Do not pay attention to the tell-tale

Predictions of calamity (which rarely come to pass) and evil premonitions (which are most often false) instill fear into the hearts of many.
Anxiety, sleeplessness, and ulcers are the ill consequences of hopelessness and worry.

A poet said:
“Don’t punish us for we have already been tortured,
By anxiety that keeps us awake long through the night.”

The curses of the foolish are of no consequence to you

Abraham Lincoln, America’s 16th President, said:
“I never read malicious, hostile letters that are sent to me. I never open the envelopes and never bother responding to them. If I were to become busy in dealing with such matters, I would have no time left to do things for my people.”

The commander of the American Navy during World War II was a brilliant leader and tactician, and he earned a considerable amount of fame as a result. However, he had to deal with those under his command, inferiors who harbored jealousy towards him and subordinates who constantly attacked him behind his back with curses and criticism. And as is usually the case in such instances, he was well aware of what they said about him. He commented on this, saying, “I now have an immunity from criticism. I have become old and am now cognizant of the fact that words cannot destroy greatness, nor can they bring down a sturdy fence.”

A poet said:
“What do the poets want from me (through attacking me verbally)
And I have past in age the limit of forty.”

You should give a general pardon to your enemies. This way, you will be free from feelings of revenge, and free from hatred and rancor.

Appreciate the beauty of the universe

By studying and appreciating the wonders of Allah’s creation, you will find peace.
Learn from the bright sun, shining stars, rivers, streams, mountains, trees, fruits, air, and water.

A poet said:
“In everything there is a sign,
Indicating that He is One.”

An another poet said:
“O’ complainer who has no cause to grumble, Imagine how you would be if you became ill, Do you see the thorn and the roses yet remain blind? Or the dewdrops: did you miss them? He who himself is void of beauty, Sees nothing beautiful in nature.”

Einstein said that whoever looks reflectively at the Universe knows that the One who created it perfectly is All-Wise and is not playing with dice.

everything is planned and measured according to divine wisdom. And whoever studies the creation knows that there is One All-Powerful God Who sustains and manages everything and that the notion that everything happens by coincidence is false.

Protection from the Lord of all that exists reaches those who have faith in Him and faith in His being All-Powerful and Most Merciful.

A poet said:
“If this protection is directed at you,
Sleep, since everything that happens is peace.”

If one has enough food and a safe place to sleep, then he has achieved the best of the good things in this world. And many are those who are at this level in life but are thankless nonetheless.

The fatigue and stress that come with an important position

People who have important positions are taxed heavily. Their responsibilities take away from their health and peace. Very few people remain unaffected and unharmed from the stresses that are related to having strenuous and demanding jobs.
“Don’t seek to be prince (leader or governor).”
Imagine that the world came to you with everything. Where will it all go in the end? Without a doubt, all of it will perish.

A wise man warned his son:
“Do not seek to be the head, for the head is constantly aching.”
In other words, do not always aspire to be the leader or the one in charge. Bitter criticisms, curses, and tough problems are the lot of the leader.

A poet justly said:
“Half of the people are enemies of the governor, so very few, only if he is just.”

Charity give you peace of psychological

Among the factors that contribute to one’s happiness are performing acts of kindness to others and giving charity.

A man said to his wife:
“If you have prepared a meal, invite a voracious eater, for I cannot bear to eat by myself”
Then he said to her, proclaiming his philosophy:
“Name a generous person who died from being generous, or a miserly one who lived forever, and I will desist.”

Don’t be angry

Anger is one of the factors that cause depression and sadness.
The following are some of the ways of controlling your anger:
1. Combat feelings of anger as if anger itself is your enemy.
2. Make ablution. Since anger is an ember of the fire, it can be extinguished by water.
3. If you are standing, sit, and if you are sitting, lie down.
4. When you are angry, remain silent.
5. Remind yourself of the rewards of those who repress their anger and of those who forgive.

Pause to reflect

Those who have knowledge about Allah (GOD) agree that when you get to the point of losing all hope, it means that Allah (GOD) has entrusted to you your own affairs. And when you have trust and hope in Allah (GOD), it means that Allah has guided you to goodness.
Allah’s slaves are always swaying from the first state to the second. During the period of a single hour, one can have his share of both. So he obeys Allah (GOD) and pleases Him, he remembers Him and thanks Him, and he is only able to do these through His help. Shortly afterwards, though, he disobeys Allah (GOD), goes against His commands, earns His anger, and is generally in a state of forgetfulness, all because Allah has left him to himself Therefore.
Allah’s slave is always oscillating between His divine care and between being forsaken.
Whenever one of Allah’s slaves witnesses this phenomenon, that of changing from one state to the other, he should appreciate the dubious nature of his situation and his extreme need of being guided by Allah (GOD) in every breath he breathes and in every moment he lives. His faith and belief are in Allah’s hand. If Allah (GOD) were to leave him alone for even the blinking of an eye, his faith would plunge to the ground. You should therefore realize that the One who is protecting your faith is the One Who is preventing the sky from falling to the earth.

Don’t aspire to fame, or else you will be taxed with stress and worries

By seeking to be the center of attention and by trying to please others, you lose both peace and stability in your life.

A poet said:
“Whoever is satisfied in following and not leading, brings serenity to his self, And spends his nights peacefully. Verily, when the wind blows strong and violently, It only tosses about the high part of the tree.”

Another poet said:
“Transparent is the gown of the one who does deeds for show, Even if he wraps it around himself, he remains naked.”

The good life

Everything that we discussed in previous chapters concerning happiness can be summed up in the following:
Have faith in Allah (GOD), Lord of all that exists. All else that we mentioned hitherto is useless and is of no benefit unless you have faith in Allah (GOD). Believing in Allah as your Lord, in Muhammad as His Messenger and accepting Islam as your religion, these must be your foundations.
There are two conditions to gaining a good life: faith in Allah and performing good deeds.
The one who believes in Allah (GOD) and does good deeds derives two benefits:
1. A good and prosperous life in this world and in the Hereafter.
2. A tremendous reward from Allah, the Exalted.

Bear trials patiently

Don’t let hardships bother you excessively.
Among the necessities or elements of faith is to be contented with all that is decreed, both what is good and what is bad.
What is decreed for us is not always in harmony with our desires and fancies. But then, we are not in a position to give suggestions. On the contrary, our right station and position is that of a worshipper, who surrenders his will.
We are all tested according to the level of our faith.
If Allah (GOD) wants good for a person, He afflicts him.

