And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out [from every difficulty]. And He will provide him from [sources] he never could imagine. And whosoever puts his trust in Allah, and then He will suffice him.)

(Qur'an 65: 2-3)

Allah will grant after hardship, ease. (Qur'an 65. 7)

The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) said:

"And know that victory comes with patience, and with hardship there is a way out, and with difficulty comes ease."

In another hadith, the Prophet (bpuh) related that Allah said: "I am with my slave's thoughts about me, so let him think of me as he chooses."

Allah will suffice you against them. And He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.
(Qur'an 2: 137)

And put your trust in the Ever Living One that dies not... (Qur'an 25: 58)

Perhaps Allah may bring a victory or a decision according to His Will. (Qur'an 5: 52)

None besides Allah can avert it, [or advance it, or delay it]. (Qur'an 53: 58)

"If Allah loves a people, He tests them. Whoever is pleased, for him there is pleasure, and whoever is angry, upon him there is wrath."

"The most harshly tested people are the Prophets, followed in succession by those who are best after them. A man is tested according to his religion. If his religion is strong with him, his test will be more intense. If his religion is weak with him, he will be tested according to the level of his religion. (Allah's) slave will continually be tested until he is left to walk on the earth without a mistake (to have to account for)."

"Wonderful is the situation of the believer. All of his affairs are good (for him)! And this is only for the believer. If good befalls him, he is thankful, and that is good for him. If harm afflicts him, he is patient, and that is good for him."

"And know that if the entire Nation were to gather upon benefiting you with something, they would only benefit you with something that Allah has (already) written for you. And if they were to gather upon harming you with something, they would only harm you with something that Allah has (already) written for you."

"The righteous ones are tested: first, the best of them, then the next, and so on."

"The believer is like a tiny branch; the wind blows it to the right and to the left."

And indeed we have destroyed towns [populations] round about you. (Qur’an 46:27)

There is the tragic example of the Barmak family, a family that lived a life of opulence, comfort, and extravagance. Their end, however, has served as a lesson and example for all Arabs who came after them. Haroon ar-Rasheed, the ruler during their period, ordered an unexpected attack on the Barmak family and on their possessions. Allah's decree came to pass over them in the morning at the hands of the closest person to them: he destroyed their homes, took possession of their slaves, and shed their blood. Their loved ones and children wept at their disgrace. There is none worthy of worship except Allah; those who know the story should especially appreciate the transitory nature of power and wealth in this world:

Then take admonition, O' you with eyes [to see]. (Qur'an 59: 2)

Only one hour before their downfall, they were strutting in silks, full of joy and complacency, feeling secure from harm, unaware of the vicissitudes of life.

And you dwelt in the dwellings of men who wronged themselves, and it was clear to you how we had dealt with them. And we put forth [many] parables for you. (Qur 'an 14: 45)

They swaggered in their life of play; however, sadly for them, they mistook the mirage for water and this life for eternal existence. They wrongly thought that justice would not overtake them and that vindication would not come about for the wronged.

...and they thought that they would never return to us. (Qur’an 28 :39)

They woke up that morning in a state of joy but by the time the night had fallen, they were in their graves. In a moment of anger and caprice, Haroon ar-Rasheed unsheathed the sword of wrath upon them, killing Ja'far ibn Yahya al-Barmaki, by hanging him on a cross and then burning his body. He imprisoned his father Yahya and his brother Al-Fadl. Their wealth was confiscated. Their plight was mourned over by many Arab poets. One of them said:

"When I saw the sword mixed in Ja'far,
And a caller announced the news of Yahya to the Khaleefah, I mourned over this world and I came to truly believe that in the near horizon is a day when a boy will depart from this world,
It is nothing but one country and ruler supplanted by another,
The event of misfortune follows the appointment of blessings.
If this one dwells in the high mansions of a king,
Then that one sinks to the lowest depths of misery."

But as for the present, where is Haroon ar-Rasheed and where is the Barmak family? Where is the murderer and where is the murdered? Where is the one who ordered the killing while he was lying down on a bed in his castle? And where is the one who was crucified? Yesterday and the actors of yesterday are both gone. But the Most Just will judge between them on a Day about which there is no doubt, a Day wherein there shall be neither wrongdoing nor injustice.

The knowledge thereof is with my Lord, in a Record. My Lord is neither unaware nor he, forgets. (Qur 'an 20:52)

The Day when [all] mankind will stand before the Lord of theAalameen [mankind, jinns and all that exists]. (Qur'an 83: 6)

That Day shall you be brought to Judgment, not a secret of you will be hidden. (Qur 'an 69: 18)

Yahya ibn Khalid al-Barmaki was asked concerning this calamity, "Do you know its cause?" He said, "Perhaps it was the supplication of someone whom we wronged, a prayer that traveled quickly through the night while we were unaware of it."
`Abdullah ibn Mu'aawiyah ibn `Abdullah ibn Ja`far said in jail about his imprisonment:

"We have departed from the world and we are still of its inhabitants,
We are neither from the dead nor from the living, if the jail guard comes in for one reason or another,
We are astonished and say: This one has come from the world, Overjoyed do we become after seeing a dream, because most of our talk
When we wake up is about the dreams we saw,
If it was a good one, ever so slowly it comes to pass, and when it is bad, it waits not but comes with speed."

There is a good deal of cynicism in the last two lines; after reading, them I am
reminded of the words of Al-Jaahiz: "When the mailman brings news to us,
Concerning some evil event he loses no time and makes haste, Thus, when evil, it arrives after a day and a night, And when it is good, it takes its time and arrives after a week.”

A Persian king once imprisoned a wise man, who wrote to him saying, "Every hour that I pass in here, I come closer to ease and you to wrath. So I wait for better times. Meanwhile, you are promised a bitter humiliation."

After reaching the summit of opulence and extravagance, Ibn `Abbaad, the Sultan of Andalusia, faced a crisis. At a time when frivolity and musical instruments and dancers became prevalent in his castle, the Romans attacked him, and so he sought aid from the Sultan of Morocco, Ibn Taashfeen. The latter crossed the ocean with his army and brought with him victory. Ibn `Abbaad treated him as an honored guest, allowing him to treat his castles and gardens as if they were his own. But Ibn Taashfeen was observing the situation like a lion, and he had other plans.

After only three days, Ibn Taashfeen and his army attacked the weakened kingdom of Andalusia. Ibn `Abbaad was taken captive and his properties were seized. His castles and gardens were destroyed and he was transported to his home province of Agmaat as a prisoner.

And so are the days [good and not so good], we give to men by turns. (Qur'an 3: 140)

The dominion of Andalusia fell into the hands of Ibn Taashfeen: he claimed that the leadership was rightfully his, since it was the people of Andalusia who had summoned him from Morocco in the first place.

Much time passed, and then one day the daughters of Ibn `Abbaad managed to visit him in prison. They came barefoot, hungry, wan, and in tears. When he witnessed their pathetic situation, he cried out:

"In past days I would rejoice on special occasions,
But what a miserable occasion is it in Agama as a prisoner. You see your daughters emaciated and hungry,
They stitch for people and they own nothing.
They come to see you fearful and weak,
With sad eyes and broken hearts,
Traveling on mud barefoot,
As if those feet never trampled on precious perfume and roses”.

So when Our Commandment came, we turned [the towns of Sodom in Palestine] upside down... (Qur 'an 11: 82)

Verily the likeness of [this] worldly life is as the water [rain] which We send down from the sky so by it arises the intermingled produce of the earth of which men and cattle eat until when the earth is clad with adornments and is beautified, and its people think that they have all the powers of disposal over it, Our Command reaches it by night or by day and We make it like a clean-mown harvest, as if it had not flourished yesterday. (Qur'an 10:24)

William James said:

"God forgives us our sins, but our nervous systems do not."

Ibn al-Wazeer wrote in his book AI-Awaasim wa al-Qawaasim: "Verily, to be hopeful of Allah's mercy opens the doors of optimism for one of His slaves, making him more avid in worship, and inspiring him to be more enthusiastic in performing voluntary acts of worship and racing to perform good deeds."

This is true, especially because some people are not moved to do good deeds except when they recall Allah's mercy, forgiveness, and generosity. As a consequence of reflecting on these qualities, they seek closeness to Allah through diligently performing good deeds.

