Our "Attachments"

   "This world cannot break you-unless you give it permission. And it cannot own you unless you hand it the keys-unless you give it your heart......."
                     Reclaim your Heart by Yasmin Mogahed

          
                         Asalaamu Alaykum dear sisters. Alhamdulilah, we have started our sisters book club. Our first book is "Reclaim you Heart" by Yasmin Mogahed. This is not a book review, but an attempt to apply what the author is presenting. I believe we can all relate to having "false attachments" whether we've conquered them or not.  

      ".......the struggle to empty the vessel of the heart, is the greatest struggle of earthly life."pg 36
 
                 In a time when we are being told that we should follow our every whims and desires, depression, anxiety and mental illness is at an all time high. We now have all this freedom to do almost anything we want, so why aren't we happier, or healthier? I believe it is because we've lost the concept of discipline and self accountability. This book, in just the first few pages reminds me of this. Accountability. Decisions we make based on our expectations and "attachments" have only hurt and broken us. These first few chapters give us many examples of how we've been as the say "looking for love in all the wrong places". Its also, for me at least, highlighted that "all the wrong places" are not always haram.
              Who doesn't want family? Children, and spouses for example. Its a natural desire but, if we are looking for these types of "halal" relationships for the wrong reasons they can and will hurt us. The same can be said of careers, money and status. It is permissible to want a comfortable and financially secure lifestyle, as long as we want these things to help us serve and to be closer to Allah swt. Once we start depending on, expecting from and attaching ourselves to the things in dunya, we start getting hurt but we don't understand why.
             Unless we analyze our hearts through the lens of Islam, the Quran and sunnah we will be ignorant to this fact. We will believe that the things have disappointed us because something is wrong with them. And we might blame people for not being who we think they should be as the cause of our heartaches. The reality is we've been confused as to what Allah swt has gives us access to and it's true purpose. 
               These are at least the things I felt just a few pages into this book, mashaAllah. The problem isn't in what I have but in where I have placed it in my heart. The problem isn't that I have heartache as much as it is that I am the one administrating the pain, unknowingly. This message given via a in your face, mirror approach by Sister Yasmin in her writing, is gentle yet firm, painful yet freeing. 
              These are just a few of the things that were going through my mind as I went through the first few writings in the "Attachments" section. Its like going to the doctors for an annual check up, expecting to receive a clean bill of health and then getting the diagnosis that you are indeed very sick. A silent killer you've been housing and feeding has finally been discovered. Alhamdulilah, with Allah swt, there is a cure. What is our action plan and how should we approach this project of self? Here are some tips:

• Evaluate and acknowledge false attachments
• Commit to change and reorganize heart
• Accept lose yet keep hope in Allah swt
• Remind self of purpose of Allah (worship)
• Clean out our hearts by putting Islam into action 

 May Allah swt grant us ease in the cleansing of our hearts and fill it with the love of Him ameen