From being a governor to becoming a carpenter

One of the princes of antiquity was a governor and son of the Caliph. He lived a life of opulence in a large castle. Anything he wanted in this world was easy for him.
One day, looking down from a balcony in the castle, he saw a man toiling in the fields. On succeeding days, The prince paid more and more attention to the man and witnessed that he always worked straight through the morning, after which, he would take a break, make ablution from a stream, and pray two units of prayer. Only when the evening came would he quit his work and go home to his family. To learn more about him, The prince invited him one day and asked him many questions. He soon learned that the worker had a wife, two sisters, and a mother that were all under his care, and it was for their sake that he toiled so assiduously. He fasted everyday and when nightfall came, he would break his fast from what he had reaped during the day. The prince asked, “And do you have any cause to complain?” He answered, “No, All praise is due to Allah (GOD), Lord of all that exists.”
So impressed was he by the simple laborer, that The prince quit the castle, resigned from his position, and traveled abroad. He was found dead years later in the vicinity of Kharasan. After leaving the castle, he worked as a carpenter, and he found happiness in his new life, happiness that was foreign to him in his former one.

People who are devoid of virtues, who have low aims, and who easily succumb to their desires are among the most unbearable of people to share company with.

A poet said:
“Your company upon me is heavy, heavy, heavy, You are in appearance a man yet an elephant in the scale of bad company.’’

Patience, preordainment, and reward from Allah (GOD) are important issues to be considered when calamity strikes. And we should know that the One Who took away is the One Who gave in the first place.

A poet said: “Wealth and family are only loans for a period, And the day must come when a loan is returned.”

The positive effects of having true Monotheistic faith in Allah (GOD)

Only when you are the victim of some wrongdoing do certain positive effects of Monotheistic faith in Allah (GOD) become manifest in your life. When others hurt you, remember that having faith in Allah (GOD), the Exalted, will help you in many ways:
1. By having a strong faith in Allah (GOD), you will forgive the one who transgresses against you. Better yet is to have good wishes for that same person. And the highest and best level higher than simply forgiving him or simply wishing him well is to benefit or help him in some way. The first stage of forgiveness is to repress your anger, which means that you don’t reciprocate injury with injury. Then comes actual forgiveness, which means to pardon and to discard any feelings of ill will. And then finally comes doing good, or in other words, to recompense the harm that was acted out on you with a good deed or a show of kindness.
2. You will develop a stronger faith in preordainment. In other words, you will realize that the person who injured you only did so based on Allah’s preordainment and decree.
People are only means, but the One Who decrees and decides is Allah (GOD), so surrender your will to Him.
3. You will realize that the harm that was perpetrated against you was atonement for your sins and can result in an increase in ranking with Allah (GOD).
The believers are able to perceive that putting out the fire of enmity is a wise course to follow in life.
You should repay the one who harms you with a pleasant face and gentle words. Thus you will be able to extinguish the fire of hatred from his heart.
4. You will come to know your shortcomings. Or in other words, you will be aware of the fact that a person was afforded the opportunity to harm you because of your own sins.

A poet said:
“If you are in the company of a loving people, Treat them with the softness of a loving relative, And don’t take people to account for all of their mistakes, So as not to stay companionless throughout your life.”

The Indians say in one of their proverbs:
“The one who overcomes his own self is more brave than the one who conquers a city.”

Take care of your outside as well as of your inside

A person who has a pure soul cares about wearing clean clothes.
Some wise people have even said:
“When one’s garment becomes soiled, his soul will follow suit.”
The root of vexation for many people is in being neither neat nor organized nor punctual; for others, it is in having bad hygiene, dirty clothes, or a sloppy appearance.
The universe is based on order. In fact, to truly understand the depth and wisdom of our religion, one should appreciate that it came to organize our lives in both small and large matters. Everything with Allah (GOD) is according to a measure.
You should organize your appointments in a small journal or notebook, allocating time to read, to worship, to exercise, and so on.
In the library of congress hangs a large placard and written on it are the words, “The Universe is Based on Order”. This is true, for the divinely revealed Religion calls for order, organization, and harmony in action.
Allah (GOD) informed us that the affairs of the universe are not based on play and frivolity, but are by preordainment, decree, measurement, and organization.
When a mentally sick patient would be brought to the sages of Greece for treatment, they would force him to work in farming and in gardens. Only a short time would pass before he would return to health.
Tradesmen who work with their hands are, as a class, more happy, easygoing, and calm than others. If you observe laborers, you will notice strength of body and peace of mind. Both of these are consequences of a satisfaction that comes with movement, exercise, and work.

“And I seek refuge in You (My Lord) from incapability and laziness.”

Place your complete trust in Him

Always turning to Allah (GOD), placing one’s trust in Him, and being satisfied with His care and protection these are among the most important of factors that bring happiness to the believer.
Allah: the Great and Glorious name. Going back to the root of the word, we learn a special meaning. Some say that the name Allah comes from the root A-La-Ha. This means the one whom the hearts of people love, find peace in, are happy with, turn to, and accept as their God. Also, it is impossible for the heart to find peace or comfort with other than Him.

They agree on three points

After steeping myself in books that deal with anxiety and mental ailments, I found that scholars agree upon three fundamentals for one who seeks a cure:
1. One should have a close relationship with Allah (GOD), by worshipping Him, being obedient to Him, and turning to Him when in hardship or in ease.
2. One must close the files of the past. Episodes of the past, which when recalled only induce pain, should be forgotten and eradicated from one’s memory. Thus, a new life for a new day!
3. One should leave the future alone. Whatever has yet to occur is from the world of the unseen. Therefore it should be left alone until it comes. More particularly, one should avoid being preoccupied with predictions, expectations, and apprehensions. Life should be lived within the boundaries of today.

Beware of believing in superstitions and rumors.

I know people who for years now have been waiting for predictions of disaster and calamity to come true, predictions that, at least until now, have not materialized. They are putting fear into their own hearts and the hearts of others (How perfect is Allah(GOD)!). Leading such a life is pathetic and deplorable. The example of these people is that of the tortured prisoner in China, whose captors place him under a tap, releasing from it a drop of water every minute. The prisoner desperately waits for each drop until he loses his mind.

The wrongdoing of the transgressor

“To judgment is our destination on the Day of Gathering, And in front of Allah (GOD) will be gathered all adversaries.”
Sufficient justice and retribution for the believer is that he waits for the day wherein Allah (GOD) will gather the first and the last (of creation). The judge on that day will be Allah and the witnesses will be the angels.

