Top 5 regrets of the dying + loads of stuff - Optimized Muslim Newsletter ✅

Jun 08, 2023 1:29 pm

Thursday 08 June / 19 Dhuʻl-Qiʻdah 1444 AH

as Salaamu Alaykum

Welcome to the Optimized Muslim Weekly Newsletter on all things self-development from a Muslim's perspective.

Update - (Skip to the first sub-heading if you want the valuable stuff): This is the first newsletter since the beginning of April. I also haven't uploaded videos in a while. I took some time off in Ramadhan and then had a short trip to Pakistan as my wife's visa was approved ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّٰهِ - so expect marriage advice in the future to all the red pill akhs 😂.

Prior to that, I was focusing on delivering the program for the brothers who joined the Optimized Muslim coaching program - the brothers were really happy with the transformation they made ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّٰهِ and it's something I'm deeply passionate about. It's the most fulfilling thing about the project. Find out more here.

Looking forward, I have a long list of guests I want to invite. Well-known guests but also guests irrespective of their social following who have amazing potential.

Inviting guests is no longer a massive hustle as the project has grown (recently hit 5k subs) to an extent where people want to come on due to the past guests and they don't think i'm a weirdo as much (which I am tbh). If you have an interesting story and are aligned with the aims of the project, feel free to reach out to me.

If you like reading this email , please forward it to someone that is like-minded. You help the project but also gain potential rewards. Thank you

****Previous newsletters can be found in order here: Click here ****

Qur'an Ayaat

“So verily, with the hardship, there is a relief. Verily, with the hardship, there is relief” [Quran 94:5-6]

"If you could but see when the criminals are hanging their heads before their Lord, [saying], "Our Lord, we have seen and heard, so return us [to the world]; we will work righteousness. Indeed, we are [now] certain." 32:12

Hadith

ʿThe Shamaail of Tirmidhi explores the body language of the Prophet ( ﷺ):

“When he talked to someone, he would look at his face and if he held the hand of the person he was talking to, he would not let hold of his hand unless he withdrew his hand; he would not turn his face away unless his addressee turned his face away. If someone whispered something in the ear of the Messenger of Allah, he would not move his head away unless the man moved his head away.”

Nice representation

Discipline

"Among the infamies of the soul is that it reduces the self by following lusts, and if it is allowed to become set in doing this it reduces [acts of] obedience and conforming [to commands]. This condition is treated by denying the soul its desires, inducing it to perform what it dislikes, and contravening it in its demands – since this is what will remove from it its lusts. It was said to Abu Hafs, “What brings about rectifying the soul?” He said: “Contradicting it, since it is the location of every ruin.”

al-Sulami, Abu Abd al-Rahman; Furber, Musa. Infamies of the Soul and Their Treatments .

My note: If you master overcoming the initial resistance, then it is simply a matter of elevating your new "normal". Remind yourself that behaviour change is most difficult at the start. That level of difficulty does not last.

Top 5 regrets of dying

"Top 5 Regrets of the Dying" by Bronnie Ware - who worked in palliative care.

One of the common regrets of those nearing the end of their lives is not having had the courage to live a life true to themselves.

Another regret mentioned is wishing to have worked less and spent more time with loved ones.

The third regret is not having had the courage to express one's feelings.

The fourth regret is not having stayed in touch with friends.

Lastly, many people regret not having allowed themselves to be happier."

Note: How do you think the regrets would differ if Muslims were interviewed on their deathbed? We should reflect on this and take ourselves to account before we get there...

If you could but see when the criminals are hanging their heads before their Lord, [saying], "Our Lord, we have seen and heard, so return us [to the world]; we will work righteousness. Indeed, we are [now] certain." Quran 32:12

With so many productivity tips out there, I try to only share the killers:

Completing your most resistance-inducing tasks in the first 8 hours after waking is a solid one.

Those tasks that cause the most "limbic friction" as Ustadh Huberman says 😂

Interesting links to make you smarter and recommended content🤔

Umer Suleman | Haram Investments, Conventional Mortgages & Wahed - Blood Brothers podcast: Link

The Maliki Madhab: An Introduction and Clarifying Misconceptions: With Dr. Shaykh Hassan Al-Kettani: podcast Link

Random:Your native language impacts how you perceive music. Study link