I’ve been wondering, does following the Deen also bring about good things in life? What are we to expect?
It just seems that people who go about the haraam route in things, get what they wish and are happy, and those who wish to follow the Deen and go the halal routes are left in despair at times. For example, those who wish to go the halal route and get married don’t find what they hope for, or get what they hope for, while those who go about haraam relationships and finding their own, find what they want, get what they want, and are happy.
Why is this the case? Shouldn’t being or atleast trying to be a good muslim help us in life or bring about good things for us? Instead, things just seem harder and it becomes less motivating to follow the Deen.
Please expound.
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
Your question revolves around happiness. You state people who do haram are happy. People who follow Deen are not. The fundamental question is what is happiness? How do you know that people adopting haram are really happy? What is your measure to determine that?
It is important to distinguish between means of happiness and real happiness. There are many people who have the means of happiness but are unhappy. Outwardly they seem to be happy whereas internally they suffer grief and depression. Consider the following:
“Why Suicides Are More Common in Richer Neighbourhoods … Suicide risks are higher in wealthier neighbourhoods ”
“Experts say that the pressure that comes with wealth or success can be a driving factor in depression, an illness that affects 1 in 10 American adults, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention ”.
Conversely, there are many people who don’t have means of happiness but are happy. This is because of their conviction in Imaan and taqdeer.
If a Muslim is not happy due to the challenges in life or not having the means of happiness, he should strengthen his conviction in Imaan and taqdeer and remind himself that Allah’s decree is best for him. Ultimately, happiness and peace lie in connecting oneself to Allah. Allah Ta`ala says:
{أَلَا بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ } [الرعد: 28]
Translation:
Behold! Hearts are contented with the zikr of Allah
Connecting oneself with worldly things brings happiness on the surface with internal grief. If the happiness is indeed genuine, it is limited, as the world is finite that offers only finite happiness. Real happiness is eternal happiness. Consider the following hadith:
لاَ عَيْشَ إِلَّا عَيْشُ الآخِرَهْ
Translation:
The Prophet (sallalahu alayhi wa sallam) said: there is no ( enjoyment of) life, but the life of the Hereafter.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Hafizurrahman Fatehmahomed
Student Darul Iftaa
Netherlands
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.