Shaikh Subhan Madni, Author at Rahat-lil-Qalb https://www.rahatlilqalb.com/author/subhanmadni/ Happiness. Contentment. Tranquility. Mon, 18 Nov 2024 09:36:44 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://www.rahatlilqalb.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Rahat-lil-qalb-favicon-150x150.jpg Shaikh Subhan Madni, Author at Rahat-lil-Qalb https://www.rahatlilqalb.com/author/subhanmadni/ 32 32 Sabr: The path to inner peace in Islam https://www.rahatlilqalb.com/sabr-the-path-to-inner-peace-in-islam/ Sat, 27 Jul 2024 14:17:54 +0000 https://www.rahatlilqalb.com/?p=1134 Introduction: Life is full of ups and downs, and sometimes it feels like the challenges just keep coming. For Muslims, these tough times are not just random events but tests from Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) meant to make us stronger and more resilient. Each hardship and trial is a purposeful part of […]

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Introduction:

Life is full of ups and downs, and sometimes it feels like the challenges just keep coming. For Muslims, these tough times are not just random events but tests from Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) meant to make us stronger and more resilient. Each hardship and trial is a purposeful part of our spiritual journey, designed to help us grow in faith and character. One of the greatest tools we have to get through these moments is Sabr (patience). Rooted in the teachings of the Quran and Hadith, Sabr helps us stay calm and focused, even when things get tough. It teaches us to trust in Allah’s wisdom and timing, encouraging us to persevere with a positive and hopeful mindset. By learning to implement Sabr in our lives, we can find a sense of peace and calm that stays with us, no matter what life throws our way. This inner tranquility is a testament to our faith and reliance on Allah, guiding us through life’s storms with grace and strength.

Sabr

Brothers and sisters remember as well that this whole life according to our religion of Islam, is a life of test and trials and as such, every one of us will certainly be tested and tried, in different ways. 

Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) says in the Glorious Qur’an:

اِنَّـمَآ اَمْوَالُكُمْ وَاَوْلَادُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ ۭ وَاللّٰهُ عِنْدَهٗ  ٓ اَجْرٌ عَظِيْـمٌ

Your wealth and children are only a test, but Allah alone has a great reward. 

(Surah At-Taghabun, Ayah 15)

اِنَّ فِيْ ذٰلِكَ لَاٰيٰتٍ وَّاِنْ كُنَّا لَمُبْتَلِيْنَ

Surely in this are lessons. And We always put people to the test. 

(Surah Al-Mu’minun, Ayah 30)

Allah also says,

اَحَسِبَ النَّاسُ اَنْ يُّتْرَكُوْٓا اَنْ يَّقُوْلُوْٓا اٰمَنَّا وَهُمْ لَا يُفْتَنُوْنَ

Do people think once they say, “We believe,” that they will be left without being put to the test? 

(Surah Al- ‘Ankabut, Ayah 2)

In Surah Al Baqarah, Ayah 155-157, Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) says

وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ بِشَيْءٍ مِّنَ الْخَوْفِ وَالْجُوْعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ الْاَمْوَالِ وَالْاَنْفُسِ وَالثَّمَرٰتِ ۭ وَبَشِّرِ الصّٰبِرِيْنَ
الَّذِيْنَ اِذَآ اَصَابَتْهُمْ مُّصِيْبَةٌ ۙ قَالُوْٓا اِنَّا لِلّٰهِ وَاِنَّآ اِلَيْهِ رٰجِعُوْنَ
اُولٰۗىِٕكَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَلَوٰتٌ مِّنْ رَّبِّهِمْ وَرَحْمَةٌ ۣ وَاُولٰۗىِٕكَ ھُمُ الْمُهْتَدُوْنَ

We will certainly test you with a touch of fear and famine and loss of property, life, and crops. Give good news to those who patiently endure— who say, when struck by a disaster, “Surely to Allah we belong and to Him we will all return.” They are the ones who will receive Allah’s blessings and mercy. And it is they who are rightly guided.

When we deem into these above mentioned verses from the Glorious Qur’an, we realize that everything we have in this world is just a part of a test that Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) has made compulsory for us to go through. Merely exclaiming that we believe in Allah is not enough. We all will indeed be tested with everything and anything that we have in this world. Our wealth, our children, our parents, everything is a form of test for us. But we all must always remember that when Allah creates a lock, He creates a key for that lock as well. In Surah Al- Baqarah when Allah informs us that He will test us with fear, famine, loss or gain of property, life and crops, He even speaks about the ones who are patient over these tests. He apprises and enlightens us that the ones who go through these tests patiently are the ones who will receive Allah’s blessings and mercy and they are the ones who are rightfully guided. Therefore, a core and a major mechanism to overcome and be victorious in these tests and trials is Sabr. And that is why Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) says in the Glorious Qur’an:

 وَاسْتَعِيْنُوْا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلٰوةِ ۭ وَاِنَّهَا لَكَبِيْرَةٌ اِلَّا عَلَي الْـخٰشِعِيْنَ

And seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, it is a burden except for the humble.

(Surah Al- Baqarah, Ayah 45)

Life is indeed difficult and we all need help. Facing these trials and problems without seeking the help of Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) is impracticable. Hence, here in this ayah Allah mentions Sabr (patience) and Salaah (prayer) being the path to receive help from Allah.

Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا حَزَبَهُ أَمْرٌ صَلَّى

“If the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was distressed about anything, he would offer Salaah”.

(Sunan Abu Dawood, Book of Prayer, Hadith 1319)

Whenever our beloved Prophet ﷺ was troubled with anything, whenever something bothered him, he would rush to stand in Salaah. Salaah would make him calm, Salaah would make him conquer those problems, those fears, those frustrations. As such, patience and Salaah are the two things that Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) has ordained us to seek help in.


Allah says in the Glorious Qur’an:

فَاصْبِرْ صَبْرًا جَـمِيْلًا

So be patient (O Muhammad ﷺ), with a beautiful patience.

(Surah Al- Ma’arij, Ayah 5)

In this beautiful verse from the Glorious Qur’an, Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) tells His Prophet ﷺ to be patient with a beautiful patience. From this verse we need to consider the fact that patience has levels and the highest level is a beautiful patience. A beautiful patience is the one when people don’t even realize that we are being patient. Nobody other than Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) knows that we are being patient. This, my dear brothers and sisters is the perfect and the highest level of patience. Nobody can see that we are frustrated, nobody can see that we are agitated, nobody can see that we are angry. We have mastered it so much that only Allah knows about it. 

But, how does one achieve patience? Well, there is no easy way, there is no magic trick to pull off this beautiful patience. But the main mechanism of achieving this patience is to want Patience from Allah (may He be glorified and exalted), to be eager to be patient, to be greedy to be blessed with patience.

In a very beautiful hadith recorded by Imam Bukhari in his Saheeh, our Prophet ﷺ tells us about being satisfied with what we have and having patience. He tells us about the ones upon whom patience is bestowed and the ones whom Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) will make self-sufficient.

أَنَّ أَبَا سَعِيدٍ، أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ أُنَاسًا مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ سَأَلُوا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلَمْ يَسْأَلْهُ أَحَدٌ مِنْهُمْ إِلاَّ أَعْطَاهُ حَتَّى نَفِدَ مَا عِنْدَهُ فَقَالَ لَهُمْ حِينَ نَفِدَ كُلُّ شَىْءٍ أَنْفَقَ بِيَدَيْهِ ‏ “‏ مَا يَكُنْ عِنْدِي مِنْ خَيْرٍ لاَ أَدَّخِرْهُ عَنْكُمْ، وَإِنَّهُ مَنْ يَسْتَعِفَّ يُعِفُّهُ اللَّهُ، وَمَنْ يَتَصَبَّرْ يُصَبِّرْهُ اللَّهُ، وَمَنْ يَسْتَغْنِ يُغْنِهِ اللَّهُ، وَلَنْ تُعْطَوْا عَطَاءً خَيْرًا وَأَوْسَعَ مِنَ الصَّبْرِ ‏”‏‏.

