Purity of Heart: How to Improve It

 

Every child is born innocent, sinless, and angelically pure. If you look at the innocence of a child, this is how close we should be to Allah the Almighty.

A child brought up knowing love and tenderness retains a healthy sense of self-esteem and worth. However, it remains that every child develops an ego, and each encounters life experiences that adversely affect their trust and innocence.

When we are pure at heart, our hearts become innocent and clean like children. But to remain this way is a daily challenge.

Not Being Taught a Moral Life

Optimistically, most children learn the meaning of integrity and how to live a moral life.

When children learn integrity and morals, they grow up having self-worth, making it is easier to relate to God. They have common sense, and their life is made easier.

Less fortunate children may, as adults, go through life aimlessly – without knowing how to navigate their journey – making up the rules as they go along. They lack a sense of self-worth or purpose that should have been instilled in them by parental figures.

Sometimes, they feel jealous and exhibit competitiveness toward others. These individuals tend to search for love wherever they can find it, ultimately facing betrayal and disappointment, leading to heartache and lack of trust.

Despair

When a person feels hurt, disappointed, or alone, despair and depression begin to take root.

Many people lead lives of desperation and emptiness, devoid of morals – conditions that make life complicated.

In such a state, it becomes easy to miss seeing the beauty of Almighty Allah around us; or to see Him as the One who loves us unconditionally. In taking these things for granted, it becomes commonplace to lose trust in God.

Judging Others

Even when trying to live moral lives, a lack of self-control leads to speaking badly toward or judging others.

In not striving to live exemplary lives, showing empathy toward one another, giving in charity and brotherhood, upholding the common good, and supporting justice – life becomes mundane.

Overcoming Shame

Many new converts, and Muslims who strayed from the straight path, have lived immorally – against the tenants of Islam. Sometimes this is found in Western cultures, where self-focus vs. service to others is predominant.

In either case, Allah the Almighty is All-Forgiving, Most-Merciful, and whatever our mistakes, repentance, asking His forgiveness, seeking forgiveness of others, and forgiving ourselves, purifies our hearts.

The love of Allah the Almighty invokes self-worth. Our mere existence is proof that we are a creation of His beauty!

He loves us with the tenderness of a mother holding her newborn child. Almighty Allah is always with us. We are never alone.

Forgiveness brings us peace of mind and purity of heart if we submit our whole hearts to Allah the Almighty.

Becoming Close to Almighty Allah

The acts of prayer and dhikr (remembrance of Allah the Almighty), bring us inner peace. Remembering Him throughout the day, being aware of the beauty and awe of His creation rekindles that child-like quality of innocence we had at birth.

Being merciful and kind, having a good heart, refraining from being judgmental, cruel, jealous, or self-righteous will restore peace of mind and purify our hearts.

Physical Cleanliness

Physical purity and cleanliness will also contribute to the purity of our hearts. We should physically take care of and beautify ourselves.

Eating healthy halal food and drinking enough water will make us feel better about ourselves.

Purifying ourselves before prayer with proper wudu washes away our sins.

When we uphold our responsibility to family and keep our word, we are worshiping God.

Guarding our words, not using profanity with the same mouths that recite the Quran or Allah the Almighty, keeps our minds clean.

Being fair, not hurting others unjustly, and using good judgment prevents drama and conflict in our lives.

Reflection

Taking time to reflect in solitude, and pausing several times a day (not just for the daily prayers), to feel the closeness and companionship of Allah the Almighty, and seeking refuge in Him through times of despair, is essential in maintaining purity of heart, because life is far from perfect.

We should also pause throughout the day to make dua for others affected by misfortune.

Gratitude also nurtures peace of mind and purity of heart; teaching us to value whatever we have in our lives.

Forgiveness

Having the ability to forgive and apologize for doing something wrong, or hurt someone, is an invaluable virtue.

Holding onto a wall of anger between our brothers or sisters brings complexity and impurity into a believer’s life.