Faith in God, purity of heart and Contentment of earning a living are the secrets of happiness

Buzrjamhar, the wise man of Persia, related the story of Khosrau the king and the old lady:

The latter possessed a chicken and a small hut, which was situated on a small plot of land that neighbored the palace of Khosrau. One day, she had to travel to another village, and before departing she prayed, “O’ my Lord, I entrust my chicken to You.” During her absence, Khosrau usurped her property in order to expand the gardens of his palace. His army slaughtered the chicken and destroyed the cottage. When she returned and discovered the deplorable act, she turned her gaze to the sky and said, “O’ my Lord, I was absent and where were You?” Then Allah (GOD) granted revenge for her. It came to pass that the son of Khosrau attacked his father with a knife and killed him.

The believer has a mission and a message that are more important than revenge, malice, and hate.

Most people who are remembered today for their greatness had to overcome many obstacles on their path: their perseverance was akin to obstinacy. They felt a weakness in one faculty or area that required compensation in another.

Many great scholars were handicapped in one way or another. Some were blind, others were deaf, and yet others were bereft of a limb, and so on. Yet despite these handicaps, they influenced generations to come after them, and they were able to contribute to mankind.

A diploma from a prestigious University is not everything. Do not be down or despondent because you weren’t able to earn a University degree. Even without a diploma in your hand, you can still shine and contribute greatly to mankind. There are many famous and eminent people who do not have degrees. They made their way in life and overcame insurmountable obstacles with an iron will and a strong determination.

You have a great treasure with you if you are of the type who is contented with any situation.

Be contented with your family, your income, your car, and your job. If you are contented with all of these, then you will have found happiness and peace.

A man related that he once entered a taxi at the airport and ordered the driver to take him to the city. He said, “I noticed that the driver was happy and good-humored. He would constantly praise Allah (GOD), thank Him, and remember Him. I asked him about his family and he said that he was the breadwinner for two families. Meanwhile, his monthly salary was a paltry sum of 800 $, and he and his family had to live in a run-down building. Yet, his mind was at peace because he was thankful for what Allah (GOD) had allotted for him.”

The narrator then went on to say, “I felt amazed when I compared this man to others who lead a life of affluence with money, luxury cars, and large mansions. In spite of such opulence, they live such miserable lives, and upon reflection, I realized that happiness is not in wealth.”

I knew a tycoon who had hundreds of millions and a number of mansions. He was miserable in his relationships, always seething with anger and always brooding in a state of depression. He died estranged from his family, and he went through all of this misery because he was not satisfied with what Allah (GOD) gave him.

I know people who have been afflicted with poverty, misery, and depression. In the case of every one of them, the cause of their downfall was that they were far away from Allah (GOD). You will find that one of them was rich, comfortable, and in a state of good health from his Lord. But then he turned away from the obedience of Allah (GOD). He was negligent in performing his prayers and he began to commit major sins. So Allah (GOD), the Almighty, took away his health and wealth and replaced them with the hardship of poverty, worry, and anxiety. He went from misery to misery, from low-point to a point that was even lower.

If I were able to perform a miracle, I would remove off you your troubles and grief, however, being bereft of the ability thereof, I will suffice by prescribing for you a medical prescription that is given by the scholars. It is to worship the Creator (without associating any partner with Him in worship), to be contented with your provision, to be abstemious, and to decrease the level of your expectations for this life.

The famous American psychologist, William James, spoke these words that caught my attention:
“We, humankind, brood over what we don’t own and we don’t thank Allah (GOD) for what we do own. We always dwell on the tragic and dark side of our lives, and we don’t look at the brighter side of our existence. We rue over what is missing in our lives and we are not happy with what is there.”

A few words about the foolish (9-1)

In a magazine I found an interesting article on Communism, written by a scholar:
The Russians sent a spacecraft to outer space and after it returned, one of their astronauts was quoted in Pravda as saying, “We ascended to the sky and we found no god there, no paradise, no hell, and no angels.”
In response, the scholar wrote, “Truly amazing you are, O’ red fools. Do you think that you will see Allah (GOD) on His throne in the open? Do you have the temerity to think that you will see the maidens of Paradise walking around in silk? Or that you will hear the flowing of Al-­Kawthar (a river in Paradise)? Or that you will smell the stench of those being punished in the Fire? If you truly thought this, then your loss and failure is open for all to see. All that I can think of to explain your misguidance, wandering, and foolishness is the communism and atheism in your heads. Communism is a day without a tomorrow, a ground without a sky, work without an end, and a constant toiling without results.”
Atheism is a deathblow to one’s thinking. It is an idea that is as farfetched as any imaginary world that a child is able to conjure up and it is an error unsurpassed in the annals of errors.
Allah (GOD) guides the heart of one who recognizes that a calamity is by pre-ordainment and decree.
Some eminent western writers such as Kersey Meerson, Alexis Carlyle and Dale Carnegie readily admit that the savoir of the material-minded, declining West is a belief in Allah (GOD). They propound the view that the reason behind the increasingly alarming phenomenon of suicide in the west is atheism and a lack of faith in Allah (GOD), Lord of all that exists.

Each livelihood had been decided by Allah(GOD), you will get it certainly (9-2)

A person who is impatient about his sustenance, worried about why he has so little, and unsatisfied at being lower than others in worldly status must be sure that one does not die until he receives all of the provision that was decreed for him. Sustenance and provision were preordained and decided upon fifty thousand years before the creation was created.

Read a lot, but with reflection and meditation (9-3)

To be blessed with a large store of knowledge, a mind that contemplates, a good understanding, and an intellect that delves beneath the surface for reasons and motives, these are all factors that contribute to giving one peace of mind.

A scholar usually has an open mind and is at peace.

A thinker from the west said:
“I keep a large file in the drawer of my desk, and on it is written, ‘Foolish things I have done.’ I write in it all of the follies and errors that I perpetrate during the course of a day, I do this to know my faults in order to rid myself of them.”

Three common mistakes in our daily lives (9-4)

1. Wasting time.
2. Talking about matters that don’t concern us, matters that are none of our business.
“From the goodness of a believer is leaving alone that which does not concern him.”
3. Being preoccupied with trivial issues, Listening to rumors, predictions, and gossip are three common examples.