Narrated Abu Sa`id: Some people from the Ansar asked Allah’s Messenger ﷺ (to give them something) and he gave to every one of them, who asked him, until all that he had was finished. When everything was finished and he had spent all that was in his hand, he said to them, ‘”(Know) that if I have any wealth, I will not withhold it from you (to keep for somebody else); And (know) that he who refrains from begging others (or doing prohibited deeds), Allah will make him contented and not in need of others; and he who remains patient, Allah will bestow patience upon him, and he who is satisfied with what he has, Allah will make him self-sufficient. And there is no gift better and vast (you may be given) than patience.” 

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Softening of Heart, Hadith 6470)

What a substantial hadith. Simple yet profound. Whoever actively desires to be patient, Allah will give him the patience he requires. It’s a hadith of utmost importance and I want us all to memorize this hadith so that we are prepared for when a calamity strikes us. There is no mechanism to acquire patience, other than wanting to be patient. Whoever wants Sabr, Allah will bestow the Sabr that he or she wants and requires. But in order to receive Sabr, we must demonstrate our willingness to Allah and we need to have that desire. We need to make sure and realize that patience comes from Allah. We need to believe in As-Saboor. We need to make dua to As-Saboor. We need to ask Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) for that patience and realize that Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) loves us and cares about us. We have to understand that whatever happens, happens for the best, even if we don’t understand it.

There is no greater remedy other than patience and fearing Allah, and thinking positively of Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, putting one’s trust in Him, delegating one’s affairs to Him and turning to Him in all times of calamity. 

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allah have mercy on him) says,
“Many people, when they see evil or when the Muslim ummah goes through a lot of trouble, panic, lose hope and start complaining as people who are beset by calamities do. But this is forbidden; rather what is enjoined is to be patient, to put one’s trust in Allah, to be steadfast in adhering to the religion of Islam and to believe that Allah is with those who fear Him and those who do good, and that the best end is for those who fear Him; whatever befalls him is because of his sins, so he should be patient, for the promise of Allah is true; he should seek forgiveness for his sins and glorify and praise his Lord morning and evening.”

(Majmoo’al-Fataawa, 18:295)


Let us all try to master this beautiful concept; because in reality Eemaan (faith) and Sabr (patience) are linked together. The one who has Eemaan has Sabr and the one who has no Sabr has not perfected his/her Eemaan. Let’s replace ingratitude with thankfulness and exchange resentment with beautiful patience because patience is the most beautiful strength that we can gift ourselves.

Conclusion:

At its core, Sabr is about more than just waiting for things to get better—it’s about trusting in Allah’s plan and staying strong in our faith. When we practice patience, we’re showing our reliance on Allah and our willingness to accept His will. This act of faith not only helps us get through difficult times but also brings a deeper sense of peace and contentment to our hearts. By practising Sabr in our daily lives, we open ourselves up to Allah’s blessings and mercy. Embracing patience allows us to navigate life’s challenges with grace and dignity, fostering resilience and inner strength. Let’s strive to be patient and steadfast, knowing that through this beautiful virtue, we can find true peace at heart. With sabr, we are better equipped to face any trial, secure in the knowledge that Allah’s wisdom and compassion are guiding us every step of the way.

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]]> Faith/Trust in Allah: The key to lasting peace https://www.rahatlilqalb.com/faith-trust-in-allah-the-key-to-lasting-peace/ Wed, 17 Jul 2024 14:09:16 +0000 https://www.rahatlilqalb.com/?p=1129 Introduction Faith in Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) is like a lifeline that keeps us steady, especially when life gets tough. It’s more than just a belief—it’s a deep, trusting relationship with Allah that fills our hearts with a sense of security and peace. The Quran reminds us that real peace comes from […]

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Introduction

Faith in Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) is like a lifeline that keeps us steady, especially when life gets tough. It’s more than just a belief—it’s a deep, trusting relationship with Allah that fills our hearts with a sense of security and peace. The Quran reminds us that real peace comes from this kind of faith, where we fully trust in Allah’s power, wisdom, and mercy. With this faith, we start to see life’s challenges differently—not just as difficulties, but as chances to grow spiritually and get closer to Allah. When we embrace this kind of faith, we find comfort in knowing that we’re always under Allah’s care, and no matter what we go through, we’re never truly alone.

Faith/Trust in Allah

Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) says in the Glorious Qur’an:

اَلَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا وَلَمْ يَلْبِسُوْٓا اِيْـمَانَهُمْ بِظُلْمٍ اُولٰۗىِٕكَ لَهُمُ الْاَمْنُ وَهُمْ مُّهْتَدُوْنَ

Those who believe and do not taint their faith with wrongdoings will feel more secure and will be better guided.

(Surah Al- An’am, Ayah 82)

Having strong faith in Allah and knowing His ability to rescue His believing servants, will surely bring our hearts at ease. When we settle in our minds that we are under constant assistance of the Most Powerful, then we shall discern the inner peace and the sense of contentment. Faith acts as a shield, protecting us from the anxieties and uncertainties that often plague our hearts. It reminds us that no matter how daunting our circumstances may appear, we are never truly alone. We have the Creator of the heavens and the earth by our side, guiding and supporting us through every trial.

Let us take a look at the story of Musa عليه السلام and the Bani Israel (Children of Israel) when they were approached by the powerful army of Firaun (Pharaoh). The Bani Israel felt that it was their end, however, Musa عليه السلام had strong faith in Allah.

Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) says in the Glorious Qur’an:

اَلَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا وَلَمْ يَلْبِسُوْٓا اِيْـمَانَهُمْ بِظُلْمٍ اُولٰۗىِٕكَ لَهُمُ الْاَمْنُ وَهُمْ مُّهْتَدُوْنَ

Those who believe and do not taint their faith with wrongdoings will feel more secure and will be better guided.

(Surah Al- An’am, Ayah 82)

Having strong faith in Allah and knowing His ability to rescue His believing servants, will surely bring our hearts at ease. When we settle in our minds that we are under constant assistance of the Most Powerful, then we shall discern the inner peace and the sense of contentment. Faith acts as a shield, protecting us from the anxieties and uncertainties that often plague our hearts. It reminds us that no matter how daunting our circumstances may appear, we are never truly alone. We have the Creator of the heavens and the earth by our side, guiding and supporting us through every trial.

Let us take a look at the story of Musa عليه السلام and the Bani Israel (Children of Israel) when they were approached by the powerful army of Firaun (Pharaoh). The Bani Israel felt that it was their end, however, Musa عليه السلام had strong faith in Allah.

Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) says in the Glorious Qur’an:

فَلَمَّا تَرَاۗءَ الْجَمْعٰنِ قَالَ اَصْـحٰبُ مُوْسٰٓي اِنَّا لَمُدْرَكُوْنَ
 قَالَ كَلَّا ۚ اِنَّ مَعِيَ رَبِّيْ سَيَهْدِيْنِ
 فَاَوْحَيْنَآ اِلٰى مُوْسٰٓي اَنِ اضْرِبْ بِّعَصَاكَ الْبَحْرَ ۭ فَانْفَلَقَ فَكَانَ كُلُّ فِرْقٍ كَالطَّوْدِ الْعَظِيْمِ

And when the two companies saw one another, the companions of Musa said, “Indeed, we are to be overtaken!” [Musa] said, “No! Indeed, with me is my Lord; He will guide me.” Then We inspired to Musa, “Strike with your staff the sea,” and it parted, and each portion was like a great towering mountain. 

(Surah Al- Shu’ara, Ayah 61-63)

This profound event teaches us that when we place our trust in Allah, He provides us with guidance and opens pathways that we never imagined. The sea that once appeared as an insurmountable barrier became a clear path to safety for the believers, demonstrating that no situation is too difficult for Allah to resolve.

At any difficult moment, that incapacitates our abilities to find our way out, we must remember that we have Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) with us, who is not incapable or unable or stoppable by any force. We need to be duty-bound to direct our thought and our hopes to Him, and say “Indeed, with me is my Lord; He will guide me.” Or “Indeed, Lord is with me/us.”

