The Book of Life

Change your Life

Mawlana Muhammad Asif Attari Madani

Acting upon the following tips and explanations are essential for improving your life. Keep in mind that these matters should be limited to permissible and rewardable actions.

1. It is unwise to be angry at someone who points out your mistakes.

Mistakes result in loss, so it is necessary to accept guidance irrespective of the age and profession of the one offering it. For example, if you are travelling to a wedding and a child says you are heading in the wrong direction, will you be angry or thank him for saving you from worry? Similarly, if we are making mistakes in salah and someone corrects us, we should thank him and say جزاک اللہ خیراً – this is because reforming ourselves is part of the Madani goal, “I must strive to reform myself and people of the entire world اِنْ شَــآءَالـلّٰـه.”

2. Lack of understanding results in weak relationships.

People have different temperaments and will get upset if they hear something unpleasant. We must learn about what people like or dislike and interact with them accordingly. Identifying peoples’ temperaments is very beneficial for Islamic preachers.

3. Imbalance between income and expenditure leads to financial difficulties.

Nowadays, many suffer from financial distress but are unaware of the causes. A major cause of poverty is spending more than you earn. Check how much money you have before making a purchase.

4. Share your worries with those who support you during times of happiness and grief.

We usually come across four types of people in life:

* Those who become upset when you are sad.

* Those who become happy when you are sad.

* Those who become sad when you are happy.

* Those who become joyful when you are pleased.

The first and fourth types of people (e.g. mother, father, brother, sister, teacher, close friend) are sincere, so you can confide in them.

5. We call the people who steal our property thieves and those who steal our time friends.

Time is more valuable than wealth. This can be earned again after it is spent, but time can never be recovered. If someone is seen stealing, we call him a thief and call the police, but we befriend the people who steal our time. We should readjust our thinking in this regard.

6. Do not hasten to turn your efforts into income.

Those who have this mindset are often youth struggling to stand on their feet. When they see a successful Islamic teacher, scholar, writer, researcher, businessman, or officer who is paid well, they feel they should be paid the same for their work. When this does not occur, they abandon their struggles to find success. The youths who feel inferior after seeing successful people should think about how hard they worked to reach their position. If they continue to work hard, they will certainly attain success اِنْ شَــآءَالـلّٰـه.

7. Early criticism can be detrimental.

There are some people who criticise others before they complete their tasks, and this discourages them greatly. For example, “You will not be able to do this”, “You will fail no matter what you do”, or “You will fail your exams.” Instead of losing confidence, we should respond with greater effort and dedication to prove the doubters wrong.

8. Do not be alarmed by the slightest pain.

If a question is difficult in an exam, if dishes are not washed on time, clothes are not ironed correctly, a child hurts himself or fights with another child, cleaners did not clean the office properly, if there are technical issues with the printer, your salary did not increase as expected, or if there is a minor traffic delay; do not overreact.

Some people take everything to heart and react excessively, and if they reflected upon the severity of the situation, they would realise it did not warrant their reaction. Their actions cause themselves to worry constantly and the people around become anxious too. The people who lack stability are less successful in life, so try to change if this is in your nature.