Doctor Russell Cecil of Cornell University mentioned four widespread causes of arthritis:

1. Marital strife.

2. Financial difficulties and depression.

3. Loneliness and anxiety.

4. Malice and rancor.

Doctor William Mark Gaungil, while addressing the Federation of American Dentists, remarked:

"Unhappy feelings like anxiety and fear possibly affect the distribution of calcium in the body, and in consequence, can lead to tooth decay."

And it is not your wealth, nor your children that bring you nearer to us [i.e. pleases Allah], but only he [will please us] who believes [in the Islamic Monotheism] and does righteous deeds; as for such, there will be twofold reward for what they did, and they will reside in the high dwellings [Paradise] in peace and security. (Qur'an 34: 37)

Dale Carnegie said:

"Statistics have proven that stress and anxiety are the number one killers in America. As a result of the last world war, one third of a million of our soldiers were killed. In the same period, heart disease was the cause of two million deaths. And from this latter group, stress, anxiety, and nervous tension were the source of sickness for one million people."

Yes, heart disease is one of the main reasons that prompted Dr.Alexis Carlyle to say:

"Working people who do not know how to deal with stress die prematurely.'

Though the reasoning and logic that prompted Carlyle to say this are sound, we must still remember:

And no person can ever die except by Allah's Leave and at an appointed term. (Qur 'an 3: 145)

Black Americans and the Chinese rarely fall prey to diseases of the heart. They are people who live life with tranquility and calmness. On the other hand, you will find that the number of doctors who die of heart attacks is twenty times more than the number of farmers who die of the same cause. Doctors live a tough and stress-filled life, for which they pay a heavy price.

Faith in Allah, the Almighty, is to happiness and peace, while disbelief is to confusion and misery. I have read about many intelligent people of a certain kind, some who might even be called geniuses, geniuses though whose hearts are bereft of the light ofguidance. And as such, they spoke wicked words about the Shari'ah (Islamic law). These are two examples that come to mind: Abu al 'Ulaa al-Ma`arri said about the Shari'ah, "Contradiction, concerning which we can do nothing but stay quiet." Second, is the saying of Ibn Seena, "The element that influences nature is the active intellect."

I thus came to know that to the degree that one has faith in his heart will one be happy. More recent sayings, similar in meaning to the two above, are the offspring of the evil words of old that were spoken by Fir'aun:

Fir `aun [Pharaoh] said: 'O' chiefs! I know not that you have an ilah [a god] other than me... (Qur 'an 28: 38)

Fir'aun said: '1 am vour lord, most high. (Qur'an 79: 24)

James Allen, author of How Man Thinks, said:

"Man will come to know that each time he changes his opinions and thoughts concerning things and other people, those same things and people will in their part also change... Suppose someone to have changed his thinking, and we will be astonished to learn how quickly the state of his material life changes. Therefore the sacred thing that shapes our goals is our own selves."

Regarding incorrect thinking and its effects, Allah, the Exalted, says:

Nay, but you thought that the Messenger [Muhammad] and the believers would never return to their families; and that seemed fair in your hearts, and you did think an evil thought and you became a useless people going for destruction. (Qur'an 48: 12)

And they thought wrongly of Allah the thought of ignorance. They said, Have we any part in the affair? Say you [O' Muhammad]:`Indeed the affair belongs wholly to Allah. (Qur'an 3: 154)

James Allen also said:

"Everything that a person accomplishes is a direct result of his personal thinking... And man is capable of triumphing and of achieving his goals through his thinking; he will remain weak and miserable if he refuses to acknowledge this."

Allah, the Almighty, said of true determination and correct thought:

And if they had intended to march out, certainly, they would have made some preparation for it, but Allah was averse to their being sent forth, so He made them lag behind... (Qur'an 9. 46)

Had Allah known of any good in them, He would indeed have made them listen... (Qur'an 8: 23)

He knew what was in their hearts, and He sent down As-Sakinah [calmness and tranquility] upon them, and He rewarded them with a near victory...
(Qur 'an 48: 18)

Do not grieve over trivialities for the entire world is trivial

A righteous person was once thrown into a lion's cage, and Allah then saved him from its claws. He was later asked, "What were you thinking about at the time." He said, "I was considering the saliva of a lion - whether it is considered by scholars to be pure or impure (i.e. whether, when I die, I will be in a state of purity or not)."

Allah described those who were with the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) according to their intentions:

Omong you are some that desire this world and some that desire the Hereafter.
(Qur 'an 3: 152)

Ibn al-Qayyim mentioned that a person's value is measured according to his determination and his goals. A wise person once said words to the same effect:

"Inform me of a man's determination and I will tell you what kind of man he is."

A vessel capsized at sea, and a worshipper was hurled into the water. He began to make ablution, one limb at a time. He managed to get to shore and was saved. He was asked about the ablution and why he made it, to which he replied, "I wanted to make ablution so that I would die in a state of purity."

Imam Ahmad, during the pangs of death, was pointing to his beard while others were making his ablution for him, reminding them not to miss a spot.

So Allah gave them the reward of this world, and the excellent reward of the Hereafter. (Qur'an 3: 148)

Do not grieve when you are shown overt enmity, for if you forgive and forget, you will have achieved nobility in this world and honor in the next.

But whoever forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is due from Allah.
(Qur 'an 42: 40)

Shakespeare said words to the effect of,

"Don't light the oven too much for your enemy in order not to burn yourself by the flame."

Someone said to Saalim ibn `Abdullah ibn `Umar, a scholar from the early generations of Islam, "You are an evil man." He quickly replied, "None knows me save you."

A man said in a verbal attack to Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him):
"By Allah, I will curse you with such curses that will enter with you into your grave." He calmly answered, "Nay, but they shall enter with you into yours."

And someone said to `Amr ibn al-`Aas,

"I will dedicate myself to waging war against you." `Amr replied, "Now have you fallen into what supersedes all else, and it will be your preoccupation (i.e. your misery)."

General Eisenhower once exclaimed:

"Let us not waste one minute in thought over those whom we do not love."

The mosquito said to the tree:

Remain firm, for I wish to fly away and leave you." The tree answered, "By Allah, I felt not your landing on me! Then how will I feel you when you fly away." Hatim said:

"I forgive the generous one when he saves some of his wealth,
And I turn away from the curses of the accursed one generously."

And if they pass by some evil play or evil talk, they pass by it with dignity
(Qur 'an 25. 72)

(And when the foolish address them [with bad words] they reply back with mild words of gentleness. (Qur'an 25: 63)

Confucius said:

"The angry man is always replete with poison."

One man asked the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) to give him advice three times. He (bpuh) answered each time: "Don't be angry."

The Prophet (bpuh) said of anger in the following hadith: "Anger is an ember from the fire."

The Devil overcomes man on three occasions: when he is angry, when he feels lust, and when he is in a state of forgetfulness.

In an authentic hadith, the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) advised us to repeat this phrase often:

"O' (Allah) who is full of Majesty and Honor."

He (bpuh) also advised us to say:

"O' Ever Living, O' One Who sustains and protects all that exists."

Therefore, for one's own well being, one should invoke Allah and seek His help with these phrases, and the answer will surely then follow.

[Remember] when you sought help of your Lord and He answered vou. (Qur'an 8: 9)

In the life of a Muslim, there are three truly joyful days:

1. The day that he abjures sinning and performs his obligatory prayers in congregation.

Answer Allah [by obeying Him] and [His] Messenger when he calls you...) (Qur 'an 8: 24)

2. The day that he repents from a sin, forsakes it, and returns to his Lord.

Then, He accepted their repentance that they might repent [unto Him]. (Qur'an 9. 118)

3. The day that he dies to meet his Lord, having performed a final deed that is both good and pure.

"Whosoever loves to meet Allah, Allah loves to meet him."

After having studied the life of the Prophet's Companions (may Allah be pleased with them all), I found in them five characteristics that distinguish them from others:

1. They led simple lives that were free from ostentation and extravagance.

And we shall make easy for you [O' Muhammad] the easy way Ii. e. the doing of righteous deeds]. (Qur'an 87: 8)

2. Their knowledge of religious matters was as blessed as it was profound. And more importantly, they accompanied that knowledge with practical application.