Through purity of heart, we become more empathetic. If Allah the Almighty is Forgiving and Merciful, we should strive to emulate the examples set out in the Quran and Sunnah, beginning with extending mercy toward one another.

Life of Simplicity

Following the middle path, Allah the Almighty makes practicing Islam easy for us.

Islam is not intended to complicate our lives but encourages that we live in simplicity and to avoid seeking excess in the material aspects of this life.

Material things complicate our lives and diminish both physical and spiritual purity.

Simplicity brings purity of heart. Living a life of simplicity and purity will bring us back to the innocence of a child, resulting in greater happiness and peace of mind. It will make our lives easier.

Our lives become enriched by viewing the world as a creation of God’s beauty, and we should take care to not destroy the earth or be wasteful.

We should look to ourselves as creation of Allah that we, ourselves, are beautiful, and that we should make ourselves beautiful, our relationships beautiful, and that we will be rewarded in the hereafter, for Allah loves a pure and beautiful heart. This is what is most desired to Allah in the hereafter.

In looking to ourselves as the inherently beautiful creation of Allah the Almighty, it becomes easier to understand that, by striving to maintain purity in our hearts, the inner beauty we were born with radiates through our appearance, and our relationships improve as well.

What aspect of our character does Allah the Almighty value the most concerning the hereafter? He is looking for whether or not we have a pure and beautiful heart. - aboutislam.net

Allah Loves Gentleness in All Things

 

One of the most beloved qualities of good character to Allah is kindness and gentleness. Allah has reserved a special reward for those who are kind and gentle.

Aisha reported: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:

“O Aisha, Allah is gentle and He loves gentleness. He rewards for gentleness what is not granted for harshness and He does not reward anything else like it.” (Muslim)

Kindness and gentleness are traits that are inherently good, and whoever has them has been given his portion of goodness.

Prophet Muhammad said:

“He who is deprived of kindness is deprived of goodness.” (Muslim)

He also said:

“Whoever is given his portion of kindness has been given his portion of goodness, and whoever is deprived of his portion of kindness has been deprived of his portion of goodness.” (At-Tirmidhi)

Allah loves kindness and gentleness in all matters, so we should manifest these qualities even when we face abuse and cruelty. On one occasion, the Prophet was insulted and cursed by his enemies but he did not return their curse. Rather, he showed patience and forbearance and encouraged his companions to be kind.

Aisha reported:

“A group of Jews asked permission to visit the Prophet and when they were admitted they said:

“Death be upon you.”

I said to them:

“Rather death and the curse of Allah be upon you!”

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

“O Aisha, Allah is kind and He loves kindness in all matters.” (Al-Bukhari)

Indeed, Allah sent Moses and Aaron, peace be upon them, to Pharaoh and He commanded them to speak mildly to him and to begin their invitation to Islam with gentleness.

Allah said:

{Speak to him mildly that perhaps he may remember or fear Allah.} (20:44)

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was commanded to begin inviting the unbelievers of Mecca to Islam with gentleness, even though they were plotting against him and the Muslims.

Allah said:

{Verily, they are planning a plan and I am planning a plan. So give respite to the unbelievers, deal gently with them for a while.} (86:15-17)

For this reason, the Prophet was patient and forbearing with their abuse for more than twenty years. Only after the persecution became so intense was he allowed to fight back in self-defense. Even so, the Prophet was given clear instructions to accept their repentance or at least accept their offer of peace.

Allah said:

{If they repent, establish prayer, and give charity, let them go their way. Verily, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. If any one of the idolaters seeks your protection, then grant him protection so that he may hear the words of Allah. Then deliver him to his place of safety. That is because they are a people who do not know.} (9:5-6)

Thus, the door of mercy and gentleness is never closed, as even the worst of criminals are given the opportunity to repent and make amends.

Furthermore, kindness and gentleness should be shown to the animals and indeed all of creation.

