudden change in environment, surroundings, priorities- when everything else around you changes, you want to change with it- or at least you find it easier to.

And quite literally, everything does change; the black clothes come on and black flags go up, people take days off work, students work like donkeys to meet deadlines in order to attend majalis, the Latmiyat go on, movies, cheerful outings with friends get put on hold. Our priorities are totally re-written for at least these first 10 days. And for some of us, this sudden 180 degree change in the surrounding world also makes us want to turn our own lives around. 

The question is though...how? Last week I was sitting in a periodontology workshop which focused on patient psychology. The big, mind-boggling dilemma was- how do you get patients to take up good oral hygiene habits and give up bad ones? And I was shocked to find how many of the tips the lecturer was giving us could be applied to pretty much any habit or behaviour in life. I won't bore you with the nerd-evidence notes I took down, but I'll mention two key points. 

The first thing she said and kept emphasising on was specificity. Incidentally I remember listening to a lecture by Sayed Mahdi al Modarresi a while back where he mentioned the same point- it's no good just telling myself, 'Stop backbiting. Speak less. Don't lie. Pray on time.' I need to sit down and spot the pattern- which friends am I always with when I start backbiting? What is it that always distracts me and delays my salah? What time of day do I usually commit XYZ haram? If it's the evening, take up an evening class to keep myself occupied. If it's when I'm alone, always make sure I'm with a family member or friend. If it's person X with whom I'm comfortable to backbite, cut down how much time I spend with them. 

The second point I thought was key was the 'review' phase. Apparently patients were more motivated to floss (Hallelujah!) if they had a chart to tick off daily and even more so when they had a follow-up appointment booked soon after the targets (which should be achievable and realistic) were set. So it's no surprise that we have so many narrations emphasising on taking account of our own deeds. Only to quote a few:

'He who takes account of his soul will understand his defects and know his sins. He will repent for the sins and amend the defects.' - Imam Ali (a.s)

''He who takes account of his self profits, he who neglects it is at a loss, and he who fears will be safe.' - Imam Ali (a.s)

'He who takes account of his self prospers.' - Imam Ali (a.s)

I think writing things down or having some sort of visual manifestation of one's own progress really helps as well- how amazing is the feeling of ticking off something on a to-do list?

I really hope this Muharram is a time of successful reform for all of us- myself first and foremost. These blogs aren't supposed to be some kind of preaching platform, but very simply, my thoughts put into writing and mostly a reminder for myself, with the minute possibility that a passer-by might benefit as well :)

Eid Mubarak!

Eid al Ghadeer mubarak to Aba Saleh al Mehdi (atfs) and to everyone else on the day that this religion was perfected and God's favour upon us was completed- the day that Amir al Mu'mineen was announced to be our guardian and leader and our link to God Himself.

I don't have words to express my thankfulness for knowing about Imam Ali (a.s), let alone acknowledging his wilaya. No words can do justice to the good and the clarity this man brings into the lives of people who know him even remotely. He is such a gift to humanity and although I myself am not worthy of calling myself one of his Shi'a, I know for sure that people who don't know Imam Ali (a.s) are missing out on the treasures of life.

A couple of years ago I started reading a book called, 'Ali, the Voice of Human Justice' by George Jordac, a Lebanese Christian. In his book he wrote, to paraphrase, that Imam Ali was created for the wrong time, because when he was alive and ready to offer his wisdom and knowledge, there were only a few who wanted to listen, and now when we are in dire need of his economic, medical, and all sorts of other excellences, he is no longer on this earth. And honestly it makes me wonder- how absolutely amazing would it be if we had him among us? How many ingenious solutions would he provide for our problems? My imagination goes wild thinking about it!

Anyway I don't have a specific point to make in this post- just wanted to wish everyone an very, very happy Eid. This Eid has something very special about it, and whatever it is just makes me so ecstatic :) InshaAllah next year we celebrate this Eid alongside the Imam of our time, who will one day fill the world with the very solutions that Imam Ali (a.s) would have :)