Are only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allah? (Qur'an 35: 28)

3. They gave precedence to deeds of the heart over deeds that others could see. Thus, they had sincerity; they depended upon Allah; they loved Him; they hoped from Him only; and they feared none save Him. Furthermore, they assiduously performed voluntary acts of worship, such as prayer and fasting.

He knew what was in their hearts... (Qur'an 48: 18)

4. They did not seek the world and its pleasures. They turned their backs in disdain on material possessions, and they reaped the fruits of this noble stance: happiness, peace of mind, and sincerity.

Arrd whoever desires the Hereafter and strives .for it, with the necessary effort due for it [i.e. do righteous deeds of Allah :s Obedience] while he is a believer... (Qur'an 17: 19)

5. Jihad was a priority for them over other good deeds until it became a banner by which they were recognized. And through Jihad, they annihilated their worries and troubles, because all of the following are a part of Jihad: remembrance, striving, effort, and activity.

As .for those who strive hard in us [Our Cause], we will surely guide them to Our Paths [i.e. Allah's Religion - Islamic Monotheism]. And verily, Allah is with the good doers. (Qur'an 29: 69)

In the Qur'an, truths and realities that are constant and do not change are mentioned concerning this life. Here are the ones that are related to the subject matter of this book.
Whoever works for Allah, He will help him:

If you help [in the cause on Allah, He will help you, and make your foothold firma (Qur'an 47: 7)

Whoever asks of Allah, He will answer him:

And your Lord said: `Invoke Me, I will respond to your [invocation]. (Qur'an 40: 60)

When one asks Allah for forgiveness, He will forgive him: He said: `My Lord! Verily, I have wronged myself, so forgive me’.

Then He forgave him. (Qur'an 28: 16)

{And He it is who accepts repentance from His slaves.... (Qur'an 42: 25)

Whoever places his trust in Allah, He will be sufficient for him: and whosoever puts his trust in Allah, and then He will suffice him. (Qur 'an 65: 3)

There are three kinds of people whose punishment is certain: those who are rebellious against Allah, those who break their pledges, and those who plot evil deeds:

Your rebellion [disobedience to Allah] is only against your ownsel ves. (Qur 'an 10: 23)

Then whosoever breaks his pledge breaks only to his own harm... (Qur'an 48: 10)

But the evil plot encompasses only him who makes it. (Qur'an 35: 43)

Oppressors will not escape from Allah's punishment:

These are their houses in utter ruin, for they did wrong. (Qur'an 27: 52)

The fruits of righteousness are harvested both in the short and long term:

So Allah gave them the reward of this world, and the excellent reward of the Hereafter :} (Qur'an 3: 148)

Whoever obeys Allah; He will love him and provide sustenance for him:

Verily, Allah is the All-Provider. (Qur 'an 51: 58)

Allah will punish the enemies of his obedient slaves:

Verily, we will exact retribution. (Qur'an 44: 16)

Shaykh `Abdur-Rehmaan ibn Sa'di wrote a valuable book called Practical Means to a Happy Life. In it he said,

"By enumerating Allah's blessings, one will realize that he is better off than a great number of people and that he should truly be thankful for Allah's favors upon him."
Even in matters of religion, one finds that in spite of the negligence we are all guilty of, some of us are better than others in performing the obligatory congregational prayers regularly, in reading the Qur'an, in remembering Allah, and so on. These are all favors for which we should be thankful. Allah, the Exalted, said: Allah has perfected His Graces upon you, [both] apparent [i.e. Islamic Monotheism, and the lawful pleasures of this world, including health, good looks, etc.] and hidden [i.e. Ones Faith in Allah (of Islamic Monotheism) knowledge, wisdom, guidance for doing righteous deeds, and also the pleasures and delights of the Hereafter in Paradise, etc.]? (Qur'an 31: 20)

Adh-Dhahabi mentioned that the great scholar of hadith, Ibn `Abdul Ba'qi, observed the people as they were leaving the central Mosque of Baghdad. He was looking for someone who in all respects he wished to change places with in life, yet he reported that he found no one:

And we have preferred them above many of those whom we have created with a marked preference. (Qur'an 17: 70)

Verily, the One Who provides sustenance is Allah. He has made it binding upon Himself that whatever provision He has written for His slaves will reach them.

And in the heaven is your provision, and that which you are promised. (Qur'an 51: 22)

If Allah is the One Who provides for the creation, why curry favor with people? And why should one degrade himself in front of another person in the hope of procuring from him his sustenance? Allah said:

And no [moving] living creature is there on earth but its provision is due from Allah. (Qur 'an 11: 6)

Whatever of mercy i.e. e. of good], Allah may grant to mankind, none can withhold it, and whatever He may withhold, none can grant it thereafter: (Qur'an 35: 2)

Do not be sad, for there are means of making it easier to bear calamity. Among them are the following:

1. Expecting reward and recompense from Allah, the Exalted: only those who are patient shall receive their rewards in full, without reckoning.? (Qur'an 39: 1O)

2. Visiting those who are afflicted and seeking comfort in that you are better off than many others.

A poet said:

"If not for the many mourners around me,
Who weep for their brothers, I would have taken my own life."

So look at those who surround you. There will not be one, except that hardship or affliction has touched him.

Do not worry about your wealth that is stored in vaults. Unless you have faith in Allah, your high castles and your green gardens will only bring you worry, grief, and hopelessness.

Do not be sad: even the diagnosis of the doctor and his medicine cannot make you happy if you have allowed sadness to dwell in your heart, letting it permeate your emotions and your existence.

Do not be sad: you have the ability to supplicate to Allah and thus excel at humbling yourself at the doorstep of the King of kings. You have the blessed last third of the night to invoke Allah and to rub your head upon the ground in prostration.

Do not be sad: Allah has created for you the earth and what is in it. He has caused gardens of beauty to grow, filling them with many kinds of plants and flowers in pairs, both male and female. And He has made tall palm trees, shining stars, forests, rivers and streams - yet you are sad!

Do not be sad: you drink water that is pure, you breathe fresh air, you walk upon your two feet in health, and you sleep the evenings in peace.

The following hadith is found in the book of At-Tirmidhi: "The best form of worship is to wait (patiently) for a happy outcome."

1s not the morning near? (Qur'an 11: 81)

The morning of the afflicted is looming, so watch for it. An Arab proverb says, "If the rope becomes too tight, it will snap."

In other words, if a situation reaches the level of crisis, then expect a light and an opening to appear. Allah says:

And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will remit his sins from him, and will enlarge his reward. (Qur'an 65: 5)

And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make his matter easy for him. (Qur'an 65: 4)

In an authentic hadith, the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) relates this saying from Allah:

"I am with the thoughts of my slave towards me, so let him think of me as he pleases."

Allah, the Almighty, says:

They were reprieved] until, when the Messengers gave up hope and thought that they were denied [by their people], then came to them Our Help, and whosoever we willed were delivered. (Qur 'an 12: 110)

Know that, truly, with hardship there is relief. Some commentators of the Qur'an said (considering it to be a hadith) that: "One hardship cannot overcome two reliefs."

The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) said in an authentic hadith:
"And know that victory comes with patience and that relief comes with hardship."
An Arab poet said:

Some eyes are restless while others are in sleep,
In meditating that which may or may not occur,
So leave worrying as much as possible,
As carrying the burdens of anxiety is madness.

There is your Lord, who provided you with solutions to yesterday,

And He will similarly provide for what is to come tomorrow." Another said:

"Let events flow in their predestined path,
And do not sleep except with a clear mind,
Between the period of the blinking of the eye and its opening,
Allah changes things from one state to another."

Our Prophet Muhammad (Blessings and Peace be upon him) came to all people with a heavenly message. He was not driven by worldly ambition, he had no treasure from which to spend, no splendid gardens from which to eat, and no castle in which to live. Despite all this, his loving followers pledged allegiance to him and remained steadfast, enduring a hard life full of difficulties. They were few and weak, always in fear of being uprooted by those surrounding them, and yet they loved the Prophet (bpuh) wholly and completely.

They were besieged in a mountain pass, and during that time, they had little or no food. Their reputations were attacked, their own relatives waged war against them, and yet their love for him was perfect.

Some of them were dragged over the hot sands of the desert, some were imprisoned, and others were subjected to inventive and innovative ways of punishment - all of which the disbelievers inflicted upon them. Having to endure all of that, they still loved him unreservedly with heart and soul.

