format_quote Originally Posted by
Ummu Sufyaan
but we've got to keep going, right? its saddening and frightening that it may be at any moment where we do actually give in-if we haven't already. but how do we avoid that? when we need to see our appearance physically, we look in a mirror, but what is the spiritual mirror we can look into?
:sl:
i agree with the title of this thread and what i'm guessing is you'd rather have suggestions about how to avoid these things than what to do if you fall prey to them.
"...at any moment where we do actually give in-if we haven't already..."
Perhaps by even entertaining the thought, we fertilize this seed and allow it the conditions to grow. Once it takes root and grows we can hack at it ... maybe killing it from above. But what must happen is it must be killed at the root. Basically always be on guard and ask Allah to not allow the seeds of wickedness to even germinate. And through more and more ibadah, and constant vigilance and remembrance, perhaps it's possible.
What you said about stopping the little things can really apply to this because, in a way, maybe the major sins are the rotten fruit of the seeds of minor sins. Allah knows best.
As far as a spiritual mirror? The Quran and sunnah, imo. Whatever we think we know about Islam or ourselves is so little, in reality. And there is always so much more to learn. Try imagining yourself reading verses of the Quran with the eyes of a hypocrite. Or better yet don't.
On the authority of Abu Malik al-Harith bin 'Asim al-Ash'ari,
radiyallahu 'anhu, who said: The Messenger of Allah,
sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, said:
"Purification is half of iman (faith). Saying 'Al-Hamdulillah' (Praise be to Allah) fills the scales. Saying 'Subhanallah wa al-Hamdulillahi' (Exhalted be Allah and Praise be to Allah) fills the space between the heavens and the earth. Salah (prayer) is a light. Sadaqah (charity) is a proof. Sabr (patience) is a shining glory. The Qur'an is an argument either for you or against you. Everybody goes out in the morning and sell themselves, thereby setting themselves free or destroying themselves."
As soon as we've allowed ourselves to sin, the verses that gave us comfort would soon condemn us.
May Allah give us all the wisdom, confidence and tawfiq to fight our nafs.