Aisha reported:

“I was upon a camel which was misbehaving so I began to beat it. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“You must be gentle. Verily, gentleness is not in anything except that it beautifies it, and it is not removed from anything except that it disgraces it.” (Musnad Ahmad)

Small acts of kindness, although it might be trivial in the eyes of people, are an important means for us to be saved from Hellfire and admitted into Paradise.

Prophet Muhammad said:

“Shall I not tell you for whom the Hellfire is forbidden? It is every person accessible, polite, and mild.” (Sunan At-Tirmidhi)

Therefore, we should train ourselves and our children to be kind and gentle in all matters, among the Muslims, among unbelievers, and even with the animals. We should resist the temptation to indulge in cruelty and savagery.

We ask Allah to beautify our manners with kindness and to protect us from falling into harshness.

Source: Faith in Allah.org

Love or Marriage: What Comes First?

 

Normal Interaction vs. Serious Interaction

Although I have answered many questions concerning the issues of male-female relationships and whether Muslim society is mixed or segregated, apparently those subjects are always on top of controversial issues and need regular refreshment!

In all societies, men and women communicate for different reasons at work, in business, in market places, in classrooms, etc. In such cases what do we need intimacy for?

When intimate feelings grow between a man and a woman whose intentions are not directed towards marriage, it becomes a serious problem.

It could lead to an extra- or pre-marital sexual affair, which is not accepted under any circumstances.

When Things Get Serious: Talk!

But in some cases a couple feels a certain attraction towards each other with a “serious” intention to get married; here the situation becomes different.

In this case meeting and talking are not only permitted but also recommended.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) directed the couple who are planning for an engagement to talk and look at one another in order to make the decision.

This is to be considered the basis upon which love and affection is established between them.

However, such closeness with the intention of getting married is not left without limits; as I have just mentioned, pre-marital sex is not allowed under any circumstances.

Limitations

A woman must never be alone with a man in a private place; she should have her father, brother, or uncle with her.

Or in the case of converts or others who don’t have family to chaperon, a potential couple can double-date with a married couple or in a public place, while keeping with the sharia limitations.

This way the potential spouses can get to know each other and also see how they interact with others, which is just as important in getting to know a person.

Also, in Muslim countries it is the custom for a man and woman, once they have agreed to marry, to have an `aqd (signing of the marriage contract) some weeks or months before consummating the marriage and living together.

After the `aqd is signed they are legally and religiously married and may be alone together.

Away from the religious ruling of prohibition, I doubt that premarital cohabitation or even flirtation can lead to a better understanding of the “would be” husband or wife.

On the contrary, this type of relationship confines love to that of a physical attraction, which, I believe, is too strong to allow reason to work in a proper way.

Lust Blinds Reason

Tom Stoppard, the famous British playwright, once stated:

Sex is the attraction that Newton left out.

An attraction of such severity can possibly blind the eyes from detecting the actual defects in the future life partner.

Whereas keeping a reasonable distance from him or her may give a better overall vision that does not concentrate on one aspect—that of physical desire—at the expense of other aspects that are related to the personality.

In addition to this, with marriage being a decision of such magnitude, parents are invited to give their opinion about it.

This decision is made not only through passion but through the experience of life, which young couples definitely lack.

Islam looks at this relationship as a sacred responsibility and not as a love game or temporal pleasure.

In this way Islam’s restriction on intimacy between man and woman, even in the case of a planned marriage, is not meant to fail this marriage as much as it is to supply it with all possible factors of success.

First, by making it a wise decision based on reason and logical thinking, away from the pressure of sexual desires; and second by making it “imperative” for the parents to give an opinion. - aboutislam.net

On the Journey to Allah, Beware of Three

 

“Travel is an adventure,” or so goes the slogan for a popular on-line travel company.

And though it may be nice to call it an adventure, in reality, sometimes travel can be downright difficult.

