We Become What We Think About:
Islam has emphasized the importance of Reason and Thinking — which is reflected in many verses of the Quran.
There are phrases that are repeated dozens of times in the Qur’an, such as:
“Thus does Allah make clear to you His verses that you might use reason”. (Al-Baqarah 2:242), “For a people who give thought”.(Yoonus 10:24) and “For a people who understand”. (Al-An‘aam 6:98).
“So have they not traveled through the earth and have hearts by which to reason and ears by which to hear? For indeed, it is not eyes that are blinded, but blinded are the hearts which are within the breasts”.(Al-Hajj 22:46).
Thinking is an act of worship, which Allah points out in the verses:
“Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs For those of understanding.
Who remember Allah while standing or sitting or [lying] on their sides and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth, [saying], "Our Lord, You did not create this aimlessly; exalted are You [above such a thing]; then protect us from the punishment of the Fire”. (Al ‘Imraan 3:190-191).
Shaykh as-Sa‘di said: Here Allah tells us that “Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs For those of understanding”.
This encourages people to think deeply, examine these signs, and contemplate the creation. He left the word “signs” ambiguous and did not state explicitly what it points to, as an indication of the great number and ubiquitous nature of those signs.
That is because in creation there are amazing signs that dazzle those who look upon them, convince those who ponder them, attract the hearts of those who are sincere and strengthen the Faith of those of understanding. But the details of what these signs contain are impossible For any person to list or even comprehend some of them.
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah(saw)said:
Verily, Allah has pardoned my nation For what occurs within themselves, as long as they do not speak of it or act upon it. (Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6664)
The meaning of “what occurs within themselves” are these involuntary thoughts that begin as suggestions From Satan or the ego.
We are not held accountable or harmed by these thoughts if we do not allow them to settle within ourselves.
Al-Nawawi commented on this tradition, writing:
Al-Tahawi and the scholars of language said that — what is intended are thoughts without choice, as Allah Almighty said: We know what his soul whispers to him.(50:16). (Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim bi-Sharḥ al-Nawawī 127)
And he writes: The Scholars said what is intended are initial thoughts which are not settled. (Source: al-Adhkār 1/345).
We will surely experience evil suggestions From Satan or whimsical desires From the ego that tempt us to disobey Allah and commit sins — Part of the test of this life is being able to choose which thoughts we act upon or ignore.
Ibn al-Qayyim writes: Know that passing thoughts are not harmful. Indeed, they are only harmful if they are sought after and engaged.
For a thought is like a passerby on the road; if you ignore him, he will depart From you. (Source: al-Jawāb al-Kāfī 1/157)
Hence, the correct method to deal with bad initial thoughts is not to engage or try to suppress them, but rather to remember Allah and redirect our minds to more beneficial cognitions — as if these thoughts were bystanders along the road.
If we stop to talk to them, they will remain in our minds, but if we move onto better thoughts, they will be left behind.
Perhaps the best example of these types of thoughts is what Scholars refer to as “backbiting with the heart” (al-ghibah bil-qalb).
As we know, it is Forbidden to express bad assumptions about other Muslims outwardly with words, but it is also Forbidden to speak to ourselves inwardly in a way that engages these thoughts containing bad assumptions.
So, the point is that — Thoughts have a lot of power and influence our bodies and actions, and we can actually control our desires with positive thinking.
Therefore, we need to keep our thoughts pure and positive and this is possible only by obeying Allah(swt).
May Allah(swt) help us to keep our Thoughts Positive and Pure. (Ameen).
JazakAllah (May Allah Reward You [with] Goodness)For Reading.