They were deprived of home, country, family, and wealth. They were driven out from the playing fields of their childhood and from the homes in which they were raised. Despite all this suffering, they loved him unequivocally.

The believers faced trials because of his message. The very ground under them was shaken violently, and yet their love for him continued to grow.

The best among their youth constantly had swords hanging menacingly over their heads.

Their men moved forward lightly across the battlefield, advancing to death as if they were upon an excursion or a holiday, for the simple reason that they loved him unconditionally.

One of them was charged with the duty of carrying the Prophet's message to a king in a foreign land, and that person knew that it was a mission from which he would not return. Yet he went and fulfilled his duty. One of them was sent on a mission, knowing that it would be the cause of his death, and he went happily, for he loved the Prophet (bpuh) with unmitigated love.

But why did they love him, and why were they so happy with his message and content with his example? Why did they forget the pain, the suffering, and the hardship that resulted from following him?

To put it simply. He epitomized benevolence and righteousness. They perceived in him all the signs of truth and purity. He was a symbol for those who sought out higher things. With his tenderness he cooled the rancor from the hearts of people, with words of truth he soothed their chests, and with his message he filled their souls with peace.

He poured happiness into their hearts, until the pain that they endured from being at his side was made to seem insignificant. And he instilled into their souls a belief that made them forget every injury and every adversity that they had to endure.

He polished their insides with his guidance and he illuminated their eyes with his brilliance. He removed from them the burdens of ignorance, the depravities of idolatry, and the evil consequences of polytheism. He extinguished the fires of malice and animosity from their souls and he poured the water of faith into their hearts. Thus, their minds and bodies became tranquil and their hearts found peace.

They tasted the beauty of life with him and they knew delight in his company. They found happiness at his side, safety and salvation in following him, and inner-richness in emulating him:

And we have sent you [O' Muhammad] not but as a mercy for all that exists.
(Qur'an 21: 107)

And verily, you [O ' Muhammad] are indeed guiding [mankind] to the straight path.? (Qur'an 42: 52)

And He brings them out of darkness [bv Allah's will] unto light... (Qur'an 5: 16)

He it is Who sent among the unlettered ones a Messenger [Muhammad] from among themselves, reciting to them His Verses, purifting then [from the .filth of disbelief and polytheism], and teaching them the Book and Al-Hikmah [As-Sunnah: legal ways, orders, acts of worship, etc. of Prophet Muhammad]. And verily, they had been before in manifest error :} (Qur'an 62: 2)

He releases them from their heavy burdens and from the fetters [bindings] that were upon them. (Qur 'an 7: 157)

(Answer Allah [by obeying him] and [His] Messenger when he calls
You to that which will give you life.} (Qur'an 8: 24)

And you were on the brink of a pit of Fire, and He saved you from it. } (Qur 'an 3: 103)

They were truly happy with their leader and so they rightly deserved to be.

O' Allah, send prayers and peace upon Muhammad, the liberator of minds from the shackles of deviation and the rescuer of souls from the curses of falsehood, and be pleased with his noble Companions as a recompense for their striving and for their efforts.

Pain is not always a negative force and it is not something that you should always hate. At times a person benefits when he feels pain.

You might remember that, at times when you felt a lot of pain, you sincerely supplicated and remembered Allah. When he is studying, the student often feels the pangs of heavy burden, sometimes perhaps the burden of monotony, yet he eventually leaves this stage of life a scholar. He felt burdened with pain at the beginning but he shined at the end. The aches and pangs of passion, the poverty and the scorn of others, the frustration and anger at injustices these all cause the poet to write flowing and captivating verses. This is because he himself feels pain in his heart, in his nerves, and in his blood, and as a result, he is able to infuse the same emotions, via his work, into the hearts of others. How many painful experiences did the best writers have to undergo, experiences that inspired brilliant works, works that posterity continues to enjoy and benefit from today.

The student who lives the life of comfort and repose and who is not stung by hardships_ or who has never been afflicted with calamity will be an unproductive, lazy, and lethargic person.

Indeed, the poet who knows no pain and who has never tasted bitter disappointment will invariably produce heaps upon heaps of cheap words. This is because his words pour forth from his tongue and not from his feelings or emotion, and though he may comprehend what he has written, his heart and body have not lived the experience.

More worthy and relevant to the aforementioned examples are the lives of the early believers, who lived during the period of revelation and who took part in the most important religious revolution that mankind has ever seen. Indeed, they had greater faith, nobler hearts, more truthful tongues, and deeper knowledge than those that came after them: they had all of these because they lived through pain and suffering, both of which are necessary concomitants to great revolutions. They felt the pains of hunger, of poverty, of rejection, of abuse, of banishment from home and country, of abandonment of all pleasures, of the pains of wounds, and of death and torture. They were in truth chosen ones, the elite of mankind. They were models of purity, nobleness, and sacrifice.

That is because they suffer neither thirst nor fatigue, nor hunger in the Cause of Allah, nor they take any step to raise the anger of disbelievers nor inflict any injury upon an enemy, but is written to their credit as a deed of righteousness. Surely, Allah wastes not the reward of the doers of good. (Qur'an 9: 120)

In the history of the world there are those that have produced their greatest works due to the pain and the suffering that they experienced. Al-Mutanabbi, when afflicted with a severe fever, wrote some of his best poetry. An-Nu'maan ibn Mundhir threatened An-Naabighah with death, and that is when the latter produced some of his best poetry. The well-known line he spoke, roughly translated is:

"Verily, you are the sun, and the other kings are the stars: for when the sun rises, no star in the sky is visible."

In fact there are many examples of those that prospered and achieved as a result of the suffering they experienced.

Therefore, do not become excessively anxious when you think of pain, and do not fear suffering. It might well be that through pain and suffering you will become stronger. And furthermore, for you to live with a burning and passionate heart that has been stung is purer and nobler than to live the dispassionate existence of a person who has a cold heart and a shortsighted outlook.

But Allah was averse to their being sent forth, so He made them lag behind, and it was said [to them], "Sit you among those who sit [at home].” (Qur'an 9: 46)

The words of a passionate sermon can reach the innermost depths of the heart and penetrate the deepest regions of the soul, usually because the one who gives such sermons has himself experienced pain and suffering.

He knew what was in their hearts, and He sent down As-Sakeenah [calmness and tranquility] upon them, and He rewarded them with a near victory. (Qur'an 48: 18)

I have read many books of poetry, and a high percentage of them are passionless, without life or soul. This is because their authors never endured hardship, and because they were composed among surroundings of comfort. Hence the works of such authors were cold, like blocks of ice.

I have read books filled with sermons that do not shake a hair on the body of the listener and that lack an atom's weight of impact. The orator (whose sermons were put to print) is not speaking with feeling and sentiment, or in other words, pain and suffering.

They say with their mouths, that which is not in their hearts. (Qur'an 3: 167)

If you wish to affect and influence others, whether it is with your speech or with your poetry, or even with your actions, you must first feel the passion inside of you. You must be moved yourself by the meanings of what you are trying to convey. Then, and then only, you will come to realize that you have an influence upon others.

But when we send down water [rain] on it, it is stirred [to life]; it swells and puts forth every lovely kind [of growth]. (Qur 'an 22: 5)

And Allah taught you that which you knew not. And Ever-Great is the Grace of Allah unto you [O' Muhammad].1 (Qur'an 1: 113) Ignorance kills one's conscience and soul.

Admonish you, lest you be one of the ignorant. (Qur'an 11: 46)

Knowledge is a light that leads to wisdom. It is life for one's soul and fuel for one's character.

1s he who was dead [without Faith by ignorance and disbelief] and we gave him life [by knowledge and Faith] and set. For him a light [of Belief] whereby he can walk amongst men, like him who is in the darkness [of disbelief, polytheism and hypocrisy] from which he can never come out?} (Qur'an 6: 122)

Happiness and high-spiritedness come with enlightenment, because through knowledge, one may fulfill his goals and discover what was previously hidden from him. The soul, by its very nature, longs for the acquisition of new knowledge to stimulate it and the mind.

Ignorance is boredom and grief, because the ignorant person leads a life that never offers anything new or mind provoking. Yesterday is like today, which in turn is like tomorrow.
If you desire happiness, and then seek out knowledge and enlightenment, and you will find that anxiety, depression, and grief will leave you.