Whether it is getting lost in the middle of nowhere or running out of gas when we are miles from a station, or simply miscalculating how many diapers our baby needed for the trip, when things go wrong on our journey, we usually want to right them as quickly as possible.

Similarly, on the journey each of us takes to Allah, we may feel at times we’ve lost our way, that our hearts are in the middle of nowhere.

These can be very difficult times when we may not be sure how to continue moving forward. Sometimes we may not even realize that we’ve gone in the wrong direction until we find ourselves spiritually in very unfamiliar and lonely territory.

What are the signs that we have deviated from our journey to Allah and what should we do when we realize we are off our charted path?

Beware of Three

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) warned us of three destructive qualities that can cause our hearts to deviate from their spiritual journey to Allah. In fact, these qualities are so dangerous, so noxious, that they can prevent us from undertaking the journey at all. He said:

“Three are destructive: an obeyed stinginess, a desire that is followed, and a person who is pleased with himself.” (Ibn Majah, 4014)

At first glance, we might overlook the severity of these qualities, thinking, “Those don’t sound so bad.”

However, the destruction they cause to the heart is like the destruction a tornado causes when it touches down on land: not only do they harm the people who harbor them but they can cause the demise of an entire community.

What’s perhaps most concerning is that sometimes qualities can be very difficult to detect by the individual who harbors them. Much introspection and reflection is required on our parts to make sure our hearts are purified from such vices.

Obeyed Stinginess

The first quality the Prophet warned about is an obeyed stinginess, in Arabic: shoh mota’. The word shoh means “stinginess” and mota’ means “that is followed.” Shoh refers to the hidden inclination of a person characterized by preferring to hold and keep for oneself rather than give. When this inclination is obeyed, it becomes bukhl, greed or miserliness.

One of the most destructive and hated qualities found in any person is greed (bukhl). Greed is a very serious disease of the heart defined as the excessive desire to “possess wealth, goods, or objects of abstract value with the intention to keep it for one’s self, far beyond the dictates of basic survival and comfort.”

Greed causes a person to overlook the good they already have and insatiably demand more. Sadly, this is often in effort to fill whatever emptiness that person feels inside. This can not only destroy the individual, but the society around him as well.

Islam teaches that we must fight our inner inclinations of stinginess and even requires that we actively do so by paying an annual charity, zakah. Not paying zakah out of greed is an example of obeyed stinginess in its most lethal form.

But even when giving is optional, society will suffer if humans obey their inner feelings of stinginess. This stinginess may be in the form of withholding money, but can also be in the form of withholding time, resources, and even emotional support and love for others—and often, the latter does more harm than the former.

The ability to fight against the internal stinginess we naturally harbor is an act of maturity and of obedience and consciousness (taqwa) of Allah. Allah Almighty tells us in the Quran that those who are able to overcome their own stinginess are the ones promised success.

We should thus make every effort to overcome our internal stinginess, to go against the desire to withhold and to give generously. Not only will Allah compensate and reward us abundantly, but we will experience the fruits of our generosity at the level of our hearts.

Desire that is Followed

The next destructive quality the Prophet warned against is a desire that is followed. The word desire in Arabic is hawa.

Allah mentions the peril of the one who follows his own hawa in numerous places throughout the Quran. For example, He says:

Have you seen he who has taken as his god his (own) hawa (desire), and Allah has sent him astray due to knowledge and has set a seal upon his hearing and his heart and put over his vision a veil? So who will guide him after Allah? Then will you not be reminded? (45:23)

The Arabic word hawa connotes more than the English word desire, for people naturally desire many things and some of them are totally lawful in Islam.[1]

Hawa is more like a strong passion for something, so strong that if it takes hold of a person, will cause him to act without consideration for what Allah and His Prophet have ordained.

Hawa is one of the most destructive forces upon the heart. It comes from a state of mind where a person feels that his or her vision, opinions, and interpretation of things, is best and most correct and can thus blind him or her from seeing truth as truth and falsehood as falsehood.

