Changing what is in oneself - 2

Sincerity is a very influential way for changing what is in oneself

“That is because Allah would never change a blessing He has conferred on a people until they had changed what was in themselves. Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.”(Surat al-Anfal, 53)

In the Qur’an, Allah relates that one of the most important attributes He demands in a person is “sincerity.” No matter what kind of weaknesses and flaws a person may have, sincerity is a very important attribute of a believer that will be instrumental in making him earn Allah’s good pleasure. By Allah’s leave, a person is prone to find the right path if he remains very sincere and honest towards Allah and is able to completely exclude the reasoning of satan and the negative inculcations of his lower-self. A person who considers the Qur’an with sincerity will see that the main problem lies not in the effort seen from outside but in the intention made inside.

Indeed the kind of “change” Allah relates in the Qur’an is a profoundly sincere intention made towards Allah. It is the decision made not to display a morality with which Allah will be displeased. It is a deep regret and pangs of conscience felt out of doing the contrary and thus making a firm decision to change. Furthermore, it is having the kind of faith that would render one firmly resolute about not taking a step back under any circumstances. Once a person takes such a firm decision in himself, he can also hope for any increase  in the blessings Allah grants him.

A Believer wants to Change so as to Earn Allah’s Good Pleasure

A person must never engage in a good deed or show moral perfection solely to attain a blessing. The main goal of a believer is to earn Allah’s good pleasure. He never exchanges a blessing of this world to Allah’s good pleasure, His love, friendship and His closeness. Consequently “while changing what is in himself”, the goal of a believer is not to attain “more blessings” but to be one of those servants with whom Allah feels pleased.”

In compliance with this secret revealed in the verse, if a person takes a sincere step within himself, Allah promises him to give much better and auspicious blessings than the ones previously taken from him. That is because what Allah essentially demands from His servants is sincerity, as related in words, “If Allah knows of any good in your hearts.” The related verse follows:

O Prophet! Say to those you are holding prisoner, ‘If Allah knows of any good in your hearts, He will give you something better than what has been taken from you and forgive you.’ Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Surat al-Anfal, 70)

Almighty Allah may increase or reduce the blessings to test His servant’s faith

Allah creates the life of this world with many secrets. It is true that Allah may increase or reduce the blessings a person possesses due to the morality he displays but He may also change them in order to put his faith to test. Therefore an increase of blessings a person has may not always source from the betterment of his morality. Similarly, a reduction in blessings may not always be the token of bad morality. In the Qur’an Allah relates that He particularly bestows wealth to unbelievers:

“Do not let their wealth and children impress you. Allah merely wants to punish them by them during their life in the world and for them to expire while they are unbelievers..” (Surat at-Tawba, 55)

As the verse also makes it clear, gains or any loss of blessings in one’s life may have many wisdom. For this reason when encountered with such a situation, a believer immediately considers all possibilities related in the Qur’an and makes soul searching. If he has experienced any loss in blessings, he considers the possible faults or flaws he has had, immediately takes refuge in Allah and repents. Alternatively if he has enjoyed any extra blessings, he gives heartfelt thanks to Allah, considering that Allah had blessed him and increased His blessings on him. In the meantime, considering that these blessings may well be a trial for him, he struggles even more to perfect his morality and be a servant deserving Allah’s mercy.