A Framework for Personal Development
We are having seminars, conventions and conferences for positive change in the society, but we do not get any results, except the empty words and passionate speeches. The change always starts from our own selves, from inside. To improve the society, an individual should improve himself.
“Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves.” (Qur’an, 13: 11)
An important task of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was to enlighten people through purification of their inner-selves and teaching them Allah’s guidance and wisdom.
“Certainly did Allah confer [great] favor upon the believers when He sent among them a Messenger from themselves, reciting to them His verses and purifying them and teaching them the Book and wisdom, although they had been before in manifest error.” (Holy Qur’an, 3: 164)
The framework comprised of five dimensions for producing a balanced and flexible, comprehensive, personal development program:
1. Basic Islamic development (faith, morals, basic practices, knowledge and character development).
2. Spiritual development (inner change and purification).
3. Human resource development (producing competitive competence developing skills and specialization and gaining a deep understanding of society and its functioning).
4. Social development (development of strong inter-personal relations and social skills).
5. Organizational training which includes self-discipline, accountability, adherence to organizational procedures, shura skills (effective meeting skills), strengthening of the brotherhood and sisterhood.
The scope and objective of personal development
1. Producing inner change: this includes the cultivation of Islamic faith, values and morals, better attitudes and an upright character, purification of the soul from greed, hatred, envy and other negative emotions, sincere intention, spirit of sacrifice and brotherhood and sisterhood.
2. Clarification of the Islamic vision and developing a sense of mission.
3. Developing knowledge and understanding of Islam, society and the physical environment.
4. Developing social and practical skills, experience and wisdom.
5. Developing leadership skills and competencies
In the light of the above, the objective of personal development becomes clear; it is to nurture and produce the following inner and outer qualities and characteristics that arise from a Muslim’s faith and values (these elucidated by the Qur’an in numerous places):
• Muslim, one who submits to Allah alone.
• Mumin, one who has strong faith and conviction in Allah.
• Mutaqi, one who loves and fears God (God-consciousness).
• Mohsin, one who excels in good works and aims for excellence in all actions and deeds.
• Mujahid, one who strives for God’s cause with sincerity and devotion.
• Salih, one who lives a righteous life.
• Saddiq, one who is truthful and honest in all actions and dealing
• Shahid, one who is a witness of Islam.
• Daya, one who invites people to Islam through their words and good action.
Indeed, the Muslim men and Muslim women, the believing men and believing women, the obedient men and obedient women, the truthful men and truthful women, the patient men and patient women, the humble men and humble women, the charitable men and charitable women, the fasting men and fasting women, the men who guard their private parts and the women who do so, and the men who remember Allah often and the women who do so - for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward. (Holy Qur’an 33: 35)
Allah commands justice, the doing of good, and liberality to kith and kin, and He forbids all shameful deeds, and injustice and rebellion: He instructs you, that ye may receive admonition. (Holy Qur’an 16:90).
Thus personal development from an Islamic perspective is broad and balanced and incorporates the enhancement of human qualities and potential to the full, for the service of humanity. Its objective is to facilitate people in becoming effective and exemplary witnesses of Islam in society.
Establishment of a Just Society (Iqamat ad-din)
Everyone is dissatisfied with the present situation and agree upon the reasons of the unstable condition of the country. It is our duty that for its survival we should stand up and fulfill our rights and duties with responsibilities to accomplish Pakistan - Vision, Objective, and Destination as envisioned at the creation of Pakistan.
The prophet Muhammad (pbuh) actually succeeded in establishing a just society based on God’s revealed guidance. Islamic values and principles were instituted in all spheres and systems of life during his life time. An Islamic society and state was first established in Medina, then later in other places that become part of Muslim land.
“It is Allah who sent His messenger with guidance and the True Way so that he may make it prevail over all other (corrupt) ways.” (Qur’an, 61: 9)
“And obey Allah and the Messenger that you may obtain mercy.” (Qur’an, 3: 132)
“This [Qur’an] is a clear statement to [all] the people and a guidance and instruction for those conscious of Allah .” (Qur’an, 3: 138)
There must be direct attention towards the affair of the society and state, the current ills must be diagnosed thoroughly and formulate effective solutions to social problems in the light of the Islamic guidance. This stage of the process encompasses the enjoining of moral and equitable practices, establishing good tradition and fair social and economic policies, political systems and law and order with justice in which committing bad deeds would be difficult and doing good deeds would be easy.
