Habits vs Willpower Part 2

Strengthening Willpower: Where and How

Where and how to strengthen willpower? If you strengthen your willpower, you can show miracles. Each one of you, every person, if his willpower becomes strong.

Willpower of a person, in his normal life, in everyday life, in routine life, habits become strong, willpower does not become strong.

The Cycle of Habit and Routine

Like our homes, we stay at home, go to school, come back, go to college, come back, time is divided. For example, when do you feel hungry? When do you feel hungry? When it is mealtime.

Meaning, at the time when the habit of eating is formed, at that time, even if your stomach is full, we feel hungry. At that same time. And if that time passes, many times it might have happened that mealtime has come, you have felt hunger, but there was no food, and time has passed further.

Now here, your mealtime is two o'clock. If two o'clock passes, after three o'clock, even if your stomach is empty, you will not feel hunger. At that time, a person feels hungry, when our habit is formed, at that time to eat food.

Our body also makes its habit, our soul also makes its habit. Then both walk according to habits, and the entire life passes under habits.

Breaking Routine to Strengthen Willpower

Similarly, small, everyday tasks, eliminate these habits with consciousness, and strengthen willpower. How does this happen? This happens at that time when habits become strong, become firm. A person should come out of that environment.

Like I just gave an example, that we eat food on time, that we have to eat food at two o'clock, so at two o'clock, we feel exactly hungry. If two o'clock passes, even if we do not eat food, then there is no problem. But at two o'clock, worry starts, from two to two thirty, three o'clock, so that the feeling remains. When three o'clock passes, then the mind also accepts, that there is no food. The body also accepts, that there is no food, we have to walk without food. Then the feeling dies down, ends. If that time passes for you.

Similarly, in routine, it is very necessary to come out of routine. If we stay in routine our entire life, in routine, we cannot bring any change within ourselves. Routine has to be left, for some days, and coming out of routine, one has to go into an environment. This is the best way to leave habits.

Kargah: An Environment for Change

For example, even now, you have come to Kargah. So, your sleeping and waking times might have changed. At home, you used to sleep on time, and wake up on time. Coming here, you had to change time. Discipline, you followed a little bit. Now, it is not known how much. I have not followed up much on your sleeping and waking times. Generally, disorder I have noticed in your Kargah. Discipline was not very ideal. Now you can tell better whether it was there or not. Discipline, but I did not see it. Because my foundation is mostly on discipline, that everything should be organized, discipline should not be broken by us. Rest, whether we get benefit or not, at least we should learn discipline. So, there was a lack of discipline in your case.

But still, despite this, your routine has changed. Coming here, at home, getting up and sitting was different, sleeping and waking up. Here, it became a bit different, in a different way.

So, to come out of this routine, Kargah is necessary. Kargah is the best thing, that we come out of routine. And all the habits that were formed by us, routines, in routine, those habits will all end here. And in their place, our willpowers will become strong.

Willpower vs. Habit in Kargah

Because here, we have to get up with willpower. At home, we used to get up under habit. Here, you have to sleep with willpower. There, you used to sleep under habit. Here, you have to eat with willpower. There, you used to eat under habit. Here, you had to adopt silence with willpower. There, we used to speak under habit.

So, this is a best means, of training. If we understand this point of training individually. Suppose, in Kargah, if your attention did not go to this side, or teachers, mentors did not give it, then listen here now, that you should weaken your habits and strengthen your willpower.

The Key to Success: Willpower and the Five Pillars

Whoever wants success, in whatever field, this is its key. This is its lock-pick. And when willpowers become strong, then those five pillars of human personality are established, five pillars: Jidd, Jehd, Nazm, Azm, Jazm.

