exercises for attaining taqwa

Exercises for Attaining Taqwa

GUARDING THE PRAYER

Prepared by Hamza Yusuf

Inspired by Imam Zaid Shakir

Of all the actions that a Muslim will do in his orher life, none is more important than the fiveprescribed daily prayers. It is the central pillar thatsupports the entire abode of Islam. For a believer,

prayer comes second only after belief itself; it is an

expression of gratitude to one's Lord forconsciousness. Prayer is also the believer's protection

and connection with his Lord. Doing the prayer

properly requires studying the rules and conditions

of the prayer according to one of the four validschools of Sunni Islam with a qualified teacher.

The prayer is a science and an art that takes many

years of serious and vigilant practice in order toarrive at its true reality. Once you have achieved

doing the five obligatory prayers with regularity,

then lhe nexl step is to increa:e in exlra Prayers,especially the night prayers. This exercise may take

several years to complete, but this is the struggle

oI the believer, so do nol despair.


GUARDING THE STOMACH

Prepared by Flamza Yusuf


There is a direct relation to doing righteous works

as a result of eating pure foods. According to the

Qur'an, the Sunnsh, and rJ;'e scholars, it is obligatory

to guard what goes into one's stomach.

Remove what is prohibited from your food sources.

Also, eat pLrre, natural foods, and avoid junk foods,

as Allah commands us to eat not only what is

permissible but also what is pure (Qur'an, z:r68).

It is important to learn to control the appetite and

to eat less. Fasting is an excellent discipline, and

attempting at least three days a month when the

moon is fullest is a prophetic practice.

Nore: Make the intention to fast at least three days

a month.

Each morning, vow to Allah (mushoratd) that you

will pray the five prescribed prayers on time and

fulfill their conditions, pillars, sunan, and mandubat.

Be vigilant about all your prayers, particularly Fojr,

Asr, and Maghrib prayers, as they are the most easily

missed.This is called murabato.

At the end of the day, if you are successful, place a

mark in the chart below. lf not, go back to day one.

Ask Allah for forgiveness and strength. Fast, give

charity, or take some type of punitive measure todiscipline yourself until you successfully complete40 consecutive days.This is called muhasaba.


GUARDING THE EYES



The Sacred Law prohibits one to look at anythingthat is deemed nakedness.

According to the majority of scholars, this includes

the entire body of a non-mahram woman withthe exception of her face and hands; for a non-mahram man,itincludes what is between his navel

and knees.

The first glance is not written against you. However,

if the glance is maintained and is not averted or ifa second glance occurs, it is concerned a lesser

wrong.

Guarding the eyes is especially important, as notdoing so can have a corrupting influence on the

heart.

Remember that most of what is on television and

advertisements is detrimental to our hearts.

Exercises for Attainitg Taqwa

GUARDING THE HANDS



Our hands are one of the greatest gifts from Allahand distinguish us from other animals.

The blessed Messenger of Allah said, "The Muslimis one from whom other Muslims are safe fromhis tongue and his hand."

Our hands will bear witness against us on the Day

of |udgment; thus, we should guard our hands

from stealing or from harming any of the creation

ofAJlah without just right.

We should never raise our hand to anodrer Muslimunless in self-defense. lrr addition, we cannol raise

our hand to a non-Muslim unless in it is self defense

or for a legitimate struggle that is in accordance

with the Sacred Law Even in war, Muslims should

never kill a wornan, child, old person, ornoncombatant.

Make a commitment with Allah every morninq for40 consecutive days not to look at anythingprohibited.

Be vigilant in averting your glance and protectingyour eyes. lf you see things that are prohibited tolook at, avert your glance from them.

At the end of the day, if you kept your vow, place a

mark in the chart below. lf unsuccessful, go back today one. Ask Allah for forgiveness and strength. Fast,

give charit, or take some type of punitive measure

to discipline yourself until you successfully complete40 consecutive days.

Each morning, make d vow with Allah to eat what is

permissible and pure and to avoid excess eating as

well as unwholesome foods.

Don't overeat. Make sure you eat food that is

permissible. Our Prophet S said,"Leave what gives

you doubt for what does not give you doubt."


mark in the box below. lf not,90 back to day one.

Ask Allah for forgiveness and strength. Fast, give

charity, or take some type of punitive measure todiscipline yourself until you successfully complete40 consecutive days-

Each morning, vow to Allah not to use your hands

to commit wrong actions, sow corruption on earth,

steal, or cause unnecessary harm.

