Tips on Self-Accounting

In numerous verses of the Holy Quran and traditions from Ahle Bait (a.s.) we have been constantly reminded that we have not been created for this world and the aim or goal of our creation is the Hereafter. Successful ones are those who will be successful in the Hereafter.

We are also fortunate that Allah, the Almighty has conveyed to us through Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and Ahle Bait (a.s.) on deeds and actions which will benefit us in the Hereafter and also warned us from actions, sins, deeds which will harm us in the Hereafter.

A wise person is one who has the end goal and objective always in mind and is constantly checking if he is on the right track or not to reach that final objective.

Similarly, for success in Hereafter, we need to constantly examine our actions and see whether the actions performed by us will benefit us in Hereafter or will they harm us in the Hereafter. Self examination or self accounting is also greatly emphasized and advised in the traditions of Ahle Bait (a.s.).

We present here, few traditions on ‘self-accounting’ to highlight its importance and necessity.

Accounting of Actions

Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) said, “Truly right now you live the day of action with no accounting therein, and very soon you will live the day of accounting with no action therein.” (A`alam al-Din, no. 345)

Imam al-Sadiq (a.s) said, 'Among the advices that Allah, Blessed and most High, gave to Jesus son of Mary (a.s) was, 'O Jesus, wherever you may be, scrutinize yourself on My behalf. (Bihar al-Anwar, v. 14, pp. 289 and 293, no. 14)

Imam Ali (a.s) said, ‘He who takes account of his self profits, he who neglects it is at a loss, and he who fears will be safe.’ (Bihar al-Anwar, v. 70, p. 73, no. 27)

Imam Ali al-Ridha (a.s) said,“He who reckons his own soul is successful; he who is heedless of it is unsuccessful.” (Al-Kafi v. 2, p. 111)

Imam Ali (a.s) said, 'Appoint your own self as a scrutinizer over yourself, and use this world to reserve your share in the Hereafter.’ (Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 2429)

Imam al-Sadiq (a.s) said, 'The man for whom each day passes exactly the same as another [where there is no change in his character or his deeds] is indeed a loser. And the man for whom the next day is always worse than the previous day is indeed cursed. And the man who never sees to improve himself day after day is indeed at a loss, and whoever passes his days in such loss, death is surely better for him than life.’ (Bihar al-Anwar, v. 78, p. 277, no. 113)

How wise are we?

Ameerul Momineen(a.s) said: I heard the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) address his companions: Do you want me to tell you who is the wisest man and who is the most foolish?

The companions replied: Yes, O Allah’s Messenger, please inform us.

The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) said, “Most wise is one, who takes account of his own conscience and does only that which may help him after his death.

While the most unwise and foolish is one who obeys and submits to his desires and yet hopes that God would fulfill his wishes.

One from the audience asked: O Ameerul Momineen, how should one take account of his conscience?

Imam (a.s) replied: He may, every evening ask himself: O My heart! This day has passed away not to return ever. Whatever deeds you have done in this day will be questioned by Almighty Allah. Now tell me what deeds you performed today?

Did you remember God and praise Him?

Did you fulfill any need of a believer?

Did you remove his trouble?

Did you take care of his family members during his absence?

Did you do any good to his children after he died?

Did you with your public influence, help the family of a faithful man during his absence?

Did you assist any Muslim?

In short, inform me about all of your activities during the day which has just passed away. Like this, one should recall his deeds.

If he recalls any good deed, he should say: God is Great and Praise Him for the inspiration given by Him.

If he recalls any misdeed or sin, he should repent and ask forgiveness from God and make intention never to repeat that mistake in future. He should thus remove that black dot from the slate of his heart by reciting benedictions afresh on the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) and his purified progeny. He should remember the allegiance given to Ameerul

Momineen (a.s) and present that scene before his heart. He should also curse afresh, the Imam’s (a.s) enemies.

