Emotions

We as Human beings have been created in a fashion which has entailed us to be emotional creatures. However, we have not been left without guidance. Rather, we have been gifted, a manual which has enabled us to channel our emotions and feelings in way ordained for us, and prescribed within the Shari'a rules.

 “and We have revealed the Book to you explaining clearly everything (16:89).

 “ ... a guidance for mankind and clear evidence of guidance and discrimination (between wrong)”. (2:185).

Living under a capitalist regime which reinforces three main values which are:
- Benefit
- Freedom
- individualism

These specific ideas have been imbedded within the minds of people. Therefore, has caused us to not fulfil our emotions in the correct manner taught by sharia compliant regulations. Instead, we have been moulded to respond to situations in an emotional, reactionary way. Thus, we have stopped thinking with our minds, pondering over the consequences; in contrast behaving in a way that is on the level of our emotions. Hence, we act in a rash way which is in most cases irrational and obviously emotional.

Moreover, when individuals are overwhelmed with emotions due to their surroundings, circumstances, and certain incidents which have occurred, it leads them to act in the present, based on the thoughts linked to what they are feeling at that moment in time. So, when these people do not have the mentality, with the Islamic principles they will behave according to what they think shall benefit at that time, not weighing the reasonable pros and cons of that situation. No matter what the costs are, they will carry out that specific behaviour because they perceive it to be most beneficial in that time frame. Regardless of whether their actions put others in harms way or difficult position and so on.

In addition, the concept freedom is ingrained- consequently the actions they may undertake, naturally will be influenced by that idea. Thereupon, the responses that stem from it will not emanate any sense of accountability, fear of Allah, love for Allah or pleasure of Allah since this person believes one is free to do whatever one desires, whenever one desires, however one desires and not conveying the good of humanity.

As for individualism, being individualistic causes one to focus on the self only. Whereby we do not take into consideration anyone else's well being. Here, the emotional reactionary person will act in such a way that it conveys, they do not care who they hurt- purely being selfish of one's own needs and what is befitting for the individual person since the primary importance is of this person only.

Now, as Muslims living in the west we are accustomed to these types of emotional behaviours committed by many. Inevitably, there will be aspects of these nurtured in some of us. Thereof, when something happens we sometimes react immediately and make decisions instantaneously, thus later on regretting how we dealt with the matter.

Other times, we might push our emotions to one side, completely disregarding them; slowly, slowly letting it fester away at us, until it comes to a point where we no longer have any idea why or how things got to how they did in the first place and we break down, our emotions exploding everywhere and we just cannot contain it a second longer. This results from ignoring the issues as if it does not even exist and not dealing with them in an appropriate manner.

When we disregard our feelings, our intention is usually innocent- we think they are petty, pathetic and pointless. However, this is not the case. Everyone one of us is unique and has been made differently. Whatever we are going through has been installed for a specific reason, whether we understand it or not during that period. The effect of paying no attention to them, resolves in the opposite of what we wish. It is also detrimental to us due to the fact of not always being able to control our outbursts.

Linking this back to the main points is that not being aware of our own thoughts, emotions, desires and so on can direct us towards something disastrous. We must at all costs keep ourselves in check and develop our personalities so that we think before we act- emulating true characteristics of a Muslim.

Furthermore, lack of emotions can be another extreme we may fall into. For example when we hear of horrendous atrocities being committed on our fellow brethren day in day out and it doesn't cause us to flinch a single bit or even pain our insides. Even when we see horrific images of our brothers and sisters being mutilated, tortured and laying lifeless with blood splattered. Maybe sometimes it does leave us feeling at unease but it doesn't last for very long. The restlessness disappears as speedily as it appeared and we go about our daily lives forgetting the third world once again. Our thoughts do not wander over to those less fortunate than us because we are so consumed with our own lives that they are left insignificant. So much so that not an ounce of our emotion gives us an agonising, agitation to go out and strive to do an atom's weight of action which might even make a slight difference.

The messenger of Allah SalahAllahu alayhi wasalam said: "Any one of you who wakes up in the morning and does not care for the affairs of the Ummah (The Muslims), is not one of us" [Muslim]

The messenger of Allah SalahAllahu alayhi wasalam said: “The believers, in their mutual mercy, love and compassion, are like a (single) body; if one part of it feels pain, the rest of the body will join it in staying awake and suffering fever.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari)

We must aim to balance all our emotions so that we are in the middle category; not overly emotional where we act without control. Likewise, not being too emotionless where our focus is only for things apparent and near in which we neglect our obligations regarding the Ummah across the globe.

By A.I
Twitter: @1924darkestdays