Muhasabah

Taking account of yourself: a regular, honest review of what you did and why.

Also written · Muhasaba · Mohasaba · Muhasabat al-nafs · Muhasabah al-nafs · Self-accounting · Self-examination · Taking account of oneself · Reviewing your deeds · Muhasibi

The meaning

What Muhasabah means in Islam

The Qur'an tells each soul to look at what it has sent ahead for tomorrow (Qur'an 59:18), and a well known saying attributed to Umar ibn al-Khattab is to call yourselves to account before you are called to account. Scholars describe it as a short daily session rather than a long anxious one, done before the deed to check the intention and after it to check the result. It is a tool, and like any tool a scrupulous person can overuse it.

Evidence · Editorial · Our own summary, drawn from the sources named

Read beside it

Words that sit beside it

MuraqabahLiving with the awareness that Allah sees you, at the moment you are acting.المُرَاقَبَة
TawbahTurning back to Allah from a sin: stopping it, regretting it, and resolving not to return.التَّوْبَة
IkhlasDoing an act for Allah alone, with no eye on who else is watching.الإِخْلَاص
WaswasahWhispering: unwanted thoughts thrown at the heart, whether by Shaytan or by the mind itself.الوَسْوَسَة