An important step:
Keep a journal with you, and in it take account of your actions, Write down the negative aspects of your personality and actions, and then think of solutions to rid yourself of them.

Plan your life and take the necessary measures (9-5)

When a Believer sets out to do something, he must do the following:
He must plan with caution, and he must put his trust in Allah (GOD).

To trust in Allah (GOD) without taking appropriate measures, i.e. without making an effort to achieve one’s goals, is a contemptible misunderstanding of the religion.
And to take appropriate measures without trusting in Allah (GOD) means that there is a defect in one’s faith in Allah (GOD).

An One poets said:
“The slow cautious person will achieve part of his goals, While the impetuous hasty one will often fail.”

By being circumspect in your affairs, you will not have acted contrary to your belief in preordainment, but rather, you will have implemented a fundamental part of it.

Paradise for you ....... (9-6)

“My soul that owns things is itself departing, Then why should I cry when something leaves me.”
The whole world, with all its gold, silver, positions, and mansions does not deserve even a teardrop.

An One poets said:
“Wealth and family are only a loan, And the day must come when the loan is returned.”
All of the wealth in the world cannot postpone death when its appointed time comes.

An One scholars said:
“Do not seek any remuneration other than Paradise, especially since the value of a believer’s soul is so expensive.”
Yet some people sell theirs for a base value, Those who mourn over bankruptcy and destruction of house or car, and do not grieve over a low level of faith and over their sins will soon come to realize the absurdity of their outlook on life, And the realization thereof, teemed with regret, will be augmented for an individual according to the degree of his particular delusions, It is an issue that strikes deep because it is one of values, morals, and priorities.

To avoid anxiety ..... (9-7)

Learn how to avoid anxiety :
1-The length of your life has already been decided upon, for everything takes place according to preordainment and decree, So there is no need to feel anxious in that regard.
2-The decision of how much sustenance any one of us receives is with Allah (GOD) alone, no one else owns that sustenance or has the power to take it from you.
3-The past is gone and has taken with it its woes and miseries, It cannot return even if the whole of mankind worked as one unit to bring it back.
4-The future is from the unseen world and has not yet arrived, It brings with it matters, showing no regard to your permission or feelings, so do not call it forth until it actually arrives.
5-Doing good to others brings happiness to both the heart and the soul, A good deed provides greater benefits to the benefactor, in terms of blessings and recompense and peace, than it does to the receiver.
6-Among the noble qualities of the believer is that he doesn’t concern himself with spurious criticism, No one has been saved from curses and criticism, not even Allah (GOD), the Lord of all that exists, Who is Perfect and Exalted.

To avoid ardent love and passion (9-8)

Beware of falling in love with appearances, such love is beset with anxiety and perpetual misery. It is a blessing for a Believer that he stays away from messages found in lyrics and music, messages about ardent love, unrequited love, or separation from one’s object of love.

In reproaching himself, an One poets wrote the following:
“I am the one who has brought death a knocking, Then who is to blame when the murdered is the murderer.”
He is blaming himself for the perpetual pain and misery that he experienced, finally recognizing that by falling in passionate love and then by not being able to fall out of it, he alone was to blame for his woes.

Many cures for ardent, unbridled love (10-1)

1. Strive to improve your worship, by being more sincere and invoke Allah (GOD) to cure you.
2. Lower your gaze.
3. Travel away from the object of your passion.
4. Keep yourself busy in doing good deeds.
5. Marriage in a legal way, i.e. according to the teachings of religion.

The rights of Friendship (brotherhood) (10-2)

Upon meeting your friend (brother), call him by a name he loves and greet him with a smiling face.

“To smile at your brother is charity.”

Encourage him to speak with you, or in other words, give him an opportunity to talk to you about himself and about his life. Ask him about his affairs, but only about those things that won’t cause him embarrassment.
Don’t blame or remind him of his past errors, and don’t cause him discomfort by making fun of him.
Do not dispute with your friend (brother), don’t make fun of him, and don’t make an appointment with him and then not show up.

Two secrets about sinner, even if you know them, don’t sin (10-3)

Some of the people of knowledge mentioned that :

1. After one repents from a sin, one’s feelings of self-importance and sanctimoniousness are quelled.

2. Allah’s (GOD’s) names and attributes, such as the Most Merciful and the Oft-Forgiving, bear a greater meaning to the one who sins and then repents than they do to others.

Search for a sustenance,but don’t be predatory (10-4)

All glory and praise is for the Creator and Provider. He gives sustenance to the worm in the ground, the fish beneath water, the bird in the air, the ant in the dark, and the snake within the crevice of a rock.
One of the Wise mentioned something he witnessed that was wonderful yet strange. A blind snake lived on a branch at the top of a tree. A bird would come to it with food in its mouth. It would chirp a signal to the snake, which in return would open its mouth and allow the bird to insert the food. All praise and glory belongs to Allah (GOD), Who made this one to help the other.
Provision came to Mariyam (Mary) day and night. It was said to her, “How does this come to you.” She replied, “It is from Allah (GOD). Verily, Allah provides for whom He wishes without reckoning.” So do not worry, for your sustenance is guaranteed.
People must realize that the Provider for both father and son is the One Who begets not, nor is He begotten.
The proprietor of infinite treasures has guaranteed your sustenance.

Pause to reflect (10-5)

As for the prayer, its significance, or rather part of its significance, is that it empties the heart from bad feelings and fills it with strength and pleasure. During prayer, one’s heart and soul are in communication with Allah(GOD). Closeness to Him, the comfort realized from asking of Him, and the spirituality felt from standing in front of Him, these are all realized during the prayer. Every limb is used in the prayer, but what is more important is that the heart must be wakeful as well. When one prays, tranquility and peace are achieved, as one travels away, at least spiritually, from enemies and troubles. Thus the prayer is one of the most potent of remedies for the diseases of the heart. Yet only the worthy heart benefits from prayer, the weak heart, on the other hand, is like the body, in that it seeks its sustenance from material matter.
Therefore prayer is the greatest way to help us achieve the blessings of both this world and the Hereafter. The prayer precludes one from sins, defends against diseases, illuminates both heart and face, makes one active, and in general, brings good upon the person who performs it sincerely.

