Personality development

[ ] LIFE AND LIVING-III

Table of Content1. Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…22. Developed Personality from Islamic point of view………………………………………………………………….……2

2.1. Salah/Prayer………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..32.2. Zakah/Alms Giving…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…42.3. Sawm/Fasting………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………52.4. Hajj/Pilgrimage………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…52.5 The core of Islamic personality-Moral Conduct…………………………………………………………….………62.6 Some other attributes of developed personality………………………………………………………………….…7

a. Knowledge and action……………………………………………………………………………………………………..7b. Sincerity in intentions and actions……………………………………………………………………………………7c. Sense of responsibility…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…8d. Fortitude……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…8e. Modesty………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…8f. Moderation………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………9g. Patience: Tolerance and abstinence……………………………………………………………………………….…9h. Taqwa (Fear of Allah) and life hereafter……………………………………………………………………………9i. Wisdom………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………10j. Allah is with us………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……10k. Self-Awareness, Self-Control and Self-Assessment……………………………………………………….…10l. Du’a/Supplication…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..12m. Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) - The example of Islamic Personality………………………………12

3. Developed Personality According To Scientific Point Of View………………………………………………………133.1. 1st concept: Ability to delay our senses gratification is the key to any kind of success and

ultimately the key to Supreme Success in our life………………………………………………………………..133.2. 2nd concept: Emotional intelligence can be developed to achieve our outstanding

performance………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..143.3. 3rd concept: Be Proactive means ability to control our instant impulses for higher cause,

which Dr. Stephen Covey describe in detail in His book “7 Habits of Highly Effective People”

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………14

3.4. Five concepts about our human mind from Yoga scriptures…………………………………………………143.5. Human mind investigation from scientific point of view………………………………………………………153.6. Mind in the different modes of the nature…………………………………………………………………………..153.7. Five state of our human mind in Yoga scriptures………………………………………………………………….16

4. Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….165. References………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….176.

1


AbstractPersonality and personal character plays central role in the success of life. Only 15% of a developed personality is provided by our occupation or business whereas remaining 85% of developed personality is provided by his/her personal his/her own characteristics and attributes he/she possess. In the Islamic perspective, the developed personality is necessary because it then becomes a source of happiness for others as well as the positives characteristics or attributes make him/her lead a prosperous life for which Allah ‘Aza Wa Jal has provided the source of acquiring guidance (Hidayah) which . Scientifically, the developed personality is necessary for attaining the goods of this world by not only attaining the acquiring the positive personality but also eliminating the negative personality for which many theories have been proposed. Religiously and scientifically, a developed personality is created on the basis of beliefs and is essential requisite for achieving the desired and beneficial objectives. Conclusively, Islamic point of view about developed personality is both intellectual and spiritual development while scientific point of view is the developed personality bearing only the spiritual development.

1. Introduction

Allah ‘Aza Wa Jal mentions in the Qur’an:

“And that there is not for man except that [good] for which he strives” (53:39)

“A group [of you] He guided, and a group deserved [to be in] error. Indeed, they had taken the devils as allies instead of Allah while they thought that they were guided.” (7:30)

“And [by] the soul and He who proportioned itAnd inspired it [with discernment of] its wickedness and its righteousness,He has succeeded who purifies it,And he has failed who instills it [with corruption].” (91:7-10)

Therefore any believer of Qur’an does not have an excuse that the right path wasn’t shown to him. Allah ‘Aza Wa Jal has made it clear for us the path which is forbidden and has thrones on it and the path which

2

http://quran.com/91/7-10

http://quran.com/7/30



is permissible which has the orchards of juicy fruits in it. It is the choice which man has to make upon making the decision of choosing the right path. There are many religious aspects which become the bases of development of successful personality. What is a developed personality? According to religious point of view a developed personality is one which has all those elements which constitute for the success and prosperity of life in this world and the world hereafter whereas according to scientific point of view a developed personality is one who has gained success and prosperity revolving around himself for attaining the worldly desires or goals. There are many aspects of developed personality according to religious and scientific point of view. Each one will be discussed in detail.

2. Developed Personality From Religious Point Of View

As Allah ‘Aza Wa Jal mentions in Qur’an:

“O you who have believed, fear Allah and seek the means [of nearness] to Him and strive in His cause that you may succeed.” (5:35)

Islam has ordained five basic pillars obligatory on every Muslim to follow. They are Shahadah (bearing witness), Salah (prayer), Sawm (fasting), Zakah (alms-giving) and Hajj (pilgrimage). These five pillars have played a fundamental role not in just making Muslims follow their Creator but also have played role in designing of personalities.

