THE QUR’AN: THE BLESSED BOOK
When you recite the Qur’an and contemplate its meanings, you take a positive step toward achieving happiness. Allah described the Qur’an as being guidance, light, and a cure for what is in the breasts of men. He also described it as being a Mercy.
(There has come to you a good advice from your Lord [i.e. the Qur’an, ordering all that is good and forbidding all that is evil, and a healing _for that [disease of ignorance, doubt, hypocrisy and differences, etc.] which is in your breasts…) (Quran 10: 57)
(Do they not then think deeply in the Quran, or are their hearts locked up [from understanding it]?) (Quran 47: 24)
(Do they not then consider the Quran carefully? Had it been from other than Allah, they would surely have found therein much contradiction.)
(Quran 4: 82)
([This is] a Book [the Qur’an] which We have sent down to you, full of blessings that they may ponder over its Verses) (Quran 38:29)
Reciting the Qur’an is blessed, as are acting upon it and turning to it for judgment and guidance.
A righteous person (and many have had a similar experience) once said:
“l felt that a cloud of depression and anxiety was hanging over me. I picked up the Qur’an and l read it for a period of time. Then, by Allah, the depression and anxiety disappeared and happiness along with tranquility took their place.”
(Verily, this Qur’an guides to that which is most just and right) (Qur’an 17: 9)
(And thus we have sent to you [O’ Muhammad] Rooh [an Inspiration, and a Mercy] of our Command. it (Qur’an 42: 52)
DON’T ASPIRE TO FAME, OR ELSE YOU WILL BE TAXED WITH STRESS AND WORRIES
By seeking to be the center of attention and by trying to please others, you lose both peace and stability in your life.
(That home of the Hereafter [i.e. Paradise], We shall assign to those who rebel not against the truth with pride and oppression in the land nor do mischief by committing crimes.) (Qur’an 28: 83)
A poet said:
“Whoever is satisfied in following and not leading, brings serenity to his self, And spends his nights peacefully. Verily, when the wind blows strong and violently, lt only tosses about the high part of the tree.”
(They stand with laziness and to be seen of men.) (Qur’an 4: 142)
(And those who love to be praised for what they have not done…) (Qur’an 3: 188)
(And he not like those who come out of their homes boastfully and to be seen of men…) (Qur’an 8: 47)
A poet said:
“Transparent is the gown of the one who does deeds for show, Even if he wraps it around himself he remains naked.”
THE GOOD LIFE
Everything that we discussed in previous chapters concerning happiness can be summed up in the following: Have faith in Allah, Lord of all that exists. All else that we mentioned hitherto is useless and is of no benefit unless you have faith in Allah. Believing in Allah as your Lord, in Muhammad as His Messenger and accepting Islam as your religion —- these must be your foundations.
(Whoever works righteousness, whether male or female, while he [or she] is a true believer [of islamic Monotheism] verily to him We will give a good life [in this world with respect, contentment and lawful provision], and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do [i.e. Paradise in the Hereafter].)
(Quran 16: 97)
There are two conditions to gaining a good life: faith in Allah and performing good deeds.
(Verily those who believe and work deeds of righteousness, the Most Beneficent [Allah] will bestow love for them [in the hearts of the believers].) (Quran 19: 96)
The one who believes in Allah and does good deeds derives two benefits:
A good and prosperous life in this world and in the Hereafter.
A tremendous reward from Allah, the Exalted.
(For them are glad tidings, in the life of the present world, and in the Hereafter) (Qur’an I0: 64)
BEAR TRIALS PATIENTLY
Don’t let hardships bother you excessively. The Prophet (bpuh) said:
“Verily, if Allah loves a people, He makes them go through trials. Whoever is satisfied, for him is contentment, and whoever is angry, upon him is wrath.”
WORSHIP ALLAH BY SURRENDERING YOUR WILL TO HIM
Among the necessities or elements of faith (Al-Eemaan) is to be contented with all that is decreed: both what is good and what is bad. And certainly, we shall test you with something of fear; hunger loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to the patient ones. (Qur’an 2: I55)
What is decreed for us is not always in harmony with our desires and fancies. But then, we are not in a position to give suggestions. On the contrary, our right station and position is that of a worshipper, who surrenders his will.
