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Attitudes and Actions for Self-Development
If we are to change anything - our youth group, our community, our society - we have to start with ourselves. Accepting our responsibility and developing as individuals is the first step, but we have to take it seriously. Below are a few ideas about Islamic behaviour and attitudes that we should strive to inculcate. These, insha Allah, will aid us in our all round development.
Punctuality
Punctuality in Islamic life and work is as important as the fulfilment of religious and moral duties. This cannot be over emphasised to Muslims the world over, who are notorious in their neglect of this prime Islamic virtue. If we are in the habit of arriving late, we should advance our watches enough to counter our habit. There is no excuse from our having to break this unworthy habit. Whatever the activity, Muslims must be bound to its precise time. Life is purposeful and man is responsible for every moment of time. So, whether the time calls for food or Salah, we should be there not only on time, but before time. Failure to start our duty on time is failure in our Islamicity, in our very iman or faith.
Generosity
Readiness to give aid is an Islamic virtue par excellence. The Muslim is always ready to come to the assistance of others in need. He does not wait to be asked to extend assistance. He is always on the lookout for the situation where he can actualise his benevolence. As far as doing good (al mar'uf) is concerned, or stopping or prohibiting an evil (al munkar), the Muslim must even be aggressive at times. This readiness to jump into any situation in order to be of service to fellow humans is the highest, the noblest _expression of iman.
Doing Good
A person's iman is rightly measured by his active ihsan, his doing of good on all occasions. If he enters a meeting room and finds a table dirty, he wipes it clean. In the bathroom, the gym, the dining room, the athletic field, the mosque, walkways, everywhere, the Muslim is the first one to set right that which is not right. If a service calls for volunteers, he is the first to offer his service. The Muslim thus makes himself worthy of his Prophet who said: 'And the beginning of ihsan is removing refuse from the public highway'. (Bayhaqi)
Amiability
Amiability is a pre-requisite of falah or success. The Muslim struggles as hard as he can to make himself amiable, loveable, befriendable, and trustworthy. The smile ever present on his face is the index of a tenderness of a heart towards other Muslims. When they talk, he listens; when they cry, he cries with them, when they are in a good mood, he joins in their joyfulness. He is generous, good, and permanently concerned with their welfare.
Optimism
Optimism is the highest principle of Islamic ethics. Islam implies the conviction that Allah, is Beneficent and Merciful, Just and willing our welfare. He committed Himself to have mercy on us (6:12,54) to give the mu'minun or believers victory over their enemies (22:40) and generally to harm no one (4:39, 10:44). This world cannot be evil; nor can its outcome be evil. Certainly, it is an arena for action, for testing our piety and morality. But it is a world in which the good always comes out as victorious. That is because Allah is indeed Allah, and there is none else beside Him.
If we are to change anything - our youth group, our community, our society - we have to start with ourselves. Accepting our responsibility and developing as individuals is the first step, but we have to take it seriously. Below are a few ideas about Islamic behaviour and attitudes that we should strive to inculcate. These, insha Allah, will aid us in our all round development.
Punctuality
Punctuality in Islamic life and work is as important as the fulfilment of religious and moral duties. This cannot be over emphasised to Muslims the world over, who are notorious in their neglect of this prime Islamic virtue. If we are in the habit of arriving late, we should advance our watches enough to counter our habit. There is no excuse from our having to break this unworthy habit. Whatever the activity, Muslims must be bound to its precise time. Life is purposeful and man is responsible for every moment of time. So, whether the time calls for food or Salah, we should be there not only on time, but before time. Failure to start our duty on time is failure in our Islamicity, in our very iman or faith.
Generosity
Readiness to give aid is an Islamic virtue par excellence. The Muslim is always ready to come to the assistance of others in need. He does not wait to be asked to extend assistance. He is always on the lookout for the situation where he can actualise his benevolence. As far as doing good (al mar'uf) is concerned, or stopping or prohibiting an evil (al munkar), the Muslim must even be aggressive at times. This readiness to jump into any situation in order to be of service to fellow humans is the highest, the noblest _expression of iman.
Doing Good
A person's iman is rightly measured by his active ihsan, his doing of good on all occasions. If he enters a meeting room and finds a table dirty, he wipes it clean. In the bathroom, the gym, the dining room, the athletic field, the mosque, walkways, everywhere, the Muslim is the first one to set right that which is not right. If a service calls for volunteers, he is the first to offer his service. The Muslim thus makes himself worthy of his Prophet who said: 'And the beginning of ihsan is removing refuse from the public highway'. (Bayhaqi)
Amiability
Amiability is a pre-requisite of falah or success. The Muslim struggles as hard as he can to make himself amiable, loveable, befriendable, and trustworthy. The smile ever present on his face is the index of a tenderness of a heart towards other Muslims. When they talk, he listens; when they cry, he cries with them, when they are in a good mood, he joins in their joyfulness. He is generous, good, and permanently concerned with their welfare.
Optimism
Optimism is the highest principle of Islamic ethics. Islam implies the conviction that Allah, is Beneficent and Merciful, Just and willing our welfare. He committed Himself to have mercy on us (6:12,54) to give the mu'minun or believers victory over their enemies (22:40) and generally to harm no one (4:39, 10:44). This world cannot be evil; nor can its outcome be evil. Certainly, it is an arena for action, for testing our piety and morality. But it is a world in which the good always comes out as victorious. That is because Allah is indeed Allah, and there is none else beside Him.