For example, the Quran tells of disbelievers who, because they followed their desires were blinded from seeing the truth of Islam.

The Prophet qualified desire as being destructive only when it is followed. But how can we discern if we are following our own hawa? Sometimes, it isn’t easy.

We must do our best to regularly increase our understanding of Islam and make sure that our actions align with what Islam teaches.

We must also be wary of providing our own opinions on matters pertaining to what Allah has ordained for us and should check ourselves when we feel like we’re the only one in the world with the correct understanding of Islam.

Moreover, we should reflect on the things we love and desire most in this world, be they material objects, positions of power and leadership, or even the love and admiration of others, and honestly assess whether pursuing those things is helping or hindering us on our journey to Allah.

Being Pleased with Oneself

The third destructive behavior that the Prophet warned of is that a person be pleased with himself, or in Arabic, have ujb of his own nafs.

The Arabic word ujb can be defined as conceit, the overestimation of one’s own worth and virtue. Conceit leads to arrogance and vanity because it causes a person to feel superior to others and fail to see his own failings and faults.

One of the most frightening things about conceit is that it often accompanies good deeds. For example, if a person has succeeded in fasting or in praying at night, he may feel happy and pleased with his actions.

If these feelings are the result of his appreciation that Allah is the One who has favored him and graced him with the ability to perform such actions, then this is not the conceit the Prophet warned against.

However, if the pride he feels stems from a belief that it is he who is the doer of these deeds and who possesses these good qualities, if he is pleased with himself on account of his own goodness, then this would be considered ujb or the destructive kind of conceit.

Such pleasure with oneself can reach such a degree that the person actually feels he is conferring some sort of favor upon Allah in performing such acts of goodness, rather than realizing that Allah is free from all wants and needs and that these actions really will only benefit or harm the one doing them.

“There is no greater gate from which we enter to Allah Almighty than the gate of humility by which we recognize that we have nothing and are nothing without the help of Allah. In contrast, the quickest path to misery in this world and in the hereafter is the path of exalting, praising, and feeling satisfied with the nafs (self).” [2]

Being pleased with ourselves leads us to commit violations against ourselves and forgo the very happiness that we claim to be pursuing

. It also prevents the kind of critical self-reflection that can lead to positive growth. Thus, if an entire society becomes pleased with itself and conceited due to its accomplishments, that society will surely fail to advance and may destroy itself.

Sometimes we may feel we’ve lost our way on the journey to Allah. Rather than despair, we should remember that Allah’s guidance is always there for the one who seeks it.

And though it may take effort to look inside and purify ourselves of the vices we see, doing so is one of the first steps to getting our hearts back on the right path so as to arrive at our desired destination, both in this world and in the hereafter.

---

[1] “The Arabic term (hawa) is derived from the Arabic word that means to fall. It is also related to the Arabic word for wind. One’s passion is like the wind, in that it comes, stirs up emotion, and then dies down. One cannot really see it, only its effect.” —Hamza Yusuf, The Purification of the Heart.

[2] Mokhtar Maghraoui, “Avoiding Major Ailments of the Heart.” Audio Lecture

- aboutislam.net

About Marwa Abdalla

Marwa Abdalla received her B.A. in political science from Southwestern University, in Georgetown, Texas, and is currently working toward a degree in Islamic Studies with the American Open University. She is interested in writing about Islam, marriage and family. Her writing has been published in a book entitled Toward the Well Being of Humanity as well as on numerous websites. She lives with her husband and three daughters in San Diego, CA.

Is Guidance a Divine Gift For the Chosen?

 

May Allah purify our hearts from heedlessness and grant us hidayah, ameen! 

First of all, the Arabic word “hidayah” means guidance. The verb “yahdi” means to grant guidance.

Of course, it is Allah who grants guidance to people, thus hidayah is a God-given gift, which He places in the heart of whomever He wants to give guidance. 