The Five Pillars Explained

• Jidd: Seriousness

  • Jidd means seriousness, that in any work, seriousness. Serious, which you translate as, in English, serious. Seriousness, or Jidd, it is called. Its meaning is that you, when you intend to do any work, have to accomplish any work, then first of all, make a strong intention for it. Secondly, perform this work continuously, without break. This is the meaning of Jidd, that you have set a goal, have intended to accomplish it, and have started it. To accomplish this work. This is the first pillar of Jidd. Second is that, continuity has to be maintained in it. Break should not be there. If you stop in between, then you are not Ahl-e-Jidd (person of seriousness). You are not a serious person.
  • Like many people are there, they start work and then leave it, step back. These are unserious people. We generally call unserious people those who joke and jest more. But in religious terminology, in the language of Maula Ali (peace be upon him), Jidd, to this, non-Jiddi, or unserious, this person is called, who work starts and then leaves in between. Even if he does not joke and jest, remains serious, but does not continue the work further. Leaves education, leaves training, leaves Nazm, whatever work he had started, he stopped it in between, or sometimes does it, sometimes does not do it. So, this is also not Jidd.
  • Jidd means, with continuity, with follow-up, and the third thing is, steadfastness within it, with permanence, a person should work. When intention for any work has been made, this work you have started, started continuously, without break, then in it, steadfastness also you have to show. When these three things combine, then it is called Jidd. And Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) had said to the Kufans, that "I am coming towards you, and what should you do?" "Adopt Jidd." "Alaikum bil Jidd" "Become serious." "Be serious," "and become firm," "and maintain continuity." "Do not break in it." "Do not step back." And why did the Kufans remain behind? Because Jidd was not within them. Faith was there, love with the Imam was there, religion was there, everything was in them. They were staunch worshippers, in all other works, they were the best, they were number one. But Jidd was not there. That is why, Imam (peace be upon him) told them, "Adopt Jidd." And they did not do it.

• Jehd: Effort and Energy

  • Jahd means to put all your energy into one work. Whatever energy, power Allah has given you, all of it, to put on your goal, is called Jehd. Mujahid is that person, who puts all his energies, which Allah has given, all of it in His way, in the way of Allah, puts it for his goal. Do we do this work? Do we put all our power into any work? For example, when you are exercising, do you put all your energy? Only do you do it, or not do it? So, it means that Jahd is not within us. Meaning, we keep energy saved, waste it, do not spend it. Put all your energy into studying. Whatever work has come to your attention, you have to do, put all your energy into it.

• Nazm: Order and Discipline

  • And then there is Nazm. Everyone has correctly understood the meaning of Nazm. Every work at its time, and everything at its place. This is Nazm.

• Azm: Firm Intention

  • After this, there is Azm. The meaning of Azm is also correctly understood, firm intention. Ulu al-Azm, Prophets of Ulu al-Azm, those prophets whom Allah Almighty gave Azm, they had very firm intention. Like Prophet Ibrahim, Prophet Musa, went in confrontation with enemies. Problems came ahead, thrown into fire, much happened. But their intention was so firm, no change came in it. Some people are there, when a little hardship comes, they break intention, change it, leave it. This is not Ulu al-Azm. Azm meaning, that which lasts till the end. Like even now, you saw Hamas, that how much destruction Israel caused, but they did not leave their goal, did not change intention. They remained firm on it, and Allah finally granted them success. This is Azm, that however many hardships come, do not change your intention. This work we have to do in any case, we have to do it.

• Jazm: Certainty

  • And Jazm means, certainty, firm certainty. Intention is a different thing, certainty is a different thing. Certainty in such a way, that doubt should not be in a person, that "the work that I have, the path I have chosen, this is 100% correct path." But if a person has doubt, that "I do not know whether it is correct or not," goes with confusion, then this is not Jazm. Jazm means, firm certainty, strong certainty, very strong certainty, in which doubt should not be there, suspicion should not be there.

Combining the Pillars for Willpower

Now all these things, these five things, when they combine, then from this, in a person's personality, willpower becomes strong. The relation of all five is formed with willpower itself. And your willpower will become strong, habits will become weak. Habits will come into the control of willpower. Meaning, when habit wants, then you should not work. When you intend, then you should work at that time. But when we intend, at that time, mood is not inclined. And when that habit time comes, then at that time, we do this work.

Home vs. Kargah: Factories of Habit and Willpower

Habits are formed at home, willpowers are formed in Kargah. Habits, all of them at home. Home is a factory, of making habits. And home does not make good habits. Home generally creates bad habits in a person. Neighborhood, environment, routine, creates bad habits in a person. In Kargah, all those habits break, and in their place, willpower becomes strong.

Continuing the Kargah Spirit After Departure

If this attention was not there before, from here, you have to, paying attention, keep this Kargah state going on. This Nazm should remain established. This Jidd should remain, effort should remain within you. Even going home, you, many of our previous Kargahs were there, and in them, children used to come. Then these children would go back, then with the same Nazm, as they were here, they would act in the same way going home.

An Inspiring Story of Kargah's Impact

Once I remember, two small children, of this age, had come from Faisalabad. So, on the second day of Kargah, second day, basically, it was Eid day, or a day before Eid. It was Ramadan Kargah. So, one or two days before Eid, we left the children to go home. So, one day before Eid, their father took them and brought them back to the Madrassa. All other children had left, their father took them back, two small brothers. So, I thought that he might have brought them for some complaint, that some hardship has reached our children here, there is some complaint, complaint. Generally, parents do these things more.