And say: My Lord! Increase me in knowledge'. (Qur'an 20: 114)

Read! In the Name of your Lord, Who has created [all that exists]? (Qur 'an 96: 1)

The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) said:

'If Allah wishes good for someone, He gives him an understanding of the Religion."

Therefore if someone is ignorant, let him not be proud of either his wealth or his status in society: his life is lacking in meaning and his achievements are woefully incomplete.

Shall he then who knows that what has been revealed unto you [O' Muhammad] from your Lord is the truth be like him who is blind? (Qur'an 13: 19)

Az-Zamakhshari, the well-known commentator of the Qur'an, said in verse form:
"The sleepless nights I spend in learning the sciences, are more beloved to me than the company or caresses of the enchanting woman,

My rapturous exhilaration when understanding a difficult concept, is more delicious to me than the most exotic drink, more delightful to me than the sound of a woman's hand on the drum, are my hands on my papers in order to remove dust. O' he who tries to attain my level by wishful thinking, how much difference there is between the one who finds the pain of climbing to be too much and between the one who climbs and reaches the summit,

Do I toil through the night, while you sleep through it, yet you hope to surpass me?"

How noble is enlightenment! And through it, how happy is the soul! Is he who is on a clear proof f °on his Lord, like those for whom their evil deeds that they do are beautified_ for them, while they, follow their own lusts [evil desires]?}
(Qur'an 47: 14)

The art of happiness - Pause to reflect

Do not be sad. If you are poor, then someone else is immersed in debt. If you do not own your own means of transportation, then someone else has been deprived of his legs. If you have reason to complain concerning the pains of sickness, then someone else has been bedridden for years. And if you have lost a child, then someone else has lost many children, for instance, in a single car accident.

Do not be sad. You are a Muslim who believes in Allah, His Messengers, His angels, the Hereafter, and Preordainment both the good and the bad of it. While you are blessed with this faith, which is the greatest of blessings, others disbelieve in Allah, discredit the Messengers, differ among themselves concerning the Book, deny the Hereafter, and deviate in their understanding of Divine Preordainment.

Do not be sad, because if you are, you disturb your soul and heart, and you prevent yourself from sleeping. One of the Arab poets said:

"How often is the young man overcome with despair when afflicted, and with Allah is the way out,

The situation becomes unbearable, and when its rope tightens, it snaps, and throughout, he never thought that he would be saved."

Among the greatest of blessings is to have a calm, stable, and happy heart. For in happiness the mind is clear, enabling one to be a productive person. It has been said that happiness is an art that needs to be learned. And if you learn it, you will be blessed in this life. But how does one learn it? A basic principle of achieving happiness is having an ability to endure and to cope with any situation. Therefore you should neither be swayed nor governed by difficult circumstances, nor should you be annoyed by insignificant trifles. Based on the purity of the heart and its ability to endure, a person will shine. When you train yourself to be patient and forbearing, then hardship and calamity will be easy for you to bear.

The opposite of being content is being shortsighted, being concerned for no one but one's own self and forgetting about the world and all that is in it. Allah described his enemies as follows:

Thinking about themselves [as how to save their ownselves, ignoring the others and the Prophet] (Qur'an 3. 154)

It is as if such people see themselves as being the whole universe, or at least at the center of it. They think not of others, nor do they live for anyone but themselves. It is incumbent upon you and me to take time out to be preoccupied with more than just us, and to sometimes distance ourselves from our own problems in order to forget our wounds and hurts. By doing this we gain two things: we make ourselves happy, and we bring joy to others.

Basic to the art of happiness is to bridle our thoughts and to restrain them, not allowing them to wander, stray, escape, or go wild. For if you were to leave your thoughts to wander as they wish, then they will run wild and control you. They will open the catalogue of your past woes. They will remind you of the history of your misfortunes, beginning from the day that your mother gave you birth. If your thoughts are left to roam, then they will bring to you images of past difficulties and images of a future that is frightening. These thoughts will shake your very being and will cause your feelings to flare. Therefore bridle them, and restrain them by directing them to the concentrated application of the kind of serious thought that begets fruitful and beneficial work.

And put your trust in the Ever-Living One who dies not. (Qur 'an 25: 58)

Also among the principles of the art of happiness is to value life on this earth according to its true merit and worth. This life is frivolous and does not warrant anything from you except that you turn away from it. This life is filled with calamities, aches, and wounds. If that is the description of this life, then how can one be unduly affected by its minor calamities, and how can one grieve over such material things as have passed him by? The best moments of life are tainted, its future promises are mere mirages, the successful ones in it are envied, the one who is blessed is constantly threatened, and lovers are struck down by some unexpected misfortune.

And in a hadith:

"Verily, knowledge is only acquired by the practice of learning, and tolerance is acquired by the practice of tolerating."

If one were to attempt to apply the meaning of this hadith to the topic under discussion, then he could go one step further and say that happiness is acquired by assuming it. It is acquired by constantly smiling, by hunting for the reasons that make one happy, and even by forcing it onto one's own self, however awkward that may seem. One does all of these things until happiness becomes second nature.

The truth of the matter is that you cannot remove from yourself all remnants of grief. And the reason for this is that life was created as a test:

Verily, we have created man in toil. (Qur'an 90: 4)

That He might to, you, which of you are the best in deeds. (Qur 'an 11: 7)

But the message I wish to convey to you is that you should, as much as is possible, reduce the amount and intensity of your grief as

For being completely free from grief, this is for the inhabitants of Paradise in the Hereafter. This is why the dwellers of Paradise will say:

All the praises and thanks be to Allah, Who has removed from us [all] grief’
(Qur'an 35: 34)

This is considered to be a proof that grief will not be removed from them except in Paradise. Likewise, grudges and bitterness will not be completely removed except in Paradise.

(And we shall remove from their breasts any sense of injury [that they may have]...} (Qur'an 15. 47)

So when a person knows the nature of this world and its qualities, he comes to realize that it is dry, deceitful, and unworthy; and he comes to fully understand that that is its nature and its description. An Arab poet said:

"You have taken an oath not to betray us in our pacts, and it is as if you have vowed that in the end, you shall deceive us."

If the description of this world is as I have described it to be, then it is worthy of the intelligent person not to help it in its onslaught, nor to surrender to depression and anxiety. What we should do is defend ourselves from all feelings that may spoil our lives, in a war that we must wage with all the strength that we have been endowed with. And make ready against them all you can of power, including steeds of war to threaten the enemy of Allah and your enemy... (Qur'an 8: 6O)

But they never lost heart. For that which did not befall them in Allah’s Way, nor did they weaken nor degrade themselves. (Qur'an 3: 146)

Let us make these supplications, their purpose being to eliminate hardship, anxiety and grief:

"There is none worthy of worship except Allah, the Ever-Forbearing, and the Most Great. There is none worthy of worship except Allah, the Lord of the Tremendous Throne. There is none worthy of worship except Allah, the Lord of the Heavens, the Lord of the earth, and the Lord of the Noble Throne. O' Ever-Living, and O' One Who sustains and protects all that exists, there is none worthy of worship except you, and by your mercy do we seek your aid. "

"O' Allah, Your mercy do I hope for, so do not leave me to myself; not even for the blinking of an eye. And make well for me all of my affairs. There is none worthy of worship except you."

"I seek, forgiveness from Allah; none is worthy of worship except Him. He is the Ever-Living and the One who sustains and protects all that exists, and I turn to Him in repentance."

"There is none worthy of worship except you, and how perfect you are; verily, I was among the wrongdoers."

"O' Allah, verily I am your slave, the son of your slaves; my forelock is in your hand, your order concerning me will be executed and just is your judgment upon me. I ask You by all of Your names that you have named Yourself with, have revealed in Your book, have taught to one of Your creation, or is in Your knowledge only (from the matters of the unseen) - make the Qur 'an the spring of my heart, the light of my chest, the remover of my sadness, and the purger of my anxiety. "

"O' Allah, I seek refuge in you from anxiety and grief, from inability and laziness, from avarice and cowardice, from being engrossed by debt, and from being overpowered by men.”

"Allah (Alone) is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs (for us)."