2.1 Salah/Prayer:

“Recite, [O Muhammad], what has been revealed to you of the Book and establish prayer. Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing, and the remembrance of Allah is greater. And Allah knows that which you do.” (29:45)

Allah ‘Aza Wa Jal mentions in Qur’an that Salah prohibits from what is immoral and evil. When a person in engaged in the act of Wudu (ablution), there are certain things in which the person will automatically not indulge in. It calms us down; it protects us from evil keeping us away from certain sins. In Salah, when a person is busy with His Maker, he is only mentioned to look at defined spot and not wander around admiring anything else besides Allah ‘Aza Wa Jal. One of the reasons of fixing the sight to one spot is that if for the sake of Allah ‘Aza Wa Jal a person can put his eyes on one spot five times a day

3




then for the rest of the day it becomes unproblematic for him to lower his gaze at places where he is not meant to be looking. Similarly another means by which Salah reforms us is when we are in Salah that is performed in congregation, none but the Imam (leader) is allowed to speak/recite and then we are too given chance to utter what is required of us i.e. it teaches us not speak out of turn but to wait when your turn arrives and then you’ll be given permission to speak out of your turn with the best words in the shortest time available. This automatically develops the personality by distinguishing jealousy, pride, vanity, boastfulness, rashness, oppression and maliciousness.1

2.2 Zakah/Alms Giving:

“Take alms out of their property, you would cleanse them and purify them thereby, and pray for them; surely your prayer is a relief to them; and Allah is Hearing, Knowing.”(9:103)

Therefore charity is meant to cleanse us in our character and conduct as well as the wealth we possess. It is the personality of a Muslim that makes him believe that the poor person he is giving charity to is the gift of Allah ‘Aza Wa Jal. He’s unable to present it to a millionaire. Alms giving not only makes us dutiful to poor and needy but also protects and guards the person from any fore coming calamity as it is mentioned is Hadith:

“Charity extinguishes the calamity (coming in your direction)”2

When a calamity falls on any Muslim, he hastens in giving charity to those who accept it and the acceptors are none but the needy whom he considers not junior but senior to him and pay the most respect as possible and when he is considered senior then the act of harshness fades and gentleness needles in the Muslim. As mentioned in Hadith from Abu Hurayrah (radhiallahu 'anhu) who said that Allah's Messenger (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said:

1 Lecture by Mufti Ismail Ibn Musa Menk, Personality Development, Zimbabwe. 20122 Sahih Bukhari

4



"Indeed Allah is gentle and loves gentleness, and gives due to gentleness that which He does not give to harshness."3

Through his act of charity and kindness, there might be possibility that a non-Muslim may enter the fold of Islam and he might stand a better chance to enter paradise by the will of Allah ‘Aza Wa Jal. Similarly, when people become sticky to wealth, then Allah ‘Aza Wa Jal rectifies his weakness by developing his personality by compelling him to give out certain amount out of his wealth. Abu Hurayrah (radhiallahu 'anhu) who said that Allah's Messenger (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said:

ة ـ رضى الله ر ي �ي ه�ر ب �، عن أ ، عن هم�ام �ا مع مر ن ر ب خ

، أ اق� ز� د� الر� ا عب ن ر ب خ حاق�، أ �س �ي إ ن د�ث ح

�ه� صلى الله عليه وسلم س�ول� الل ه� صدقة� عنه ـ قال قال ر ي �اس� عل مى م�ن الن ال �ل7 س� " ك ح م�ل� �ه�، في �ت ج�ل على داب �ع�ين� الر� ن� صدقة�، وي ي ن �ث ن اال ي ع د�ل� ب م س�، ي �ع� ف�يه� الش� ط ل � ت و م �ل� ي ك

ة� �لى الص�ال خ ط�وها إ �ل7 خط وة� ي ة� صدقة�، وك Gب �مة� الط�ي ل ك اعه� صدقة�، وال ها مت ي فع� عل ر و ي ها، أ ي عل

" �ذى عن� الط�ر�يق� صدقة �م�يط� األ صدقة�، وي

"Charity (sadaqah) is due upon every joint of a person on every day that the sun rises. Administering justice between two people is an act of charity; and to help a man concerning his riding beast by helping him on to it or lifting his luggage on to it is an act of charity; a good word is charity; and every step which you take to prayer is charity; and removing that which is harmful from the road is charity."4

This is the stage when the person starts giving up greediness, covetousness, stealing, usurping, cheating, embezzlement and overstatement for the sake of his Creator.5

2.3 Sawm/Fasting:

The pillar of Islam which develops our personality by restraining us from food, permissible acts, false speech, etc. as it is mentioned in hadith:

“Whoever in the condition of fasting does not leave false speech/ false witness then Allah Subhana Wa Ta’ala does not need the fact that he has abstained from his food and drink”6

This indicates that in the condition of fasting we are meant to guard out tongue in the same way in which we don’t allow anything to go inside, we don’t allow anything to come out. It develops us in many other ways in refraining from backbiting, false oath, skepticism, tattling, duplicity and breaking promise.

