Self BuildingSelf Building

Writings of Writings of

Ayatullah Ibrahim AminiAyatullah Ibrahim Amini

Obstacle of the PathObstacle of the Path

Seek the road of perfectionSeek the road of perfection

Higher spiritual journeyHigher spiritual journey

Must struggle to remove Must struggle to remove 7 Obstacles7 Obstacles

1) Incompetence1) Incompetence

Contaminated heart cannot become a centre of Contaminated heart cannot become a centre of for divine lightfor divine light

Imam Jaafar Al Sadiq (a.s)Imam Jaafar Al Sadiq (a.s)

‘ ‘For a human being there is nothing worst For a human being there is nothing worst than sin because it wages war against heart than sin because it wages war against heart until taking over. This condition of heart is until taking over. This condition of heart is called inverted/upside down heart’called inverted/upside down heart’

2)Worldy Attachment2)Worldy Attachment

Unable to detach from the desire of wealth Unable to detach from the desire of wealth

Negligence from God’s remembranceNegligence from God’s remembrance

Imam Jaafar As Sadiq,Imam Jaafar As Sadiq,

‘ ‘The love of the world is the root of all evil’The love of the world is the root of all evil’

3) Obedience of Passion3) Obedience of Passion

Like dark & thick smoke, passions attack the Like dark & thick smoke, passions attack the heart into a darkenened heartheart into a darkenened heart

The commander of the faithful Imam Ali (a.s)The commander of the faithful Imam Ali (a.s)

‘ ‘ The most brave person is the one who could The most brave person is the one who could dominate over the passions of his self’dominate over the passions of his self’

4)Overeating4)Overeating

With a stomach full of food how could one With a stomach full of food how could one have a mood for worshipping * supplication?have a mood for worshipping * supplication?

Imam Jaafar As SadiqImam Jaafar As Sadiq

‘ ‘ For the heart of a believer there is nothing For the heart of a believer there is nothing worse than overeating because it will cause worse than overeating because it will cause hardness and seduction while hardness and seduction while hunger happens hunger happens to be the most delicious for a believer’s soul to be the most delicious for a believer’s soul and heart.and heart.

5)Unnecessary Talks5)Unnecessary Talks

God has bestowed the power of speech to God has bestowed the power of speech to fulfill his genuine need but NOT unnecessary fulfill his genuine need but NOT unnecessary talktalk

Rasullulah s.a.w saidRasullulah s.a.w said ‘ ‘There are 3 kinds of talk, namely: There are 3 kinds of talk, namely: useful, useful,

good and nonsense.good and nonsense. The The useful talksuseful talks consist consist of God’s invocation, of God’s invocation, good talksgood talks are the ones are the ones which are loved by Allah & which are loved by Allah & nonsense talksnonsense talks are spreading rumors & talking behind are spreading rumors & talking behind people’s backpeople’s back

6)Love For Self6)Love For Self

Perform for the sake of self and rewards of the Perform for the sake of self and rewards of the Hereafter, net gain for his selfHereafter, net gain for his self

Convert love of essence into love of God Convert love of essence into love of God

NiatNiat

7)Indecisiveness7)Indecisiveness

Prevent a person from starting his deedsPrevent a person from starting his deeds

Imam Musa Al KazimImam Musa Al Kazim

‘ ‘Allah has blessed human beings with 2 proofs:Allah has blessed human beings with 2 proofs:

One is apparent and the other one is hidden. One is apparent and the other one is hidden. The apparent proofs are Prophets and Imams. The apparent proofs are Prophets and Imams. The hidden proof is the reason and intelligence The hidden proof is the reason and intelligence within our own existence’within our own existence’