Improving our Structure

In an article I wrote last year http://sys-eng.blogspot.com/2006/12/teenagers-steady-state-systems-analogy.html I discussed how one's structure will affect his behavior. Hence it is very important to protect one's identify and structure.

So what is a believer's structure?
The Prophet (PBUH) mentions that there is one organ in the body, if it is good, the whole body is good, then he confirms that this organ is the heart. In the Quran Allah tells us that our senses will be witnesses on us on the day of judgment and that they are responsible for their acts.

Throughout the Quran Allah (SWT) refers to the heart as the core of belief. The disbelievers are characterized as people whose hearts have been sealed.

In Ayat 22:46 Allah mentions that those who transgressed not only do not hear or see truth, but also their hearts are blind.

فَكَأَيِّن مِّن قَرْيَةٍ أَهْلَكْنَاهَا وَهِيَ ظَالِمَةٌ فَهِيَ خَاوِيَةٌ عَلَى عُرُوشِهَا وَبِئْرٍ مُّعَطَّلَةٍ وَقَصْرٍ مَّشِيدٍ (22:45)

22:45 And how many a township have We destroyed because it had been immersed in evil doing - and now they [all] lie deserted, with their roofs caved in! And how many a well lies abandoned, and how many a castle that [once] stood high!

أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَتَكُونَ لَهُمْ قُلُوبٌ يَعْقِلُونَ بِهَا أَوْ آذَانٌ يَسْمَعُونَ بِهَا فَإِنَّهَا لَا تَعْمَى الْأَبْصَارُ وَلَكِن تَعْمَى الْقُلُوبُ الَّتِي فِي الصُّدُورِ (22:46

Have they, then, never journeyed about the earth, letting their hearts gain wisdom, and causing their ears to hear? Yet, verily, it is not their eyes that have become blind - but blind have become the hearts that are in their breasts!

Allah also describes the hyprocrites as deaf, dumb and blind in the chapter of the Cow.

صُمٌّ بُكْمٌ عُمْيٌ فَهُمْ لاَ يَرْجِعُونَ (2:18

2:18 Deaf, dumb, blind - and they cannot turn back.

How to improve and protect our structure?
1. Fasting helps us gain taqwa, which helps cleanse our heart
2. Praying on time and praying extra prayers in khushu

Iman is to feel tremor in our hearts when Allah (SWT) is mentioned, and when his Ayat are revealed feel their belief strengthened.

إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ اللّهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُهُ زَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَعَلَى رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ (8:2)

الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلاَةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ (8:3)

أُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ حَقًّا لَّهُمْ دَرَجَاتٌ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ وَرِزْقٌ كَرِيمٌ (8:4)

Khushu is humility meaning two things, the first submissiveness and humblness to Allah, and the second tranquility and calmness in submitting to Allah. We see in Surah Al Mominoon, Allah describes the believers as those who have Khushu in their prayers,

الَّذِينَ هُمْ فِي صَلَاتِهِمْ خَاشِعُونَ (23:2)
23:2 those who humble themselves in their prayer,


3. Training our senses on good behavior

The Prophet prohibits us from sitting in the pathways.

The Prophet encouraged us to get married. Oh you young people whomever among you can marry may he do so, for it is indeed a protector for eye sight and a shield for the Farg, and whomever can not then he should fast, for it is a protection for him.

4. Remembering Allah at all moments


5. Create barriers between us and negative environment