Holding One’s Self to Account (Muḥāsabah) - Heart Matters: EP 7 - Shaykh Dr. Yasir Qadhi

Introduction

The speaker introduces the concept of self-assessment and its importance in purifying one's heart.

Importance of Self-Assessment

• Recognizing one's own faults is the first step towards becoming cured.

• The Quran and Sunnah emphasize the importance of assessing one's own heart.

• No one can assess oneself better than oneself.

• Allah reminds us to assess what we have prepared for tomorrow.

Ibn Al-Mubarak's Advice

Ibn Al-Mubarak advises people to audit themselves before they are audited on the Day of Judgment.

Importance of Self-Auditing

• Ibn Al-Mubarak advises people to audit themselves before they are audited on the Day of Judgment.

• Whoever audits himself in this world will have an easy audit on the Day of Judgment.

• We should assess our own realities, look inside ourselves, and correct our actions before it is too late.

Impugning One's Own Nia

Scholars advise impugning one's own nia (intention).

Impugning One's Own Nia

• It is healthy to impugn your own nia and think of yourself in a manner that you know because only you know your own faults.

• Hold yourself to a higher standard and be stricter on yourself than you are with other people.

• The frequency of self-assessment should go higher and higher until it becomes routine.

The Story of the Man of Jannah

The speaker shares the story of a man whom the Prophet (SAW) said was a man of Jannah walking on Earth.

Importance of Self-Assessment Frequency

• The man would assess his heart every single night before going to sleep.

• He would look at his heart and see if it had jealousy, arrogance, or any evil, then he would cleanse it.

• Our goal is to make self-assessment regular in our routine.

The Importance of Mahasaba in Teskeya

In this section, the speaker discusses the importance of mahasaba in teskeya and how it can help individuals become more conscious and self-aware.

The Goal of Teskiah

• The goal of teskiah is to worship Allah as if Allah sees you.

• The methodology of taskia involves being conscious and assessing oneself before doing something.

• One of the main tools for teskeya to nafs is the tool of mahasaba.

How to Practice Mahasaba

• Scholars have given tactics, tricks, and halal mechanisms for practicing mahasaba.

• One way to practice mahasaba is by imagining oneself on the day of judgment and thinking about what questions will be asked.

• Everything that comes to mind during self-assessment should be eliminated in this world so that it cannot be brought up on the day of judgment.

• Repentance from major sins is also necessary during self-assessment.

Benefits of Mahasaba

• Self-assessment through mahasaba breaks one's ego, humbles them, increases sincerity, and destroys arrogance.