Eliminating Doubts From Our Lives Part 1

By M

Bismillah

I am certain. A good feeling, that certainty. Certainty is a place unshakeable, a place where we can smile to ourselves and hold our heads up high, and know that something good is set in stone. Wanna be it? 

I think we all experience despair, loss, suffering, a plan gone terribly wrong – the one that was to irrevocably change our lives for the better, bring crowds of people to applaud us, celebrations permeating the air, the elated cries of victory, the recognition of who we are... all this as we are elevated onto the shoulders of supporters – while we beam in ecstatic happiness, marching forward to our arrival into recognition and power, claiming our hypothetical throne....like in the movies. 

But all we really got out of the hard work we invested was the figurative t-shirt, and an overwhelming feeling of our emotional ship sinking, catapulting us into the realm of should haves until we doubt just about every move forward, backward, sideward, within us and without. 

Sometimes a doubtful idea or word can whir around in our minds like a blender, until the mush of uncertainty blocks the clarity of our original thought. 

Doubt can also be something constructive in our lives though, like when it proves to keep us away from that which we are unsure of, which may cause harm or set us on a path we don’t want to finish. 

So how do we try to eliminate harmful doubt? How do we eliminate doubt in our own capability once we’ve endured too many knocks that we just want to play it safe now, leave the living for others so we can let our wounds heal 700 times over and stay on the same level playing field for, who knows, ever? How do we eliminate doubting those who we care about once we are faced with a doubtful idea regarding them. How do we know what to do when we doubt whether something is right or wrong? 

Just so you know human beings, we really are just human beings and it’s easy to let ourselves dwell into the dark depths of insane doubt, and with the same ease shift focus. 

The Light of Knowledge 

Knowledge is not referred to as light for no apparent reason. Light eliminates darkness, allows us to see truth, and allows us to feel the warm glow of certainty. 

So educate yourself! Seek knowledge. It takes the doubt away. 

Whatever the problem before you is, fix it buy researching, reading, asking a good someone who knows about the subject that vexes you. 

If its mushrooms, toadstools, children’s sugar rushes, why the sky is blue, how to work out the net worth of your business, what to look for in a true friend, when that sale is, how to fry an egg or how to perform salaat excellently, find out. 

Knowledge smashes ignorance, and empowers you. 

I must tell you that on a recent Islamic retreat, the notion of the light of knowledge was enforced. The quest for Knowledge of our deen is always met by happiness. If you can love yourself enough to allow yourself to feel sincerely the power of truth, you will find peace in its practice, and you will find a smile in your heart. This sometimes feels like a challenge amidst our daily activities, or mindsets, but no-one ever complained when they made the time to make themselves happy. 

Eliminate Doubting a Person 

Basic rule: if a nasty piece of a person, a person who has proved really rude, mean, and an avid gossiper decides to come over and invade your positive clear mind space... ignore what they say about others to you. 

A mean person, or a person who proves callous with people’s feelings rarely has good intentions in regards to ‘breaking news’ about others. Chances are, if they do that to others they’ll do it to you. 

If it’s something that pertains to you, in regards to a relationship, work wise or personal, find out what the truth is. If it’s not something that pertains to you, rid yourself of unnecessary negativity and ignore... let yourself get the reward of preserving a person’s reputation, and privacy by being well mannered and minding your own beeswax. 

O you who have believed, if there comes to you a disobedient one with information, investigate, lest you harm a people out of ignorance and become, over what you have done, regretful. (Surah Al-Hujurat 49:6) 

(In the noble Quran [i] this ayah is translated as: O you who believe! If a Fasiq (liar-evil person) comes to you with news, verify it, lest you should harm people in ignorance, and afterwards you become regretful for what you have done.) 

Listen to the next ayah. It highlights keeping a positive mindset, and preventing yourself from harming others. I’m sure we all would love someone to treat us with kindness and to respect our privacy. So let’s try start the trend if it’s not already active! 

O you, who have believed, avoid much [negative] assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin. And do not spy or backbite each other. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his brother when dead? You would detest it. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is Accepting of repentance and Merciful. 

The severity of trying to harm another has some serious consequences. The following hadith emphasises this: 

Narrated Hudhaifa RadiAllahu anhu: I heard the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) saying, "A Qattat will not enter Paradise." 

(Noble Quran explanation of a Qattat: a person who conveys disagreeable, false information from one person to another with the intention of causing harm and enmity between them) 

Everything said between Muslims in conversation is considered sacred and in confidence. 

Picture this scenario. Person A talks to Person B, and says something quite horrible about person C. B and C are really close, and B is pretty upset about this. Should B tell C? 

If it causes harm and can’t be fixed, don’t do it!!! 

Conveying that negative statement, even if it be true, is a form of backbiting. Person A may regret and be remorseful over what was said a few seconds after it was said, or a day from now, or even a while after, and the result just causes ‘bad blood ’ between people. 

Hold back. Save your friends feelings from being hurt, or your husband or colleague, unless it be necessary to prevent something worse from occurring. Sometimes keeping it to yourself, just saves a loved one heartache. Consider it ‘taking one for the friendship team’. 

[i] the noble Quran in the English language, translated by Dr Muhammad Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali and Dr Muhammad Muhsin Khan

I'd love to hear your views on this topic. Please post in the comments section below! :)

Posted in: Backbiting,Brotherhood,Community,Doubts,Eliminating,Evil,Harm,Knowledge,Muazza,Paradise