So, he said, "No, I have come to thank you, to express gratitude, that in fifteen days of Kargah," it was a fifteen-day Kargah, I think, "that in these fifteen days, the change you have brought about in our children, it is unimaginable for me." He told that, "When these children were coming, I was against it." Their mother had sent the children despite the father's opposition. Mother wanted that children should learn something. So, the father was not very happy with Madrassas and the Maulana class. So, he used to say, "Keep children away from them." Mother would say, "Send them, it is necessary there, they should get training." In some homes of outside women, there is more influence. Man's influence is not that much. So, the mother forcibly sent the children. So, that father was telling, that "when these children were coming, at the end, they greeted me. So, in anger, I did not reply to their greeting. Did not even meet them, because I was angry. I could not even speak in front of the mother, and I was also angry with the children. So, children came in my anger."

And then these children went back from here. So, he told that, "When they went back, I had become even more severely angry by that time. Until then, I had also stopped talking to the mother, also stopped with the children." On return, these children greeted. I did not reply to that also. Then the children came, they had reached in the evening, it became night, they ate food, these children slept. It was summer days, so in the veranda, he said, that "we were all sleeping, in the family." He says, "Before the morning Azan, these two children woke up. Got up, got up, they performed Wudu (ablution), prayed Namaz-e-Tahajjud (night prayer)." Both were minor children, small, small. Both prayed Namaz-e-Tahajjud. After praying Namaz-e-Tahajjud, then it was time for Azan. Azan happened, and at the time of Azans, they then both of them prayed Namaz in congregation. Elder brother went ahead, became Imam, younger brother stood behind, became Ma'mum (follower). And he said, "We children woke up, so we also woke up, mother and father both. But mother and father were in bed, did not get up, were watching everything. And these children in seclusion, were doing their work." Then they, after Namaz, both of them recited Taqeebat (supplications after prayer). Book of Taqeebat, was with them, the book of supplications. They both opened it, then they, like you read here, in a chorus, in this way, both of them, in chorus, they recited the supplication.

He said, "When these children recited the supplication, then mother and father both started crying. Got up, sat up, in their beds, started crying." Then the father asked for forgiveness from the children. When children were coming, the father was angry, did not reply to greeting. When they went back, even then, no reply was given. His attitude itself was wrong with them. When children saw, that when children recited Taqeebat, then the father says, "Tears welled up in my eyes. I got up, hugged the children, asked forgiveness from them. I said that, 'I did not know, ignorance was mine, I did not know where you are going.' I used to think, 'You are going to Madrassa, who knows what they do in Madrassas.'" So, seeing this, so, now he says, that "that morning, then we, mother and father also prayed Namaz. Before, mother and father did not pray Namaz. Because of the children, they also prayed Namaz, morning prayer. Then after that, breakfast happened." So, he said, "After breakfast, taking them, I also apologized to their mother. And I said, 'I am going, I want to see what is that place, where in fifteen days, in my children, this revolution they have brought about.'" "That these were those children, who would not get up for school. These were those children, who did not know the respect of elders and younger ones. How to adopt attitude with mother, how to meet with father, how to meet with brothers." So, he said, "That seeing this, I was very surprised, that in fifteen days, these have changed so much, that here, no one has forced them. No one was here."

The Lasting Impact of Kargah

These are such many occasions. Meaning, it is not one incident. Those who came to Kargah, going, changed the entire family. Small, small children, one child has come, here, gotten training, then became a means of training for the entire family. This becomes a whole book. Children of Kargah, when they have gone back, our students, when they go back home, parents have never said, "that these students are very organized." But those of Kargah, this response comes, from parents' side, "that these are very organized, children have become very disciplined."

From you also, expectation is there, that Insha'Allah, it will be like this only. When you go, then in your homes, this change, through you, should be created. This same Nazm, which here you have learned, or understood. Suppose, if you have not even acted here, definitely do it there. There it is optional, here it was obligatory. There, optional Nazm is there. And these five pillars, create in your personality.

Strengthening Willpower for a Purposeful Life

Strengthen your willpower, and change your habits. Then in the world, whatever miracle you want to show, you will show it. But if you remain under habits, then you will become the same way, like people in the market are present. Then you will be those wandering in streets and alleys, roaming around, leaving education and going away. Or at most, if you become very successful, getting education, you might get some job, you will get employment, of some grade, and your entire life, you will keep eating galiyan shahlian (abusive language) of those above. Obviously, servants are kept for service, right? Service is service, right? No matter what grade it is.

