Khadijah is feeling overwhelmed these days as she is: 

• feeling stressed with what seems like a never ending TO-DO list 
• unable to focus 
• juggling between multiple roles, and 
• not feeling like she is enough for anyone in her relationships.

She realizes she needs to take care of herself but does not have enough time. She feels guilty for finding her release through binge eating or binge-watching on weeknights which means she’s sleeping later than usual and waking up tired. The entire cycle, night after night, is causing her to lose confidence in her ability to overcome this sense of overwhelm. This is starting to negatively affect the quality of her Salah, and her ability to perform well in her most important roles: both at work and home.

Omar, on the other hand, recently received a promotion, which means he’s moving up the career ladder. While responding to all the messages congratulating him on LinkedIn, he’s feeling a deep sense of dread. He fears the following consequences despite a higher income and a bigger role:

• more responsibility 
• nonstop meetings 
• late work hours, and 
• less time to do things that make him come alive i.e. attending a good Halaqa, reading a good book, playing with friends, and spending some undistracted quality time with the family.

Can you relate to either Khadijah or Omar or maybe both? How do you ground yourself when you are feeling overwhelmed? 

What is overwhelm and why do we feel overwhelmed often?

Overwhelm can be defined as the imbalance in your optimal quality of life: our spiritual, emotional, or physical wellness. Why does Overwhelm happen? According to Cognitive Neuroscientist Daniel Levitin, we are exposed to more information, activity, and focus areas than ever before in human history. This is clear when we begin to compare the recent past with the present. For example, in 1976, supermarkets stocked 9,000 items compared to 40,000 today. In 2011, Americans took in five times as much information every day as they did in 1986 –the equivalent of 175 newspapers! 

We live in continuous exposure to technology, information, and distractions but are unable to build our schedule and habits in a way that can limit continuous exposure. Setting boundaries is important as it allows us enough time to focus and transition between activities that are most important to us: such as prayer, meaningful work, family, or self-care.

Beyond that, we need silence, presence, reflection, contemplation, to engage in self-accountability, to course correct and build habits and activities that help us operate at our optimal self.  But, again, due to the continuous exposure of factors contributing to our overwhelm, most of us do not even know where to begin!

We, humans, are busier, more distracted, and juggling more than ever before in human history, and that also in a resurgent pandemic. As we approach the month of Rabi al-Awwal, what inspirations can we draw from the Prophet (peace be upon him)? How do we address our overwhelm through cultivating a Prophetic Heart? 

Overwhelm and its relationship to the nafs

One effective way to start addressing our overwhelm is to detox from technology and create intentional time to cultivate our awareness of God. During this time, we shift ourselves out of a life on autopilot or distractions towards higher awareness and presence with God. This shift teaches us to recognize when we are being led by our nafs, which is one of the root causes of overwhelm.

While addressing the external factors of life is necessary to address and regulate overwhelm, addressing our internal awareness and mindset is even more critical. By changing the mindset, and learning the tools to be closer to God, we can overcome the overwhelms in our life.

Prophetic practice confirms this notion that overwhelm can be cured through disciplining our own nafs. Our beloved Prophet (peace be upon him) used to immediately seek refuge in God when he felt distressed or overwhelmed. He would say:

 يا حي يا قيوم ، برحمتك أستغيث ،  أصلح لي شأني كله ،  ولا تكلني إلى نفسي طرفة عين

Yaa Hayyu Yaa Qayyoom, bi Rahmatika astagheeth, Aslih lee sha’nee kullahu, wa laa takilni ilaa nafsi tarfata ‘aynin

O Ever Living, Ever Sustaining, In You Mercy do I seek refuge, in setting all my affairs right. Do not leave me to my ego for even a blink of an eye.

[Haakim]

Ibn Ata’Illah, a faqih and a Master of Islamic Spiritual Psychology addresses this in his Book of Wisdom: Kitab Al Hikam:

He wrote:

الغـافـل إذا أصبح يـنـظـر مـاذا يـفـعـل

 والـعـاقـل يـنـظـر مـاذا يـفـعـل الله به

When the forgetful gets up in the morning, he reflects on what he is going to do, whereas the intelligent sees what God is doing with him.