We are all tested according to the level of our faith. The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) said:
“The pangs of death I feel are equal to what two of your men feel.”
“The most severely tested of people are the Prophets and then the righteous ones.”
Therefore be patient [O’ Muhammad] as did the Messengers of strong will…) (Qur’an 46: 35)
lf Allah wants good for a person, He afflicts him.
(And surely; We shall try you till We test those who strive hard [for the Cause of Allah] and the patient ones, and We shall test your facts [i.e. the one who is a liar and the one who is truthful].) (Qur’an 47: 31)
(And We indeed tested those who were before them. ) (Qur’an 29: 3 )
FROM BEING A GOVERNOR TO BECOMING A CARPENTER
‘Ali ibn al-Maymoon al-Abbassi was a governor and son of the Caliph. He lived a life of opulence in a large castle. Anything he wanted in this world was easy for him.
One day, looking down from a balcony in the castle, he saw a man toiling in the fields. On succeeding days, ‘Ali paid more and more attention to the man and witnessed that he always worked straight through the morning, after which, he would take a break, make ablution from a stream, and pray two units of prayer. Only when the evening came would he quit his work and go home to his family. To learn more about him, ‘Ali invited him one day and asked him many questions. He soon learned that the worker had a wife, two sisters, and a mother that were all under his care, and it was for their sake that he toiled so assiduously. He fasted everyday and when nightfall came, he would break his fast from what he had reaped during the day. ‘Ali asked, “And do you have any cause to complain?
” He answered, “No, All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all that exists.”
So impressed was he by the simple laborer, that Ali quit the castle, resigned from his position, and traveled abroad. He was found dead years later in the vicinity of Kharasan. After leaving the castle, he worked as a carpenter, and he found happiness in his new life, happiness that was foreign to him in his former one.
(While as for those who accept guidance, He increases their guidance, and bestows on them their piety.) (Quran 47: I7)
This narrative reminds me of the story of the people of the Cave. They were in a castle with the king, yet they felt constricted, confused, and troubled. The life of opulence, for the most part, is one wherein disbelief and extravagance reign. And so they departed. One of them said:
(Then seek refuge in the Cave, your Lord will open a way for you from His Mercy and will make easy for you your affair [i.e. will give you what you will need of provision, dwelling, etc.) (Qur’an 18: 16)
MIXING WITH PEOPLE WHOSE COMPANY IS HEAVY AND DULL RUINS A PERSON’S PEACE
Books written by eminent Islamic scholars are replete with sayings that indicate an aversion to people who are referred to as being thaqeel, which means burdensome. They are a people whose company is unbearable. Imam Ahmad said that they are the people of innovation. Some have said that they are the foolish ones in society, and others have stated that they are people with coarse personalities, or that they are people of cold and colorless character.
(They are as blocks of wood propped up.) (Quran 63: 4)
(So what is wrong with these people that they fail to understand any word?) (Quran 4: 78)
Imam Ash-Shafiee said:
“When a dull person comes to sit with me, I begin to feel that the earth beneath him is sinking from the heaviness of his company.
Al-A’mash, upon seeing this kind of person, would recite:
(‘Our Lord! Remove the torment from us, really we shall become believers!) (Quran 44: 12)
Allah, the Almighty, said:
(And when you see those who engage in a false conversation about Our Verses [of the Qur’an] by mocking at them, stay away from them”.
(Quran 6: 68)
(….then sit not with them.) (Quran 4: 140)
People who are devoid of virtues, who have low aims, and who easily succumb to their desires are among the most unbearable of people to share company with.
(Then sit not with them, until they engage in a talk other than that; [but if you stayed with them] certainly in that case you would be like them.) (Qur’an 4: 140)
A poet said;
“Your company upon me is heavy, heavy, heavy, You are in appearance a man yet an elephant in the scale of bad company.”
