💐 In The Name Of Allah The Most Gracious The Most Merciful
💌 Imagine that you're staying in a retreat, resort or dormitory with several friends for one week, and you're sharing one kitchen. Just when you're about to wash your plate and spoon, you notice that the sink is full of unwashed dishes. While you decide to focus on washing only your utensils, others may not exactly behave like you. Some may:
1] Gladly wash the plate and spoon which they used along with the other dishes, wanting rewards for compassionately trying to make others' lives easy.
2] Wash their utensils and only some of the unwashed dishes, so they earn rewards without getting too tired, while hoping somebody else can continue washing the rest.
3] Quickly wash their utensils then angrily march around the building, commanding everyone to wash their own dishes next time because they're not their maid.
4] Lazily leave their plate and spoon on the sink with the other unwashed plates, imagining how fabulous it would be if there were fairies or android robots who'd automatically keep the surroundings clean.
5] Responsibly wash your utensils then place the unwashed dishes on top of each person's bed, everybody receiving a note stating (written in all caps and red marker), "Cleanliness is part of faith. Please tidy up your mess next time."
6] Calmly wash your own plate and spoon, then patiently wait for the next group meeting when you can gently advise your friends to do the dishes as soon as they're done using them. That way, nobody has to suffer doing somebody else's work.
7] Aggressively push all the unwashed dishes aside until they smash on the floor, and once you're done washing your utensils, you tell everybody who gathered in the kitchen to see what the loud noise was about, "that's what happens when zombies don't do their job."
Since the temperament, attitude and personalities of people on earth are not entirely the same, it makes sense that we can't always get along peacefully with every individual whom Allah the Most Wise decreed us to meet. However, by having some understanding of somebody's MBTI personality type, we can adjust our behavior or choices if we're seriously interested in strengthening our relationship or friendship.
🗂️ By understanding that a person is...
• Introverted ( I ): We won't get offended if they request us to bring only a few companions to their small gathering or to avoid inviting individuals whom they don't know, and we shouldn't expect them to initiate conversations because aimlessly chatting about random topics is not an enjoyable activity for many introverts who'd rather read or browse the web in their homes.
• Extroverted ( E ): We mustn't feel embarrassed if they're too chatty, playful or noisy in public, because that's how some extroverts naturally function, and their decision to invite others to your outing is meant to increase the enjoyment, not necessarily to consume the food that the hosts are offering.
🗂️ By understanding that a person is...
• Sensing ( S ): We can be more careful about the way we answer their questions. Sensors generally prefer answers that are very specific, factual, and precise. The more details you give them the better. Since a lot of them get startled easily, from having strong senses of hearing, seeing, smelling and touching, we can be more cautious with the way we present ourselves when they're around (that is, if we care enough about how they perceive us).
• Intuitive ( N ): We can respond to their questions briefly or describe the overall meaning of an event or incident, purposely leaving out unimportant information. Many intuitives prefer looking at the big picture, the summary and main points of a discussion, concept or project, rather than fussing over every single detail. It shouldn't surprise us that sometimes they look distracted or oblivious when we're trying to catch their attention, because they're mentally someplace else contemplating about the future or preoccupied with analyzing. Don't feel insulted if you have to pronounce their names multiple times for them to notice you.
🗂️ By understanding that a person is...
• Feeling ( F ): We won't be surprised if they get hurt easily, overreact emotionally, and oftentimes make illogical decisions just to ensure that a situation is a win-win for everybody. With sensitive types, we can first compliment on their commendable qualities or express gratitude for the tasks they did well before attempting to criticize them, to maintain good relations.
• Thinking ( T ): We train ourselves to be more thick-skinned, resilient and open to negative feedback, whenever they attempt to evaluate us according to what they believe is rational, fair and logical. With thinkers who easily brush off insults and criticism, we can discuss issues without needing to sugarcoat things. In fact, for many of them, the more direct, real and transparent you are, the more they'd respect your authenticity and straightforwardness.
🗂️ By understanding that a person is...
• Perceiving ( P ): We won't have to worry too much about canceling or postponing plans with perceiving types because they're typically flexible, adaptable, relaxed, easygoing and spontaneous. Seeing how most perceivers dislike feeling restricted to rigid rules, repetitive routines, and fixed schedules, if you're eager to get along with a perceiving personality type, try to minimize being overly organized, perfectionistic and strict.
• Judging ( J ): With judging (it doesn't mean "judgmental") personality types who are more comfortable with following a stable schedule, organizing, doing most things step by step, carefully planning and properly preparing, we can feel more at ease knowing we're dealing with individuals (as long as they're not sociopaths or narcissists) who'll try their best to fulfill a promise, accomplish a task and complete an assignment. While most perceiving types are likely to share mere suggestions or avoid bossing others around, many judging personality types welcome leadership roles and giving instructions. An INFP, for example, could be more successful babysitting two kids than if they were to be the head chef in a frequently crowded restaurant, and an ISFP may not enjoy working as a school supervisor just as much as an ESTJ or ENFJ would.
Awareness of your MBTI personality type and others' MBTI can
Inn-sha-Allah make it easier for you to identify who can work with you efficiently or patiently tolerate your quirks, and you become more aware of what you can do to strengthen a bond with another Muslim, including your spouse if you're married.
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📖 Abu Huraira RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "The strong believer is more beloved to Allah than the weak believer, but there is goodness in both of them. Be eager for what benefits you, seek help from Allah, and do not be frustrated. If something befalls you, then do not say: 'If only I had done something else.' Rather say: "Allah has decreed what He wills." Verily, the phrase ‘if only’ opens the way for the work of shaytan."
Source: Sahih Muslim 2664
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Muslim
https://mjustsharingislam.blogspot.com/2020/07/poem-whats-it-like-being-muslim-and-intj.html
https://mjustsharingislam.blogspot.com/2020/06/note-on-self-discovery-and-mbti.html
https://mjustsharingislam.blogspot.com/2020/06/note-more-reflections-on-mbti-typing.html
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To discover what your MBTI type is, you're welcome to take these tests:
https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test
https://www.truity.com/test/type-finder-personality-test-new
http://www.michaelcaloz.com/personality/
