Take Care of Yourselves First

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْم

Fix Yourself Before Fixing Others

It is very easy to see the mistakes of other people. We notice how someone prays, how they dress, or what they say. We feel the urge to correct them or talk about what they are doing wrong. Yet we forget to look at ourselves.

Allah tells us in the Qur’an:

"O you who believe, take care of yourselves. Those who have gone astray will not harm you if you are rightly guided." (Surah al-Ma’idah, 5:105)

This verse is a pertinent reminder that the first person we must fix is ourselves. Before worrying about everyone else’s states, we must ask: How is my own relationship with Allah?

The Mirror, Not the Window

The believer looks at his soul like a mirror, not a window. A window shows what is outside, but a mirror shows what is inside. Instead looking through window to see the faults of others, we should look into the mirror and focus on our own weaknesses and mistakes.

We forget that we will stand before Allah alone. On that Day, we will not answer for anyone else’s deeds. We will only answer for our own.

Begin with Yourself

This doesn’t mean we ignore others completely. Islam teaches us to advise and remind one another with gentleness and sincerity. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:

“The religion is Nasiha.” (Muslim)

But advice must come from a clean heart and humble attitude. It should come after we have looked at ourselves first, and implemented our own advice.

If I do not pray properly, how can I tell others to pray?

If I speak harshly, how can I teach kindness?

If I neglect my own sins, how can I worry about someone else’s?

And once we've advised, guidance lies in the hands of Allah, not ours.

Focus on Guidance

In the verse, Allah says: “Those who have gone astray will not harm you if you are rightly guided.”

This means that we should focus on our own guidance by learning, improving, and holding firmly to the truth. If we stay on the straight path, the errors of others will not harm us.

Sometimes people lose hope when they see sin or corruption around them. But Allah tells us to remain firm. Don’t let the wrong of others make you give up on doing right.

A Reminder for the Heart

Each of us has enough to fix within ourselves. Every day, we struggle with our thoughts, our prayers, our actions, and our hearts. The best way to help others is to become a better example ourselves.

So instead of saying, “They should change,” let’s begin with, “I should change.”

When we fix ourselves, Allah blesses our words, our homes, and our community. Allah tells us:

"Indeed, Allah would never change a people’s state until they change their own state." (Surah al-Ra'd, 13:11)

A community is made up of individuals. If every individual does their best to improve themselves, the community will inevitably prosper.

May Allah improve our states, ameen.