Since the forgetful man’s gaze is on his own capability, he attributes all his actions to his own self. Allah most high therefore assigns him to his own ego. Thus, all his affairs become difficult and he becomes entrapped in numerous problems. But, for the true believer in Allah’s oneness, the most difficult task does not overwhelm him because his gaze is fixed on Allah, the Most High.

– Commentary, Kitab Al Hikam

Let us apply this mindset shift to the challenges Khadijah and Omar and many of us are experiencing: It is not I but God, who is really in control and He is the Master of all my affairs. This shift can be profound and create a deep impact on lightening the “burden” and easing the overwhelm. 

This is also where intentional living with higher awareness and consciousness of Allah’s (SWT) presence and assistance in our life begins to shine through and we accept our role to serve Allah with spiritual excellence and flow. We leave the results to Him and become more focused on showing up as our best self to please Allah (SWT). 

Shifting out of our distracted, overwhelmed lower self to our intentional, aware, God-conscious best-self can be the antidote we need spiritually and emotionally to respond effectively to the overwhelm of modern life. Let us explore this in the life of our beloved Prophet (peace be upon him).

Exploring the Prophet’s heart at the lowest point in his life

Once Ayesha (ra) asked the Prophet (peace be upon him) whether Uhud was the toughest day in his life. Our Prophet (peace be upon him) replied in the negative and mentioned that it was actually the day of Taif – the day he was driven out with a mob pelting him with stones from a mountain city, 55 miles away from Makkah. 

Why was Taif so difficult? To answer this question, think of the most difficult problem you had in your life when you felt you were at the lowest point of your life. And at that moment – remove the most important pillars of support from your life – no parent, no spouse, no sibling to support you emotionally! 

The year the Prophet (peace be upon him) went to Taif, he first lost his parent figure: his uncle Abu Talib. After a few weeks, he lost his beloved wife Khadijah (ra), the most important pillar of support – the first person to affirm his Prophethood, become a Muslim, and spend all her wealth for his cause, the mother of the queen of Jannah i.e. Fatima, and the grandmother of the leaders of all youth in Jannah i.e. Hasan and Husain. He followed these two deep losses with a mission to Taif to find a refuge for his community.

Instead of finding relief, the Prophet (peace be upon him) was mocked by the chieftains of Taif and followed by a mob petting him with stones for miles until the blessed body of the Prophet (peace be upon him) was bleeding. 

As the Prophet (peace be upon him) finally sat down after this utter humiliation, how did he process his overwhelm? How did he react to this most difficult day of his life? What were the qualities of his heart that we can emulate to pick ourselves back up from when we are feeling low?

Let us explore the qualities of the Prophet’s heart below through the H.E.A.R.T. Mindfulness Model we introduced on the Productive Muslim blog before (click here to read the article) and how you can apply this model to deal with your personal overwhelming situation: 

The Prophet (peace be upon him) thrived with compassion. He achieved so much during that moment of strength and this is reflective in what came afterward — the entire tribe would later become Muslim and from their progeny comes a man named Muhammad bin Qasim Thaqafi, who conquers Sindh and brings Islam to the South Asian diaspora opening the migration of Islam and Muslims to South Asia. Even I, the author of this article, owe my Islam to this connected thread of history!

Most of us do not need to experience our lowest day, but just a simple disappointment is enough for us to lose our capacity for kindness.

Yet, once the Prophet found his healing in the present moment and resolve through mindfulness, purpose, and gratitude, look how he rose with patience, thriving with compassion.

Addressing Khadijah’s overwhelm with the H.E.A.R.T Model

Let’s take this a step further and apply the H.E.A.R.T. Model to Khadijah’s challenge with her overwhelm:

Mindfulness Masterclass this Rabi Al Awwal

Mindfulness, purpose, gratitude, patience, and compassion – this Rabi Al Awwal, we will learn to practice these Prophetic qualities through the Mindfulness Masterclass, where we work through and learn practical and immediately applicable tools through the intersection of neuroscience and Islamic Spiritual Psychology.

This is our 5th cohort of the Mindfulness Masterclass and we’ll be joined by alumni who have felt their lives transformed as a result of this Masterclass.

“This is a life-changing class… I’m more present in my Salat, I’m practicing mindfulness on daily basis using some of Br. Wadud’s practices, and I’m approaching life from being energy rather than doing energy, AND… I’m able to accomplish more!”