Avoid the following four (10-6)

The following four deeds bring misery to a person’s heart, so avoid them:
1. Complaining and being angry with what Allah (GOD) has decreed.
2. Committing sins without repenting afterwards.
3. Hating people for the blessings that Allah (GOD) has bestowed upon them.
4. Turning away from the remembrance of Allah

To find peace, turn to your Lord (10-7)

Allah’s slave - i.e. every one of us can find comfort only by turning to Allah (GOD) Almighty.
Tranquility means having a heart that is at peace and that has a sound trust in Allah (GOD). Tranquility is a state of calm enjoyed by those believers who have been saved from doubt. And it is according to one’s closeness to Allah (GOD) that one will achieve tranquility and peace.

Some of the positive results of experiencing hardship (10-8)

Hardship makes one turn humbly toward one’s Lord. Someone once said, “How Perfect is Allah (GOD), Who has elicited supplication through hardship.” It has been related that Allah (GOD) tested one of His slaves in a matter and then said to the Angels that it was, “In order to hear his voice,” meaning his supplications and invocations.
Hardship instills humility in the heart of the afflicted.
People give comfort to, and pray for, the afflicted. Thus during times of hardship the believers come together in a spirit of brotherhood.
Hardship should make one grateful for having been saved from that which is greater than the hardship with which he was afflicted.
Furthermore, hardship atones for sins.
When the slave of Allah (GOD) gains an appreciation of these facts, he will be thankful.

Happiness is a divine present that does not differentiate between the rich and the poor (10-9)

It is not uncommon to see laborers who are so poor that whatever they earn on any given day is spent on that same day. Yet many of them are happy, peaceful, with strong hearts and tranquil souls. This is because they are too busy to think about yesterday or tomorrow. Their life-style has given them an appreciation of today since they have not been afforded the opportunity of thinking about anything else. Compare these to those who live in mansions. Inactivity and free time have afforded them with plentiful time to think about their problems and their lack of purpose in life. Thus misery and worry afflict many of them day and night.

Invoke GOD with the following (10-10)

“O’ Allah (GOD), give us a good share of piety, for You serve as a barrier between us and between our disobeying You. Give us that share of obedience to You with which You make us enter Paradise, and a share of the faith that serves to make the calamities of this world seem easy for us. Make us enjoy the blessings of our hearing, sight, and strength as long as You give us life, Grant us revenge against those who have wronged us and help us against those who have transgressed against us. And do not make our calamity to be in our religion, do not make the world to be the most important matter with us, nor make it the extent of our knowledge. And on account of our sins, do not give those who show us no mercy the power to subjugate us.

A Lord Who wrongs not (10-11)

You should feel reassured in that you have a Lord Who is just.

Allah (GOD), the Exalted, admitted a woman into Paradise because of a dog and another into the Hellfire because of a cat. The first was a prostitute from the children of Israel, because she once gave drink to a thirsty dog, Allah (GOD) forgave her and admitted her into Paradise.
This was a just recompense for her sincerity in doing a good deed, for her sincerity to Allah (GOD). The second was a woman who confined a cat to a room. She neither fed it nor gave it drink, by confining the cat, she prevented it from eating insects in the fields, and so Allah (GOD) made her enter the Hellfire.
The story of the first woman is one that brings coolness to the heart, because it makes one know that Allah (GOD) gives great rewards for small deeds.

So help the grief-stricken, give to the poor, aid the oppressed, visit the sick, pray over the dead, guide the blind, give comfort to the afflicted, guide the misguided, and be generous to both guest and neighbor. All of these are deeds of charity, deeds that not only help the receiver of your kind acts, but that also help you by giving you comfort and peace.

Everyone is searching for happiness, but ….. (11-1)

Few are those who are guided to the path that truly leads to happiness. Regarding that and other paths, here are three points for you to reflect upon:
1- Whoever does not make the pleasure of Allah(GOD) to be his main concern in life will end up losing in the end.
2- There are too many people in this world who think they are doing well, but who, in reality, are losing out on this life and the Hereafter, simply because they turn their backs to the true Religion.
3- In order to achieve happiness, people attempt to follow many complicated and tricky paths. Little do they know that an easier path is ready for them in the religion of (.................) a path that will bring them the best of this life and the Hereafter.

So I ask you my dear friend to search for the right religion, that God Almighty has created the humankind to worship, this is the real target of these fleeting life, so my dear friend you have to read in all the religions of Islam, Christianity and Judaism, and to reflect with your mind on what you read without obstinacy or Stubbornness, or any external influence and to request an advisory opinion from the heart, my friend Come quickly before the day which will come when no remorse for you, That day of judgment, May win paradise, or anguish and regret with the hellfire, Since I'm of the believers of Islam, Offer you this book with format of Pdf ( http://www.islam-guide.com/islam-guide.pdf ) written by a group of Westerners who converted to Islam, this book contains a simplified and explained by the wealth of information about Islam, and in all fairness and impartiality I am all ready to put a link (you send me in a comment) in this post of a book explains the Christian and another to explain Judaism.

Prepare for bad times by being thankful when all is well (11-2)

Supplicate often in times of comfort, peace, and well-being. Among the characteristics of the believer is that he is thankful and resolute, he sharpens the arrow before releasing it from the bow, and he turns to GOD before he is afflicted. The opposite of the believer in this regard is the vile disbeliever. Therefore if we truly want to be saved, we must remain steadfast in supplicating and praising GOD. The purpose of supplicating to GOD during times of ease, as has been mentioned by one of the imams, is to praise Allah(GOD), to thank Him, and to recognize His many favors, and at the same time, to ask for guidance and help. It is also important to seek forgiveness for your shortcomings, no matter how hard you try, you cannot completely fulfill the rights that GOD has upon you.

Bliss versus the Fire (11-3)

News agencies around the world reported the suicidal death of a French minister during the rule of Mitterand. The reason behind the suicide was that French newspapers waged an unmitigated war against the minister by besmirching his name and reputation. Having found no faith or sanctuary to resort to, or in which to seek support, he destroyed his own life.
This wretched man, who sought refuge in self-destruction, was not guided by the divine guidance. It was because he was lost and was far away from the path of truth.

There are some who suggest that every person who is downtrodden or who is in a hapless situation should go on a nature expedition, listen to music, go skiing, or play chess or backgammon.
But the believer lay claim to a cure that is more effective:
it is to sit in the Mosque between the call to prayer and the actual commencement of prayer in order to remember Allah(GOD) and to submit to and be contented with the divine decree. And it is of equal importance that one places his total trust in Allah(GOD).