Almighty Allah says in the Quran:

{Lo! the guidance is Allah’s guidance.} (Quran 2:73)

Hidayah is mentioned in so many places in the Quran and the hadith. It is, in fact, this merit that elevates humankind and makes us distinguished from animals.

Thus, the Quran describes those who lack guidance and those who are cut from their Lord as being degraded to the level of animals in the sense that they will be looking only for fulfilling the lusts and needs of the flesh. 

Hidayah is always associated with the spiritual elevation a person feels when Almighty Allah helps him or her offer a good deed or find a way to his/her problems. 

The Quran itself is described, before all, as ‘Huda’ (guidance).

Like the beacon that shows us the way in the darkness, the solace for the agonized hearts, the rope of salvation for a drowning person; hidayah plays a vital role in our lives.

It separates those who lead an animalistic life from those who know their way.

Seek Guidance from Allah

The Quran makes it clear that there are certain conditions and qualifications to gain hidayah.

In the very beginning of Surat al-Fatihah (Chapter 1 of the Quran), believers are indirectly instructed to seek guidance from Allah. Almighty Allah says:

{Guide us to the straight path -The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.} (Quran 1:6-7)

The Quran also clarifies that those who gain guidance and feel its sweetness are not the lazy or the advocates of evil; but they are the pious and the devout, who spend their all for the sake of Allah.

Almighty Allah speaks of the Quran as being ‘hudan li-l-muttaqeen’ (a guidance unto those who ward off – evil.) Simply, because God helps only those who want to help themselves. 

Again, the Quran states that those who seek guidance will be elevated in guidance and given more of it. Thus, two facts are to be considered; hidayah is the divine gift which Almighty Allah gives to whomever He loves and people should be qualified with piety and Allah fearing in order to gain it. 

Of course, people differ in regards to their reception of guidance; some people are ready and fast in achieving guidance while others are too slow.

In a hadith (prophetic tradition), the Prophet (peace be upon him) categorizes people, in respect of receiving and accepting guidance, into three categories: those who benefit from guidance themselves and help others get it, those who just help others but are not able to practice it themselves, and those who are like barren land; they do not accept guidance nor do they help people find it. 

The Ways to Gain Hidayah:

1- Having a deep and strong relationship with Allah, turning to Him for needs and fearing Him in secret, as well as in public.

2- Seeking knowledge and purifying one’s intention for Allah in every word and deed.

3- Strict obedience to Allah and following His commands and teachings.

A Muslim should always be eager to gain hidayah and spend his/her life asking Allah for it.

The one who is granted hidayah is really the successful and the happy person, simply because he/she will find him/herself leading a peaceful life.

For these reasons, seeking hidayah is the command of Allah and His messenger. 

In the Quran, Allah says:

{O you who believe; Obey Allah, and the messenger when He calls you to that which quickens you, and know that Allah comes in between the man and his own heart, and that He it is unto Whom you will be gathered.} (Quran 8:24)

When one of us has a precious stone, he/she will cherish it and look after it all the time.

By the same token, when Allah grants you guidance, then you are gifted with something very precious.

To keep this ni`ma (blessing), a Muslim should always show gratitude to Allah for it, since Allah says:

{And when your Lord proclaimed: If you give thanks, I will give you more; but if you are thankless, lo! My punishment is dire.} (Quran 14:7)

It is clear that when a person shows thankfulness, Allah will grant him/her more.

Also, showing obedience to Allah is the highest way to keep this blessing of hidayah. 

So, a Muslim should keep himself remote from disobedience as far as he can so as to gain hidayah, find his/her way and lead his/her life in peace and tranquility.

May Allah purify our hearts and guide us to the best of deeds in this world and success in the afterlife, ameen! 