As our faith increases, so will our inner peace. Without having faith in Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) and commitments to do deeds that uplift our faith, any perceived inner peace shall be delusional and unsustainable. Without faith in Him, surely, we will be crawling on a losing path.

Faith is not merely a spiritual comfort; it is the foundation upon which true peace is built. It gives us the strength to face adversity with courage, knowing that our lives are in the hands of the One who is most merciful and just.

Let us take a look at the story of Musa عليه السلام and the Bani Israel (Children of Israel) when they were approached by the powerful army of Firaun (Pharaoh). The Bani Israel felt that it was their end, however, Musa عليه السلام had strong faith in Allah.

Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) says in the Glorious Qur’an:

قُلْ مَنْ يُّنَجِّيْكُمْ مِّنْ ظُلُمٰتِ الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ تَدْعُوْنَهٗ تَضَرُّعًا وَّخُفْيَةً ۚ لَىِٕنْ اَنْـجٰىنَا مِنْ هٰذِهٖ لَنَكُوْنَنَّ مِنَ الشّٰكِرِيْنَ
قُلِ اللّٰهُ يُنَجِّيْكُمْ مِّنْهَا وَمِنْ كُلِّ كَرْبٍ ثُـمَّ اَنْتُمْ تُشْرِكُوْنَ

Say, (O Prophet), “Who rescues you from the darkest times on land and at sea? He alone you call upon with humility, openly and secretly: “If You rescue us from this, we will be ever grateful.” Say, “Only Allah rescues you from this and from every distress, yet you associate others with Him in worship.” 

(Surah Al-An’am, Ayah 63-64)

For sure, Allah is the only one who can cure us from every distress. He is the only one who can bring about peace and contentment to our hearts and He is our best hope and our best savior. In every breath, in every moment of our lives, we must strive to strengthen our faith, for it is through faith that we find the true essence of peace and the courage to face the world with hope and resilience.

Conclusion:

Strong faith in Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) is the key to navigating life’s difficulties with grace and confidence. When we truly believe that Allah is with us, guiding us through every challenge, our hearts are filled with a deep and lasting peace. This faith empowers us to face adversity with patience and trust, knowing that Allah’s wisdom is beyond our understanding and that He will always provide a way out. By anchoring ourselves in this unwavering faith, we can find true contentment and serenity, knowing that our ultimate refuge and salvation lies with Allah alone. Let us strengthen our faith and live with the assurance that, with Allah by our side, we can overcome any obstacle and experience the profound peace that only He can provide.

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]]> Heartfelt peace through love of Allah https://www.rahatlilqalb.com/heartfelt-peace-through-love-of-allah/ Sun, 07 Jul 2024 11:48:51 +0000 https://www.rahatlilqalb.com/?p=1073 In a world filled with distractions and fleeting pleasures, many find themselves searching for a deeper sense of fulfillment and peace. While material success and worldly desires may provide temporary satisfaction, true and lasting peace can only be found in the love for Allah (may He be glorified and exalted). This profound love transcends the […]

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In a world filled with distractions and fleeting pleasures, many find themselves searching for a deeper sense of fulfillment and peace. While material success and worldly desires may provide temporary satisfaction, true and lasting peace can only be found in the love for Allah (may He be glorified and exalted). This profound love transcends the superficial and connects us to our Creator in a way that fills our hearts with genuine tranquility and contentment. Through understanding and embracing the love for Allah, we can attain the ultimate peace at heart that we all seek.

Love of Allah

The most gratifying human emotion is love and the most beautiful and perfect semblance of love is to love Allah (may He be glorified and exalted). We stay away from sin because we fear Allah and we fear the punishment of Hellfire, but we worship Allah and do good deeds and draw ourselves closer to Allah because we love Allah and we hope for Paradise. This Love, between the worshiper and the Creator is fulfilling and it fills our hearts, especially when we know that Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) loves us. To love Allah is more than simply pronouncing our love for Allah; it is acting upon this love by obeying Him, worshiping Him, liking what He likes, and disliking what He dislikes.

The Most Glorious name of our creator is ‘ALLAH’ and this is the primary name of Allah (may He be glorified and exalted). The name ‘ALLAH’ comes from the root word ‘Al-ILAH’, the one and only who is worthy to be worshipped. This name is mentioned throughout the Qur’an and Allah uses the term ‘ALLAH’ to remind us that The One that created us, The One that sustains us, The One that we call upon, is the only One that is worthy of our worship. The Lord that we talk about ‘Allah’, He is Allah because He possesses every beautiful names and attributes.

Allah is Al-Wadud, The Loving and The Beloved. No matter how much Love you have in this Life, from your friends, from your spouses, from your parents, from everyone else in this world, you will always have a void in your heart that can only be fulfilled with the love of Allah. And this is what, Shaykh Ibn-al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) mentions. He says: 

“Indeed in the heart there is a void that can only be fulfilled with the Love of Allah”.

A lot of us don’t realize this, and we imbue and fill up the void in our hearts with the desires of this world. Whether it be through wealth, through women, or through everything and anything else. We try to fulfill it through desires, but as these worldly desires are fulfilled we notice that we become more empty and the void space magnifies itself. Going against worldly desires and preventing ourselves from over indulging in worldly desires help us to live a healthy and a balanced life. This controlled nature will keep us in constant awareness of the transient nature of this world. For example, saving up money is good but greed and miserliness is frowned down upon. While there is nothing wrong with enjoying a delicious meal, gluttony and overeating is discouraged in Islam. Thus, fulfilling this void space in our heart with each and every single worldly desires won’t be fruitful because that portion of our heart was created for the love of Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) alone. Shaykh Ibn-al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) gives a beautiful example where he goes onto exclaiming that the love of Allah in the heart of the believer is like a tree, the roots are the fear of Allah, the trunk is the humility for the sake of Allah, the leaves are modesty for Allah, and the fruits that it bears is the obedience to Allah. Thus, we can see that our whole relationship with Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) revolves around Love and this is why Shaykh Ibn-al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) gives his other famous parable and says that our journey of worship towards Allah is like that of a bird whose head is love and its two wings are fear and hope.

Now, what is a bird without a head? Is it going to survive? Will it be able to fly without navigating itself despite of having the wings?

Similarly, if our journey to Allah does not begin with love then our journey will not progress and that is why we all must constantly remind ourselves that Allah loves us and He wants us to love Him as well. He is Al-Wadud, one of the most unique names of Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) where not only is Allah the subject but He is the object as well. When we say that Allah is Al-Rahman, He is the one who shows mercy but not the one to whom mercy is shown upon. When we say that Allah is Al-Ghaffar and Al-Ghafoor, He is the forgiver but He is not the one who needs forgiveness. But when it comes to Al-Wadud not only He is loving, but He is the beloved as well. 

Learning the Names and Attributes of Allah will increase our love towards Allah. This Love of Allah can only be attained by knowing Him. This love emanates from loving Allah for what He is. Each of the names and attributes of Allah, and each of the meanings and concepts that they refer to, dictate that He must be loved with the utmost love; this also includes all His deeds, because every blessing from Him is due to His generosity and every punishment is due to His justice. Therefore, He deserves to be praised in all situations, and He deserves to be praised at times of ease and of hardship. This is the most sublime and the most perfect type of love, and this is the love of the elite. This Love paves the way for His Glorification. Knowing Him, Loving Him and Glorifying Him, all three are directly proportional to each other. It means that, we cannot Glorify Him until and unless we Love Him and we cannot Love Him until and unless we Know Him. That is why Allah says in the glorious Qur’an:

فَاعْلَمْ اَنَّهٗ لَآ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَاسْتَغْفِرْ لِذَنْۢبِكَ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ وَالْمُؤْمِنٰتِ ۭ وَاللّٰهُ يَعْلَمُ مُتَقَلَّبَكُمْ وَمَثْوٰىكُمْ

So know (O Muhammad ﷺ) that, Laa ilaaha illallaah (None has the right to be worshipped but Allah), and ask forgiveness for your sin, and also for (the sin of) believing men and believing women. And Allah knows well your moving about, and your place of rest (in your homes).

