Imagine a little boy playing his favourite sport with a group of friends. His parents aren’t around to keep an eye on him. Getting this play time after very long makes it all the more valuable for him. He is enjoying every moment of this precious time. While he is playing, do you think he is thinking about the pending homework that he has to get back to soon after his playtime is done?
Analyzing the mental state of the boy will give us many takeaways. The most prominent one being – his experience gives us a fine example of ‘living in the moment’. He is not distracted by his surroundings, he is completely immersed in the present and making the best of it and as a result, he is able to acquire maximum benefit from the moment. This is exactly what the word ‘mindfulness’ entails- being in the moment and freeing the mind of distracting thoughts and anxiety.
Now the question is: in this fast paced world where everyone multitasks and you’ve always got to have your thoughts racing to keep up, how is one supposed to slow down and live in the moment?
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) asked us to ‘Take account of ourselves before we are taken account of and weigh your deeds before they are being weighed’.
Taking the simple yet profound example of salaat, there are certain etiquettes pertaining to salaat that includes being sincere and humble while praying and to pray the way the Prophet (PBUH) used to pray. It is extremely vital to be mindful of this act of worship. It is important to remember that we are in conversation with Allah during the salaat. We must free our minds of anxiety and other thoughts.
Working to maintain mindfulness during salaat results in worship that is acceptable and pleasing to Allah. Apart from this benefit, maintaining mindfulness during salaat will keep us in the habit of practicing it even outside salaat.
“Those who remember Allah (always, and in prayers) standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and think deeply about the creation of the heavens and the earth, (saying): Our Lord! You have not created (all) this without purpose, glory to You! (Exalted are You above all that they associate with You as partners). Give us salvation from the torment of the Fire.” [Quran, 3:191]
Mindfulness is not something that only talented and skilled people might have. It is in fact a trait that we are all born with and can improve with practice. As mentioned in the above verse, one has to maintain mindfulness in the remembrance of Allah throughout the day.
The nafs needs to be in control if a person wants to be in the route of spiritual or internal jihad. Taking care of our nafs, keeping ourselves away from whisperings and not allowing the nafs to lure us into something unpleasant is important.
“And not equal are the good deed and the bad. Repel [evil] by that [deed] which is better; and thereupon the one whom between you and him is enmity [will become] as though he was a devoted friend.” [Quran, 41:34]
Learning about the Life of the Prophet, his character and his response to certain situations will give us a lesson of how to react in difficult situations without allowing the nafs to make things bad.
A person who practices mindfulness over a period of time will notice changes in the way he/she approaches a problem. The person will be less stressed and more at peace. It would be possible for the person to extract maximum benefit from any situation ranging from productivity from an experience to rewards from worship.
