How Does One Practice Self-Acceptance, That Is, Loving and Accepting Oneself?
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
Regarding this answer: We repent from our sins. But how does one go about practicing self-acceptance? i.e., accept and love oneself.
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.
I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your important question.
First and foremost, I acknowledge the previous beautiful answer. Having faith (iman) is a sign of acceptance from Allah Most High, so one can self-accept and love oneself by being grateful to Him always for allowing us to have faith in Him and granting us the life’s blessings that He showers on us.
Having faith, you have the upper hand being on the side of Allah against all the other four enemies of the soul, (a) Nafs (lower self); (b) Hawa (caprice); (c) Dunya (this world); and (d) Shaytan (the Devil). Allah Most High said, “Do not falter or grieve, for you will have the upper hand, if you are true believers.” [Quran, 3:133]
Based on that, one must continually take the means to become a better person and have reliance, hope, and fear of Allah Most High all the time, and by being continuously grateful, you can accept yourself and love yourself.
All is Good for a Believer with Patience and Gratitude
Suhayb (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Wondrous is the affair of a believer, as there is good for him in every matter; this is not the case for anyone but a believer. If he experiences pleasure, he thanks Allah, and it is good for him. If he experiences harm, he shows patience, and it is good for him.” [Muslim]
Be Always in a Good Company
Try not to stress, and I would advise you to continue working on increasing your acts of worship, performing and attending the daily prayers as much as you can, especially with the congregation, seeking religious knowledge, and attending circles of remembrance of Allah and continually supplicating to him for guidance. Being in good company in this way will give you this self-acceptance and love due to the collective nature of being with everyone in seeking knowledge, attending in worship and remembrance, in sha’ Allah.
May Allah give you every success, put ease in your life, and increase you in guidance, faith, and good works. Amin.
Related:
- Supplication for Guidance: Quranic Supplications 1
- Devil’s Tricks – The Path of Muhammad: Birgivi’s Manual of Taqwa Explained [Video]
- Key Principles Relating to Certainty, Doubt, and Baseless Misgivings (waswasa)
- Satanic Tactics: Seven Tricks of the Devil
- Heart: Hamza Yusuf [Book]
- Istikhara, The Prayer of Seeking Guidance: The Ultimate Guide – A Reader
- How Does One Perform The Prayer Of Need (Salat al-Haja)?
- Prayer of Repentance: Salat al-Tawba
- Ibn Daud Books
Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course on SeekersGuidance?
I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied in the UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, and Turkey. He started his early education in the UK. He went on to complete the hifz of the Quran in India, then enrolled in an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied the secular and ‘Aalimiyya sciences. He then traveled to Karachi, Pakistan. He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for several years. He has taught hifz of the Quran, Tajwid, Fiqh, and many other Islamic sciences to children and adults onsite and online extensively in the UK and Ireland. He taught at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK, where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences. He currently resides in the UK with his wife. His interest is a love of books and gardening.