2.4 Hajj/Pilgrimage:The pillar of Islam which is made compulsory on every Muslim and for all those who can manage the trip to Makah ones in a life time. There are many people who go for Hajj and when they go, Allah ‘Aza Wa Jal tests them with something they have been granted throughout their life and it Hajj it is

3 Ibn Majah no.3688 Vol. 5, Book 33, Hadith 36884 Al-Bukhari 4/Book 52/no.2325 Lecture by Mufti Ismail Ibn Musa Menk, Personality Development, Zimbabwe. 20126 Al-Bukhari 1903, 6057

5


not there. For instance if a person have lived in a most luxurious house in your life, there will be something wrong with his accommodation. And this is the way in which Allah ‘Aza Wa Jal tests him and forgives the person of all his past sins. And this doesn’t come for free but comes with lot of patience. And it is through this test that a person is known how much is he developed. Coping with such calamities will automatically develop the personality. When calamity after calamity comes you try to cope with them and get near to your Maker and then you realize that you help people, this makes one a better Muslim, a better person and a better human being. We become a developed personality when we give preference to others in Hajj rather than our own self. It is the Hajj in which the person, whether he likes or dislikes, will have to walk with the same 4-5 kilometers with millions of other people of various personalities, will have to stand with them, will have to take the same pebbles to pelt the devil, will have to do tawaf-uz-ziyarah with as much packed people as possible and cannot achieve any reward if he/she is not courteous to others.

2.5 The core of Islamic personality-Moral ConductThere are some factors that influence personality-some are innate and some are acquired. Acquired factors influence human- individually and collectively.7 Imâm Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali, as it relates to the notion of personality, has elaborated the Islamic view on the importance of good character: “Everything in the world has been created with a purpose. Man, being the most exalted of all creation, has a supreme purpose, which is to realize the moral through the proper exercise of the qualities inherent in him. He has to develop those qualities that facilitate moral progress and subjugate those which hinder it. In order to achieve the moral end one has to build a good character that comprises all the virtues, the most important of which is love of God. The actual worth of a virtue is essentially determined by the part it plays in helping man to achieve perfection whereby he attains nearness to God. Good character is the beauty of the soul, and like the beauty of the body it depends on the harmonious and proportionate development of all its elements.”8

On this matter, Prophet Muhammad was asked and Usama bin Shareek says:“We were sitting in the presence of the Messenger of Allah so quietly as if birds were perched on our heads. Nobody had the courage to open his mouth. In the meanwhile some people came and asked: “Amongst the slaves of God who is the dearest to Him?” The Prophet replied: “One who has the best moral character.”9

In another hadith:“They asked what is the best thing given to man.” He replied: “Best moral character.”10

The Prophet was asked: “Which Muslim has the perfect faith?” He answered: “He who has the best moral character.”11

7 Mateen, M.T. Building a successful personality8 Umaruddin, M, The ethical philosophy of Al-Ghazali. Sh. Muhammad Ashraf Publishers,1991: Lahore, p. 1639 Ibn Haban10 Tirmizi11 Tibrani

6


Abdullah bin' Amar has reported:

“I have heard the Prophet as saying: 'Should I not tell you who amongst you the most likeable person to me is? And who will be the nearest to me on the Day of the Judgment?' He repeated this question twice or thrice. The people requested him to tell them about such a person. He said 'He who amongst you has the best moral character.'”12

The ideal Islamic personality, which is attributed to the Prophet’s wife, A’isha, makes clear, is the personification of the Qur’an. That which is pleasing to God, should be pleasing to the Muslim and this should be borne out in every thought, word, and action. The Prophet, according to Muslims, reached this stage of human perfection because he was able to personify the Qur’an in this manner. As A’isha said, “He was pleased by what it (the Qur’an) finds pleasing and angry according to what it finds hateful.”13

The moral characters which Islam mostly emphasis on are: Benevolence, Truthfulness, Humbleness, Forbearance, Promise keeping, Good habits, Arrogance, Rage and malice, Pretentiousness, Greed and miserliness, Back-biting, Jealousy, Inferiority complex14