Do not be sad: for sickness is a transient state of being; the sin can be forgiven; the debt will be repaid; the captive will be released; the beloved one who is abroad will return; the sinner will repent; and the poor will be increased in their wealth.

Do not be sad, for do you not see how the black clouds disperse and the violent winds subside? Your hardships will be followed by comfort and your future is bright.

Do not be sad, for the blaze of the sun is extinguished by luxuriant shade; the thirst of noon is refreshed by fresh water; the pangs of hunger find relief in warm bread; and the anxiety of sleeplessness is followed by calm repose; the pains of sickness are soon forgotten after the return of health. It is only upon you to forbear for a short time and to be patient for a few moments.

Do not be sad, for even doctors, wise men, scholars, and poets are weak and unable to defy or change that which has been decreed. Ali ibn Jabla said:

"Perhaps a way out will come, perhaps,
We comfort ourselves with perhaps,
So do not despair when you meet
With affliction that weakens your spirit,
Since the closest one comes
To relief, is when he loses all hope?"

Do not be sad: select for yourself that which Allah has chosen for you.

Stand if He causes you to stand and sit if He orders you to sit. Show patience if He has made you to be poor and be thankful if He makes you to be rich. These points are understood from the statement, "I am pleased with Allah as my Lord, with Islam as a Religion, and with Muhammad as a Messenger." And an Arab poet said:

"Do not weave a plan for yourself,
The people of plotting are destroyed,
Be contented with our decree,
We are worthier to plan for you than you yourself."

Do not be sad: overlook the actions of others.

They can lay no claim on giving benefit or harm, death or life, reward or punishment.

Ibraheem ibn Adham said:

"We live such a life (of amazing pleasure in the worship of Allah) that if the kings knew about it, they would fight us over it with swords."
Ibn Taymiyah said:

Sometimes the heart is in such a state, that I say: if the people of Paradise experience this, then they indeed have a wonderful life. He said on another occasion:

"The heart sometimes dances rapturously, from the happiness of remembering Allah and of feeling close to Him."

He also said upon entering prison, as the guards were closing the doors upon him:

So a wall will be put up between them, with a gate therein. Inside it will be mercy, and outside it will be torment.} (Qur'an 57: 13)

He said while he was in prison:

What can my enemies do to me? My garden and my paradise are in my breast; wherever I go they are with me. If my enemies kill me, I become a martyr and if they banish me from my country, I go abroad as a tourist; and by imprisoning me, they allow me to have solitude (so that I can worship Allah)." A wise person once said:

"What has he found who has lost Allah, and what has he discovered who has found Allah? They can never be equal; the one who has found Allah has found everything and the one who has lost Him has lost everything."

Do not blindly feel grief; instead, make sure you know the value of the thing over which you feel sad.

The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) said:

"For me to say, `How perfect is Allah, All praise is for Him, there is none worthy of worship except Him, and Allah is the greatest,' is more beloved to me than all that the sun rises upon."

Of rich people, their castles, houses, and wealth, one of our pious predecessors said:

"We eat and they eat. We drink and they drink. We see and they see. We will not be called to account and they will be held accountable (i.e. for their wealth, how it was acquired and how it was spent)."

In the words of a poet:

"The first night in the grave causes one to forget, the castles of Khosrau and the treasures of Caesar." Allah said:

(And truly you have come unto us alone [without wealth, companions or anything else] as we created you the first time. (Qur 'an 6. 94)

The believers say:

(This is what Allah and His Messenger [Muhammad] had promised us, and Allah and His Messenger had spoken the truth. (Qur'an 33: 22)

And the hypocrites say:

Allah and his Messenger promised us nothing but delusions! (Qur'an 33: 12)

Your life is the product of your thoughts. The thoughts that you invest in will have an indelible effect upon your life, regardless of whether they are happy thoughts or miserable thoughts. A poet said:

"Fear does not fill my heart before the occurrence of that which is feared,
And I don't become overly distressed if that event does occur."

When you experienced sadness yesterday, your situation didn't get any better by you being sad. Your son failed in school, and you became depressed, yet did your depression change the fact that he failed? Your father passed away, and you became downhearted, yet did that bring him back to life? You lost your business, and you became saddened. Did this change your situation by transforming losses into profits?

Do not be sad: You became despondent due to a calamity, and by doing so, created additional calamities. You became depressed because of poverty and this only increased the bitterness of your situation. You became gloomy because of what your enemies said to you; by entering into that mental state, you unwittingly helped them in their attack against you. You became sullen because you expected a particular misfortune, and yet it never came to pass.

Do not be sad: Truly a large mansion will not protect you from the effects of depression; and neither will be a beautiful wife, abundant wealth, a high position, or brilliant children.

Do not be sad: Sadness causes you to imagine poison when you are really looking at pure water, to see a cactus when you are looking at a rose, to see a barren desert when you are looking at a lush garden, and to feel that you are in an unbearable prison when you are living on a vast and spacious earth.

Do not be sad: You have two eyes, two ears, lips, two hands, two legs, a tongue, a heart, peace, safety, and a healthy body. Then which of the Blessings of your Lord will you both [jinns and men] deny? (Qur'an SS: 13)

Do not be sad: You have the true Religion to live by, a house to live in, bread to eat, water to drink, clothes to wear, a wife to find comfort with; why then the melancholy?

Laughing moderately can act as a cure or as therapy for depression and sadness. It has a strong influence on keeping the soul light and the heart clear. Abu Darda' (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "I make it a practice to laugh in order to give rest and comfort to my heart. And the noblest of people, Muhammad (bpuh), would laugh, sometimes until his molars became visible."

Laughing is an efficacious way to achieve comfort and light-heartedness, but keep in mind that, as in other things, you should not be immoderate. The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) said:

"Do not laugh excessively, for verily, excessive laughter kills the heart."

What is called for is moderation.

"And if you smile in the face of your brother, then that is a form of charity."

So he, Sulayman, smiled, amused by her speech. (Qur 'an 27: 19)

Also, when you laugh, you should not do so in a mocking or jeering fashion:

But when he came to them with Our Aayaat [proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.] behold! They laughed at them. (Qur'an 43: 47)

Among the pleasures of Paradise will be laughter:

But this Day [the DAV of Resurrection] those who believe will laugh at the disbelievers. (Qur'an 83: 34)

The Arabs would hold in high esteem a person who was known for his smile and laughter. They believed this to be a sign of a generous personality and of a person who has a noble disposition and a clear mind.

The truth is that the principles of Islam are based on moderation and on good measure, whether it is in matters of belief, worship, manners, or conduct. Islam does not condone a rigid, frowning expression, nor does it condone a constant playful giddiness; rather what it does promote is seriousness when it is called for and a reasonable level of light-heartedness when it is called for.

Bearing a gloomy mien and a frowning countenance are marks of a lowly character, a troubled nature, and hot-headedness. Then he frowned and he looked in a bad tempered way... (Qur 'an 74: 22)

The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) said:

"Do not disparage (underestimate) any good deed (no matter how small it is), even if that deed was to meet your brother with a friendly countenance."

Ahmed Ameen said in his book Fayd al-Khaatir:

"People who are always smiling not only make their own lives more joyful, but what is more, they are more productive people in their work and have a greater ability to live up to their responsibilities. They are more prepared to face difficulties and to find expedient solutions for them. They are prolific workers who benefit themselves and others."

If I were given a choice between having status in society and plentiful money, and between having a happy, radiant, smiling self, I would choose the latter. For what is great wealth if it begets misery? And what is high position if what comes with it is constant gloominess? And what good is the most beautiful wife if she transforms her house into a living hell? Much better than her -- a thousand times at least is a wife who has not reached such a pinnacle of beauty, but nonetheless has made her house a kind of paradise.

Consider this imagery: In a sense, the rose is smiling and so is the forest. The oceans, rivers, the sky, the stars and birds are all smiling. Similarly, the human being by his very nature is a smiling entity, were it not for those things that counteract this natural disposition, such as greed and selfishness, evils that contribute to his frowning. As such he is an anomaly and at odds with the natural harmony of all that surrounds him. Therefore the person whose heart is sullied cannot see things as they truly are. Every person sees the world through himself- through his actions, thoughts, and motives. So if our actions are noble, if our thoughts are pure, and if our motives are honorable, then the spectacles through which we see the world will be clean, and the world will be seen by us as it really is a beautiful creation. If the spectacles become dirty, and their lenses stained, then everything will seem to be black and morbid.