Amal Essader

During the 6 week Masterclass, you’ll invest in your spiritual and emotional wellbeing and learn how to cultivate a Prophetic H.E.A.R.T. We’ll cover the following:

H – Heal in His Presence

Shifting from living on autopilot to intentional living.

• Understanding the H.E.A.R.T. Model.
• Understanding neuroscience vs. the Islamic concept of mindfulness.
• Exploring the scientific benefits of mindfulness and meditation.
• Acquiring both neuroscience and Islamic tools for training your focus.
• Practically learning the methods of “Muraqaba” or meditation of three Islamic scholars: Al Muhasibi, Ibn Qayim, and Ibn Ata’Illah.
• Understanding the science-based mindfulness meditation.

E – Engage with Purpose

From mindfulness of God to deep awareness and actualization of your purpose in life. How to develop the resilience—that’s connected to excellence, optimism, and affirmation of faith and prayer—to achieve your goals.

• The power of purpose both Islamically and through evidence-based modern research.
• Developing a statement of purpose connected to your personal core values.
• The mindset needed to refocus when you steer off your purpose.
• Experiencing the “purpose meditation” to claim your worth and focus on your goals despite failures/setbacks.

A – Achieve with Gratitude

Evolving from mindfulness to being grateful to the Bestower. Linking gratitude to neuroscience, productivity, and peak performance.

• The Quranic and Prophetic principles and promise connected to gratitude.
• The neuroscience-based benefits of gratitude.
• Experiencing a “mindfulness-based” gratitude meditation.
• The concept and steps of reframing to upgrade from scarcity to abundance-mindset.

R – Rise with Patience and Humility

How to rise beyond the challenges of this world by welcoming and regulating difficult emotions. Discovering our internal selves. Exploring your strengths, weaknesses, and triggers.

• The science behind emotions.
• Practicing a body scan meditation to be aware of your emotions.
• Imam Ghazzali’s spiritual self-awareness meditation.
• How journaling can be used as a tool for self-awareness.
• Tools for regulating difficult thoughts, emotions, and practicing patience.

T – Thrive with Compassion

How mindfulness, awareness, and deep connection to The Most Merciful God fuels the way we show up and connect with the world – starting with family. Overcoming the stresses of interpersonal relationships, communication, and leadership.

• The emerging evidence-based research on compassion and its effect on leadership.
• Differentiating between empathy and compassion.
• Practicing “compassion meditation”.
• The steps of the Prophetic Model of Compassion.

Wadud Hassan, co-founder of the upcoming Muslim Mindfulness app: Muraqaba

Sign up for the Mindfulness Masterclass.

Whether you join the Mindfulness Masterclass or not, stay ahead of overwhelm by shifting from auto-pilot to awareness, and by cultivating presence and inner calm in the practices you already have:

Spiritually: Make a slow and mindful wudhu to wash off your stress and prime yourself to be more present and grounded when you stand for Salah.

Emotionally: Take a few deep breaths with Dhikr when you are on the go, take a few minutes to transition between tasks, practice silence every day to take perspective, forgive, and let go.

Physically: Disconnect from your phone and immerse yourself in nature or just the present moment when taking a walk or doing your daily exercise.

Socially: Leave your phone away from the family musallah, living, or dining area, and connect with the family with all your heart while praying, playing, eating, or reading a book together.

And don’t forget the power of du’a! Incorporate in the du’a of the Prophet (peace be upon him) to seek refuge and shelter in the mercy and awareness of Allah (SWT). 

 يا حي يا قيوم ، برحمتك أستغيث ،  أصلح لي شأني كله ،  ولا تكلني إلى نفسي طرفة عين

Yaa Hayyu Yaa Qayyoom, bi Rahmatika astagheeth, Aslih lee sha’nee kullahu, wa laa takilni ilaa nafsi tarfata ‘aynin

O Ever Living, Ever Sustaining, In You Mercy do I seek refuge, in setting all my affairs right. Do not leave me to my ego for even a blink of an eye. [Haakim]

The post Addressing Overwhelm with a Prophetic H.E.A.R.T. appeared first on ProductiveMuslim.com.