- aboutislam.net

About Sheikh Ahmad Saad

Ahmed Saad is the founding director of Ihsan Institute of Arabic & Islamic Studies-UK. An international speaker and dynamic scholar. (http://www.ihsaninstitute.co.uk )

Contentment: Sign of a True Believer

 

– “How much money do you have?’’

– “I have millions.”

– “Do you want more?”

– “Yes, I do.”

– “How many children have you got?”

– “I have three.”

– “Do you want more?”

– “Yes, I do.”

Think of the “how many” and “how much” questions you can ask someone and his expected answers. The answers are very normal. You know why?

Because it is natural that people want to be richer, healthier, and more famous than others. If one has a Land Cruiser car, he aims for a Jaguar. If he has one house, he wants to have a second then a third. It is very rare to find someone who would answer: “No. I do not want … I am happy with what I have.”

But such an answer is expected from someone who has a degree of faith in his heart.

Belief is the driving power that makes you feel content with things that have been destined for you. Through belief, one can enjoy the blessings of this life and earn Allah’s pleasure in the world to come.

Contentment is a sign of a true believer. When one is afflicted with catastrophes and shows patience and contentment and does not complain about his sufferings; be sure that he is indeed a true believer.

By this, we are not saying that those who want to be richer, healthier, more famous, etc. are not believers. But they lack the complete understanding of belief. Contentment does not mean that you do not feel the pains and trials of this life. You feel them, but you do not complain about them.

The virtue of contentment is closely connected with the virtue of putting trust in Allah. When one shows contentment with what he has got and does not foster envy or hatred towards others, he is certain that Allah will not let him down and there is a great reward awaiting him.

Allah’s Contentment with His Servants

Muslims are required to accept Islam and follow its teachings as their way of life. They are also commanded by Allah to enjoin what is good and forbid what is bad. In addition, Muslims are to denounce associating others with Allah. Once Muslims fulfill Allah’s commands and obligations, Allah will be satisfied with them and He will bestow His mercy and pleasure upon them.

Allah’s Pleasure as a Reward

We read in the Quran what gives the following meaning:

{God will say, ‘This is a Day when the truthful will benefit from their truthfulness. They will have Gardens graced with flowing streams, there to remain for ever. God is pleased with them and they with Him: that is the supreme triumph.’} (Al-Ma’idah 5:119)

In another verse we read what means:

{Their reward with their Lord is everlasting Gardens graced with flowing streams, where they will stay forever. God is well pleased with them and they with Him.} (Al-Bayyinah 98:8)

It is reported that Allah will call the people of Paradise in the Hereafter saying: (Enter Paradise; whatever you see in it is yours.” They would say: “O Lord, You have bestowed upon us (favors) which You did not bestow upon anyone else in the world.” He would say: “There is with Me (a favor) for you better than this.” They would say: “O our Lord! What is better than this?” He would say: “It is My pleasure. I will never be angry with you after this.) (Sahih Muslim)

The Quranic verses and the Prophetic Hadith speak for themselves. Allah’s pleasure is the highest reward for Muslims in Paradise.

A very clear evidence for this is the verse which reads:

{God has promised the believers, both men and women, Gardens graced with flowing streams where they will remain; good, peaceful homes in Gardens of lasting bliss; and–greatest of all–God’s good pleasure. That is the supreme triumph.} (At-Tawbah 9:72)

Benefits of Contentment

With contentment one feels inner peace and spirituality increases. When one fosters contentment, he loves others and would be loved by others. He does not compare himself with those who are in better conditions, but rather he remembers those who are in worse conditions.  For example, if someone is one-handed, he should be content and remember those who do not have hands at all.

If the spirit of contentment prevails in a society, there would be no place for greedy people who foster discontent. Contentment and patience earn one Paradise in the Hereafter. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is reported to have said:

“Allah will not accept other than Paradise for a believing person who is afflicted with the death of his beloved one from among the inhabitants of the world and shows patience.” (Al-Nasa’i)

Contentment will get you closer to Allah in this world and the world to come. If one is content, he will not suffer psychological problems such as depression, worries, anxiety, etc.   When you feel discontent, Satan will find his way to your heart. But with contentment, Satan’s way will be blocked and you will be busy with the things that please Allah.