There are those souls that are able to turn everything into misery, whilst there are those that are able to derive happiness from the most difficult of circumstances. There is the woman whose eyes fall upon nothing but mistakes. Today is black because a piece of fine china broke or because the cook put too much salt in the food. Then she flares up and curses, and no one in the house escapes from her execrations. Then there is the man who brings misery upon his own self and, through his disposition, heaps the same upon others. Any word that he hears he interprets in the worst possible way. He is affected gravely by the most insignificant of things that occur to him, or that have occurred to him through his actions. He is drawn into misery by profits lost. By profits expected that went unrealized, and so on. The whole world from his perspective is black, and so he blackens it for those around him. Such people have much ability to over-exaggerate the trifles that occur to them. Thus they make mountains out of molehills. Their ability to do well is negligent, and they are never happy or content with that which they have, even if what they have is plenty. No matter how great their possessions, they will never feel any blessings from what they have.

Life is like an art or a science: it needs to be learned and cultivated. It is much better for a person to plant love in his life than to glorify money, using all his might to help it ease its way into his pocket or into his account. What is life when all its energies are exploited and used for the sole purpose of accumulating wealth, an existence where no energy is directed towards the cultivation of beauty, splendor, and love?
Most people do not open their eyes to the beauty of life, but open them only to gold or silver. They pass by a lush and luxuriant garden, a beautiful bed of roses, a flowing river, or a group of singing birds, yet they are unmoved by such scenes. All that moves them is the coming and going of money into or out of their pockets. Money is but a means to a happy life. They have reversed this fact, have sold their happy existence, and have made money to be an end in itself
Our body has been equipped with eyes to see beauty with, yet we have trained them to look on nothing but money.

Nothing causes the soul or the face to frown more often and with more intensity than despondency. If you want to be a smiling person, wage war with despondency and hopelessness. The door to opportunity is always open to you and to others, and so is the door to success. So indoctrinate your mind with hopes of prosperity in the future.

If you believe that you are inconsequential and have been created for things of only minor importance, then your achievement in life will never surpass this initial goal. And if you believe that your calling in life is to achieve extraordinary feats. You will feel in you a determination that can destroy all kinds of barriers. This can be exemplified as follows. Whoever enters a 100m race will feel tired the moment he completes it, whereas anyone that enters a 400m race, will not feel fatigue after passing the 100m or 200m mark. Therefore the soul gives resolution and will power in proportion to your goal. Hence you must identify your goal, and let it be high and difficult to achieve. And never feel despondency as long as everyday you are taking a new step in its direction. What blocks the soul, making it frown and placing it in a dark prison? The answer is despondency, hopelessness, seeing everything as being evil, searching for faults in others and constantly speaking about the evilness of the world.

Blessed is the one who has a teacher that helps him to develop his natural abilities and broaden his horizons. The best teacher is the one that instills kindness and generosity into his pupil, and teaches that the noblest of pursuits that one can strive for, is to be a source of goodness to others, in accordance with one's abilities. The soul should be like the sun, radiating light and hope. The heart should be filled with tenderness, virtue, benevolence, and a genuine love for spreading goodness to all those that are connected to it.

The smiling soul sees difficulties, and loves to surmount them. When it sees problems, it smiles, reveling in the opportunity to solve and overcome them. The frowning soul, when faced with a problem, magnifies it and belittles its own determination, while spending all its time justifying. It loves success in life, but is not willing to pay its price. On every path, it sees a grinning lion. It waits only for gold to shower down upon it, or to chance upon some treasure in the ground.

Difficult things in life are only relative, for everything is difficult for the ordinary person, while there is no great difficulty for the remarkable person. While the remarkable person increases in worthiness by overcoming obstacles, the weak person increases in meanness by running away from them. Problems are comparable to a vicious dog. When it sees you scared or running away, it barks and follows in pursuit. However, when it sees your scorn, your lack of concern, and when you shine your eyes in its direction, it gives way and draws back.

Furthermore, there is nothing more deadly than a feeling of inferiority, a feeling that makes its holder lose all faith in his adequacy. So when he embarks upon a project, he is immediately doubtful of its completion or success and he acts accordingly by gratifying these doubts. Thus he fails. Having self-confidence is a noble virtue, and is a pillar of success in life. It is important to note, though, that there is a vast difference between conceitedness and confidence. Conceitedness means to rely upon a deceitful imagination and false pride. Confidence means to rely upon true abilities; it means fulfilling responsibilities, developing talents and organizational skills.

How much in need we indeed are of a smile, a friendly face, easy-going manners, and a gentle, generous soul. The Prophet said:
"Verily, Allah has revealed to me that you should be humble, so that none of you should transgress upon another, and so that none of you should be arrogant and proud to another."

I [Noah] said [to them]: `Ask forgiveness from your Lord; verily, He is Of-Forgiving. He will send rain to you in abundance; and give you increase in wealth and children; and bestow on you gardens; and bestow on you rivers. '

(Qur'an 71: 10-12)

So seek forgiveness from Allah more often and you will reap the benefits of doing so: peace of mind, lawful provisions, righteous offspring, and plentiful rain.

(And [commanding you]: Seek the forgiveness of your Lord, and turn to Him in repentance, that He may grant you good enjoyment, for a term appointed. And that He may bestow His abounding Grace to every owner of grace [i.e. the one who helps and serves the needy and deserving, physically and with his wealth, and even with good words]. (Qur 'an 11: 3)

And the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) said:

"Whosoever seeks forgiveness (from Allah) often, and then Allah makes for him a good ending for every matter of concern and provides for him a way out of every tight situation."

Related in Bukhari is a hadith that is known as the chief of Al-Istighfaar (i.e., of supplications with which one asks Allah for forgiveness):

"O' Allah, You are my Lord and none has the right to be worshipped except you. You have created me and I am your slave; and I am upon your covenant and promise as much as I am able to be. I seek refuge in you from the evil that I have perpetrated. I confess to you your favor upon me, and I confess to you my sin. So forgive me; for verily, none forgives sins except you."

In the Torah, the following has been related:

"Most of what is feared to occur never happens!"

This means that most apprehensions and fears of impending difficulty fail to take shape in reality. Conjectures of the mind are far greater in number and in scope than the things that actually happen in life.
An Arab poet said:

"I said to my heart when it was attacked by a fit of anxiety, be happy, because most fears are false."

This implies that if you hear of an impending calamity, or hear of oncoming disaster, don't be overly alarmed, especially since the majority of predictions about impending harm are false.

And my affair I leave it to Allah. Verily, Allah is the All-Seer of [His] slaves. So Allah saved him from the evils that they plotted [against him]. (Qur'an 4O: 44-45)

One who lives a life of repetition and routine will almost inevitably become a victim of boredom, especially since man by his very nature tires from a lack of change. For this reason Allah, the Exalted, the Almighty, gave us variety in times and places, in food and drink diversity in the many forms of creation: night and day, valley and mountain, white and black, hot and cold, shade and sun, sweet and sour.

Allah mentioned this diversity in His book:
There comes, forth from their bellies, a drink of varying color. (Qur 'an 16: 69)

And date palms, growing out two or three from a single stem root, or otherwise [one stem root for every palm]. .. (Qur 'an 13: 4)

And crops of different shape and taste [its fruits and its seeds] andolives, and pomegranates, similar [in kind] and different [in taste]. (Qur 'an 6: 141)

And among the mountains are streaks white and red, of varying colors...
(Qur'an 35: 27)

And so are the day _s [good and not so good], we give to men by turns...
(Qur'an 3: 140)

The children of Israel tired of eating the one kind food they were given, even though it was the best of foods - simply because it was all that they ate.

We cannot endure one kind of food. (Qur'an 2: 61)

Al-Ma'moon would alternate between reading, standing, sitting, or lying, and he said,

"The soul is ever so prone to boredom."