(Surah Muhammad, Ayah 19)

Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) orders His beloved Prophet ﷺ to first know who Allah is and then ask for forgiveness. When we start knowing Him, start to realize His blessings and bounties upon us, we shall automatically start loving Him as He should be loved. 

Now, let us take a peek into the matters of glorifying Allah (may He be glorified and exalted). To glorify Allah means to acknowledge His greatness. It involves praising Him and submitting our will, willingly, to His will. What we know is that there is not a tree except that it glorifies Allah, not a bird except that it glorifies Allah, not any one of Allah’s creation except that it is glorifying Him, except that we do not understand their glorification. Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) says in the Glorious Qur’an:

تُـسَبِّحُ لَهُ السَّمٰوٰتُ السَّـبْعُ وَالْاَرْضُ وَمَنْ فِيْهِنَّ ۭ وَاِنْ مِّنْ شَيْءٍ اِلَّايُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِهٖ وَلٰكِنْ لَّا تَفْقَهُوْنَ تَسْبِيْحَهُمْ ۭ اِنَّهٗ كَانَ حَلِــيْمًا غَفُوْرًا

“The seven heavens and the earth and all that is therein, glorify Him and there is not a thing but glorifies His Praise. But you understand not their glorification. Truly, He is Ever Forbearing, Oft-Forgiving.”

(Surah Al-Isra, Ayah 44)

And the Prophet ﷺ says:

إِنِّي أَرَى مَا لاَ تَرَوْنَ وَأَسْمَعُ مَا لاَ تَسْمَعُونَ إِنَّ السَّمَاءَ أَطَّتْ وَحُقَّ لَهَا أَنْ تَئِطَّ مَا فِيهَا مَوْضِعُ أَرْبَعِ أَصَابِعَ إِلاَّ وَمَلَكٌ وَاضِعٌ جَبْهَتَهُ سَاجِدًا لِلَّهِ 

“I see what you do not see, and I hear what you do not hear. The heaven is creaking and it should creak, for there is no space in it the width of four fingers but there is an angel there, prostrating to Allah.

(Sunan Ibn Majah, Book of Zuhd, Hadith 4190)

Far beyond our understanding and contemplation. Isn’t it? The skies shake and creak and they have the right to shake and creak because there is not a distance of four fingers, except that an Angel is making ruqooh, an Angel is making sujood, and Angel is making Qiyaam to Allah. And this will continue till the day of judgement.

Every single creation of Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) is showing their love by glorifying Him because this is the love that Allah has created for Himself.

Now, a question arises, where is our love for Allah?

It is a normal condition for us all to experience highs and lows when it comes to the level of our worship. There are times when we feel that the love for Allah is alive and is present in our hearts and we take delight in our rituals of worship and calling upon Allah. But, there are times when we feel that the love for Allah has become subtle, and we may feel a break away from Allah and less motivated. What we need are the ways to help us intensify our love for Allah and to help us stay motivated. Reading and understanding the Glorious Qur’an, performing voluntary prayers, remembering Allah, remaining humble towards Allah, giving charity from things that are dear to us, remembering Allah’s Beautiful Names and Attributes, performing the night prayers, keeping good company, gratitude towards Allah, are ways of glorifying and praising Allah through our actions. And these are some of the effective steps of keeping the love for Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) alive in our hearts.

Conclusion

In our quest for true peace and contentment, the love for Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) stands as the cornerstone of our spiritual journey. This love is not merely an emotion but a profound and transformative relationship that shapes our actions, thoughts, and aspirations. By knowing Allah through His beautiful names and attributes, we deepen our love for Him, which in turn brings us closer to fulfilling our purpose as His creation. As we navigate the complexities of life, let us strive to fill the void in our hearts with the love of Allah, allowing it to guide us, uplift us, and grant us the peace we so earnestly seek. Through this unwavering love and devotion, we can attain a state of tranquility and fulfillment that transcends the fleeting pleasures of this world, bringing us true and lasting peace at heart.

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]]> I have everything, yet, i don’t feel the sense of peace https://www.rahatlilqalb.com/i-have-everything-yet-i-dont-feel-the-sense-of-peace/ Thu, 27 Jun 2024 11:44:57 +0000 https://www.rahatlilqalb.com/?p=1112 Introduction Human beings are the only creature that think about the future, in a way that no other creature can, does, or ever has. This simple, ubiquitous, ordinary act is a defining feature of our humanity. Human in the course of thinking about the future, some end up with more peace of mind and heart […]

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Introduction

Human beings are the only creature that think about the future, in a way that no other creature can, does, or ever has. This simple, ubiquitous, ordinary act is a defining feature of our humanity. Human in the course of thinking about the future, some end up with more peace of mind and heart and others end up with confusions, uncertainty, lack of inner peace or to the extreme, decide to end their lives and the lives of others.

Peace of mind and heart is often easier said that attained. Once attained, the challenge is to maintain it.

Peace of mind and heart refers to an emotional and mental condition whereby we feel a state of ease and peace within, in the face of challenging circumstances. A state which is free of despair or grudge or remorse or blame. The crucial aspect is maintaining constant positive attitude with Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) and with oneself or others despite heavy losses or afflictions. Knowing and understanding the gravity of having the peace of mind and heart is as important as water to the fish. We live in a Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and an Ambiguous world. Individuals, different situations and changing circumstances time and again breaks us down. Even when being in good financial condition and in good health, people have no peace of mind and heart. Peace of mind and heart is a necessity and a desideratum for a quietude life. The Peace that we are referring to is associated with habits such as steadfastness (thabaat), full of energy and hope, free from feelings of despair, depression, anxiety, stress, worries, fear, mental and emotional restlessness.

How to attain the Peace of mind and heart?

One predilection refers to training being the mode of acquiring peace. It’s said that it is an acquired skill which requires time, practice and perseverance to develop, just like any other skill. Usually, this skill package contains learning to change your mental attitude, developing inner strength and inner detachment through contemplation, consideration and through other means. But, from a higher standpoint these tips are temporary in nature. What we need are the permanent ways to receive, obtain and maintain the peace of mind and heart.

A widespread verse, from the Glorious Qur’an, in which Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) says: “Verily in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find peace.” [Sûrat Al- Raʿd 13:28] is just one way of attaining peace. But, apart from the remembrance of Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) there are many other ways to receive, obtain and maintain the peace of mind and heart. Some ways are as follows:

  • LOVE FOR ALLAH.
  • SABR.
  • HAVING STRONG FAITH (Trust) IN ALLAH.
  • CONSTANTLY REMEMBERING ALLAH (Dhikrullah).
  • DUAH (Supplication).
  • POSITIVE ATTITUDE FOR EVERY DISTRESS.
  • NOT BEING A SLAVE TO EXPECTATIONS.
  • BEING THANKFUL TO ALLAH FOR WHAT WE HAVE.
  • WORSHIPPING ALLAH IN THE RIGHTFUL WAY THAT WILL BRING ABOUT BALANCE AND HEALING.
  • HAVING UTTERMOST TRUST IN ALLAH’s LOVING MERCY AND WISE KNOWLEDGE.

Now, lets us dive deep into the first three ways mentioned above.

1. Love for Allah

The most gratifying human emotion is love and the most beautiful and perfect semblance of love is to love Allah (may He be glorified and exalted). We stay away from sin because we fear Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) and we fear the punishment of Hellfire, but we worship Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) and do good deeds and draw ourselves closer to Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) because we love Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) and we hope for Paradise. This Love, between the worshiper and the Creator is fulfilling and it fills our hearts, especially when we know that Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) loves us. To love Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) is more than simply pronouncing our love for Allah (may He be glorified and exalted); it is acting upon this love by obeying Him, worshiping Him, liking what He likes, and disliking what He dislikes.

The Most Glorious name of our creator is ‘ALLAH’ and this is the primary name of Allah (may He be glorified and exalted). The name ‘ALLAH’ comes from the root word ‘Al-ILAH’, the one and only who is worthy to be worshipped. This name is mentioned throughout the Qur’an and Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) uses the term ‘ALLAH’ to remind us that The One that created us, The One that sustains us, The One that we call upon, is the only One that is worthy of our worship. The Lord that we talk about ‘Allah’, He is Allah because He possesses every beautiful names and attributes.

Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) is Al-Wadud, The Loving and The Beloved. No matter how much Love you have in this Life, from your friends, from your spouses, from your parents, from everyone else in this world, you will always have a void in your heart that can only be fulfilled with the love of Allah (may He be glorified and exalted). And this is what, Sheikh Ibn-al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) mentions. He says: “Indeed in the heart there is a void that can only be fulfilled with the Love of Allah”.

A lot of us don’t realize this, and we imbue and fill up the void in our hearts with the desires of this world. Whether it be through wealth, through women, or through everything and anything else. We try to fulfill it through desires, but as these worldly desires are fulfilled we notice that we become more empty and the void space magnifies itself. Going against worldly desires and preventing ourselves from over indulging in worldly desires help us to live a healthy and a balanced life. This controlled nature will keep us in constant awareness of the transient nature of this world. For example, saving up money is good but greed and miserliness is frowned down upon. While there is nothing wrong with enjoying a delicious meal, gluttony and overeating is discouraged in Islam. Thus, fulfilling this void space in our heart with each and every single worldly desires won’t be fruitful because that portion of our heart was created for the love of Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) alone. Sheikh Ibn-al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) gives a beautiful example where he goes onto exclaiming that the love of Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) in the heart of the believer is like a tree, the roots are the fear of Allah (may He be glorified and exalted), the trunk is the humility for the sake of Allah (may He be glorified and exalted), the leaves are modesty for Allah (may He be glorified and exalted), and the fruits that it bears is the obedience to Allah (may He be glorified and exalted). Thus, we can see that our whole relationship with Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) revolves around Love and this is why Sheikh Ibn-al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) gives his other famous parable and says that our journey of worship towards Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) is like that of a bird whose head is love and its two wings are fear and hope.

Now, what is a bird without a head? Is it going to survive? Will it be able to fly without navigating itself despite of having the wings?

Similarly, if our journey to Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) does not begin with love then our journey will not progress and that is why we all must constantly remind ourselves that Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) Loves us and He wants us to Love Him as well. He is Al-Wadud, one of the most unique names of Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) where not only is Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) the subject but He is the object as well. When we say that Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) is Al-Rahman, He is the one who shows mercy but not the one to whom mercy is shown upon. When we say that Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) is Al-Ghaffar and Al-Ghafoor, He is the forgiver but He is not the one who needs forgiveness. But when it comes to Al-Wadud not only He is loving, but He is the beloved as well.

Learning the Names and Attributes of Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) will increase our love towards Allah (may He be glorified and exalted). This Love of Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) can only be attained by knowing Him. This love emanates from loving Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) for what He is. Each of the names and attributes of Allah (may He be glorified and exalted), and each of the meanings and concepts that they refer to, dictate that He must be loved with the utmost love; this also includes all His deeds, because every blessing from Him is due to His generosity and every punishment is due to His justice. Therefore, He deserves to be praised in all situations, and He deserves to be praised at times of ease and of hardship. This is the most sublime and the most perfect type of love, and this is the love of the elite. This Love paves the way for His Glorification. Knowing Him, Loving Him and Glorifying Him, all three are directly proportional to each other. It means that, we cannot Glorify Him until and unless we Love Him and we cannot Love Him until and unless we Know Him. That is why Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) says in the glorious Qur’an:

فَاعْلَمْ اَنَّهٗ لَآ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَاسْتَغْفِرْ لِذَنْۢبِكَ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ وَالْمُؤْمِنٰتِ ۭ وَاللّٰهُ يَعْلَمُ مُتَقَلَّبَكُمْ وَمَثْوٰىكُمْ

So know, [O Muḥammad], that there is no deity except Allāh and ask forgiveness for your sin1 and for the believing men and believing women. And Allāh knows of your movement and your resting place.

(Qur’an 47:19)

Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) orders His Beloved Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) to first know who Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) is and then ask for forgiveness. When we start knowing Him, start to realize His blessings and bounties upon us, we shall automatically start Loving Him as He should be loved.

Now, let us take a peek into the matters of Glorifying Allah (may He be glorified and exalted). To glorify Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) means to acknowledge His greatness. It involves praising Him and submitting our will, willingly, to His will. What we know is that there is not a tree except that it Glorifies Allah (may He be glorified and exalted), not a bird except that it Glorifies Allah (may He be glorified and exalted), not any one of Allah’s creation except that it is Glorifying Him, except that we do not understand their Glorification. Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) says in the glorious Qur’an:

تُـسَبِّحُ لَهُ السَّمٰوٰتُ السَّـبْعُ وَالْاَرْضُ وَمَنْ فِيْهِنَّ ۭ وَاِنْ مِّنْ شَيْءٍ اِلَّايُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِهٖ وَلٰكِنْ لَّا تَفْقَهُوْنَ تَسْبِيْحَهُمْ ۭ اِنَّهٗ كَانَ حَلِــيْمًا غَفُوْرًا

The seven heavens and the earth and whatever is in them exalt Him. And there is not a thing except that it exalts [Allāh] by His praise, but you do not understand their [way of] exalting. Indeed, He is ever Forbearing1 and Forgiving.

(Qur’an 17:44)

And the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) says:

عن أبي ذر رضي الله عنه مرفوعاً : ( إني أرى ما لا ترون، أطَّتِ السماء وحُقَّ لها أن تَئِطَ، ما فيها موضع أربع أصابع إلا ومَلَكٌ واضع جبهته ساجدا لله تعالى، والله لو تعلمون ما أعلم، لضحكتم قليلا ولبكيتم كثيرا، وما تلذذتم بالنساء على الفُرُشِ، ولخرجتم إلى الصُّعُداتِ تَجْأَرُون إلى الله تعالى)

[حسن] – [رواه الترمذي وابن ماجه وأحمد]

Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “I see what you do not see. The heaven creaks and it has every right to creak. There is no place that could contain four fingers in the heavens except that there is an Angel placing his forehead in prostration to Allah the Exalted.”

Far beyond our understanding and contemplation. Isn’t it? The skies shake and creak and they have the right to shake and creak because there is not a distance of four fingers, except that an Angel is making ruqooh, an Angel is making sujood, and Angel is making qiyaam to Allah. And this will continue till the day of judgement.

Every single creation of Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) is showing their love by Glorifying Him because this is the love that Allah has created for Himself.

Now, a question arises, where is our love for Allah?

It is a normal condition for us all to experience highs and lows when it comes to the level of our worship. There are times when we feel that the love for Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) is alive and is present in our hearts and we take delight in our rituals of worship and calling upon Allah (may He be glorified and exalted). But, there are times when we feel that the love for Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) has become subtle, and we may feel a break away from Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) and less motivated. What we need are the ways to help us intensify our love for Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) and to help us stay motivated. Reading and understanding the Holy Qur’an, performing voluntary prayers, remembering Allah (may He be glorified and exalted), remaining humble towards Allah (may He be glorified and exalted), giving charity from things that are dear to us, remembering Allah’s Beautiful Names and Attributes, performing the night prayers, keeping good company, gratitude towards Allah (may He be glorified and exalted), are ways of glorifying and praising Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) through our actions. And these are some of the effective steps of keeping the love for Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) alive in our hearts.

2. Sabr

Brothers and sisters remember as well that this whole life according to our religion of Islam, is a life of test and trials and as such, every one of us will certainly be tested and tried, in different ways.

Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) says in the Glorious Qur’an:

اِنَّـمَآ اَمْوَالُكُمْ وَاَوْلَادُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ ۭ وَاللّٰهُ عِنْدَهٗ  ٓ اَجْرٌ عَظِيْـمٌ

Your wealth and your children are but a trial, and Allāh has with Him a great reward.

(Qur’an 64:15)

اِنَّ فِيْ ذٰلِكَ لَاٰيٰتٍ وَّاِنْ كُنَّا لَمُبْتَلِيْنَ

Indeed in that are signs, and indeed, We are ever testing [Our servants].