2.6 Some others attributes of developed personality

a. Knowledge and action: Knowledge obtained must be revealed through actions and deeds Preaching knowledge without practicing it is purposeless Neither peace of soul nor success could be through lies or false means for worldly

gains14

Made obligatory in Quran and instructed us to gain knowledge of every kind either be of universe, self or religion. As Allah ‘Aza Wa Jal mentions in Quran:

“Read in the name of your Lord who created… Read and your Lord is the most Generous - Who taught by the pen - Taught man that which he knew not.” (96:1-5)

12 Ahmed13Al-Hawfi, A.M. 1996. Portrait of human perfection. Dar Al Taqwa: London, p. 33 14 Muhammad Basher Juma, Highway to Success A Program For Success In Career And Personal Life Through Self Development And Time Management, Time Management Club Publications, 1997. Vol.1, pg. 109

7

http://quran.com/96/1-5


Allah says: “…and say: `My Lord! Increase me in knowledge” (20:114)

b. Sincerity in intentions and actions: Every action is intended and therefore it is a must to have sincerity in intentions as

mentioned in Hadith from 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (radhiallahu 'anhu) who said that Allah's Messenger (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said:

"Actions are but by intentions and there is for every person only that which he intended. So he whose migration was for Allah and His Messenger, then his migration was for Allah and His Messenger, and he whose migration was to attain some worldly goal or to take a woman in marriage, then his migration was for that which he migrated."15

Through purity in intention, a person becomes upright, at rest, observes rights and duties upon him, be just and never fall beyond limits.16

c. Sense of responsibility: Every individual is entrusted with some obligations and duties which are his

responsibility to be performed in right order, in right time and on right place.16

Every Muslim is held responsible for welfare of his family, relatives, colleagues, employees, etc. As mentioned in hadith from 'Umar (radhiallahu 'anhu) who said that Allah's Messenger (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said:

"Each of you is a guardian and is responsible for those whom he is in charge of. So the ruler is a guardian and is responsible for his subjects; a man is the guardian of his family and is responsible for those under his care; a woman is a guardian of her husband's home and is responsible for those under her care; a servant is the guardian of his master's wealth and is responsible for that which he is entrusted with; and a man is the guardian of his father's wealth and is responsible for what is under his care. So each one of you is a guardian and is responsible for what he is entrusted with."17

d. Fortitude:

15 Al Bukhair Vol 1, Page 1, No.1 and Muslim Vol 3, Page 1056, no. 469216 Muhammad Basher Juma, Highway to Success A Program For Success In Career And Personal Life Through Self Development And Time Management, Time Management Club Publications, 1997. Vol.1, pg. 11017 Al Bhukari Vol 9, Page 189, No. 252 and Muslim Vol 3, Page 1017, no. 1096

8



Remaining firm in all types of calamities or hardship and acting in a manner that leads to desired result without losing peace and presences of mind makes an individual steadfast and persistent in the belief of Allah ‘Aza Wa Jal.16

e. Modesty: It leads a direction of right path and makes us considerate to others by evading the evil

and bad intentions of our soul as mentioned in Quran where Allah ‘Aza Wa Jal says:16

“Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: And Allah is well acquainted with all that they do” (24:30)

f. Moderation: Moderation should be observed in every aspect of life whether be it a private or social

affairs, income and expenditure, work and leisure. 18

As Allah ‘Aza Wa Jal mentioned in Qur’an

“And those who strive for Us - We will surely guide them to Our ways. And indeed, Allah is with the doers of good.” (29:69)

Al-'Ala ibn Ziyad narrates in Hadith Bukhari:

“A man asked 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr ibn al-'As, saying: Which of the Believers is best in his Islam? He replied: "He from whose tongue and hand the Muslims are safe." He asked: Then what is the best Jihad? He replied: "He who strives against his own self and desires for Allah." He asked: Then which of those who migrates (performs hijrah) is best? He replied: "He who strives against his own self and desires for Allah." He asked: Is it something you have said O 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr, or Allah's Messenger (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam)? He said: "Rather Allah's Messenger (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said it."19

g. Patience: Tolerance and abstinence:

18 Muhammad Basher Juma, Highway to Success A Program For Success In Career And Personal Life Through Self Development And Time Management, Time Management Club Publications, 1997. Vol.1, pg. 11119 Ibn Nasr al-Marwazi in Ta’zim Qadris Salat no.639

9




Developed personality is one who observes patience whether be it tolerance of physical strain or abstinence from self-indulgence.

