This year’s Boot Camp was all about fighting against our inner weaknesses. I hope by now the self-reflection that it aimed at inspiring is keeping you busy. To recap we learnt:

• That our time is an amaanat and we should ensure that we use it wisely. Hopefully by now you have a weekly time-table that includes a few minutes each day for remembrance of  Allah’s (swt) greatness, shukr and dua.

• That we have no reason to feel pride because we are what Allah (swt) has made us and therefore cannot feel proud over good qualities, deeds, material things and achievements. He is ultimately responsible for the raw materials used for our success (eg, intellect, beauty, character, Islam …), the guidance (eg. Spiritual, intellectual and emotional guidance we may not be aware of) and the opportunities we have been given (eg wealth, studying …). Finally, without His permission nothing you have or achieve would be possible.

• We learnt to identify the ego within our lower self (nafs) and how it can motivate our actions, desires and feelings.

• We learnt that Allah (swt) is merciful and forgiving and does not mind that we are imperfect, this is human, as long as we are fighting our imperfections to try and be better human beings/Muslims. 

• We learnt that jealousy is self-destructive. That we should try and be satisfied with what we have and not compare ourselves to those who have more apparent blessings than ourselves. We should also restrain ourselves from wishing that anyone else is deprived of their blessings. Always remember that one person’s blessings is not diminished or changed  by the accrual of blessings of the next person.

• We learnt a little about some of the triggers (there are others but we chose to look at those that stem from the lower self) that could motivate anger. We also learnt about different way to manage anger triggered by our lower nafs.

• We learnt that our hearts must trust in Allah (swt) completely for us to achieve submission to His will. The essence of Islam is submission to Allah (swt).

 Here’s hoping we will all continue on the journey of self-reflection we began this Ramadan and succeed in rising above our lower self. Feel free to criticize, make comments or suggestions about the Boot Camp for next year as we want you to get the best from it. Forgive any shortcomings and if we have made any errors executing the Boot Camp, InshaAllah we will be guided to what is correct. Have a wonderful final ten days of Ramadan. May your Eid be full of love, laughter and Allah’s blessings.