Muhasabah

A session on muḥāsabah covering self-accountability, how to treat the nafs, and building a personal muḥāsabah plan.

• The definition and basis of muḥāsabah: The session defines muḥāsabah as evaluating the actions and behaviour of the nafs, then rectifying mistakes and continuing good deeds. Qur’an 59:18 anchors the lesson, with ʿUmar b. al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه quoted on holding oneself to account before the Day of Reckoning.
• How to treat the nafs: Learners are introduced to tazkiyat al-nafs and the principle that the nafs must be treated strictly, corrected when it errs, and encouraged when it inclines towards obedience. Ibn al-Jawzī’s approach of speaking directly to one’s nafs is referenced, alongside the statement of ʿĀmir b. ʿAbd Qays رحمه الله on the Companions and the link between self-accountability and pure īmān.
• How to perform muḥāsabah: The session presents a practical framework: fixing a time, preparing a personal checklist, and working through four areas in order farḍ deeds, forbidden acts, heedlessness, and intentions.
• Self-reflection questions: Learners are given a set of honest questions to apply to their own deeds, including whether an act was done sincerely for Allah, whether khushūʿ was present in ṣalāh, whether a lesser good deed was used to justify neglecting a greater one, and how screen time is being spent.
• The consequence of neglecting muḥāsabah: Qur’an 59:19 is quoted on those who forgot Allah or were made to forget themselves, and the lesson draws out why muḥāsabah carries particular weight for ṭullāb al-ʿilm and those active in daʿwah.