To obtain success and face difficult situations patience is required.17

h. Taqwa (Fear of Allah) and life hereafter: Taqwa i.e. fear of Allah and life hereafter are two significant elements of developed

personality. This not only creates strengthens Iman/belief of an individual but protect him from indulging into evildoings and wasting of time.17

As Allah ‘Aza Wa Jal mentions in Qur’an:

“And if only the people of the cities had believed and feared Allah, We would have opened upon them blessings from the heaven and the earth…” (7:96)

i. Wisdom: According to Islam a developed and blessed person is the one who is blessed with

wisdom which is a cautious use of knowledge attained. Combination of knowledge and action play key role in development of personality.17

j. Allah is with us: Mental state of believing that Allah ‘Aza Wa Jal is makes us strive hard for a goal using

correct methodology and leaving the rest to Allah ‘Aza Wa Jal Being aware of that Allah ‘Aza Wa Jal is All-seeing and All-Knowing makes us confined to

performing right things at right time with truthfulness and honesty and restraining from evil intentions or acts20 as mentioned in hadith from Abu Hurayrah (radhiallahu 'anhu) who said that Allah's Messenger (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said:

"Three things are the sign of the hypocrite: when he speaks he tells lies, when he promises he breaks it and when he is trusted he proves to be dishonest."21

All his acts and dealings are for his Creator as mentioned in hadith in Abu Dawud from Abu Hurayrah (radhiallahu 'anhu) who said that Allah's Messenger (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said:

20 Muhammad Basher Juma, Highway to Success A Program For Success In Career And Personal Life Through Self Development And Time Management, Time Management Club Publications, 1997. Vol.1, pg. 11221 Al Bukhari Book 2, Page 16, no.33 and Muslim Vol.1, Page 40, no.112

10



"Whoever loves for Allah and hates for Allah, gives for Allah and withholds for Allah, then he has completed Iman."22

k. Self-Awareness, Self-Control and Self-Assessment: Self-awareness: identifying the one’s own self and existence. Self-control/ self-restraint: those personalities who have guarded themselves against

lust, greed, suspicion, anger, jealousy and from falling prey to evil plots of Satan are developed personalities.20 It is mentioned in hadith from An-Nu'man ibn Bashir (radhiallahu 'anhu) who said that I heard Allah's Messenger (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) say:

ول س� م�ع ت ر : س ه�ما، قال �ه� عن ض�ي الل ير� ر ش� ن� ب 7ع مان� ب �ه� الن د� الل �ي عب ب عن أ

: ق�ول� �ه� صلى الله عليه و سلم ي ه�ما الل ن ي ، وب �Gن ي ام ب حر �ن� ال ، وإ �Gن ي ل ب حال "إن� ال �قى �اس�، فمن ات �ير� م�ن الن ث م�ه�ن� ك ع ل �هات� ال ي ب ت م�ور� م�ش

� أ أ ر ب ت �هات� فق د اس ب الش7عى حو ل ر اع�ي ي الر� �، ك ام حر �هات� وقع ف�ي ال ب ض�ه�، ومن وقع ف�ي الش7 �ه� وع�ر �د�ين ل

�ه� �ن� ح�مى الل ال وإ �لG مل�ك� ح�مUى، أ �ك �ن� ل ال وإ ع ف�يه�، أ ت ر ن ي �وش�ك� أ ح�مى ي ال

دت 7ه�، وإذا فس �ل د� ك جس ح ال د� م�ض غةU إذا صلحت صل جس �ن� ف�ي ال ال وإ ار�م�ه�، أ مح قل ب� ال وه�ي ال 7ه�، أ �ل د� ك جس د ال ."فس

"That which is lawful is clear, and that which is forbidden is clear, and between them are doubtful matters about which many of the people have no knowledge. So whoever avoids doubtful matters saves his Religion and his honor, and whoever falls into doubtful matters falls into what is forbidden. Just like a shepherd who grazes (his sheep) near to a private pasture (of another), he will soon stray on to it. Indeed for every king there is a private preserve. Indeed the preserves of Allah are those things which He has forbidden. Indeed there is a piece of flesh in the body which if it is good, then the whole body is good, but if it is corrupt then the whole body is corrupt. Indeed it is the heart."23

Self-assessment: at the end the person comes to know what he has gained through self-awareness and self-control and realizes through his experience that which is good and that which is bad for his self and tries to eliminate those which are evil acts.20 As it is mentioned in hadith from Iyad ibn Himar al Mujashi'i (radhiallahu 'anhu) who said that Allah's Messenger (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said:

“Indeed my Lord ordered me to teach you that which you do not know, from that which He taught me this day, (instructing me): 'The wealth which I confer upon a servant is all lawful for him, and I created all My servants having natural inclination to the true way but the devils came to them and turned them away from their (true) Religion, and they forbade for them that which I made lawful for