As tough as it was – For many of us, this was a unique opportunity to experience a more meaningful Ramadan, focusing on our relationship with Allah SWT vs. the traditional socially-intense Ramadan experience that makes us feel spiritually-socially high, yet busy and overwhelmed.

As many communities are planning a more traditional Ramadan with social-distancing and reduced operations, another opportunity emerges: defining a “new normal” for Ramadan, which focuses on being more vs. doing more.

We call it a Mindful Ramadan.

Mindful Ramadan

One of the purposes of Ramadan is to emerge more mindful, more aware, and more present of Allah SWT.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ

“O, believers! Fasting is prescribed for you—as it was for those before you—so perhaps you will become Mindful of God.”

[Al-Baqara 2:183]

Mindful Ramadan is not just doing a lot in Ramadan and then returning to your past self post-Ramadan. Instead, it is about utilizing your Ramadan to go beyond all the incredible blessings and rewards of this month and transform yourself to be a better version of yourself. Mindful Ramadan is not just about doing more but also being more. It is finding your focus on who you want to become and aligning everything you do to fuel that transformation.

Therefore, Mindful Ramadan is about being present and intentional and rooted in Ihsaan – worshiping God and showing up with your best self as if we can see and experience God. If we think about Fasting, the primary obligation of Ramadan, it is more about not doing something (i.e., restraining from food, drink, and desire) than doing apparent, outward worship. Fasting in its very nature then is an act of the heart as we are restraining ourselves from feeding our body, and we are cultivating our soul even when no one is watching. Even a conscientious child would not drink a gulp of water in the shower when no one is watching because he or she knows that God is present and aware.

And this awareness, presence, or Mindfulness of God is the very foundation of a Mindful Ramadan and its reward? Allah SWT says: الصِّيَامُ لِي وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ “Fasting is for me, and I (personally) gives its reward. [Bukhari 1795]” The scholars of Hadith opined that one meaning of God Himself giving the reward means that God Himself will be the reward. The reward of a Mindful Ramadan is nothing short of the presence and proximity of God and His pleasure on the day of judgment and in Jannah. And, what better reward and joy than the privilege of meeting our creator on that day? May God not deprive us of meeting Him in a state that He is pleased with and from being among those who frequently visit Him in our final abode.

Cultivating Your HEART this Ramadan

The Prophet SAW was the most Mindful of Allah in this month – both the quality and quantity of his actions in this month exceeded all bounds. Yet, the most important thing he showed up with Allah, his family, and his companions was a beautiful heart. This Ramadan, as we try to show up to Allah SWT with our best selves, let us remember that Allah SWT looks at our hearts most of all.

إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَنْظُرُ إِلَى صُوَرِكُمْ وَأَمْوَالِكُمْ

 وَلَكِنْ يَنْظُرُ إِلَى قُلُوبِكُمْ وَأَعْمَالِكُمْ

“Verily, Allah does not look at your appearance or wealth, Rather He looks at your hearts and actions.” 

[Muslim: 2564]

And how do we beautify our hearts? Through the examples of our beloved Messenger of God (SAW). And, when describing the Prophet SAW, Aisha (RAD) said:

فَإِنَّ خُلُقَ نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ الْقُرْآنَ

“Verily, the character of the Prophet of Allah was the Quran.”

[Muslim: 746]

That is why we propose the HEART model of Mindfulness, a Quranic framework for Cultivating Your Heart this Ramadan. It is built upon the presence and awareness of Allah. It focuses on building the defining characteristics of the Prophet’s heart to become more Mindful, Purposeful, Grateful, Patient, Humble, and Compassionate. 

As the Productive Muslim team emphasizes: Approach this Ramadan through your intention rather than a long list of goals. Use the HEART model to set your intention on who you will become post-Ramadan, which of these traits you will focus on to become the better version of yourself, and what will you take with you post-Ramadan to continue your journey of soul-transformation?

Download the HEART model here

Emerging More Mindful Post Ramadan

As you reflect on the guiding question on the HEART model above on how to emerge more Mindful, Purposeful, Grateful, Patient, and Compassionate post-Ramadan, here are some examples of how to continue to live our best self even beyond this beautiful month:

Mindfulness Masterclass – Ramadan Edition

This year, How will you plan to transform yourself through a more Mindful Ramadan? Let us know what resonated with you the most in the comments below! Please join a beautiful community of practice for our Ramadan Edition of the Mindfulness Masterclass starting Tuesday, 11th Sha’ban 1443H (15 Mar 2022) at 6:00 pm Central Time at www.productivemuslim.com/mindfulness.

