Muhasaba

Muhasaba (Arabic: muḥāsaba) is a religious and spiritual practice in Islam that translates as accounting or reckoning. It designates self-examination and accountability before God with the aim of purifying belief and reforming conduct. The practice is a core element of Islamic ethics and features prominently in Sufi teachings as an ongoing inner audit guiding the seeker toward improvement.

The concept is rooted in the Qur’an and Hadith and was developed by scholars such as al-Ghazali and Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah. In classical works it is paired with other disciplines of the path, such as muraqabah (watchfulness) and mujahada (struggle). Practically, muhasaba involves reviewing one’s intentions, worship, time management, wealth, speech, and manners toward others, with attention to both inward state and outward action.

Practices typically include regular reflection or journaling, noting successes and failures, seeking forgiveness (tawbah) for sins, and setting concrete steps for improvement. Some traditions describe stages of the self (nafs) from the commanding self (nafs al-amarah) to the blameworthy self (nafs al-lawwamah) and toward the tranquil self (nafs al-mutma'inna).

In contemporary discourse, muhasaba remains a widely cited framework for personal and spiritual accountability. It is described as a voluntary, inner discipline rather than a formal ritual, and is distinct from but related to broader notions of self-discipline in daily life.