22 Abu Dawud Vol.3, Page 1312, no.366423 Al Bukhari Vol.1, no.52 and Muslim Vol.3, no.1599

11


them, and they ordered them to associate in worship with Me that for which I sent down no authority.' Allah looked upon the people of the earth and hated them, the Arabs and the non-Arabs, except for some remnants of the People of the Book, and He said: 'I sent you only to put you to the test and to test others through you, and I sent down to you a Book which cannot be washed away by water, which you will retain and recite whilst asleep and whilst awake.' Allah ordered me to destroy the Quraysh so I said: 'O my Lord they would break my head just as bread is broken.' So He said: 'Turn them out just as they turned you out, and fight them and We shall aid you, and spend and We shall provide for you. Send an army and We will send five more like it. Fight along with those who disobey you. The people of paradise are three: The ruler who is just, who spends in charity and is guided to do good; and a man who is merciful and kind hearted towards every relative and Muslim; and the chaste one who does not beg despite having a family to support. The people of the fire are five: The weak who does not have the will to avoid evil, those amongst you who are merely followers (of others), they do not seek after family or wealth; and the dishonest whose greed cannot be concealed even in the case of minor things; and a man who will betray you morning and evening with regard to your family and your wealth (He also mentioned miserliness or telling lies) and the person of evil manners and foul speech.”24

l. Du’a/Supplication: Du’a/Supplication plays an important role in developing of personality. Those who have

supplicated to Allah ‘Aza Wa Jal for achieving of good sustenance, protection from evil, for developing better strategies of life and making them an inspiring personalities have reached a step forth in achieving the good personality.20

Makes person trust on Provider/giver, and patient as a result of supplications which are either answered on spot or answered after a delay or not answered in the life of a person as Allah ‘Aza W a Jal mentions in Qur’an:

“And your Lord says, "Call upon Me; I will respond to you.”(40:60)

Indeed Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: " … and I order you to make mention to Allah much, and the like of that is a man being chased by the enemy who are hastening after him until he comes to a protected fortress and so he protects himself in it. Likewise is the servant, for he does not protect himself from Satan except through remembrance of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic."

m. Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H)-The Example Of Islamic Personality

24 Al Muslim Vol.4, Page 1488, no.6853

12



No other human being in history was able of achieving what the Prophet achieved in both the earthly and spiritual means

The Islamic notion of ideal personality is based on the life and actions of the Prophet of Islam himself25

The Prophet of Islam taught the importance of developing moral character through his everyday actions in all aspects of life, which was manifested through his personality26

According to a hadith:Anas(R.A) says: “I served the holy Prophet for ten years. He never said “Uf” (expressing dissatisfaction), nor did he ever ask me why I did this or did not do that.”27

It comes in another hadith: “Once he (the Prophet) received seventy thousand dirhams. They were placed before him on the mat. He distributed them standing. He did not refuse a single beggar till he finished the entire amount”28

3. Developed Personality According To Scientific Point Of View

Personal Development (or Self-Development, Character Development, Self Improvement etc) are not just personal, psychological responses, where teacher, counselor, trainer, psychologies, psychotherapists etc help us cope with our inherited character, difficulties, destiny or karma. Personal Development is based on the time-tested so many sciences, which are fixed in philosophies, spiritual practices and so many ancient-modern sciences, such as psychology, education, science of business, sociology etc. scientifically there are many different concepts which made a personal developed.29 They are:

3.1 1st concept: Ability to delay our senses gratification is the key to any kind of success and ultimately the key to Supreme Success in our life30

The aspect of senses gratification was studied by an experiment named “Stanford marshmallow experiment”, which was done in Stafford University USA by Walter Mischel at 1972, and was based on delayed gratification study. Scientist Walter Mischel took a group of 4-year-old children and gives them small piece Marshmallow sweet and instructed them, that if you can wait to eat this sweet for 20 minutes, then we will give to you more and better sweet plus to this small pace of Marshmallow sweet. Most of children eat this small pace of Marshmallow sweet, but some of the children waited for 20 minutes and get more and better sweet plus to this small pace of Marshmallow sweet. And it was concluded that those children, who can wait for 20 min in 4 years old age, in many ways are more successful, than that group of children, who cannot wait for 20 min, and eat small pace of Marshmallow sweet immediately. The groups of children, who are able to delay the senses gratification are much higher and more successful,

25 Toward a Concept of Islamic Personality by Abdul-Lateef Abdullah, pg.726 Al-Ghazali, M., p. 17. 27 Muslim28 Ibid, p. 22.29 Personal development –http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_Development30 Stanford marshmallow experiment –http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanford_marshmallow_experiment

13


than that group of children, who cannot wait and gratify they senses immediately, when they get little chance to do so. Ability to delay our senses gratification is the key to any kind of success and ultimately the key to Supreme Success in our life. Development personality means to get some kind of a success and ultimately our true success leads us to the happiness. These experiments improve, than are certain ability in human beings, which we have or not have, which may or may not be develop, or can be developed to the certain extend, which lead us to the success and happiness.