Wadud Hassan, co-founder of the upcoming Muslim Mindfulness app: Muraqaba)

Sign Up for Our Mindfulness Masterclass and Get 3 Practical Mindfulness Tools for this Ramadan

The post Mindful Ramadan: Being More vs. Doing More appeared first on ProductiveMuslim.com.

In simple words, mindfulness is our ability to pay attention to the present moment without getting carried away by all the distractions, emotions, thoughts, and feelings we experience. From an emotional well-being perspective, this concept can be very useful for Muslims. However, to us Muslims, this mainstream definition of Mindfulness is incomplete without God.

In this article, we discuss how Islamic mindfulness is different from worldly/mainstream mindfulness captured in this infographic below:

Emotional vs. Spiritual Well-being

According to numerous neuroscience-based research, mindfulness is proven to have a strong correlation with emotional regulation and well-being [1]. In contrast, mindfulness, through an Islamic lens, is not just about mental and emotional well-being, but more importantly about spiritual well-being – which we believe can nurture our emotional health and is deeply rooted in our awareness of and relationship with God .

Mind vs. Heart

The modern field of mindfulness is most fascinated with our brain, its roles in building and sustaining new habits, and its influence on our well-being. In Islam, the mindfulness of God is rooted in our heart – the Qalb. Prophet Muhammad pointed to his heart when he said: ]

“Taqwa ha-huna” “Mindfulness of God is here and he pointed to his chest three times” [Muslim]

Mindfulness in Islam, therefore, is a tool and practice to nurture the heart and soul, which are connected to the mind, which has been previously explained in the ProductiveMuslim’s article: What Islam Offers to Modern Self-Help: An Islamic Paradigm of Psychology.

Emotional vs. Spiritual Intelligence

According to Daniel Goleman, one of the leading figures behind the modern emotional intelligence movement, mindfulness is the foundation for emotional intelligence, a key ingredient for success in our relationships, career, and leadership [2]. Islamic Mindfulness, on the other hand, deals with striving for excellence that goes beyond practicing emotional intelligence for career success to a deeper foundation of Spiritual Intelligence that influences our intention, drive, and behavior in pleasing Allah to achieve our eternal success through everything we do.

Mindfulness, Spiritual Intelligence, and Productivity

Now that we have explored a few aspects of the difference between secular and Islamic Mindfulness, let us explore the relationship between Islamic Mindfulness and Spiritual Intelligence.

Mindfulness is the very foundation of emotional intelligence because being mindful of our selves: the impact of our thoughts, emotions, and actions on our personal productivity, our teams, and our organizations is the essence of Emotional Intelligence. When we add the additional layer of Mindfulness of God to that, we get Spiritual Intelligence!

Emotional Intelligence is our ability to be self-aware, to self-regulate, be empathetic, motivated, and effective in social skills such as communication, negotiation, and conflict management. Spiritual Intelligence, we propose, is the God-centric and Prophetic self-awareness, emotional regulation, motivation, compassion, and social influence that not only makes us productive and effective in our career but also turns our work as a worship of God. It helps us uphold the excellence of character mandated by God and exemplified by the Prophet Muhammad . The deepest motivation of developing Spiritual Intelligence comes from our belief that it is tied to Divine closeness, protection, guidance, blessings, and acceptance.

Mainstream vs Islamic Mindfulness

We shed light here on how the God-centric Islamic Mindfulness and Spiritual Intelligence model can be a win-win for Muslims in both worlds. According to Dr. Jon Kabat Zinn, one of the pioneers of the modern neuroscience-based mindfulness movement in the US, “Mindfulness is paying attention on purpose…in the present moment, non-judgmentally” [3]. Let’s examine each of the three elements of mindfulness mentioned by Dr. Kabat-Zinn through the Islamic lens:

1. Purpose
2. Presence
3. No Judgment

1. Purpose: The Spiritual Mindfulness of Intention:

Making an intention is an act of mindfulness as it requires focus and awareness. We are taught as Muslims that every action depends on intentions. Everything we do is for the pleasure of God , in the ways shown by our Prophet , and must be beneficial to us and/or other human beings. This spiritual process of making intention fuels our drive, motivation, and excellence in our work. As Ibn Ata’illah said, “actions are lifeless forms, but the presence of an inner sincerity is what endows us with life-giving spirit” [5]. And it is the mindfulness of our ultimate abode and the Day of Judgment that drives us to set all affairs right and show up with our best selves to serve God and His creation – whether at work or at home.

