Individual reform is the gateway to the great progress of societies. Since the individual is the smallest unit of societal construction, their straightness, advancement, and transformation into a person of high value are among the top priorities for development.
At a time when individual reform holds this vital position in the path towards progress, working on it becomes easier when sincere intention and genuine energy are present.
Thus, we can outline five fundamental paths for individual reform.
1- The Relationship with Allah the Almighty:
The relationship with Allah, the Most High, comes as the top priority. It is the first path that individuals should strive to address and rectify. It should be the cornerstone of any Renaissance. No matter how much success one achieves in other paths, a profound part of their soul will remain anxious, confused, and afraid without a strong connection to Allah.
Life's nature is changeability; there is the inevitability of death and loss. These are matters that can be overlooked for a while, but inevitably, one will collide with them. Life may seem harsh, even exceedingly so, or, as those lacking genuine belief in Allah describe it, unfair. All acts of worship were decreed to create a strong bond between humans and their Creator, granting them contentment and tranquility in moments of joy and sorrow, prosperity and adversity. As Allah the Almighty says, “So be patient over what they say and exalt [Allah] with praise of your Lord before the rising of the sun and before its setting; and during periods of the night [exalt Him] and at the ends of the day, that you may be satisfied.” (Taha: 130)
This is the course often lacking in Western individuals who have crossed distances in other paths of reform but stumbled in their relationship with Allah. Because the soul cannot bear this material alienation, there is often hesitancy between embracing ancient Eastern spiritual philosophies, which have gained significant popularity, and indulging in mesmerizing material pleasures, perhaps even deviant ones, to try to fill this deep sense of emptiness.
2- Relationship with Oneself:
Understanding oneself and self-awareness constitute the second path of self-reformation. This knowledge is among the most important ways to attain knowledge of the Lord. “And in yourselves. Then will you not see?” (Surah Adh-Dhariyat: 21)
There is a relationship between introspection and one's relationship with Allah, the Creator. Just as true and deep introspection leads to faith, faith in Allah fixes the flaws of the soul and gives it a chance to heal and recover. Inside every individual are dark caves of past miserable experiences, fears that haunt their spirit, somber sadness, or anxiety that threatens their peace. There are suppressed desires or shattered dreams, feelings of jealousy and envy, or a sense of abandonment and lack of support. Even genuine or imagined feelings of victimization. All these emotions, fears, and psychological fractures are only remedied by a genuine relationship with Allah.
But how does one introspect? After seeking help from Allah, individuals can give themselves enough time for sincere contemplation of their feelings and thoughts and self-dialogue. This has been the practice of the righteous, known as introspection and self-accountability.
An individual doesn't need to undergo a psychological analysis session to understand the deep aspects of their suffering. It is enough to introspect, comprehend, and then begin changing their thoughts. They must create new neural connections to replace the old ones, replacing emotions with others. Of course, this is not easy; it's a jihad (struggle). “And those who strive for Us - We will surely guide them to Our ways.” (Al-Ankabut: 69)
Old feelings and thoughts cannot be easily gotten rid of. They are like a system of “persistent whispers” that attack us in moments of weakness and neglect, loaded with memories and armed with the time and behaviors during which we have accustomed ourselves by practicing. However, the solution lies in summoning a state of consciousness and awareness. “Indeed, those who fear Allah - when an impulse touches them from Satan, they remember [Him] and at once they have insight.” (Al-Araf: 201)
3- Knowledge accompanied with Action:
This path of enlightenment is closely linked to the previous path of “self-awareness and understanding of one's abilities, recognizing strengths and weaknesses.” With this revelation, one can strive to achieve self-improvement by enhancing their skills. It involves effective time management, decision-making skills, training to enhance critical thinking, acquiring beneficial new habits, and investing in the present moment while envisioning a future perspective. In short, this path involves the pursuit of knowledge, continuous learning, and action to attain the best possible version of oneself capable of enhancing society and worthy of succession.
4- The Relationship with Family:
If the relationship with Allah grants people contentment, inner peace, security, and self-awareness, making them valuable individuals striving to learn and work to achieve the best possible version of themselves, then this directly reflects on the fourth path, “the relationship with family.”
Humans are social beings who cannot live in isolation; they constantly need companionship. “It is He who created you from one soul and created from it its mate that he might dwell in security with her.” (Al-Araf: 189) Therefore, their need for a family is instinctive. “And Allah has made for you from yourselves mates and has made for you from your mates sons and grandchildren.” (An-Nahl: 72)
Family is an individual's largest support system, and every valuable person is a wonderful addition to their family. We cannot discuss individual development in isolation from the family. One of the most important criteria for developmental success is for individuals to invest in their families, fostering strong and warm relationships with them. They must also possess the psychological resilience to face the pressures that families may present, regardless of their intensity. “But if they endeavor to make you associate with Me that of which you have no knowledge, do not obey them but accompany them in [this] world with appropriate kindness.” (Luqman:15)
Despite the pressures that may sometimes incite disbelief, the believer remains a valuable individual with the ability to stand firm and refuse to submit, while also managing relationships effectively and knowing the level that maintains them naturally, which may sometimes open gates to closed hearts.
5- Social Reform:
As for the fifth path in the journey of self-improvement, it is the broad circle in which a person lives—society itself. A person must play a role in reforming their society; individual reform alone is not enough. “And make us an example for the righteous.” (Al-Furqan: 74)
It is indeed a real challenge for a person who has reformed themselves to the best of their ability and improved their family to the best of their capacity to contribute to the betterment of the society in which they live. This does not mean that a person must reach the peak of self or family reform in order to strive for the betterment of their society. Often, things progress in an interconnected manner. However, it is certain that this path is the link between individual righteousness and the well-being and progress of the nation.
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