A good life (11-4)

A Western thinker said:
“It is most possible for you, while you are behind steel bars, to look out upon the horizon and to smell roses. It is also extremely plausible for you to be in a castle replete with opulence and comfort, and yet be angry and discontented with your family and wealth.”

Therefore happiness is not determined by time or by place, but instead by faith in GOD and obedience to Him, matters that are rooted in a person’s heart. The heart has a far-reaching significance in that it is the place that GOD looks at and scrutinizes. If faith settles itself in the heart, happiness and tranquility will pervade both the heart and the soul.

What then is happiness? (11-5)

“Live in this world as if you are a stranger or a traveler who is just passing through.”
Happiness is not in mansions in treasures or in gardens of roses.
Bliss and happiness were the lot of the Prophets’s Companions even though they were poor and led harsh lives.
Happiness is not a cheque cashed, a car bought, or oil pumped.
Happiness is the solace that is derived from being upon the truth, a peace of mind that is achieved by living according to sound principles, and calmness that is brought about by living a life of goodness.
We used to think that if we bought a bigger house, had more things, and purchased the latest appliances and machines that make life easier, we would be happy and joyful. And then it surprised us when we found that these very things were the cause of worry, anxiety, and trouble in our lives.
Uprightness calms both conscience and soul.
The doer of good is always at peace and the sinner is always wary and suspicious of what goes on around him.
The wrongdoer goes from anxiety to suspicion and then finally to paranoia.

“If one does ill he will feel suspicious, And he will believe whatever he imagines and fancies.”
The solution for anyone who seeks happiness clearly lies in doing well and avoiding evil.
Being a Believer who is spiritually healthy is better than achieving the kingdoms of Khosrau and Caesar, since your religion is what will remain with you until you settle in the gardens of Paradise.
As for power and position, they are but momentary and fleeting.

Such is the Seizure of your Lord (11-6)

One can become sad and wretched for different reasons, the following are some of them, to do wrong to others, to usurp their rights, and to hurt the meek among mankind.
Some of the wise used to say:
“Fear the one who finds no helper against you (in your wrongdoing) except GOD.”
That we should ask for GOD’s Pleasure and for His Mercy in the Hereafter, that we invoke GOD to save us from His anger and punishment, and that we ask Him for help in worshipping Him and thanking Him, these are some of the more salient themes that are stressed in the previous supplications. Regarding these themes, there is one uniting or common factor, that we should seek what is with GOD and turn away from what is in this world, or in other words, that we must not be covetous of material things that are, by their very nature, evanescent.

security is a must (11-7)

Security of the heart is the faith and sureness of knowing the truth. Security of the home is its freedom from shame and deviation and its being replete with tranquility and Divine guidance. Security of our nation is its being united with love, being founded upon justice, and in its application of the Shari‘ah. And fear is the enemy of security
Based on the abovementioned categories of security, there is no true peace and security for the frightened one or for the disbeliever.
By Allah (GOD), how pitiable is the life of this world! If you are prosperous in one facet of your life, you are sure to be miserable in another. If wealth comes on one hand, sickness arrives on the other. If your body is healthy, some other form of difficulty will arise. And when everything seems to be going well and you finally feel a sense of stability, you are ready to be put into a coffin.

Fleeting glory (11-8)

Happiness, if it is of the true kind, must be perpetual in its presence and complete in its magnitude. In terms of always being present, I mean that it should never be interrupted by worry and that it should exist for one, both in this world and in the Hereafter. Its completeness is realized when it is neither spoiled nor diminished by troubles or worries.
In the past, one of the kings of Iraq, set under a tree to relax and to drink alcohol. He called a wise man to come and advise him. The wise man said “O’ King, do you know what this tree says?” The king said, “No, what does it say”, The wise man replied:
‘‘Many people sought rest around me, To drink wine mixed with pure water, Soon after, time began to play with them (i.e. some harm befell them), And time is such, always changing from one state to another.”
Being tormented by the eventuality described to him, the king became embittered; he quit drinking and he remained miserable until he died.
As the Shah of Iran celebrated the passing of two thousand five hundred years since the establishment of the Persian Empire, he began to make plans for expanding the scope of his power to lands outside of his reign. Then, in the blink of an eye, he was toppled from power, Chased from his castle and his world, he died in exile as a poor man in a far-off country. No one shed tears for him.
A similar case is that of Chaucesco, the former president of Rumania. He ruled for twenty-two years, and he had 70,000 personal guards. But in the end, it was his own people who surrounded his castle. They tore apart his body one limb after another. Thus he died without anything to show for his long reign, no worldly goods did he take with him and no prospect of prosperity in the Hereafter.
Another example is the former leader of the Philippines, Marcos. He gathered wealth and power for himself while heaping misery upon his people. In turn, Allah (GOD) made him to feel that same misery as he was driven away from his country, his family, and his power. With no sanctuary to turn to, he died ignominiously, even his own people refused to allow him to be buried in the Philippines.

Everlastingness and Paradise.....are there, and not here! (12-1)

Do you wish to stay young, healthy, rich, and immortal? If you desire these things, you will not find them in this world; however, you can find them in the Hereafter. Allah (GOD), the Exalted, has decreed misery and impermanence for this world. He called this life a trifle and an enjoyment of deception.
There is a well known poet from long ago, who for the greater part of his life lived a life of penury. In the prime of his youth, he wanted money and could not get it. He wanted a wife too, but he failed in that pursuit as well. When he became old, with white hair and brittle bones, he became rich. Many women were now willing to marry him and he lived a comfortable life.
The irony of his story is that he was poor when he was able to enjoy all comforts and that he became rich when he could no longer enjoy the pleasures of life.
He composed these verses in the latter part of his life:
“What I desired to own when I was only twenty, Came into my possession after turning eighty,
Young Turkish girls now surround me, Singing and wearing silks and jewels,
They say, Your moans keep us awake all night long, So what is it that you complain of ? I said, Of being an octogenarian.”
“The example of this world is that of a rider who seeks shade under a tree, to rest for a short period of time, and then he gets up and leaves.”