The True Meaning of Service

I went to one place, believers were sitting. So, they, one person was a Chief Secretary of a province. Chief Secretary of a province. No, apologies. Home Secretary he was. Home Secretary. This was, in rank, the highest one. Twenty-second grade officer he was. Home Secretary he was. The entire province was under his authority. And others were also there. These were Shia believers, these. So, they started introducing him. So, he used to listen to my lectures. These officers, later, when they gathered, at one place, gathering happened. So, he had heard my lectures. So, when his turn came, for introduction, so, they, his introduction, others were wanting to do, "that he is Home Secretary, and this..." So, he said, "No, Agha Sahib, I will do my introduction myself. In your terminology, I am from those, these are small rank servants, I, I am a big servant among us." "Essentially, service is service, right?" Service. We even say, "We got service for this child." So, by getting service, what does a person become? Does he become a believer, or does he become a servant? He becomes a servant. Then they become so happy on service, "that our children have become servants." This is our environment, that children of servants also become servants, right?

Think above service. Keep intentions forwards, that "We are not anyone's servant. No." Even now, when they get angry with each other, if someone tells us to do some work, then what do they say? "Am I your father's servant?"

Dignity and Freedom Beyond Service

I had gone to one institution, to an embassy. So there, one very ill-mannered kind of officer was there. There, in the passport section. So, he would misbehave with everyone. I was initially angry. I was in line, and he was misbehaving with everyone. When my turn came, he also did the same thing. So, I spoke to him a bit sternly. So, in reply, he tells me, "That I am not your servant." I said, "Service you are, who else are you to us? Are you our boss?" "So, you are a servant, right? You are here because the government has appointed you for this, that you are a servant of the government also, and servant of the public also." So, this feeling, how did it arise, that you are not a servant? You are a servant. We are not your servants. We are free. We are from the public, we are not servants. Neither servants of the government, nor servants of you. But you are a servant of both, of the government also, and of us also. Therefore, do work like servants, you. This feeling, has arisen within you, that you are telling me to my face, "that I am not your servant." So, you are a servant, right? Who else are you? He became silent, absolutely. Became quiet, that "Servant is what we are, what else are we?"

When you do service, do not become a personality of servants. Job, even if it is called service, job is there, then it is fine. But in personality, in thought, never become a servant. In thought, become a free-thinking person. Make your own personality, dignified, honorable.

Blessings and Guidance for the Future

Wherever your future is, may Allah grant you success. Come in the way of Allah, come in the way of religion. Even if it does not happen there, parents do not send you, or your own intention is not there, then wherever you go, Insha'Allah, the effects of this training will remain within you, Insha'Allah, will remain. And then whatever you have learned, that, you have learned in two ways. One are those things that were arranged, managed for you. And in the beginning, I had said, that learn from those things also, from which you have, which were not for you, things here, learn from them also. Like I said, that I have learned, in the Madrassa where I was, from what was not there, from that I have learned, that all those things should be in an educational environment. And that teacher, from whom I used to study, and he would not teach in such a way, as one should teach. So, I have learned much from him. More than that, I have learned, that I should not teach like this. I should not teach in such a way, as this person teaches, like that, I should not teach.

Insha'Allah, may Allah grant you success, in life, in knowledge, in action, Insha'Allah. When you return back, convey our special greetings to your parents. Respect parents, revere them. To Kargah participants, I used to, in return, emphasize this, that when you, so touch the feet of parents. If you kiss feet, it is very ideal. Nur 'ala Nur (light upon light). If you do not kiss, then at least touch the feet, touch their hands. If you do not kiss, then touch their hands to them, and they should know that, you have come from somewhere, have come after learning something, have become somewhat disciplined, have become something you are. This work you have to do Insha'Allah, going back.

And whatever shortcomings are here for you, that also, whatever bitterness is here, do not narrate that. Going there, do not narrate shortcomings. Say good things about them. Do not say, "One boy, who knows where he was from, he was like this, like that." No. Also do praise of your friends. If there is any weakness also, then do not tell it forward. Going there, "that my such and such was there." Weaknesses are in everyone, those should not be spread forward. Also say Salam to your friends, and also say Salam to your parents, Insha'Allah. And then further, from whichever area you are, going there, you yourselves should do this management further, and spread it Insha'Allah.

Speaker: Syed Jawad Naqvi