Abdullah ibn Umair narrates that the Messenger of Allah said, “Whoever makes an intention for the sake of the world; Allah, the exalted, brings poverty before him and leaves it desiring it. Whoever makes the afterlife his intention; Allah, the exalted, makes his heart rich and gathers him with what he lost then he leaves with more abstinence from it.” [Ibn Majah]

We make intentions according to the image of our best self even though we are only striving towards it. That is why it is reported that: “The intention of a believer is better than his action. [5]

2. Presence: The Spiritual Mindfulness of Hudhur:

Our beloved Prophet taught us how to be present with the Creator and with the creation. The concept of Hudhur or being present with God was recommended as the #1 prerequisite of Khushu’ or a Mindful Salah by Imam Ghazzali in his Mysteries of Prayer, part 4 of his 40 volume magnum opus: Ihya Ulum Deen – Revival of Religious Sciences.

Allah says: “And know that Allah knows what is in your souls, so be mindful of Him.” [Quran 2:235]

Hudhur in this verse means being deeply conscious of God (and all what this consciousness entails from doing what He pleases and abandoning what He’s displeased with). Presence of Mind is not just a requirement for our service to our Creator, it is the very ingredient to find success and satisfaction at our work. Two Psychologists at Harvard, Daniel Gilbert, and Matthew Killingsworth did a study on over 2200 people that found that our minds are wandering about 47% of the time [6]. We are spending half our waking life not present in the current moment and the study also found that the wandering mind was not a happy mind as there was a greater correlation of flow and satisfaction with a focused mind.

This concept of presence at work to give our best is also at the very core of the Islamic guidelines of Muamalat (interactions), which regards our work as worship given the right intention and due effort.

The concept of presence and focus is deeply rooted in the example of our beloved Prophet . When the Prophet interacted with people, he listened with his heart. He did not just turn his face but he turned his chest to the person he was listening to. Everyone felt heard by the Prophet and this is how we need to show up at work and at home to lead by example.

3. No Judgment: The Spiritual Mindfulness of Not Judging Any Situation as Negative

As Muslims, no judgment is something we practice when we are spiritually intelligent through the teaching of our beloved Prophet .

The Messenger of Allah said, “How wonderful is the case of a believer, there is good for him in everything and this applies only to a believer. If prosperity attends him, he expresses gratitude to Allah and that is good for him; and if adversity befalls him, he endures it patiently and that is better for him”. [Muslim]

Learning to have the best expectation of God in every situation, being optimistic, looking at the positive side of every experience is an important characteristic of those who are Spiritually Intelligent and this needs training.

Spiritual Intelligence is knowing that being grateful and patient in every situation brings God’s Pleasure and assistance and is rooted in mindfulness God, His attributes, and His promises. This is what can help a Muslim thrive at work or home even when facing challenges that will easily faze an average person.

Productivity through

Mainstream Mindfulness  VS.	Islamic Mindfulness & Spiritual Intelligence
Purpose: Find a purpose that motivates you	Purpose: the Islamic intention deeply rooted in being aware of God and seeking His Pleasure gives us drive, motivation and success at work and home
Presence: Focus on the moment to maximize your potential	Presence: Being present with people through our deep connection to the example of The Messenger of God . Prophetic Presence rooted in the Mindfulness of God helps us serve his creation to the best of our ability at work and home.
No Judgment: Do not get carried away by emotion and be rational to be effective	No Judgment: Having spiritual intelligence and being mindful that no situation is bad for the believer. Through faith, patience, and gratitude, we can attract God’s Divine pleasure and assistance, as well as be at an advantage to be more effective with the challenges at work and home.

