28. PLEASURES ARE MIXED WITH DISTURBANCES
Whoever carefully examines life will come to realise it holds no pleasure; and if a pleasure was found, it is mixed with disturbances that exceed the pleasure manifold.
Such pleasures include women, one of whom may live with the husband, but in reality not love the husband. This realization makes him abstain from her and lead to her betrayal of him, causing ruin.
If one being desired was attained, the thought of separation causes pain exceeding the amount of pleasure.
Pleasures include children, yet he suffers if he is granted a daughter— until she is married— and what she may face from her husband or fearing scandalous ordeals.
As for the son, if he experienced sickness, the heart is torn apart; and if he deviated from righteousness, grief increases. If he becomes an enemy, he desires the father’s perishing. Even if the desire was attained, the thought of separation causes pain to the heart.
If a lecherous [one who is showing excessive sexual desire] was to want a rebellious woman, his honour and religiosity would be compounded in this life. This would lead to a change in his own desirability’ as he will be tainted by previous dishonour and sin.
How often did a man’s desire overcome him that led to intercourse with a slave woman, who delivered a baby leading to the child’s disgrace?
Pleasures also include enjoying wealth, for sins are committed in pursuit of it. Losing it yields sorrow and wasting one’s life to accumulate it is folly.
These are examples of what has not been stated, so whoever is helped by Allah Almighty must take necessary precaution leading to the soundness of faith, body and health. Leave the whims (shahwa) whose distress surpasses its pleasure.
The pleasure of idleness results in lack of knowledge and scarcity of deeds, again the sorrow surpassing the pleasure multiple times.
Beware of being overcome by short-term whims. Whenever your whim intends to return, block it and weigh its short-term pleasure against the long-term consequences.
“And none will remember except those of understanding.” [al-Baqarah (2): 269]
(Source: al-Hafiz Abu’l-Faraj ibn al-jawzl [d. 597AH] “CAPTURED THOUGHTS being” a translation of his masterpiece ‘Sayd al-K hatir)
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