Enemies of the Divine way (12-2)

As I was reading material written by proponents of atheism, it became clear to me that those writers blatantly showed enmity toward the principles of the true Religion. From what I read from those writers, and from what I perceived in terms of their ill manners and lack of humility, I feel shy even to relate what they said and wrote.
Suffice it to say I realized that a person who does not have principles and who does not attribute a correct meaning to life becomes transformed into an animal possessing only the shape and appearance of a man.
I asked myself how is it possible for them to be happy despite their having turned away from GOD, Who owns happiness and gives it to whomsoever He pleases.How could they be happy after having severed the rope between them and Him and after having shut the doors of GOD’s vast mercy upon their own weak selves? How could they find happiness and comfort after having earned His anger and after having waged war upon Him?
I grasped that the first punishment they receive is one that is inflicted upon them in this life as an introduction or prelude to the greater punishment (that is, if they fail to repent) of the Hereafter.This harbinger of punishment includes misery, general apathy, a feeling of being constricted, and a sense of hopelessness.
Many people who are from this category wish that their life would end.Some common factors between atheists of old and present, day atheists are, a lack of appropriate manners with GOD, an arbitrary approach to deciding upon values and principles, and a lack of knowledge, or a feigned lack of knowledge, of the evil end-results of their actions.In addition they share a general lack of care for what they say, do, or write.
The only solution available to these staunch atheists if they wish to depart from their worries and problems is, if they don’t repent and follow true guidance, to commit suicide and thus end their bitter and lowly existence.

The reality of this life (12-3)

One will be happy to the degree that one remembers Allah (GOD) and recites His Book. And after considering this principle, one may estimate his worth in this world and in the Hereafter.
We should realize that this life is not the yardstick of success when we see that the disbeliever often lives a life of opulence while the believer is often precluded from many worldly pleasures, a phenomenon that merely indicates the paltry value of this world which equal nothing on GOD, then Life is a difficult test, not impossible for humans, who has Successfully will profit paradise.

The key to happiness (12-4)

If you know GOD and worship Him, you will have found happiness and peace, even if you are living in a hut made of mud.
But if you deviate from the true path, your life will truly be wretched, even if you are living a life of luxury and comfort in a large mansion.

If this latter case applies to you, then you do not have with you the key to happiness.

Pause to reflect (12-5)

GOD protects those who believe from evil, both in this world and in the Hereafter. He repels evil from the believers in proportion to their faith. The evil of the disbelievers, the evil whispers of the Devil, the evil in their own selves, and the evil of their deeds, all of these does GOD ward off from the true believers. When calamity falls, its burden will be lightened from them. Every believer has a share in this divine protection. Yet it varies according to one’s level of faith, some will receive less, others more. Among the fruits of faith is that it gives solace to the believer in times of hardship. the believer is who when he is afflicted with hardship, he knows that it is from GOD and that it was written for him. He is satisfied and submits his will to what has been predestined for him. Thus, the fatal blow of hardship will lose its effect on him because he knows that it came from GOD and that he will be rewarded for his patience.

What the wise say about patience (12-6)

The following words are ascribed to somewiser:
“Calamity in this life is of two kinds. The first kind allows for a way out, worrying is its remedy. The second kind permits for no solution or way out: patience is its cure.”
It is also said that, “Whoever follows patience, success will follow him.”

It has also been said:
“Strive to remain alive by seeking out death. For how many have remained because they sought out death and how many have perished who preferred to stay! And safety most often comes after treading the path of uncertainty.”

People would say:
“Verily, even in evil, there are degrees of better and worse.’ ,
Somewiser explained the meaning of this expression, saying, “If you are afflicted with a hardship, know that you could have been hit with far worse. If you have such an outlook, you will be better able to deal with the hardship.”

A way out of difficulty most often comes when hope is lost.
Sometimes GOD brings success and relief when hope is lost and all seems dark. This is in order to encourage us to turn our hopes to Him, to trust completely in Him, and to never lose hope of His help at any time. Also, when afflicted, one should be satisfied with the knowledge that he was afflicted with something minor and was saved from what could have been worse.

Somewiser said,
“Perhaps GOD tests a slave with a calamity but then saves him from destruction. Thus, the calamity is really a great blessing (in disguise).”

It has been said that whoever forbears a hardship, and is content with GOD’S decree by being patient, then some hidden benefit or blessing will come about for him through that experience.

Somewiser also said:
“Beware of complaining if you are caught in the sharp claws of a hardship, for the way to safety is a difficult path to tread.”

The importance of a positive attitude (12-7)

A writer justly said:
“Verily, hope encourages and steers one towards patience; hope arises from having a good opinion of GOD; hope in GOD precludes the possibility of failure. But why should we be so confident that hope in GOD precludes the possibility of failure? If we were to study the characteristics of generous people, we would find that they take special care of those who think well enough of them to turn to them for help. They will also tend to eschew those who think ill of them. What is important here is that they refrain from hurting the hopes of those who single them out for help. Then what will be the case regarding the Most Generous One, Whose kingdom is not decreased in the least when He gives even more than what the hopeful ones expected from Him in the first place!”

A person who finds no way out of a difficult situation illustrates the most poignant example of GOD’S generosity and guidance for one of His slaves. After losing all hope in everyone that he turned to for help, he is forced to remember that there is one door that remains open and that he should hope in no one save in Allah(GOD), the Exalted. At that point, he feels the chastisement for not having hoped from GOD in the first place, and at that point, aid and relief arrive.

A few words on patience (12-8)

Abban ibn Taghlab said:
“I heard a Desert Man say, ‘One of the noblest of characteristics becomes manifest when one is afflicted by a trial and then uses patience to overcome that trial. His patience and hope affect him positively; it is as if he constantly visualizes himself being saved from his problem; his state of mind is positive to such a high degree because of his trust in GOD and his good opinion of Him.
Whenever one possesses these characteristics, he will never have to wait long for GOD to fulfill his needs and remove hardship from his life. He will be saved, and his religion and honor will remain safe.”
Al-Asma’ee related that a Desert Man said:
“Fear evil when you find yourself to be in a good situation; hope for good when you are in an evil situation. Many have lived who have sought after death and many have died who have sought after life. And safety comes most often for a person after he has followed the path of fear.”

Some of the wise would say:
“The wise person, when afflicted by hardship, consoles himself in two ways. The first is to be contented. The second is in hoping for a way out of the difficulties that have befallen him. The ignorant person is shaken and nervous in situations of hardship in two ways. The first is in the number of people from whom he seeks aid. The second is in his constant fears and apprehensions about that which is worse than what has already befallen him.”
And as I mentioned earlier, it has been said that GOD, the Exalted, disciplines us through trials, a form of education that opens hearts, ears, and eyes.
Al-Hasan ibn Sahl described trials as being a wake-up call for the forgetful ones, a means of achieving reward for the patient ones, and a reminder of blessings for everyone. And the decree of GOD is always better, especially for those who, through their bravery, appear to be seeking out death, who are searching for a life of remembrance, and who are unlike.