Throughout the day, be vigilant in the controlling ofyour hands, and note the times and conditions whenyou do not fulfill the vow



give charity, or take some type of punitive measure



GUARDING THE EARS Preparedby

Harnza Yusuf Inspired by Lnam Zaid Shakir

The ears are more difficult to guard than the eyes

since there is no natural cover for the ears as the

eyelids cover the eyes.

Also, you cannot avert your hearing with as muchease as you can avert your sighr by simply closingyour eyes or looking elsewhere.

Bad habits of the ears include listening to such

things as vain talk, lies, slander, calumny,

backbiting, mockery, and other prohibited deeds

of the tongue.

Imam Malik said, "Do not give your ear to

someone whose heart is deviant because you do

not lcrorv what will become attached to it."

The ear is a direct inroad to the heart, andnreanings enter thruugh it. altering your

understanding.

Exercies for Attaining Taqwa

GUARDING THE FEET Prepared by

Hamza Yusuf Inspired by Iman Zaid Shakir

Our feet are our rneans of mobility, and thisincludes driving. Therefore, we should protectourselves from using our feet to take us to anyprohibited place.

When you set out to go sornewhere, say the prayer

of the Prophet S :

"Oh Allah, I seek refuge in you that I should go

astray or lead others astray; that I should trip ortrip others; that I should oppress or be oppressed;

or that I should show ignorance or be the bruntof ignorance."

In addition, remember the saying ofthe Prophet

s:'Avoid places that will bring suspicion fromothers down on you."

Each morning, vow to Allah to avoid hearinganything prohibited.Turn away from empty talk. lfsomeone beglns to speak ill of someone, changethe subject,and explain that backbiting is prohibited.

Be vigilant with your vow. Avoid environments piped

with music. However, if you are unable to avoid that,then do not count it as a breach ofyour commitment.


mark in the chart below. lf not, go back to day oneand start again. Ask Allah for forgiveness and strength.

Fast, qive charity, or take some type of punitivemeasure to discipline yourself until you successfully

complete 40 consecutive days.


GUARDING THE TONGUE Preparedby

Hamza Yusuf Inspired by Imam Zaid Shakir

The only noble quality of the tongue i.truthfulness. There are over 20 destructivequalities of the tongue ofwhich there are foursources: lying, backbiting, arguing, and engagingin what does not concern you.

Ifyou are able to overcome these four, then the

others are removed with ease. In order toeliminate these qualities, make a vow with Allahto guard your tongue for 40 consecutive days.

This will most likely require great effort and

str\ggle (mujaahada).

However, remember that by completing thisexercise, you are habituating yourself touprightness and saving yourself fron destruction.After completing this exercise, what remains is

vigilant observance (muraaqaba) in order toavoid falling back into the previous bad habits.

Norr: Writing falls into this same category, and

the Internet (especially e-mail) may be a majoroutlet for the destructive qualities of the tongue.

Exercises for Attaining Tarya

GUARDING THE PRIVATE PARTS

Prepared by Hamza Yusuf Inspired by Imam Zaid

Shakir

The Prophet St said, "Whoever guards for me his

tongue and private parts, I can guarantee fforhim] a place in the Garden."

This should be the easiest of the eight exercises

for the believer because, by avoiding being alone

with someone of the opposite sex, unless you are

legally related, you are avoiding temptation andpreventing yourself from harm.

For both men and women, protecting one's

nakedness requires a strong comnitment tocovering the parts of the body that are prohibitedfor others to see.

Take care not to wear revealing cloths and avoidplaces of temptation.

Each morning, make a commitment not to lie,

backbite, argue, or speak of matters that do notconcern you. Do this for40 consecutive days.

Throughout the day, be vigilant in the observationof your tongue. Note the times and conditionswhen you do not fu lfill the cond itions of the vow.

At the end of the da, if you kept your vory place a

mark in the chart below. lf not, go back to day one.Ask Allah for forgiveness and strength. Fast, givecharity, or take some type of punitive measure todiscipline yourself until you successfully complete40 consecutive days.

Each morning, vow to Allah to reflect on yourtravels and avoid places and situations that areprohiblted.

Avoid going to places where people are committingprohibitions and where you are likely to commit wrongactions.

At the end ofthe day, ifyou kept your vow place a


give charity, or take some type of punitive measure


Each morning, vow to Allah to guard your privateparts.Avoid being alone with members of theopposite sex who are unrelated to you.

Be aware of your conduct th roug hout the day.

Maintain vigilance, as sexual appetite is one ofSatan's greatest weapons.

At the end of the day, if you kept your vow place a

mark in the chart below. lf not,9o back to day one.Ask Allah for forgiveness and strength. Fast, givecharity, or take some type of punitive measure todiscipline yourself until you successfully complete40 consecutive days.

exercises for attaining taqwa

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