The Principles of Self-Development
DEVELOPMENT carries the notion of enhancement of one's capabilities andpotentials. It implies a forward movement from a given position to aposition of greater achievement, opportunity and benefit.In order to develop, individually or collectively, it is necessary to definethe goals one wishes to achieve, factors that influence development, and theprocess of achieving the desired goals for development. Each human being isborn with some basic faculties. How these faculties are molded depends oninherent capacities, nurturing environment and other external influences.Islam places a great deal of emphasis on 'self-development' where anindividual takes the responsibility for understanding the purpose of humanlife, and for shaping that life in the best possible manner, for one's ownbenefit and the benefit of the society at large; Islam also providescomprehensive guidance to achieve this goal.Human development consists of processes of growth and change that takesplace from birth to the end of life. The development process is externallyinfluenced from sensory inputs through the organs, and it is internallyself-propelled from things which happen within the human body and mind.Our focus here is the development of the human mind, which takes placethrough sensory inputs and internal mental processes. This developmentincludes learning through the senses and cognition that occurs when learningis abstracted into knowledge for subsequent use.Islam identifies two sources which play the roles of nurturing or corruptinghuman development. Inspiration from divine guidance nurtures humandevelopment. Not paying attention to divine guidance and succumbing toconspiracies, arising from within or external environment, corrupts humandevelopment.Human development may be looked at from different perspectives, both as abasic human interest and as formalized disciplines of studies such aspsychology, science, philosophy, sociology, anthropology, and so on.*Purification from corruption*We regularly wash our hands before touching food because our hands come incontact with so many objects that may collect harmful germs from otherstouching the same objects. We wash our clothes when they collect sweat anddirt from our own body and our surroundings. We bathe and shower to keep ourbody clean. All these cleanliness chores are intended to keep us in goodphysical health. What about some chores to keep our minds clean and in goodhealth? So many things that we come in contact with can corrupt our minds.We may see a person drawing satisfaction from hitting and humiliatinganother. It leaves an impression on our mind and may later make us do thesame impulsively.We see people achieve success through lying and cheating, and our mind mayperceive it as an acceptable behavior particularly if these cheaters andliars are being bandied around as role models.A child may go through abuse from parents considered respectable in societyand on growing up may engage in the same dysfunctional behavior.Both eyesight and hearing are indispensable for human learning anddevelopment. They can propel us to unimagined heights of human excellence.However, we must learn to use them properly. Otherwise what we see and hearcan also corrupt our mind and degenerate us into the lowest abyss of humanexistence.How do we purify ourselves from the corrupting influences around us? We needto reflect on what we see and hear and to separate them into experiencesthat are desirable form of behavior and those that are undesirable in thelight of some guiding principles. We may call it the exercise of the mind,and similar to other forms of exercise, the exercise of the mind requiresregime and regularity.The process of purification of the mind, variously called purification ofthe heart and soul, is known in Islam as tazkiyyah.A prerequisite of engaging in tazkiyyah is to know that the human mind isprone to becoming corrupted. The corruption may be attributed to acquiredelements within oneself, or to external influences, or both. However, theresponsibility for any undesirable behavior rests with the person whocommits it and not the person or the environment that caused it. We all beardirect responsibility for our actions.Despite the best efforts that one may make at purification of the mind,aberrations are still possible. We may make mistakes or commit sins. Whathappens then? A properly trained human mind possesses what is called aself-reproaching soul (nafs-e-lawwama). It will react by an admission thatsomething has gone wrong; it will accept the failing with humility, and itwill engage the mind to reform itself accordingly.On the other hand, someone who has a headstrong soul (nafs-e-ammara) suchadmissions may be seen as undignified, thus becoming prone to more andbigger aberrations in future. A wrongful act if recognized with a thoughtfulcommitment to avoid repetition is an act of self-purification and properhuman development.On the contrary, a reckless disregard of such actions leads to furthercorruption of the soul and self-degeneration.*Self-development regime*Understanding the principles is generally within the reach of most people.Putting those principles into practice requires courage, rigor andregularity.Consider the following excerpt from a Tradition (Hadith) of the ProphetMuhammad (peace be upon him) about one of the things that happened to himduring his appearance before God. Prophet said: "... Allah enjoined fiftyprayers on my followers. When I returned with this order of Allah, I passedby Moses who asked me, 'What has Allah enjoined on your followers?' Ireplied, 'He has enjoined fifty prayers on them.' Moses said, 'Go back toyour Lord (and appeal for reduction) for your followers will not be able tobear it.' (So I went back to Allah and requested for reduction) and Hereduced it to half. When I passed by Moses again and informed him about it,he said, 'Go back to your Lord as your followers will not be able to bearit.' So I returned to Allah and requested for further reduction and half ofit was reduced. I again passed by Moses and he said to me: 'Return to yourLord, for your followers will not be able to bear it. So I returned to Allahand He said, 'These are five prayers and they are all (equal to) fifty (inreward) for My Word does not change'."The prayer we offer to God is an act of His remembrance and the guidancethat he has revealed for shaping our lives. We engage in this formalexercise five times a day. What about the rest of the time? This requires usto reflect on the moral of the above saying of the Prophet (peace be uponhim). Perhaps an ideal number to stand formally before God would have beenseventy times a day as the Prophet (peace be upon him) was informed first.One may ask as whether there are some special words that one can utter forengaging in remembrance of God and reflecting on our thoughts and actions.The Prophets asked the same question. While there are no bounds on what onecan say and utter, what we are reminded to say by God is very simple, easyto remember and utter, and direct in meaning. Here are some examples: ...There is no God but Allah.This simple _expression provides the pinnacle for human development.Reminding ourselves that there is no god but Allah provides the bestpossible framework for human development since what God (Allah) tells us todo is for our own good, and there is no need for us to succumb to any powercontrary to what God tells us. Ultimately God has power over all things andGod arranges our affairs rightly if we reach out to Him.Examples of expanded expressions for remembrance of God for self-developmentare: 'Glory to Allah, and praise to Allah, there is no god except Allah, andAllah is the Greatest'. Also there is 'there is no god but Allah, He is Oneand has no partner. His is the dominion, and His is all praise, and he isPowerful over everything'.*Conclusions*There are infinite words and ways of expressing ourselves in rememberingAllah, and seeking closeness to Him for personal development. However,simple words can reach boundless depths in meaning when expressed withdevotion and sincerity. It is this power of amazing simplicity that iswithin easy reach for all of us.