Ibn al-Qayyim said:
“If you are forced to converse with someone who is unbearable, lend him your body and deny him your spirit, and travel away with your soul. Lend him a deaf ear and a blind eye until Allah makes a way for you to part from his company. “
(And obey not him whose heart We have made heedless of Our Remembrance, one who follows his own lusts and whose affair [deeds] has been lost.) (Quran 18: 28)
FOR THE CALAMITY-STRICKEN
In an authentic hadith, the Prophet (bpuh) related that Allah said:
“When I have taken away from someone a most beloved one [to him], and then he [patiently] expects a reward [from Me], I will compensate him with Paradise.”
In another authentic hadith, the Prophet related that Allah said:
“Whoever I have tested in his two beloved ones — meaning his eyes [by taking away his sight] —- I will compensate him for them with Paradise.”
(Verily it is not the eyes that grow blind, but it is the hearts which are in the breasts that grow blind.) (Qur’an 22: 46)
ln an authentic hadith related by Tirmidhi, the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) said:
“Verily, when Allah takes away the son of one of His believing slaves, He says to the angels: ‘Have you taken the son of my believing slave? They answer, ‘Yes. He then says, ‘You took (away) the fruit of his heart? They answer, Yes. Allah says, what did My slave say? They answer, He praised you and said: Verily, to Allah do we all belong, and to Him is our return? Allah orders them, Build for My slave a house in Paradise, and call it the house of Praise.”‘
(Only those who are patient shall receive their rewards in full, without reckoning.) (Qur’an 39: 10)
(Salaamun ‘Alaykum [peace be upon you] for that you persevered in patience!) (Qur’an 13: 24)
(Our Lord! Pour forth on us patience.) (Qur’an 2: 250)
(And endure you patiently [O’ Muhammad]; your patience is not but from Allah.) (Qur’an 16: 127)
(So be patient [O’ Muhammad]. Verily, the Promise of Allah is true.)
(Qur’an 30: 60)
The Prophet (bpuh) said:
“Verily, the greatness of reward is proportionate to the greatness of the test. And indeed, if Allah loves a people, He tests them. Whoever is contented, for him is pleasure, and whoever is angry, upon him is wrath.”
Patience, preordainment, and reward from Allah are important issues to be considered when calamity strikes. And we should know that the One Who took away is the One Who gave in the first place.
(Verily! Allah commands that you should render back the trusts to those, to whom they are due.) (Qur’an 4: 58)
A poet said:
“Wealth and family are only loans for a period, And the day must come when a loan is returned.”
THE POSITIVE EFFECTS OF HAVING TRUE MONOTHEISTIC FAITH IN ALLAH
Only when you are the victim of some wrongdoing do certain positive effects of Islamic Monotheism become manifest in your life. When others hurt you, remember that having faith in Allah, the Exalted, will help you in many ways:
By having a strong faith in Allah, you will forgive the one who transgresses against you. Better yet is to have good wishes for that same person. And the highest and best level — higher than simply forgiving him or simply wishing him well— is to benefit or help him in some way. The first stage of forgiveness is to repress your anger, which means that you don’t reciprocate injury with injury. Then comes actual forgiveness, which means to pardon and to discard any feelings of ill will. And then finally comes doing good, or in other words, to recompense the harm that was acted out on you with a good deed or a show of kindness.
(Those who repress anger and who pardon men; verily Allah loves the good-doers.) (Quran 3: 134)
)But whoever forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is due from Allah.) (Quran 42: 40)
(Let them pardon and forgive.) (Quran 24: 22)
And it is reported that the Prophet (bpuh) said:
“Verily, Allah has ordered me to join (seek to make relations amicable) with the one who has cut me off, to forgive the one who wronged me, and to give to the one who refused me.”
You will develop a stronger faith in preordainment. In other words, you will realize that the person who injured you only did so based on Allah’s preordainment and decree.
People are only means, but the One Who decrees and decides is Allah, so surrender your will to Him.
You will realize that the harm that was perpetrated against you was atonement for your sins and can result in an increase in ranking with Allah.
