Allah says in the Holy Qur'an,

           "And I swear by the self-accounting soul"

In the above ayat we are told that there is a part of our soul which is called the self-accusing soul and that this is such an important part that Allah swears by it.

What is the self-accusing soul?

The self-accusing soul is our conscience, it is the part of us that makes us feel guilty when we do something wrong

Self - accounting is to listen to this conscience. If you ignore your conscience enough times then you will no longer hear it and then the next time you do something wrong, you will not feel guilty.

Once our Holy Prophet (S) was travelling with his followers when he stopped at a deserted place where there was nothing growing.

The Holy Prophet (S) told his followers to go and collect wood. They replied that they would not be able to find any wood in such a deserted place. The Holy Prophet (S) told them that they should still go and try to find some.

So they went and brought back whatever little they could. In a short while there was a big heap of wood laid before the Holy Prophet (S).

The Holy Prophet (S) then told them that their sins could just as easily be searched for and collected.

The Holy Prophet (S) was teaching them about self - accounting. In the same way that the wood was collected although it could not be seen before collecting, people's sins are not easily seen or remembered. But when they are looked for and accounted, they make a long list.

Is it not better to self - account and find that long list now while you can still ask for forgiveness rather than on the Day of Judgement when it will be too late.

You should get into the habit of self - accounting every day (at night, or after Salaat) where you think of the whole day and everything that you have done in that day.

What good thing have you done? If none then think of something good that you can do the next day.

What bad things have you done ? How are you going to put them right (do Tawbah).

Worksheet:

Why did the Holy Prophet (S) stop at such a deserted place?

What did he ask his followers to collect and why?

What was he trying to teach his followers?

Why is it important to self-account?

ACTIVITY:

Hand out each student a piece of paper and tell them to write 5 good actions they performed yesterday and 5 bad deeds they performed yesterday.