Explore the New Mindfulness Masterclass

The ProductiveMuslim Company is pleased to introduce the Mindfulness Masterclass: A six-week online masterclass that connects Islamic tradition with mindfulness science to help you deal with negativity, uncertainty, and the emotional rollercoasters of life. The class starts Tuesday, 11th Sha’ban 1443H (15 Mar 2022) at 6:00 pm Central Time. Check out the detailed program and register today.

References:

1. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-new-resilience/202004/how-are-mindfulness-stress-and-your-well-being-connected
2. https://www.mindtools.com/blog/mindfulness-emotional-intelligence/
3. https://www.forbes.com/sites/keldjensen/2012/04/12/intelligence-is-overrated-what-you-really-need-to-succeed/#6e944414b6d2
4. Kabat-Zinn J. Full Catastrophe Living. New York, N.Y, Dell Publishing, 1991
5. Kitab Al Hikam by Ibn ‘Ata’illah Skandari
6. https://islamqa.org/hanafi/hadithanswers/122559
7. https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2010/11/wandering-mind-not-a-happy-mind/

The post What is Mindfulness and Spiritual Intelligence: An Islamic Framework appeared first on ProductiveMuslim.com.

She wants to contribute to a financially stable household, but she is starting to lose motivation at her current job. She feels she is not able to give enough time to her girls and has not taken time out to nurture her marriage due to the daily grinds.

These challenges have become a bit more intertwined as the lines between her work and home life became blurry when she started working from home due to COVID-19. She also has her mom and in-laws at home during this quarantine period due to personal circumstances.

Maryam feels she is not her best self: she is generally more distracted, worried, on the edge, and realizes she needs to invest in herself to deal with the challenges and uncertainties more positively. She prays to Allah to grant her more Hikma (wisdom) to see the good in everything and know how to move forward in her life. But can more Hikma really help her?

[If you want to understand your own level of  Hikma, take this free assessment]

Start Mindfulness Quiz!

What is Hikma and Why You Need it in Uncertain Times

Hikma or Wisdom from Allah is the ability to see the beauty and purpose in everything we go through in life. One of Allah Names is Al Hakeem- the All-Wise. When we trust His Wisdom and process everything through the wisdom revealed in His Book, we can gain more clarity and positivity in life.

Allah says:

“The Most Compassionate. Taught the Quran. He created human beings. And taught him speech.” [Quran 55:1-4]

Significantly, Allah mentioned: “taught the Qur’an” even before the mention of the creation or the intelligent speech of human beings because the Quran gives humans the ultimate intelligence and guidance to deal with the ups and downs of life more gracefully. The Quranic knowledge is not only about the ‘aql or intelligence of the mind but also the spiritual intelligence of faith and guidance that is rooted in the heart.

One of the words used to describe the Quran is Al Hakeem: the wise book. Allah, The All-Wise, revealed the Quran to teach us wisdom. This type of intelligence is paramount to our success that Allah swears by it: “

 “Ya, Seen. By the Quran, rich in wisdom!” [Quran 36: 1-2]

Allah revealed the ultimate wisdom or intelligence through the Divine revelations to His chosen messengers whom He instructed to teach and reflect His Hikma to people. Allah commanded the Prophet Muhammad :

“Invite to the way of your Lord with Hikma and kind teaching.” [Quran 16:125]

To revive dead hearts, guide lost people, bring certainty during the uncertainties of life, the quality Allah asked the Prophet to use was Hikma. The Beloved Prophet  Muhammad not only needed to adopt a high level of wisdom when working on reviving barren hearts, but he was the perfect example of wisdom in his life dealing with all the challenges and uncertainties he faced when he started calling people to Allah’s path.

Developing Hikma: the 6 Traits of Spiritual Intelligence

[If you want to understand your own level of  Hikma, take this free assessment]

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So how can we develop Spiritual Intelligence? There are 6 traits highlighted in a special chapter of the Quran where Allah teaches us wisdom through one of His chosen servants -regarded as a Prophet by some and a very special servant of Allah by others- called Luqman The wise. Allah dedicated an entire chapter of the Quran to his wisdom, Surat Luqman. Allah says:

“Indeed, We endowed Luqman with wisdom.” [Quran 31:12]

Luqman was called al Hakeem, the wise, and Surah Luqman captures his beautiful wisdom in the forms of his advice to his son. We propose the HEART of Spiritual Intelligence^TM framework here based on the advice of Luqman:

The heart of a believer embodies these beautiful traits of Luqman the wise as captured in the HEART of Spiritual Intelligence model. The HEART model, based on Quranic and Prophetic principles then, represents a type of intelligence that elevates a human being to the presence and pleasure of God and causes a ripple in the unseen system of God for protection, blessing, assistance, and elevation.

