Holding yourself to account
Muḥāsabah — the practice of personal accounting before the Accounting.
About 25 minutes of listening
Book 38: The Book of Self-Examination and Self-Reckoning
Imam al-Ghazali · Ihya' 'Ulum al-Din
The thirty-eighth book of the Ihya teaches the practice of muraqabah (vigilant self-awareness before God) and muhasabah (holding oneself to account), the twin disciplines that keep the believer on the straight path.
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From The Book of Self-Examination and Self-Reckoning.
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"Do you not know, O soul, that the sinner is more unclean than filth, and filth does not purify itself or others? Why do you aspire to purify others when you are not pure yourself? Woe to you, O soul, if you truly knew yourself, you would think that people suffer calamities only due to your misfortune. Woe to you, O soul, you have made yourself a donkey for Satan, leading you wherever he wishes, mocking you, yet you marvel at your works despite the many flaws in them."
— Imam al-Ghazali, Book 38: The Book of Self-Examination and Self-Reckoning
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"there are those who can suffice you for this," he replied, "I wanted to test myself to see if I would reject it. Hasan said, "The believer remains vigilant over himself, holding himself to account for Allah. An easy reckoning occurs only for those who held themselves accountable in this world, while a difficult account on the Day of Judgment occurs for those who took matters without self-accountability."
— Imam al-Ghazali, Book 38: The Book of Self-Examination and Self-Reckoning
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"meaning accountable. 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "Bring yourselves to account before you are called to account, and weigh yourselves before you are weighed, and prepare for the grand presentation. He wrote to Abu Musa al-Ash'ari, "Hold yourself accountable during times of ease before the reckoning of hardship.""
— Imam al-Ghazali, Book 38: The Book of Self-Examination and Self-Reckoning