(Qur’an 23:30)

اَحَسِبَ النَّاسُ اَنْ يُّتْرَكُوْٓا اَنْ يَّقُوْلُوْٓا اٰمَنَّا وَهُمْ لَا يُفْتَنُوْنَ

Do the people think that they will be left to say, “We believe” and they will not be tried?

(Qur’an 29:2)

 وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ بِشَيْءٍ مِّنَ الْخَوْفِ وَالْجُوْعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ الْاَمْوَالِ وَالْاَنْفُسِ وَالثَّمَرٰتِ ۭ وَبَشِّرِ الصّٰبِرِيْنَ
الَّذِيْنَ اِذَآ اَصَابَتْهُمْ مُّصِيْبَةٌ ۙ قَالُوْٓا اِنَّا لِلّٰهِ وَاِنَّآ اِلَيْهِ رٰجِعُوْنَ
اُولٰۗىِٕكَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَلَوٰتٌ مِّنْ رَّبِّهِمْ وَرَحْمَةٌ ۣ وَاُولٰۗىِٕكَ ھُمُ الْمُهْتَدُوْنَ

And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient,
Who, when disaster strikes them, say, “Indeed we belong to Allāh, and indeed to Him we will return.”
Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy. And it is those who are the [rightly] guided.

(Qur’an 2:155-157)

When we deem into these above mentioned verses from the Holy Qur’an, we realize that everything we have in this world is just a part of a test that Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) has made compulsory for us to go through. Merely exclaiming that we believe in Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) is not enough. We all will indeed be tested with everything and anything that we have in this world. Our wealth, our children, our parents, everything is a form of test for us. But we all must always remember that when Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) creates a lock, He creates a key for that lock as well. In surah Al- Baqarah when Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) informs us that He will test us with fear, famine, loss or gain of property, life and crops, He even speaks about the ones who are patient over these tests. He apprises and enlightens us that the ones who go through these tests patiently are the ones who will receive Allah’s blessings and mercy and they are the ones who are rightfully guided. Therefore, a core and a major mechanism to overcome and be victorious in these tests and trials is Patience. And that is why Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) says in the Glorious Qur’an:

وَاسْتَعِيْنُوْا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلٰوةِ ۭ وَاِنَّهَا لَكَبِيْرَةٌ اِلَّا عَلَي الْـخٰشِعِيْنَ

And seek help through patience and prayer; and indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly submissive [to Allāh]

(Qur’an 2:45)

Life is indeed difficult and we all need help. Facing these trials and problems without seeking the help of Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) is impracticable. Hence, here in this verse Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) mentions Sabar (patience) and Salah (prayer) being the path to receive help from Allah (may He be glorified and exalted).

عَنْ حُذَيْفَةَ (رضي الله عنه) قَالَ : “كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا حَزَبَهُ أَمْرٌ صَلَّى”. (سنن أبي داود كتاب الصلاة, 1319)

Hudhayfah (May Allah be pleased with him) said: “If the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was distressed about anything, he would pray”. (Sunan Abu- Dawood, Book of Prayer, 1319)

Whenever our Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) was troubled with anything, whenever something bothered him, he would rush to stand in Salah. Salah would make him calm, salah would make him conquer those problems, those fears, those frustrations. As such, patience and salah are the two things that Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) has ordained us to seek help in.

Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) says in the Glorious Qur’an

 فَاصْبِرْ صَبْرًا جَـمِيْلًا 

So be patient with gracious patience.

(Qur’an 70:5)

In this beautiful verse from the Glorious Qur’an Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) tells His Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) to be patient with a beautiful patience. From this verse we need to consider the fact that patience has levels and the highest level is a beautiful patience. A beautiful patience is the one when people don’t even realize that we are being patient. Nobody other than Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) knows that we are being patient. This, my dear brothers and sisters is the perfect and the highest level of patience. Nobody can see that we are frustrated, nobody can see that we are agitated, nobody can see that we are angry. We have mastered it so much that only Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) knows about it.

But, how does one achieve patience? Well, there is no easy way, there is no magic trick to pull off this beautiful patience. But the main mechanism of achieving this patience is to want Patience from Allah (may He be glorified and exalted), to be eager to be patient, to be greedy to be blessed with patience.

In a very beautiful hadith recorded by Imam Bukhari in his book, Sahih Al-Bukhari, our Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) tells us about being satisfied with what we have and having patience. He tells us about the ones upon whom patience is bestowed and the ones whom Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) will make self-sufficient.

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ، أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عَطَاءُ بْنُ يَزِيدَ، أَنَّ أَبَا سَعِيدٍ، أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ أُنَاسًا مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ سَأَلُوا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلَمْ يَسْأَلْهُ أَحَدٌ مِنْهُمْ إِلاَّ أَعْطَاهُ حَتَّى نَفِدَ مَا عِنْدَهُ فَقَالَ لَهُمْ حِينَ نَفِدَ كُلُّ شَىْءٍ أَنْفَقَ بِيَدَيْهِ ‏ “‏ مَا يَكُنْ عِنْدِي مِنْ خَيْرٍ لاَ أَدَّخِرْهُ عَنْكُمْ، وَإِنَّهُ مَنْ يَسْتَعِفَّ يُعِفُّهُ اللَّهُ، وَمَنْ يَتَصَبَّرْ يُصَبِّرْهُ اللَّهُ، وَمَنْ يَسْتَغْنِ يُغْنِهِ اللَّهُ، وَلَنْ تُعْطَوْا عَطَاءً خَيْرًا وَأَوْسَعَ مِنَ الصَّبْرِ ‏”‏‏.

Narrated Abu Sa`id: Some people from the Ansar asked Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) (to give them something) and he gave to every one of them, who asked him, until all that he had was finished. When everything was finished and he had spent all that was in his hand, he said to them, ‘”(Know) that if I have any wealth, I will not withhold it from you (to keep for somebody else); And (know) that he who refrains from begging others (or doing prohibited deeds), Allah will make him contented and not in need of others; and he who remains patient, Allah will bestow patience upon him, and he who is satisfied with what he has, Allah will make him self-sufficient. And there is no gift better and vast (you may be given) than patience.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 6470).

What a substantial hadith. Simple yet profound. Whoever, actively, desires to be patient, Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) will give him the patience he requires. It’s a hadith of utmost importance and I want us all to memorize this hadith so that we are prepared for when a calamity strikes us. There is no mechanism to acquire patience, other than wanting to be patient. Whoever wants sabar, Allah will bestow the sabar that he or she wants and requires. But in order to receive sabar, we must demonstrate our willingness to Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) and we need to have that desire. We need to make sure and realize that patience comes from Allah. We need to believe in As-Saboor. We need to make dua to As-Saboo. We need to ask Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) for that patience and realize that Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) Loves us and cares about us. We have to understand that whatever happens, happens for the best, even if we don’t understand it.

There is no greater remedy other than patience and fearing Allah, and thinking positively of Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, putting one’s trust in Him, delegating one’s affairs to Him and turning to Him in all times of calamity.

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allah have mercy on him) says (Majmoo’al-Fataawa,18:295): “Many people, when they see evil or when the Muslim ummah goes through a lot of trouble, panic, lose hope and start complaining as people who are beset by calamities do. But this is forbidden; rather what is enjoined is to be patient, to put one’s trust in Allah, to be steadfast in adhering to the religion of Islam and to believe that Allah is with those who fear Him and those who do good, and that the best end is for those who fear Him; whatever befalls him is because of his sins, so he should be patient, for the promise of Allah is true; he should seek forgiveness for his sins and glorify and praise his Lord morning and evening.”

Let us all try to master this beautiful concept; because in reality Imaan(faith) and Sabar(patience) are linked together. The one who has Imaan has Sabar and the one who has no Sabar has not perfected his/her Imaan. Let’s replace ingratitude with thankfulness and exchange resentment with beautiful patience because Patience is the most beautiful strength that we can gift ourselves.

