This was profound and well-written, kudos Zahra! I always appreciate your use of Carl Jung's work, and found especially poignant the excerpt from "Man and His Symbols". I agree, having a belief in something greater than oneself is a strong counterbalance to the potentially corrosive influence of the constant emphasis on oneself and one's ephemeral, mercurial moods and emotions.
I think now, more than ever, to have this belief and knowledge of a divine power to whom we supplicate and ask for assistance, provides a strong foundation that anchors one against the constantly shifting tides of the seeming lack of morality/greater meaning in the modern, hyper-materialistically driven world. To constantly introspect but place oneself and one's status as the focus of our lives is to deny ourselves the bulwark of understanding that arises from belief in a higher power. Not to mention, having a sense of purpose and certainty, which you mention in your example of the 5x daily Islamic prayer, can give one clarity and resilience, even as the mundanities of life and being constantly told to focus on what they want weighs them down.
Thank you for this "Food for thought". It is a feeling I have had - without knowing how to express it. You have managed to do that so incredibly well. My "god" is not one of the gods of the main religions ....it is the cosmos, nature and the community of all living beings...yet your words resonate . It once again shows, that no matter what your religious beliefs, there are some underlying values that are shared by us all....it would be wonderful if we could all concentrate on those. Again - thank you - such a valuable piece!
How beautiful your God is! I’m thrilled to hear it spoke to you despite the difference in our perspectives. That is and should always be the point. Thank you!
I am extremely privileged to spend time in the desert and in the wild with the African animals....so the Cosmos and the natural environment certainly make me aware of my insignificance and significance - both at the same time. A tiny little cog in a huge interconnectedness . I enjoy following your view of the world...the more we understand about each other, the better we can all share our planet peacefully.
Oh, wonderful words of wisdom. After my beloved husband died, I had the urge to hike. I climbed every mountain I could, and then I drove north and climbed some more. I remember thinking that I needed to situate my life on a larger landscape. I needed to be small. It was a comfort, but more, it was redemptive because - as you say - it delivered me from the “I.” It is this dethroning that opens the heart to others.
An absolutely necessary topic. The self is becoming the rival of God. we forget that inside the guise of the different structures and forms....the common misleading factor between satan and human is Free willed nafs or self....while we readily point a finger at satan....we forget to point the finger at ourselves, although the potency of danger and damage is the same....if not more.{ in humans}
Rumi said something beautiful and it stopped me from aiming to climb mountains to please God, and it was something like this in translation:
when you are wrapped up in your going about seeking God
you are wrapped up in your "going about" and not in God
before this i wanted to ambitiously seek God and win Him over....
after reading this.....i humbly seek Him and i found out, He is already mine, nothing to win here except to conquer my own nafs.
I was actually thinking something similar. That not everything I do should have the motive of me doing it because I want to but because God is deserving. There is always going to be a question of whether I deserve to do something but there isn't ever going to a question of shall I do this form of good because God deserves it. I hope that one thought stays and reminds me through everything to strive to be a good believer
Thanks again for more beautifully articulated insight. It seems, even empirically speaking, that psychology is a relatively poor therapeutic without acknowledging and employing the philosophical and God patterning dimensions which can transcend addiction to the self.
Consider this: there are two selves the outer which you focus on and the inner or true self which is not a psychological construct but a spiritual reality. After all, the shahadah has two parts: la ilaha ilallah muhammadur rasulullah. It is difficult to find the true self (nur Muhaammad) but it is a reality. Worship is in its most excellent performance uniting with this true self because only it can worship God in reality. Please just ignore this if it doesn't resonate at some level.
Zahra, your writing is so refreshing aH! I’ve been drawn to Carl Jung’s work and liberation theology as separate concepts lately, but this was such an interesting way to tie in his insights, almost, beyond the psychological and into the metaphysical. This even reminds me of some of the work I’ve done as well on self-idolization: https://open.substack.com/pub/marniazi/p/my-eyes-are-up-here?r=2qhefu&utm_medium=ios
This captures the modern crisis of self with rare clarity. The more the world tells us to look inward for fulfillment, the more restless and hollow we become. True liberation isn’t self-expression—it’s self-surrender. When you bow, fast, or practice dhikr, you’re not denying the self—you’re right-sizing it. That’s where peace begins: not in magnifying the ego, but in remembering we were never meant to be the center of the universe.
Thank you Zahra. This is the reason i could not buy into all of the focus on the self. We are instinctively self focussed. It takes will power to place yourself in the bigger picture. Even more so in others' shoes. By abandoning religion, only self becomes the measure of everything. Very dangerous. I have seen families and children's lives ruined by this. Balance is so important to open us to the world and other people
This was profound and well-written, kudos Zahra! I always appreciate your use of Carl Jung's work, and found especially poignant the excerpt from "Man and His Symbols". I agree, having a belief in something greater than oneself is a strong counterbalance to the potentially corrosive influence of the constant emphasis on oneself and one's ephemeral, mercurial moods and emotions.
