June 12, 2026

Dear Believers, Friends & Fellow Students,

As-Salaam Alaikum!

At some point in life every human being experiences a blow to the ego. If we can understand what would have saved Cain from a terrible misperception of reality, we can be saved from a similar outcome.

Whenever Emotion overpowers Reason, it covers Reason and replaces it with a new rationale; the new rationale then leads us to disobey a command of God.

“Pride” is an emotion. It is an intense feeling of self–importance and superiority; an inordinate opinion of one’s own merit.

God gave both Adam and Eve clear instructions not to eat of the tree in the midst of the garden. The Serpent (subtle suggestion in the mind) led them both into disobedience by appealing to the feeling of Pride:

“For God knows that when you eat the fruit, your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:5)

May Allah continue to bless us with Love and the Light of Understanding!

Assignment:

Read & Discuss:

Study Guide 18: Rising Above Emotion into the Thinking of God
Section titled PORTRAITS OF EMOTIONAL REACTION This week we will begin our reading with  paragraph 13, “Once his ego…” through the end of the section.

Note: As we read and discuss the material lets share ourselves and focus on self, not family, friends or even the prophets. Remember this is SELF IMPROVEMENT. Let us make sure we do not neglect the work that must occur outside of the study circle. The practical application includes examining ourselves, our lives, our struggles, our successes and failures and the corrections we made or need to make.

Discussion Questions (*these are not official questions from the Study Guide):

1. Identify a time when your ego and/or pride overpowered your Reason and replaced it with a new rationale that lead you to make a bad decision (disobey a command of God)? How could you have avoided making the bad decision? (Be very specific, more than Seek refuge in Allah, what would that sound and look like for you.)
2. Allah(God) does not ask for us for money or labor alone,  he asks for our will. What is one thing you are still holding back from Him, and what is the emotion that will not let it go?
3. Why did God accept the offering of Abel and reject the offering of Cain? What was the effect of God’s choice on both men and on the future? Did God care how they felt? Is it possible that He had a Purpose that was not perceived by either Cain or Abel at the time? Has your response changed to any of these questions?

Bonus: Are you as humble as you need to be? Explain. If not, what steps must one take to achieve the required humbleness of heart to be acceptable to Allah (God)?

Resources

Words from Minister Ava on Study Guide 18
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8KjhN5mMKak1yspkSzZKVMgREmgSgPWc&si=Z6dv4i7k7gVzuS1u

INSTRUCTIONS FOR STUDY GROUP COORDINATOR
https://study.noi.org/instructions-for-sg-coordinators/

We All Must STUDY
https://study.noi.org/fcn-v6-number-2-hmlf-editorial-1/

How To Conduct The Self Improvement Study Group Circle
https://youtu.be/De0qjtn6PIc

Self-Improvement: The Basis for Community Development (study circle training)
https://youtu.be/wXV7vnmFWDI