3. Having strong faith in Allah

Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) says in the Glorious Qur’an:

اَلَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا وَلَمْ يَلْبِسُوْٓا اِيْـمَانَهُمْ بِظُلْمٍ اُولٰۗىِٕكَ لَهُمُ الْاَمْنُ وَهُمْ مُّهْتَدُوْنَ

They who believe and do not mix their belief with injustice1 – those will have security, and they are [rightly] guided.

(Qur’an 6:82)

Having strong faith in Allah (may He be glorified and exalted), and knowing His ability to rescue His believing servants, will surely bring our hearts at ease. When we settle in our minds that we are under constant assistance of the Most Powerful, then we shall discern the inner peace and the sense of contentment. Let us take a look at the story of Musa (peace be upon him) and the children of Israel when they were approached by the powerful army of Firaawn (Pharaoh). The children of Israel felt that it was their end, however, Musa (peace be upon him) had strong faith in Allah. Allah says in the Glorious Qur’an:

فَلَمَّا تَرَاۗءَ الْجَمْعٰنِ قَالَ اَصْـحٰبُ مُوْسٰٓي اِنَّا لَمُدْرَكُوْنَ
قَالَ كَلَّا ۚ اِنَّ مَعِيَ رَبِّيْ سَيَهْدِيْنِ
فَاَوْحَيْنَآ اِلٰى مُوْسٰٓي اَنِ اضْرِبْ بِّعَصَاكَ الْبَحْرَ ۭ فَانْفَلَقَ فَكَانَ كُلُّ فِرْقٍ كَالطَّوْدِ الْعَظِيْمِ

And when the two companies saw one another, the companions of Moses said, “Indeed, we are to be overtaken!”
[Moses] said, “No! Indeed, with me is my Lord; He will guide me.”
Then We inspired to Moses, “Strike with your staff the sea,” and it parted, and each portion was like a great towering mountain.

(Qur’an 26:61-63)

At any difficult moment, that incapacitates our abilities to find our way out, we must remember that we have Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) with us, who is not incapable or unable or stoppable by any force. We need to be duty-bound to direct our thought and our hopes to Him, and say “Indeed, with me is my Lord; He will guide me.” Or “Indeed, Lord is with me/us.”

As our faith increase, so will our inner peace. Without having faith in Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) and commitments to do deeds that uplift our faith, any perceived inner peace shall be delusional and unsustainable. Without faith in Him, surely, we will be crawling on a losing path.

Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) says in the Glorious Qur’an:

قُلْ مَنْ يُّنَجِّيْكُمْ مِّنْ ظُلُمٰتِ الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ تَدْعُوْنَهٗ تَضَرُّعًا وَّخُفْيَةً ۚ لَىِٕنْ اَنْـجٰىنَا مِنْ هٰذِهٖ لَنَكُوْنَنَّ مِنَ الشّٰكِرِيْنَ
 قُلِ اللّٰهُ يُنَجِّيْكُمْ مِّنْهَا وَمِنْ كُلِّ كَرْبٍ ثُـمَّ اَنْتُمْ تُشْرِكُوْنَ

Say, “Who rescues you from the darknesses of the land and sea [when] you call upon Him imploring [aloud] and privately, ‘If He should save us from this [crisis], we will surely be among the thankful.'”
Say, “It is Allāh who saves you from it and from every distress; then you [still] associate others with Him.”

(Qur’an 6:63-64)

For sure, Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) is the only one who can cure us from every distress. He is the only one who can bring about peace and contentment to our hearts and He is our best hope and our best savior.

Conclusion

Looking at the bigger picture of this life helps us to put our problems and adversities in context. Our faith helps us to have a happier outlook and perspective. Strong established beliefs and spiritual striving are being acknowledged as a form of protection against emptiness.  Many confess that the connection to a greater power or truth can give a sense of meaning and purpose. Amongst researchers the link between faith and preventing the feeling of emptiness, as well as combating it, is becoming agreed upon. In fact, it would be fair to predict that our faith and practice of Islam are probably directly, and proportionally, linked to our ability to deal with difficult situations.

Allah (may He be glorified and exalted), The Most Compassionate, wants us to succeed in this life and to achieve true success, positivity and peace. If we use our faith as a strong handhold and follow His commands, we will be taken care of and our troubles can be melted down or eradicated thereby.

May Allah help us all to do and say that which is right. And Allah knows best.

سُبْحـانَكَ اللّهُـمَّ وَبِحَمدِك، أَشْهَـدُ أَنْ لا إِلهَ إِلاّ أَنْتَ أَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَأَتوبُ إِلَـيْك

Glory is to You, O Allah, and Praise is to You. I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but You. I seek Your forgiveness and repent to You.

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]]> What is the Purpose of Life? https://www.rahatlilqalb.com/what-is-the-purpose-of-life/ Fri, 07 Jun 2024 12:33:40 +0000 https://www.rahatlilqalb.com/?p=571 Despite the topic being extensive, with ideas and opinions that are egregious amongst each and every individual, the purpose of our lives still stands out as being the most fundamental and a crucial topic of disquisition. ‘What is the meaning and the purpose of life?’ This is, perhaps, the most important question that has ever […]

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Despite the topic being extensive, with ideas and opinions that are egregious amongst each and every individual, the purpose of our lives still stands out as being the most fundamental and a crucial topic of disquisition. ‘What is the meaning and the purpose of life?’ This is, perhaps, the most important question that has ever been asked. We all wrestle with this question at some point in our lives. In an abode filled with predilections and radical cultural conditions, it is a bit difficult for an individual to take a moment of thought about the objective of life and try to catapult at the truth about this world and the real purpose of life.

Confused and lost in the darkness?

Such a fundamental and an important question, ‘What is the purpose of life?’

Questions like ‘What is the purpose of eating?’ ‘What is the purpose of sleeping?’ ‘What is the purpose of working?’ and we can follow this line of question with a thousand questions or more and receive the same or similar answers from anyone in any language from any place in this world. Nutrition being the purpose of eating, rest being the purpose of sleeping and Necessity in order to support themselves and to provide for the needs of their families being the purpose of working, respectively.

These are the answers that we will get from any human being. A common sequential answer. Likewise, the question of our purpose in this life should and must have a common answer. Isn’t it? Why do we have so many different answers and assumptions? Are we confused? Do we actually know our purpose? Are we still stumbling in the darkness and not being able to contemplate and see the reality?

A ‘commonly presumed’ answer by others, is what our answer to this question has become. For some of us, the problem is that we will not utter what we have concluded through observations or analytic reasonings but rather we put forward what our father, friend or our teacher has said regarding this topic. And we have another set of people amongst us who will calmly and reluctantly say “I don’t know”. Basically they all just offer any answer they have been programmed to give.

Think about it

My dear brothers and sisters, is our purpose in this world simply to sleep, eat, dress, work, acquire some material things, enjoy ourselves and finally die one day? Is this our purpose? What is the purpose of our existence? What is the wisdom behind the creation of human beings in this tremendous universe?

My dear brothers and sisters, think about these questions.

Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala says in the Glorious Qur’an;

  وَلِلّٰهِ مُلْكُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالْاَرْضِ ۭ وَاللّٰهُ عَلٰي كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيْرٌ ؁ۧ١٨٩ اِنَّ فِيْ خَلْقِ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالْاَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافِ الَّيْلِ وَالنَّھَارِ لَاٰيٰتٍ لِّاُولِي الْاَلْبَابِ ڌ  ؁١٩٠ الَّذِيْنَ يَذْكُرُوْنَ اللّٰهَ قِيٰـمًا وَّقُعُوْدًا وَّعَلٰي جُنُوْبِھِمْ وَيَتَفَكَّرُوْنَ فِيْ خَلْقِ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالْاَرْضِ ۚ رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقْتَ هٰذَا بَاطِلًا ۚ سُـبْحٰنَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ ؁١٩١

To Allah alone belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. (189) And Allah is Most Capable of everything. Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the day and night there are signs for people of reason. (190) They are those who remember Allah while standing, sitting, and lying on their sides, and reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth and pray, “Our Lord! You have not created all of this without purpose. Glory be to You! Protect us from the torment of the Fire. (191).