And in this way, we will close the door which allows crime and immorality to thrive. Indeed, the time is not far when Pakistanis will utilize positive and alternate ways by using their natural resources, skills and abilities to establish an ideal society independently without any foreign interest and interferences. Only then can we go towards a better destination, one which will lead us to unity, prosperity, and a simpler life.
A Practical Framework for positive change: A Ten-Point Agenda
The individuals, who are conscious of their mission in life and want to achieve the vision, objectives and destination of Pakistan, must come together, should unite and with their joint efforts launch movement for this purpose, cry out and carry out the message from every home and market square. The current ills must be diagnosed thoroughly.
“Let there arise out of you a group of people inviting to all that is good (Islam), enjoining Al-Ma'ruf (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam orders one to do) and forbidding Al-Munkar (polytheism and disbelief and all that Islam has forbidden). And it is they who are the successful.” (Qur’an, 3: 104)
First of all, it is necessary that there should be unity on Pakistan’s actual objective, its destination and preferences. Those all religious and political people who share common belief on Islam, democracy, justice, self-independence and what is desirable of common interest, come near to each other and a positive change has to be planned, executed, effectively managed and engineered. Furthermore, change should be purposive – that is a – movement towards the norm. Qu’ran says:
“Verily! Allah will not change the good condition of a people as long as they do not change their state of goodness themselves (by committing sins and by being ungrateful and disobedient to Allah). But when Allah wills a people's punishment, there can be no turning back of it, and they will find besides Him no protector.” (Qur’an, 13: 11)
Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah awoke Muslims and united them and created a strong awareness. Today again, we are in need of awakening people through democratic means and unite them and activate them with the purpose of the creation of Pakistan. This is the only way we can face the mischiefs of our own country and outside the country through awareness of people and capitalizing on their disciplined power.
A second basic need is the right vision of the leadership. The nation has been cheated too many times by social and political elites. Now, it is necessity for developing and nurturing good individuals as well as establishing a just social life based on God’s revealed guidance, with the sole intention of seeking the good pleasure of Allah in this life and in the life hereafter. Then, new, pure, good moral and pious leadership can be developed from the people which fulfills the constitution of Pakistan’s clause of the amendments 62-63 in terms of morals, character and responsibility of giving answers for any wrong working. People and Election commission should have the right to establish the amendment as once said by federal sharia court in one of his decision that this clause be implemented. This is the best filter, through which best leadership can come up -- a fair a high level of competence in communication, planning and organizing potential s, maturity and ability to take responsibility seriously.
A third item is to establish a national standard of manners, informed with wisdom, which should be firmly followed by all political parties, press and media. A lot of work has been performed in the past. The guidance for this exists in our constitution, the need is to agree jointly to enable an effective system that is designed to be implemented by the court or any national institution, and not just exist on paper.
A fourth idea is correction of election system for a purely fair election. The election commission should be selected with consultation and mutual agreement of the government and important opposition. Election should be under a neutral care taker government of good, moral character and pure leadership responsible of giving answer for any wrong doing. It is necessary to rethink the duration of assembly from 5 years to 4 years, so that it can be judged in fewer periods.
A fifth concept is to make N.A .P. effectively responsible for accountability. It should have the right to question and to punish the elected person and the government official’s misuse of his power for his personal gain, bribe for personal use, and any person from public or opposition affected any way and it should also have the right to punish them.
A sixth proposal, according to the constitution, is to transfer the powers to states and local bodies to strength them and make them effective so senate can be useful in this concern.
A seventh suggestion is freedom of independent juridical system, separate from establishment to make its decision fairly.
An eighth initiative should be the institutionalization of independent civil establishment and police without influence and interference of ruling party for their fair working. They should not be a tool or misused politically or illegally by the ruling party.
A ninth solution is to finish the corruption from the nation at every level.
The last and very important objective is implementation of a new cultural and economic policy, whose objective is to promote education, to provide medical facilities, end poverty and unemployment and create new jobs and such economic policies which can crush interest, gambling and other unjust activities going on in society. Wealth distribution be distributed justly and a common person should be able to have all basic needs of living.
These are the ten points; if the whole nation follows we can again achieve the Islamic State in which every person leads a happy and satisfied life.
“And if the people of the towns had believed and had the Taqwa (piety), certainly, we should have opened for them blessings from the heaven and the earth, but they belied (the Messengers). So we took them (with punishment) for what they used to earn (polytheism and crimes, etc.).” (Holy Qur’an, 7: 96)
"Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith and put not in our hearts [any] resentment toward those who have believed. Our Lord, indeed You are Kind and Merciful." (Holy Qur’an, 59: 10)
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