3.2 2nd concept: Emotional intelligence can be developed to achieve our outstanding performance.

These Marshmallow experiments led Scientist Daniel Goleman develops a concept of “Emotional intelligence” or EI, which is important factor in self-management or self-control through which a developed personality is achieved. In “Emotional intelligence” definition according to Goleman includes “a set of emotional competencies within each construct of EI”. Emotional competencies are not innate talents, but rather learned capabilities that must be worked on and can be developed to achieve outstanding performance. Goleman says that individuals are born with a general emotional intelligence that determines their potential for learning emotional competencies.”

3.3 3rd concept: Be Proactive means ability to control our instant impulses for higher cause, which Dr. Stephen Covey describe in detail in His book “7 Habits of Highly Effective People”

Ability of self-control is very sectional one, because we cannot consciously achieve any success, unless we are have ability in some extend control our self, control our six senses: mind and five senses of hearing, seeing, touching, smelling, tasting. Many of scientists said, that this ability is naturally inherited gift, which we have or do not have by our own destiny and we can only test this ability present or absence in our self or others. Other group of scientists says that we all can develop this ability. If this ability is just inherited gift, than for us in Personal Development it is not of value, because we cannot do anything about this in our present life. And some time ancient science as Yoga throughout scriptures as Yoga Sutras of Patanjali speaks with us a lot about self-control development, by explaining, teaching, training all of as to develop this ability for our individual, social, spiritual and ultimately for our Supreme Success in our lives.

In general all ancient and modern philosophies, spiritual path, religions etc tray to solve this problem and help us control our self and control our senses and mind, and through that help us achieve our immediate life goal and finally help us achieve our ultimate goal of human life – happiness, blissfulness and knowledgeable forever.

3.4 Five concepts about our human mind from Yoga scriptures

14


To attain ultimate goal human of life, let us go deeper in our subject matter of Personal Development. In Yoga scriptures as Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, are mentioned five concepts about our human mind:

1.Our Mind is payable or menable– mind gets impressions ferry easily and by being payable, mind very easily change his shape (19:19).

2.Shape or Form of mind determines our mood and all actions. The Shape or the Form of mind determines a lot in our life. Shape of mind makes tremendous impact on all our inner self: feeling, moods, thoughts etc. As effect of that, shape of mind makes great impact on all our externals deeds: speech, actions, reactions on stimulus, decisions etc. That means, a shape of mind make deepest impact on all our Personal Development and whole our life in general.

3.There are four crucial factor, which most influence a mind:A. Our present Environment.B. Our present Actions.C. Our past Upbringing or childhood, education, culture, birth place etc.D. Our past Karma, destiny, providence, star chart etc or all our past actions, which left

certain impressions in our conscious and subconscious mind.4.We can develop or change our mind – we can consciously become happy, blissful and

knowledgeable forever with this same our mind, what we have right now.5.Ultimate satisfaction lies behind the mind – we can use our mind to transcend our mind. Very

concept of Yoga said that ultimate satisfaction lies behind the mind. When our mind stay stable in mode of goodness and becomes our dear friend, submissive, obedient, devoted to our true self, than with a mind we can transcend our mind and go beyond our mind.31

3.5 Human mind investigation from scientific point of viewMass, Energy and Structure – 3 minimum scientific characteristics of any material object:

1. Mass –grow characteristic of particular object.2. Energy – more subtle characteristic of same particular object.3. Structure – even more subtle characteristic of same particular object.

These are three characteristic, which are basic for any object, what we can describe in scientific field. For example, if we take coal (carbon) and diamond, which of them will be more voluble, 4 grams of coal or 4 grams 20-carat of diamond? Simple ring with 20-carat diamond cost around 100 thousands USA dollars. Coal cost less than one USA dollars. Not because the material is different but because the coal and diamond structures are different. Diamond have very highly order, highly, developed level of structure, other-way diamond have same chemically as coal – carbon.

Ancient science as Yoga said that these three characteristics of material object as mass, energy and structure have all materials object of all our creation including our mind. Personal Development, basically, means development of our mind, develop and increase structure of our mind. That, basically, means increase mode of goodness in our environment, increase mode of goodness in our mind. Generally our environment and our mind can be in three modes: goodness (Sanskrit: sattva), passion (Sanskrit: rajas) or ignorance (Sanskrit: tamas).