When he does like this, Almighty Allah tells him: I will not ask you about any of your sins, because you love My friends and are the enemy of My enemies. (Tafseer Imam Hasan Askari (a.s))

Neglecting Self-Accounting

Imam al-Kazim (a.s) said, 'The one who does not take account of himself every single day is not one of us. And when he performs a good deed, he should ask Allah to enable him to do more, and when he commits an evil deed, he must seek Allah’s forgiveness and repent for it.’(al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 453, no. 2)

Things we should account for

The Prophet (s.a.w.a) said, ‘The first thing that man will be asked about is our love, the people of the Household (ahl al-bayt).’ (UyounAkhbar al-Ridha (a.s.), v. 2, p. 62, no. 258)

Imam al-Sadiq (a.s) said, ‘The first thing that man will be asked about when he stands before Allah, Exalted be His Grandeur, is the obligatory prayers, the obligatory alms-tax (Zakat), the obligatory fasting, the obligatory pilgrimage (Hajj), and our guardianship (wilaya), the people of the household. If he attests to our guardianship and dies believing that, his prayer, fasting, alms and pilgrimage will all be accepted.’ (Amali al-Saduq, p. 212, no. 10)

The Prophet (s.a.w.a) said, ‘On the Day of Resurrection, the feet of the servant will not slip until he is asked about four things: his years and how he spent them, his youth and how he wasted it, his wealth, whence he earned it and how he spent it, and our love, the people of the household (ahl al-bayt).’(al-Khisal, p. 253, no. 125)

Practical Tips

1)    Allocate  time for accounting

The Prophet (s.a.w.a) said, 'The scriptures of Prophet Ibrahim (a.s.) contain the following: ‘…the rational man, as long as he is of sound reason, must put aside several hours during the day – an hour for conversing with his Lord, an hour for [self-scrutiny and] accounting for himself, an hour to ponder over Allah's favors bestowed upon him, and an hour to spend on his own lawful pleasures, for this one hour will be an aid to him in fulfilling his other hours, as well as a time to recuperate and relax.’ (al-Khisal, p. 525, no. 13 and Ma`ani al-Akhbar, p. 334)

2)    Be strict with yourself

Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) said, “Oh Abu Dharr! A man cannot be among the pious until his accounting of himself is stronger than the accounting a (business) partner takes of his partner. So he knows from where his food comes from and from where his drink comes from and from where his cloths come from; from a lawful means or from a prohibited one.” [Makarim al Akhlaq: C.12, S.5, P.458]

3)    Search sins / defects within your-self

Imam Ali (a.s.) said, 'Allah has mercy on the servant who scrutinizes his sins carefully and fears his Lord.’[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 5205]

Imam Ali (a.s.) said, ‘He who takes account of his soul will understand his defects and know his sins. He will repent for the sins and amend the defects.’[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 8927]

4)    Note down in diary or a book

Imam Ali (a.s.) said, 'The rational man must calculate his soul's misdeeds against religion, reason, ethical virtues and good moral conduct. He must gather this information within himself or write it down in a book and work at eradicating them.’

[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 78, p. 6, no. 58]

5)    Control your ownself

Imam Ali (a.s.) said, 'Man must control and survey his own self, scrutinize his heart, and guard his tongue.’[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 10947]

Imam Ali (a.s.) said, ‘Restrict your lower selves by holding them accountable and control them by opposing them.’[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 6794]

The Prophet (s.a.w.a) said, 'Shall I tell you who is the toughest and strongest from among you?’ They replied, ‘Yes, O Prophet of Allah, do tell us’, so the Prophet (s.a.w.a) said, ‘The strongest and toughest of you is he who, when he is happy, his happiness does not lead him to committing a sin or anything wrong, and when he gets angry, his anger does not prevent him from speaking the truth, and when he is empowered in any way, he does not take hold of that which is not lawfully his.’[Ma`ani al-Akhbar, p. 366, no. 1]

6)    Never give up

Imam Zayn al-`Aabidin (a.s.) said, ‘O son of Adam! You will continue to thrive as long as you are the admonisher of yourself, and as long as accounting for yourself is one of your concerns.’

[Tuhaf al-`Uqoul, no. 280]

Thus, we pray to Allah (swt) to give us taufeeq to take account of our own self and prepare ourselves for his (a.t.f.s) rule of justice and peace.