(So those who emigrated and were driven out from their homes, and suffered harm in My Cause, and who fought, and were killed [in My Cause], verily, i will remit from them their evil deeds…) (Qur’an 3: 195)
The believers are able to perceive that putting out the fire of enmity is a wise course to follow in life:
(Repel (the evil) with one which is better [i.e. Allah ordered the A faithful believers to be patient at the time of anger and to excuse those who treat them badly], then verily! He, between whom and you there was enmity, [will become] as though he was a close Friend.) (Qur’an 41: 34)
“The Muslim is he from whose tongue and hand other Muslims are safe.”
The meaning of the previous verse is that you should repay the one who harms you with a pleasant face and gentle words. Thus you will be able to extinguish the fire of hatred from his heart.
(And say to my slaves [i.e. the true believers of islamic Monotheism] that they should [only] say those words that are the best. [Because] Satan verily sows disagreements among them.) (Qur’an 17: 53)
You will come to know your shortcomings. Or in other words, you will be aware of the fact that a person was afforded the opportunity to harm you because of your own sins.
([What is the matter with you?] When a single disaster smites you, although you smote [your enemies] with one twice as great, you say:
‘From where does this come to us? ‘ Say [to them], ‘lt is from yourselves [because of your evil deeds].) (Qur’an 3: 165)
(And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned.) (Qur’an 42: 30)
When you are wronged, praise and thank Allah for making you the oppressed one and not the oppressor. Some of our pious predecessors used to say:
“O’ Allah, make me to be the oppressed one and not the oppressor. “
This tone is similar to that of the worthier of Adam’s two sons when he said to the other:
(lf you do stretch your hand against me to kill me, I shall never stretch my hand against you to kill you, for l fear Allah; the Lord of the Aalameen [mankind, jinns, and all that exists].) (Qur’an 5: 28)
You should show mercy to the one who hurt you. He is deserving of your pity and mercy. His persistence in doing bad and in openly challenging Allah’s commandment of not hurting a Muslim makes him a worthy recipient of your gentleness and mercy. Perhaps you can save him from his downfall. The Prophet (bpuh) said:
“Help your brother, whether he is an oppressor or he is oppressed. “
When Mistah harmed Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) by tainting his and his daughter ‘Aa’ishah’s honour, Abu Bakr vowed to cut off any further support for him. Prior to that, Abu Bakr would spend on Mistah and support him because he was poor.
Forthwith, Allah sent down this verse:
(And let not those among you who are blessed with graces and wealth swear not to give [any sort of help] to their kinsmen, Al-Masaakeen [the poor], and those who left their homes for Allah s Cause. Let them pardon and forgive. Do you not love that Allah should forgive you?) (Qur’an 24: 22)
Abu Bakr said, “Yes, I do love that Allah should forgive me.”
He then resumed spending on Mistah, and he also forgave him.
‘Uyainah ibn Hasan said to ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), “O’ ‘Umar, what is this? By Allah. you don’t give us generously and you don’t judge justly between us.” ‘Umar moved towards him when Al-Hurr ibn Qays said, “O’ leader of the faithful,
Allah says:
Show forgiveness, enjoin what is good, and turn away from the foolish [i.e. don’t punish them]. (Quran 7: I99)”
Al-Hurr later said:
“By Allah, ‘Umar did not go beyond the bounds of this verse. And he always stopped (without transgressing the limits set by Allah) and followed what is in the Book of Allah.”
Prophet Yusuf (Joseph) said to his brothers:
(‘No reproach on you this day, may Allah forgive you, and He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy) (Qur’an 12: l 92)
When the Messenger of Allah (bpuh) returned to Makkah victorious, he saw the faces of those that hull him, expelled him, and then waged war on him from the disbelievers of Quraysh. He announced to them:
“Go forth, for you are the freed ones.”
He said in another hadith:
“The strong one is not he who is strong in combat. Verily, the strong one is he who controls himself when he is angry.”
A poet said:
“lf you are in the company of a loving people, Treat them with the softness of a loving relative, And don’t take people to account for all of their mistakes, So as not to stay companionless throughout your life.”
Some have said that in the lnjeel (Gospel), it is written:
“Forgive seven times the one who wronged you once.”