(Those who remember Allah [always, and in prayers] standing, sitting and lying down on their sides... (Qur'an 3: 191)

You should contemplate the many forms of worship that are legislated in Islam. There are deeds of the heart, of the tongue, of the limbs, and of wealth_ by spending it for a good cause. The prayer, alms giving, fasting, pilgrimages to Makkah, fighting in the way of Allah - these are only some examples of worship. The prayer involves standing, bowing, prostrating, and sitting. If you desire relaxation, vitality, and continued productivity, then brings diversity into your work, you’re reading, and your daily life. In terms of reading, for example, read a broad range of topics: the Qur'an, its explanation, the biography of the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) and his Companions, hadith, Islamic jurisprudence, history, literature, books of general knowledge, and so forth. Distribute your time between worship and enjoying what is lawful, from visiting friends, entertaining guests, playing sports, or going on excursions: you will find yourself to be a lively and bright person, because the soul delights in variety and things that are new.

Certainly no one despairs of Allah's Mercy, except the people who disbelieve.

(Qur'an 12: 87)

[They were reprieved] until, when the Messengers gave up hope and thought that they were denied [by their people], then came to them Our Help... (Qur'an 12: 110)

And we delivered him from the distress. And thus we do deliver the believers.
(Qur'an 21: 88)

And you were harboring doubts about Allah. There, the believers were tried and shaken with a mighty shaking. (Qur an 33: 10-11)

Do not grieve over the hurt that is inflicted upon you by others, and forgive those that have ill-treated you.

The price of jealousy and rancor is enormous; it is the price that the revengeful person pays in exchange for his malice towards others. He pays with his heart, flesh, and blood. His peace, his relaxation, and his happiness - these he forsakes because he desires the sweetness of revenge and because he resents others.

Jealousy and rancor are illnesses for which Allah has given the cure and remedy:

[Those] who repress anger, and who pardon men... (Qur'an 3: 134)

Show forgiveness, enjoin what is good, and turn away from the foolish [i.e. don’t punish them]. (Qur'an 7. 199)

Repel [the evil] with one which is better [i.e. Allah ordered the faithful believers to be patient at the time of anger, and to excuse those who treat them badly], then verily! He, bettiveen whom and you there was enmity [will become] as though he was a close friend. (Qur'an 41: 34)

Do not grieve over that which has passed you by in life, for indeed you have been blessed with much.

Contemplate the many favors and gifts that Allah has bestowed upon you and be thankful to Him for them. Remind yourself of Allah's many blessings, for Him, the Almighty, said:

And if you would count the graces of Allah, never could you be able to count them. (Qur'an 16: 18)

And [Allah] has completed and perfected His Graces upon you, [both] apparent [i.e. Islamic Monotheism, and the lawful pleasures of this world, including health, good looks, etc.] and hidden [i.e. One's Faith in Allah (of Islamic Monotheism) knowledge, wisdom, guidance for doing righteous deeds, and also the pleasures and delights of the Hereafter in Paradise, etc.]. (Qur'an 31: 20)

And whatever of blessings and good things you have, it is from Allah. Then, when harm touches you, unto Him you cry aloud for help.} (Qur'an 16. 53)

Allah said, establishing His favors upon man:

Wave we not made for him a pair of eyes; and a tongue and a pair of lips? And shown him the two ways [good and evil]? (Qur'an 90: 8-10)

Life, health, the faculties of hearing and seeing, two hands and two legs, water, air, food - these are some of the more visible blessings in this world, while the greatest of all blessings is that of Islam and correct guidance. What would you say to someone who offered you large sums of money in return for your eyes, your ears, your legs, your hands_ or your heart? How great is your wealth in reality? By not being thankful, you do not render justice to Allah's countless favors

If you hear the beating of resentful words in your ears, do not worry jealousy is not something new. As a poet said: "Devote yourself to the gathering of virtues, and work, and turn your back on someone who cools his jealousy by giving you censure, Know that your life's-span is the season of good deeds, in it, they may be accepted, and after is death, when all jealousy ceases." A wise person said:

"When facing criticism or the unjust rebuke, those who have sensitive feelings must pour a certain amount of coolness into their nerves by force." Another said:

If Allah wishes good for one of His slaves, He covers him with slumber as a security, as occurred to Talha (may Allah be pleased with him) before the battle of Uhud. A short time before the battle, while the disbelievers waited in nervous apprehension, he was covered with a slumber that made him, on a few occasions, drop his sword, so serene and calm did he feel.

Allah, the Almighty, said:

Say: Do you wait for us [anything] except one of the two best things [martyrdom or victory]; while we wait for you either that Allah will afflict you with a punishment from Him or at our hands. So wait, we too are waiting with you.) (Qur'an 9: 52)

And no person can ever die except by Allah :c Leave and at an appointed term.
(Qur'an 3: 145)

Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

"Which of the two days of death do I fear? The day in which it was not decreed for me to die or the day in which death was preordained for me. As for the former, I fear it not. And as for the latter, it is destined to happen, and even cautious ones cannot be saved on that day."

Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

"Seek out death (i.e. be brave) and you shall be granted life."

Do not be sad, for Allah defends you and the angels ask forgiveness for you; the believers share with you their supplications in every prayer; the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) will intercede for the believers; the Qur'an is replete with good promises; and above all is the mercy of He Who is the Most Merciful.

Do not be sad: the good deed is increased so that its value is multiplied tenfold or seven hundred fold or even much, much more.

Meanwhile, the evil deed is valued without increase or multiplication, and your Lord can forgive even that. How many times do we witness Allah's generosity, generosity that is unmatched by any! And benevolence from any one else cannot reach even near His Benevolence.

If you do not associate partners with Allah, if you believe in the true religion, and if you love Allah and His Messenger (bpuh), do not feel sad. If you feel regret for your bad deeds and you rejoice when you do a worthy act, do not feel sad. You have much good with you that you do not perceive.

If, in your life, you are able to establish the state of balanced harmony that is referred to in the following hadith, do not feel sad:

"How wonderful is the state of the believer. All of his affairs are good for him! And that is not so, except for the believer. If he has cause to be happy, he is thankful, and that is good for him. And if he is afflicted with hardship, he is patient, and that is good for him."

Do not be sad: forbearance in times of distress is the path to both success and happiness.

And endure you patiently; your patience is not but from Allah. (Qur'an 16: 127)

So [for me] patience is most. Fitting. And it is Allah [Alone] whose help can be sought against that which you assert. (Qur 'an 12: 18)

So be patient, with a good patience. (Qur'an 70: 5)

Ore ace be upon you for that you persevered in patience! (Qur'an 13: 24)

And bear with patience whatever befalls you. (Qur 'an 31: 17)

Endure and he more patient [than your enemy], and guard your territory by stationing army units permanently at the places from where the enemy can attack you... (Qur'an 3: 200)

Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

"Through patience we have now achieved a good life."

For the people of the Sunnah, there are three things that they resort to when faced with calamity: patience, supplication, and waiting with expectation for a good outcome. A poet said:

"We have poured them a glass and they have similarly poured one for us (alluding to the blood enemies draw from each other in battle),

But in the face of death, we were the more patient." In an authentic hadith, the Prophet (bpuh) said:

"There is none who is more patient when he hears something offensive than Allah. They claim that He has a child and a wife, yet He gives them health and provision."

The Prophet (bpuh) also said:

"May Allah have mercy on Moosa (Moses)? He was tested with more than this (i.e. than what I have been tested with), and he was still patient." And he (bpuh) said:

"Whoever is patient, Allah will give him further strength to continue to be patient."
A poet said:

"I have crawled my way to distinction, and those who have striven have reached it,
With the toil of labor, and the sparing of no small effort, many have tried to reach it, and most became bored or tired during their journey, And they embrace distinction that remain true and are patient, Do not consider distinction to be an apple that you eat, you will not achieve distinction until you beat hardship with your patience."

Higher goals are not achieved through dreaming or fantasizing; they can only be reached through dedication and commitment.

Do not grieve over how people treat you. And learn this lesson by observing how they behave with Allah.

Imam Ahmad reported a hadith in the book of Zuhd, in which the Prophet (bpuh) relates the following saying from Allah: "Strange are you, O' son of Adam! I have created you and you worship other than me. I have provided for you and you thank those besides me. I show you love by giving you blessings and I do not need you. While you show me animosity through your sins and you are to me poor. My good is descending to you and your evil is rising to me.’

It is mentioned in the biography of Prophet Eesa (Jesus) (may peace be upon him) that, by the permission of Allah, he healed thirty sick people and cured many who were afflicted with blindness. Afterwards they turned on him as enemies.