What is the Reality of Positive Affirmations?
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
What is the reality of positive affirmations in Islam? People will say things like, “I will be this, I will accomplish that, I envision myself as this,” and then, with time, these affirmations come true. There are countless examples online of people doing this to accomplish the said goal they had written down.
I’m asking because this is becoming a very common talking point. I even caught my brother-in-law saying the phrase “manifesting into the universe.” We’re all Muslim, alhamdulillah, but I want to make sure these kinds of thoughts where one essentially commands his subconscious self to follow a certain destiny doesn’t become some kind of shirk because, of course, Allah is the One who writes our destiny, not us.
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate
I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your valuable question.
If one has positive affirmations about his studies, work, etc., this is good as long he has certainty that Allah’s will is connected with his efforts and not just himself alone. This is not a type of association with Allah (shirk) either.
Proper Manner
Allah Most High has instructed us not to say something will happen without saying insha’Allah. This is a common etiquette that we should be aware of. We should never speak about doing something except that we have Allah on our minds and say in sha Allah. I will go for Hajj next year, or insha’Allah, I will begin a degree insha’Allah.
Allah Most High said, “And never say about anything: ‘I shall certainly do this tomorrow’ unless Allah should will it. And should you forget (and make such a statement), remember your Lord and say: ‘I expect my Lord to guide me to what is nearer to rectitude than this.’” [Quran, 18: 23, 24]
Ibn Ata’ Illah (Allah have mercy on him) said, “Nothing is difficult if you seek it through your Lord; nothing is easy if you seek it through your self.”
The Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Call upon Allah with complete conviction that you will be answered, and know that Allah does not answer the prayer coming from a heedless, distracted heart.” [Tirmidhi]
I would like you to go through the valuable answers and links below. You will receive guidance and direction in sha Allah.
Related
- 63 – Good Omens – The Path of Muhammad: Birgivi’s Manual of Taqwa Explained – Shaykh Faraz Rabbani – YouTube
- The Reality and Etiquettes of Supplication: A Reader
- Should We Believe That Our Prayers Will Be Answered?
- Are Supplications Made After the Entire Qur’an Has Been Recited Considered Accepted By Allah?
- The Etiquette of Du’a-Faraz Rabbani
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied in the UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, and Turkey. He started his early education in the UK. He went on to complete the hifz of the Quran in India, then enrolled in an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied the secular and ‘Aalimiyya sciences. He then traveled to Karachi, Pakistan. He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for several years. He has taught hifz of the Quran, Tajwid, Fiqh, and many other Islamic sciences to children and adults onsite and online extensively in the UK and Ireland. He taught at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK, where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences. He currently resides in the UK with his wife. His interest is a love of books and gardening.