I think now, more than ever, to have this belief and knowledge of a divine power to whom we supplicate and ask for assistance, provides a strong foundation that anchors one against the constantly shifting tides of the seeming lack of morality/greater meaning in the modern, hyper-materialistically driven world. To constantly introspect but place oneself and one's status as the focus of our lives is to deny ourselves the bulwark of understanding that arises from belief in a higher power. Not to mention, having a sense of purpose and certainty, which you mention in your example of the 5x daily Islamic prayer, can give one clarity and resilience, even as the mundanities of life and being constantly told to focus on what they want weighs them down.
Beautifully said and high praise as always thank you Aamir! 🙏🏻
Thank you Zahra, and no problem! Well done on this really insightful post!
Thank you for this "Food for thought". It is a feeling I have had - without knowing how to express it. You have managed to do that so incredibly well. My "god" is not one of the gods of the main religions ....it is the cosmos, nature and the community of all living beings...yet your words resonate . It once again shows, that no matter what your religious beliefs, there are some underlying values that are shared by us all....it would be wonderful if we could all concentrate on those. Again - thank you - such a valuable piece!
How beautiful your God is! I’m thrilled to hear it spoke to you despite the difference in our perspectives. That is and should always be the point. Thank you!
I am extremely privileged to spend time in the desert and in the wild with the African animals....so the Cosmos and the natural environment certainly make me aware of my insignificance and significance - both at the same time. A tiny little cog in a huge interconnectedness . I enjoy following your view of the world...the more we understand about each other, the better we can all share our planet peacefully.
Oh, wonderful words of wisdom. After my beloved husband died, I had the urge to hike. I climbed every mountain I could, and then I drove north and climbed some more. I remember thinking that I needed to situate my life on a larger landscape. I needed to be small. It was a comfort, but more, it was redemptive because - as you say - it delivered me from the “I.” It is this dethroning that opens the heart to others.
I’m sorry to hear about your loss Melanie. “I needed to be small” I deeply understand that. Thank you for sharing.
My condolences on your loss, Ms. Ess
Thank you.
I am reminded of all the various supplications where we seek refuge in Allah swt from our own selves.
I am also reminded of a small poem I'd penned once about the strangeness of the nafs, that we can't live with it, nor without it.
Precisely! So many munajat and duas speak to this very ask. To save us from ourselves.
Thank you for how you've woven this. I find, more and more, that a call to worship is embedded in whatever it is to be human🪷
Could not agree more!
Thank you.
An absolutely necessary topic. The self is becoming the rival of God. we forget that inside the guise of the different structures and forms....the common misleading factor between satan and human is Free willed nafs or self....while we readily point a finger at satan....we forget to point the finger at ourselves, although the potency of danger and damage is the same....if not more.{ in humans}
Rumi said something beautiful and it stopped me from aiming to climb mountains to please God, and it was something like this in translation:
when you are wrapped up in your going about seeking God
you are wrapped up in your "going about" and not in God
before this i wanted to ambitiously seek God and win Him over....
after reading this.....i humbly seek Him and i found out, He is already mine, nothing to win here except to conquer my own nafs.
Your perspective is so refreshing and beautiful!! Allahuma barik ! 🌸
You are my favourite writer on substack!!
I was actually thinking something similar. That not everything I do should have the motive of me doing it because I want to but because God is deserving. There is always going to be a question of whether I deserve to do something but there isn't ever going to a question of shall I do this form of good because God deserves it. I hope that one thought stays and reminds me through everything to strive to be a good believer
Thanks again for more beautifully articulated insight. It seems, even empirically speaking, that psychology is a relatively poor therapeutic without acknowledging and employing the philosophical and God patterning dimensions which can transcend addiction to the self.
Consider this: there are two selves the outer which you focus on and the inner or true self which is not a psychological construct but a spiritual reality. After all, the shahadah has two parts: la ilaha ilallah muhammadur rasulullah. It is difficult to find the true self (nur Muhaammad) but it is a reality. Worship is in its most excellent performance uniting with this true self because only it can worship God in reality. Please just ignore this if it doesn't resonate at some level.
Zahra, your writing is so refreshing aH! I’ve been drawn to Carl Jung’s work and liberation theology as separate concepts lately, but this was such an interesting way to tie in his insights, almost, beyond the psychological and into the metaphysical. This even reminds me of some of the work I’ve done as well on self-idolization: https://open.substack.com/pub/marniazi/p/my-eyes-are-up-here?r=2qhefu&utm_medium=ios
This captures the modern crisis of self with rare clarity. The more the world tells us to look inward for fulfillment, the more restless and hollow we become. True liberation isn’t self-expression—it’s self-surrender. When you bow, fast, or practice dhikr, you’re not denying the self—you’re right-sizing it. That’s where peace begins: not in magnifying the ego, but in remembering we were never meant to be the center of the universe.
Thank you Zahra. This is the reason i could not buy into all of the focus on the self. We are instinctively self focussed. It takes will power to place yourself in the bigger picture. Even more so in others' shoes. By abandoning religion, only self becomes the measure of everything. Very dangerous. I have seen families and children's lives ruined by this. Balance is so important to open us to the world and other people