This Spiritual Intelligence was perfectly embodied by none other than our beloved Prophet Muhammad and here are some of those Prophetic qualities of Spiritual Intelligence you and I can strive to bring into our own lives:

1. Mindful of Allah in everything I do:

• Feeling His presence in everything I do
• Seeing His Wisdom and Power in all situation in life – good or bad
• Experiencing tranquility in His remembrance
• Transforming worries and weakness into relief and strength through reliance on Him
• Turning my entire life as worship through being mindful of my intention

2. Focused on our purpose on earth so that everything is connected to:

• Understanding our unique place and purpose in this world
• Aligning my personal purpose with the Pleasure of Allah
• Finding motivation in everything we do through my purpose
• Filtering distractions and negativity by focusing on that which is best aligned to my purpose
• Connecting the preparation of our return to Him and the Hereafter to everything we do

3. Deeply grateful so that we are:

• Embodying an attitude of deep gratitude to God, and then parents, family, friends, and community
• Internally aware of all the blessings in our life big and small, apparent and subtle, the special and the regular
• Externally manifesting a radiating attitude of positivity and abundance

4. Patient and humble during difficulty and uncertainty with the highest expectation of:

• Allah’s Presence
• Promised Reward
• Promised Relief
• Using Prophetic silence to help regulate our negative thoughts, emotions
• Thinking of others as better than the self, overlook their shortcomings, focus on their positive qualities,
• Be humble while doing good:
  • Hide good deeds
  • Hope for God’s acceptance and rewards
  • Fear our sins and shortcomings

5. Compassionate in the way I represent Allah and His Prophet and connect with people

• Reflecting the mercy Allah
• Embodying the Prophet’s compassion of
  • Being a source of healing in people’s lives
  • Listening with no judgment
  • Making people feel safe through verbal and physical affirmation
  • Serving without any expectation from people and only to seek the compassion of God

“And whosoever is granted wisdom is indeed granted abundant good.” [Quran, 2:269]

Maryam’s Story

Applying the HEART Model

Before	After
H: Heal with Mindfulness of God
She was feeling distracted.	She is taking time out to incorporate Mindful breathing with Istighfar and Dhikr. She is treating Wudhu and Salah as spiritual self-care. She is starting to find healing in Quranic recitation and meditation. She is taking some time for only her and Allah SWT to let go, relax, find focus.
E: Engage with Purpose
She was feeling lost and confused about her meaning and purpose in life.	She is starting to look for wisdom in how everything that is happening in her life can be a way for her to get closer to Allah . She has started reflecting and journaling to connect her values, interests, and strengths to the purpose of worshipping God, being of service to humanity, and preparing for the hereafter.
A: Achieve with Gratitude
She was starting to focus on her negative thoughts and stressors in life.	She is now taking time every day to look for, reflect on, and express gratitude for all blessings – big and small.
R: Rise with Patience and Humility
She was losing her calm more often than usual.	She is taking time to pause, breathe, and make Dhikr before responding.
She realized that due to not taking time to take care of her spiritual, emotional and physical self, she started resenting others and seeing the faults in others.v	She decided to set healthy boundaries for personal self-care time and started journaling about the positive characteristics of everyone in her family. She is starting to reframe any negative thoughts into positive and saving her energy for her own self-development goals instead of trying to change or control others.
T: Thrive with Compassion & Service
She was coming across a little direct and at times not easily approachable.	She is now focusing on taking a pause before responding immediately. She is visualizing the Prophetic compassion in dealing with and serving others before taking action.

The HEART Model of Spiritual Intelligence is helping Maryam build herself up spiritually, physically, and emotionally. It’s helping her be more calm, mindful, and positive about her life instead of getting carried away by her ever-growing to-do list, demands of her home/career, and the stresses of juggling between all her roles and responsibilities.

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