Examples of Contentment

Prophet Zakariah (peace be upon him) used to pray to Allah to grant him a child who will be well pleasing to Allah. We read in the Quran what means:

{… to be my heir and the heir of the family of Jacob. Lord, make him well pleasing [to You].} (Maryam 19:6)

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) used to pray to Allah saying:

“I ask you to grant me contentment after You decree my destiny.” (Al-Tabarani)

The story of Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) is an example of contentment. Prophet Yusuf was put to many trials; his brothers threw him into the hidden depths of a well. He was put into prison because of a false allegation. He never complained to Allah, but he showed patience. Allah rewarded him for his contentment by giving him a standing as he became the second man in Egypt.

At the end of the story when his dream came true, what did he say? A man in his position would have mentioned the trials he went through. On the contrary, he looked at the good side of the trials and said:

{Father, this is the fulfillment of that dream I had long ago. My Lord has made it come true and has been gracious to me– He released me from prison and He brought you here from the desert– after Satan sowed discord between me and my brothers.} (Yusuf 12:100)

When Abdullah ibn Mutraf, one of the Companions, died, his father came out of the house in his best clothes. When he was asked why he wore such clothes, he answered: “Why should I be sad? Allah has promised me three things, each of them is better than this life and what it contains.”

Allah says:

{ … Those who say, when afflicted with a calamity, ‘We belong to God and to Him we shall return.’ These will be given (1) blessings and (2) mercy from their Lord, and (3) it is they who are rightly guided.} (Al-Baqarah 2:156-7)

A friend of mine has been married for almost 8 years now, but has not yet had any children. Whenever I ask him about it, his answer is always: “Alhamdullilah” (Thanks and Praise be to Allah). They are leading a very happy and peaceful life because they are content with what Allah has destined for them.

How to be Content

Here are some tips on how to obtain contentment:

–    Do not cry over spilled milk. Whenever you miss a job, for example, do not feel embarrassed. Be sure that the money that you were supposed to earn from that job is not yours; it is somebody else’s. Your provision (rizq) will come to you through another channel.

–    Refine your heart. Think always of the things that will draw you nearer to Allah. Leave out the trivialities.  You have a purpose in life.

–    Think of the rewards awaiting you in the Hereafter. Allah says:

{Whatever things you have been given for the life of this world are merely [temporary] gratification and vanity: that which is with Allah is better and more lasting– will you not use your reason?} (Al-Qasas 28:60)

–    Think always of the present day. Do not worry about the future. Be content with what you have today.

–    Look at the positive aspects of each calamity. For example, if someone is involved in a car accident which he survived and you ask him about it, he will tell you that the car has been damaged and it needs a lot of money to fix. So, he will think first of the damaged car and forget that he survived the accident and he is still alive.

–    Finally, the key to happiness is this sentence: “Allah willed what will happen, and whatever He wants will come to pass.” By this you are acknowledging the authority and power of Allah, and you are declaring your acceptance of His Divine Decree.

- aboutislam.net

About Dr. Mohsen Haredy

Dr. Mohsen Haredy holds a PhD in Hadith literature from Leiden University, the Netherlands. He is the former Executive Manager and Editor-in-Chief of E-Da`wah Committee in Kuwait, and a contributing writer and counselor of Reading Islam. He graduated from Al-Azhar University and earned his MA in Hadith literature from Leiden University.

Hold On to Allah, No Matter What!

Allah (SWT) advised us in the Qur’an to hold on tight to Him even if we’re in a bad surroundings or our friends are not praying or they’re far from Allah; that should not be an excuse. In this video, Ustadh Nouman Ali Khan gives talks about this in details, giving a great example of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) who held unto Allah even when everyone was against him. - aboutislam.net