Healing Before Wayfaring
The ultimate goal of the human being is tazkiyat an-nafs: the cultivation of the embodied human soul through stages of development to fuller stations of Being and, ultimately, proximity to God.
A healthy community is one that is not only aware of this reality but also one that facilitates its people’s growth, from their early stages of un-ripened potential to their mature actualized stations of wholeness and well-being. This process is like that of the great Oak tree; its ultimate reality is totally enfolded in the acorn but brought to fruition only through the careful cultivation of its elements and environment in accordance with its nature and needs. And there is no fixed protocol we can engineer to substitute this process.
I know this has become a cliché, but I see it so much that I feel compelled to share this nasiha counsel:
Do not take a Sheikh (spiritual guide) for emotional validation or to compensate for a lacking sense of self-worth
Do not take a Sheikh for fatherly approval or to make-up for childhood relational distortions from your parents/caregivers
Do not take a Sheikh who can continue the overriding of your sense of agency and self-determination as an adult
Please.
Most Sheikhs will not be able to heal our deep wounds or cultivate (on our behalf) our healthy sense of self necessary for growth. Rather, in most cases, this unhealthy dynamic only aggravates one’s inner disorganization in the long-term, finally leaving the individual mired in their old wounds while compounded with new ones and the grief of time wasted.
The ultimate goal of the human being is tazkiyat an-nafs: the cultivation of the embodied human soul through stages of development to loftier stations of Being and, ultimately, proximity to God. A healthy community is one that is not only aware of this reality but also one that facilitates people’s growth, from their early stages of unripened potential to their mature actualized stations of wholeness and well-being. This process is like that of the great Oak tree; its ultimate reality is totally enfolded in the acorn but brought to fruition only through the careful cultivation of its elements and environment in accordance with its nature and needs. And there is no standard/fixed protocol for this.
{He is indeed successful who causeth it [one’s nafs/self] to grow. And He is indeed a failure who stunteth it}
Quran, The Sun: 9-10
Allah in His infinite Wisdom has created mankind with differing natures and temperaments, and thus with different needs which necessitate varying paths to wholeness. Even though the goal (tazkiya) is the same, the pathways to it are as numerous as the number of souls seeking it. Growth looks different for all of us and so we must avoid reducing this intrinsically multiplicitous affair to a flattened, black-and-white Procrustean image. The standard of the Muslims is none other than the Perfect Man: Our Master Muhammad, peace be upon him, and his ‘image’ is vaster than the totality of the cosmos and everything within it. Thus, part of our following him is respecting this diversity, celebrating it, and seeking to create a culture that is respectful of everyone’s inner journey, within the vital and vitalizing parameters of our legal-ethical tradition. The lion and the elephant can both exist together in one ecosystem; we do not need to make lions into elephants to make “something work”.
From the Hikma Medicine perspective it is necessary to identify, in every age and in every context human beings find themselves in, what the most suitable, effective, and gentle manner of holistic cultivation of the soul may be.
In the premodern past, with the Muslim civilizational ethos creating a world informed by the sacred, a respect for Fitra, and a respect for the Sacred Law while living in harmony with Creation, it was likely sufficient to prescribe prayer, certain types of adhkar or spiritual practices, etc, to remedy the specific disbalances of their time. I have no issue with that whatsoever, that is beautiful.
But to assume that these same prescriptions are valid today in this postmodern technological age informed by a secular, anti-Fitra civilization far removed from the wisdom and light of Prophetic teachings is a grievous error. Our emotional issues, our physiological symptoms, our spiritual vacancies are all specific expressions and compensations to the world we live in, and we need to be able to acknowledge and meet those issues at the root cause level if we are make any viable improvements to the health and well-being of our community. That may come in the form of diet and lifestyle change, natural medicines, specific spiritual practices, and others.
So what's the solution?
Begin your healing journey:
Process your lived trauma and repressed emotions like rage/shame/fear
Reconnect & fortify the embodied connection to your vital heart
Get to know yourself, TRULY know yourself, including your constitution, personality type, vices/virtues, modes of rationality and communication, relational strategies, motivations and impulses, etc
Hone the perception of your relationships- to self, others, and God- beyond the victim-centric narrative
Reclaim your innate God-given agency, your capacity to make your own life choices
Become a healthy, vital human being at all levels using diet, exercise, sleep, stress management, and holistic medicine applied with Hikma such that it may be conducive to your 'afiya (comprehensive well-being)
Through this process you will grow SO much and learn how to safely navigate the world, as well as- if you are so inclined- then be able to travel the spiritual worlds with a real Guide in a safe and healthy manner.
Taking a guide without first doing this prerequisite (not making an absolute statement here or trying to innovate, just sharing my perspective from my experience in this work) healing work leaves much of one’s foundation unfinished and many gaps open… opening up the susceptibilities for abuse and/or burnout by forcing an artificial germination of the acorn before it nestles comfortably in a sunny spot of moist soil.
And God knows best.
———
Mazen Atassi, ND
Dr. Mazen is a naturopathic doctor, classic homeopath, and Hikma therapist. To learn more about him and his services visit: www.forwardtohealth.com/dr-mazen