(Qur’an 3:189-191)

In the above mentioned verses Our Creator is captivating our minds and our thoughts and allures us to the creation of the heavens and the earth, the alterations of the night and the day and the creation of the universe. He calls our attention to their creations and the precision in which they have been created by Him. As a matter of fact, when you see the design of all that Allah has created, you will realize that it is something very powerful and very precise. Something far beyond the human calculation and imagination.

These heavens and the earth, the nights and the days, they all have a purpose for their existence. Don’t they? Indeed, they do serve a purpose. So, don’t you think that we, being one of the creations, should have a purpose as well?

Everything has a purpose

Now, let us bring out thoughts and our analysis to the point where, when we see a building, an automobile or a skyscraper we automatically, without a second thought consider the person or the company that constructed it. These are just things that are manufactured by human beings with a purpose, yet our thoughts and our consciousness are impressed with the engineering dynamics that are involved. So, What about the complex human body? Such a massive and an intricate system. Do they serve any purpose? Think about the brain for instance, how it thinks, functions, retrieves, recalls and stores information, distinguishes and categorizes information in a millionth of a second……all of this constantly.

Think about the eyes, the heart, the perfectly structured bones, the tongue, the nose, the ears and all the endless blessings that Allah has bestowed upon us. They all serve a purpose. Every single thing that Allah has created serves a purpose and has a goal. From the smallest particles to the big stars and the vast galaxies, everything is running smoothly according to a perfect plan. The universe and everything it holds neither came into its being by an accident without having a purpose and nor does it run on its own. How can things in the cosmos run so smoothly for millions of years without a purpose ordained and anointed to it by the Creator?

Such questions are to be pondered upon.

Everything has ben created for human beings.

Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala says in the Glorious Qur’an;

 ھُوَ الَّذِىْ خَلَقَ لَكُمْ مَّا فِى الْاَرْضِ جَمِيْعًا ۤ ثُـمَّ اسْتَوٰٓى اِلَى السَّمَاۗءِ فَسَوّٰىھُنَّ سَبْعَ سَمٰوٰتٍ ۭ وَھُوَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيْمٌ

He is the One Who created everything in the earth for you. Then He turned towards the heaven, forming it into seven heavens. And He has ˹perfect˺ knowledge of all things.

(Qur’an 2:29)

Allah has created the human beings as the most superior being in the universe.

Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala says in the Glorious Qur’an;

وَسَـخَّرَ لَكُمْ مَّا فِي السَّمٰوٰتِ وَمَا فِي الْاَرْضِ جَـمِيْعًا مِّنْهُ ۭ اِنَّ فِيْ ذٰلِكَ لَاٰيٰتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَّتَفَكَّرُوْنَ

He also subjected for you whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth all by His grace. Surely in this are signs for people who reflect.

(Qur’an 45:13)

Everything was created for the human beings, the most beloved creature in the eyes of our creator. Allah created man as a King of the earth since He loves him the most.

Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala says in the Glorious Qur’an;

وَاِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلٰۗىِٕكَةِ اِنِّىْ جَاعِلٌ فِى الْاَرْضِ خَلِيْفَةً ۭ قَالُوْٓا اَتَجْعَلُ فِيْهَا مَنْ يُّفْسِدُ فِيْهَا وَيَسْفِكُ الدِّمَاۗءَ ۚ وَنَـحْنُ نُسَبِّـحُ بِـحَمْدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ ۭ قَالَ اِنِّىْٓ اَعْلَمُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُوْنَ 

Remember when your Lord said to the angels, “I am going to place a successive ˹human˺ authority on earth.” They asked ˹Allah˺, “Will You place in it someone who will spread corruption there and shed blood while we glorify Your praises and proclaim Your holiness?” Allah responded, “I know what you do not know.”

(Qur’an 2:30)

Allah has created everything for humans and he created humans for himself.

Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala says in the Glorious Qur’an;

الَّذِيْنَ اِذَآ اَصَابَتْهُمْ مُّصِيْبَةٌ ۙ قَالُوْٓا اِنَّا لِلّٰهِ وَاِنَّآ اِلَيْهِ رٰجِعُوْنَ

who say, when struck by a disaster, “Surely to Allah we belong and to Him we will ˹all˺ return.”

(Qur’an 2:156)

My dear brothers and sisters, take a moment and ponder over the above mentioned verses from the Qur’an where Allah is speaking with us and guiding us to realize that everything was created for us and we were indeed created for a purpose.

Created for nothing?

We are all aware of the fact that this world, in the journey of life, is but a station, not the destination. It is a place where we are sent to be tested. It is not a place to become lost in its wonders and temptations and be inactive, lazy or lethargic.

Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala says in the Glorious Qur’an; (23:115)

 اَفَحَسِبْتُمْ اَنَّـمَا خَلَقْنٰكُمْ عَبَثًا وَّاَنَّكُمْ اِلَيْنَا لَا تُرْجَعُوْنَ

Did you then think that We had created you without purpose, and that you would never be returned to Us?”

(Qur’an 23:115)

This verse from the Qur’an proves that we were not created for nothing but rather for a specific purpose. This life is a one-time opportunity to achieve everlasting happiness in Hereafter. Every moment has a great potential if positively used to raise status and rank in the sight of Allah. Strong faith and good deeds bring peace and comfort in this life, in the grave and in the Hereafter. But nothing of the above mentioned can be achieved without knowing the goal and the purpose of our life. 

What Allah wants us to do?

Is it possible to know what is expected from us? Are we left to our own devices without any communication from the Creator? Isn’t it natural that Allah Himself would inform us of this purpose, especially if we are expected and ordained to fulfill it….?

If we were created by Allah, then surely He must have had a reason and a purpose to do so. Thus, it is important for us to be cognizant of His purpose for creating us. The easiest way to perceive the purpose of an invention is to ask the inventor him/herself.

Allah informs us of our purpose:

Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala says in the Glorious Qur’an; 

وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْــجِنَّ وَالْاِنْسَ اِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوْنِ

And I did not create jinn and humans except to worship Me.

(Qur’an 51:56)

This single verse from the Qur’an manifests and highlights the goal and the purpose of our life. The purpose of creation for all men and women for all times has been one: To know and worship Allah. Our ultimate objective is to worship Allah, abiding by the Divine guidelines revealed in the Qur’an and the Tradition of the Prophet. The ultimate goal of life is to seek the pleasure of Allah and attain paradise in the hereafter. However, this does not mean that Muslims should not have goals related to worldly pursuits.

Conslusion:

Allah the Almighty is showering countless blessings upon us every day. His universe and whatever is in it, is in constant service to mankind providing us with everything that is necessary for our survival. So many organs from head to toe are ceaselessly functioning within the human body, each being indispensable and irreplaceable. Every heartbeat, every single breath and every blink of an eye demands us that we should truly thank Allah, though we cannot thank Him enough for His blessings and to realize our true purpose of life.

If I were to give you a bottle of water to quench your thirst, you would at least vocalize the act with a simple ‘Thank you’. Won’t you? Then what about your eyes, your brain, your breath, your children, your parents, your life? Who gave you all this? Isn’t He worthy of Praise and Thanks? Isn’t He worthy of your worship and recognition?

My dear brothers and sisters, in a nutshell, to know and to worship Allah is the ultimate goal and purpose of this life. Our purpose in this life is to recognize The Creator, to be grateful to Him, to worship Him, to surrender ourselves to Him and to obey the laws that He has determined for us. It means worship is our purpose in life. Whatever we do in the course of that worship, (i.e., the eating, the sleeping, the dressing, the working, the enjoying,) between birth and death is consequential and subject to His orders. But the main reason for our creation is worship.

May Allah bless us, help us in understanding what our purpose of life is, guide us in all that we do and make us amongst those who worship Him.

سُبْحـانَكَ اللّهُـمَّ وَبِحَمدِك، أَشْهَـدُ أَنْ لا إِلهَ إِلاّ أَنْتَ أَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَأَتوبُ إِلَـيْك

Glory is to You, O Allah, and Praise is to You. I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but You. I seek Your forgiveness and repent to You.

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