3.6 Mind in the different modes of the natureAncient spiritual scriptures generally present word in a very simple and graphical way, which is

31 Yoga science – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoga

15


comprehensive and easily to use in our day-to-day lives. Scriptures said that if our mind in the mode of goodness, we can naturally and very easily control our mind and our senses. If our mind in the mode of passion, mind run here and there, and mind is so busy and busy, then we cannot concentrate our mind like we cannot control mad monkey. Generally, in passionate state of mind all our actions are agitated, restless, scattered etc. When our mind in mode of ignorance: lazy, down, sleepy, depressed etc, there is not chance for happiness, blissfulness, knowledge right now and not at all in future.- Mind in goodness means controlled, happy, friendly etc mind.- Mind in passion means uncontrolled, scattered, busily, restless etc mind, which are so attach to concept, “I will work very very hard today in order to be wealthy, healthy, happy etc tomorrow.” If we stay in passionate mind state too long, that this happy tomorrow never will come, and we “suddenly” end up in deep frustration and gross disaster.- Mind in ignorance means dual, bewildered, dark, depress, envious etc mind, which do not know what to do at all.

3.7 Five state of our human mind in Yoga scriptures1 Mudha –over-exhausted, depressed mind2 Kshipta – over-pushed, frustrated mind3 Vikshipta – over-stimulated, agitated mind4 Ekagra – calm, peaceful, open, unlimited, focused, concentrated mind5 Nirudha – blissfulness, knowledge, eternity

4. ConclusionA developed personality is looked with every aspect that the daily life deals with. According to Islam, a developed personality is the one who has all those qualities or attributes which were associated with our noble Prophet Muhammad (Sallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam). Those people are referred to as developed personalities who bared the intellectual as well as spiritual development. Spiritually development is the practical implementations at individual and society level because Islam is a practical religion. Intellectually development is the makeup of mind before and in every stage of human life. And Prophet Muhammad (Sallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam) was the best example of both spiritually and intellectually developed personality. From scientific point of view, a developed personality is only dealt with the spiritual component of mind and does not deal with the intellectual component. Scientifically a developed personality is referred to as one who has achieved the worldly goals and desires and has no vision for life in hereafter.

5. References1. Lecture by Mufti Ismail Ibn Musa Menk, Personality Development, Zimbabwe. 20122. Sahih Bukhari3. Ibn Majah no.3688 Vol. 5, Book 33, Hadith 36884. Al-Bukhari 4/Book 52/no.2325. Lecture by Mufti Ismail Ibn Musa Menk, Personality Development, Zimbabwe. 20126. Al-Bukhari 1903, 60577. Mateen, M.T. Building a successful personality8. Umaruddin, M, The ethical philosophy of Al-Ghazali. Sh. Muhammad Ashraf Publishers,1991:

Lahore, p. 163

16


9. Ibn Haban10. Tirmizi11. Tibrani12. Ahmed13. Al-Hawfi, A.M. 1996. Portrait of human perfection. Dar Al Taqwa: London, p. 33 14. Muhammad Basher Juma, Highway to Success A Program For Success In Career And Personal

Life Through Self Development And Time Management, Time Management Club Publications, 1997. Vol.1, pg. 109

15. Al Bukhair Vol 1, Page 1, No.1 and Muslim Vol 3, Page 1056, no. 469216. Muhammad Basher Juma, Highway to Success A Program For Success In Career And Personal


17. Al Bhukari Vol 9, Page 189, No. 252 and Muslim Vol 3, Page 1017, no. 109618. Muhammad Basher Juma, Highway to Success A Program For Success In Career And Personal


19. Ibn Nasr al-Marwazi in Ta’zim Qadris Salat no.63920. Muhammad Basher Juma, Highway to Success A Program For Success In Career And Personal


21. Al Bukhari Book 2, Page 16, no.33 and Muslim Vol.1, Page 40, no.11222. Abu Dawud Vol.3, Page 1312, no.366423. Al Bukhari Vol.1, no.52 and Muslim Vol.3, no.159924. Al Muslim Vol.4, Page 1488, no.685325. Toward a Concept of Islamic Personality by Abdul-Lateef Abdullah, pg.726. Al-Ghazali, M., p. 17. 27. Muslim28. Ibid, p. 22.29. Personal development –http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_Development30. Stanford marshmallow experiment-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanford_marshmallow_experiment31. Yoga science – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoga

17

Personality development

Education

Transcript of Personality development