This means that when someone wrongs you one time, repeat your forgiveness of him seven times in order to keep your religion safe and your heart clean. Desiring revenge will only subtract from your nerves, sleep, stability, and peace, while taking nothing away from others.
(But whoever forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is due from Allah.) (Qur’an 42: 40)
The Indians say in one of their proverbs:
“The one who overcomes his own self is more brave than the one who conquers a city.”
(Verily, the [human] self is inclined to evil…) (Qur’an 12: 53)
TAKE CARE OF YOUR OUTSIDE AS WELL AS OF YOUR INSIDE
A person who has a pure soul cares about wearing clean clothes. Some wise people have even said:
` “When one’s garment becomes soiled, his soul will follow suit.”
The root of vexation for many people is in being neither neat nor organized nor punctual; for others, it is in having bad hygiene, dirty clothes, or a sloppy appearance.
The universe is based on order. In fact, to truly understand the depth and wisdom of our religion, one should appreciate that it came to organize our lives in both small and large matters. Everything with Allah is according to a measure. Tirmidhi related the following hadith:
“Verily, Allah is beautiful and He loves beauty.”
Imam Bukhari related the following hadith in his Saheeh:
“It is a right (incumbent) upon a Muslim to take a shower at least one day out of every seven. In it, he washes his head and his body.”
This is the least that can be expected. Some of our pious predecessors would take a shower once a day, as has been transmitted to us about ‘Uthmaan ibn ‘Affaan (may Allah be pleased with him).
(This is a spring of water to wash in, cool and a [refreshing] drink.)
(Quran 38: 42)
Growing a beard, trimming ones moustache, cutting one’s nails, brushing one’s teeth, using perfume, washing one’s clothes, and generally taking care of one’s outward appearance — these are all acts that are intrinsic to man. Performing these acts of hygiene makes one feel comfortable and good. It is also recommended to wear white, for the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) said,
“Wear white and use it as a shroud for your dead.”
You should organize your appointments in a small journal or notebook, allocating time to read, to worship, to exercise, and so on.
([For] each and every matter there is a Decree [from Allah].)
(Quran 13: 38)
And there is not a thing, but with us are the stores thereof And We send it not down except in a known measure. (Quran 15: 21)
In the library of congress hangs a large placard and written on it are the words, “The Universe is Based on Order”. This is true, for the divinely revealed Religion calls for order, organization, and harmony in action.
Allah informed us that the affairs of the universe are not based on play and frivolity, but are by preordainment, decree, measurement, and organization.
)The sun and the moon run on their fixed courses (exactly) calculated with measured out stages for each [for reckoning, etc. ].) (Quran 55: 5)
(It is not for the sun to overtake the moon, nor does the night outstrip the day. They all float, each in an orbit) (Quran 36: 40)
(And the moon, we have measured for it mansions [to traverse] till it returns like the old dried curved date stalk.) (Qur’an 36: 39)
(And We have appointed the night and the day as two Aayaat [signs etc. ]. Then, we have made dark the sign of the night while We have made the sign of day illuminating, that you may seek bounty from your Lord, and that you may know the number of the years and the reckoning. And We have explained everything [in detail with full explanation)
(Qur’an 17: 12)
(‘Our Lord! You have not created (all) this without purpose, glory be to you!) (Qur’an 3: 191)
(We created not the heavens and the earth and all that is between them for a [mere] play. Had we intended to take a pastime [i.e. a wife or a son, etc.], we could surely have taken it from us, if we were going to do (that) (Qur’an 21: 16-17)
(And Say [O’ Muhammad]: ‘Do Deeds!) (Qur’an 9: 105)
When a mentally sick patient would be brought to the sages of Greece for treatment, they would force him to work in farming and in gardens. Only a short time would pass before he would return to health.
Tradesmen who work with their hands are, as a class, more happy, easygoing, and calm than others. If you observe laborers, you will notice strength of body and peace of mind. Both of these are consequences of a satisfaction that comes with movement, exercise, and work.
“And I seek refuge in You (Allah) from incapability and laziness. “
Source: Islam Basics By Aaidh ibn Abdullah Al-Qarnee
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