Don’t grieve if you are poor, for your true value is not determined by your bank balance (12-9)

Therefore the value of a scholar is based on his knowledge, on whether it is limited or vast, and on the degree to which he disseminates his knowledge. Similarly, the poet is appraised based on the quality of his poems. And so it goes for every person of every occupation, his worth with people is measured by his excellence in what he does. In terms not of occupation but of religion and life in general, everyone should strive to increase their value and worth by performing good deeds, by increasing their knowledge and level of wisdom, by cultivating and polishing their mind, and by developing noble traits in their personality.

A word on reading (12-10)

Reading opens the mind, guides one to correct morals, and sharpens one’s ability to think. Reading is a comfort for the lonely, a stimulant for the thinker, and a lamp for the traveler.
To not read makes one limited in one’s speech, thinking, and personality. Most books contain at least some benefit, whether it is in wise sayings, interesting stones, strange experiences, or new knowledge.
It can even be said that the benefits of reading are beyond enumeration, And we seek refuge in GOD from one of the greatest of calamities, to have weak determination and will power.

O’ son of Adam, do not despair (12-11)

O’ man: man who is bored of life, who finds it difficult to pass the days, and who has tasted the bitter vicissitudes of life, remember that ease follows difficulty, that GOD’S promise is true, and that, if you are true and sincere, victory is near.
For your dilemma, whatever it may be, there is a cure, and for your difficulty, whatever it may be, there is a solution.
O’ Man: the time has come for you to remedy your doubts with faith and your deviant thoughts with guidance. You must remove the veil of darkness that covers you so that you can see the brightness of a true sunrise; you must supplant the bitterness of sorrow with the sweetness of contentment.
O’ Man: beyond the dry desert that you are crossing you will find green pasture and fertile soil. The fruits therein grow profusely from all directions.
O’ Man, who because of sleepless nights, screams in the late hours of the night.
O’ whose mind has wandered in grief, move to action without haste, for upon the horizon of the unseen lies a solution and a way out of your difficulties.
O’ you, whose eyes are loaded with tears, repress your tears and give leisure to your eyelids. Relax and know that your Creator protects and aids, and that His Mercy for you will bring you peace. Be peaceful in mind, O’ slave of GOD, for the divine decree is written and all matters have been decided upon. And know that your reward is secure with He Who doesn’t disappoint the one who seeks to please Him.
Be at peace, for after poverty comes wealth, after thirst comes drink, after separation comes a joyous meeting, and after sleeplessness comes sound rest.
O’ you who are oppressed in the lands, who suffer from hunger, pain, sickness and poverty, rejoice in the knowledge that you will soon be satisfied with food and that you will be happy and in good health.
Every Human must have good thoughts about his Lord and must wait patiently for His favor, for ALLAH (GOD) the One Who has the power to say “Be” to something and it is, is worthy to be trusted in regards to His promise. No one can bring good except for Him and no one can ward off evil except for Him. For every action He has wisdom and after every hour He brings ease. He made morning to follow the night and rain to follow dryness. He gives to be thanked and He puts to trial to know and He has knowledge of all things those who are patient. Therefore it is in the best interest of the Human to strengthen his relationship with his Lord and to ask Him more frequently.

Pause to reflect (12-12)

Loving GOD, knowing Him, remembering Him, seeking peace in Him, singling Him out for complete love, fear, hope, and dependence, these are qualities that, when combined in a person, constitute a sort of heaven on earth. They are qualities that bring peace to those who love GOD, a sort of peace that has no comparison in this world.
If the heart is content and has a strong attachment to GOD, anxiety and grief will be removed from it. And vice versa, no one feels more constricted with grief than someone whose heart is attached to other than GOD, someone who forgets GOD’S remembrance and who is not satisfied with what He has given him. We can verify this reality by studying cases of those who have passed before us.

Blessings in disguise (12-13)

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 al-Rasheed, the ruler during their period, ordered an unexpected attack on the Barmak family and on their possessions. GOD’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 GOD; those who know the story should especially appreciate the transitory nature of power and wealth in this world. 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.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.
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 al-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 al-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.
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.
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 Agmaat 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.”

The fruits of contentment (12-14)

Contentment bears many blessed fruits. More than anything else, by being contented with that which is decreed, one is able to soar to the highest levels of faith and truthfulness.
Some might wish for only good to befall them, for only pleasant things to occur in their lives, but that is not what being GOD’S slave means.Many of the true believer’s characteristics, which include patience, total dependence, contentment, humbleness, and submission of one’s will, only become manifest when one is confronted with something that one dislikes.So being pleased with that which has been decreed does not mean being contented with only those things that suit one’s disposition; the real gauge for true contentment are those times when one goes through a painful situation.And it is not for the human to dictate the terms of preordainment; he can be happy or discontented and it makes no difference except that by being discontented, he is sinning. Human beings do not have much of a choice in regards to the divine decree, the choice and decision thereof belong only with GOD.
He is All­ Knowing and Most High.

Being pleased with GOD (12-15)

We should know that if we are pleased with GOD, He is pleased with us. Therefore if you are pleased with a small amount of sustenance, He will be pleased with you for your small deeds. And if you are pleased no matter what the situation, then you will find that you have earned your Lord’s pleasure, and you will realize that GOD is most pleased with sincere people who are content.On the other hand, there are the hypocrites, GOD rejects their deeds, regardless of whether those deeds are many or few. They are displeased with what GOD sends down and they hate seeking His pleasure.Thus their deeds are performed in vain.

For the malcontented there is wrath (12-16)

By being dissatisfied with one’s situation and by thinking inappropriate thoughts about GOD, one opens the doors of anxiety and grief.On the other hand, contentment with one’s situation and with GOD’S Decree opens the door to a paradise on earth even before that of the Hereafter.To question and complain about what has been decreed cannot result in self-contentment and inner peace.Instead, it is by submission and acceptance that we can bring about those propitious results, because the One Who sustains all things should never be accused concerning what He has decreed. I still remember the story of Bin ar-Rawandi, the well-known atheist philosopher.
He saw a common ignorant man who lived in castles and who was very wealthy.Bin ar-Rawandi turned to the sky and exclaimed, “I am the philosopher of my generation yet I live in poverty, while this ignorant commoner is rich.This is a random and strange distribution.”
GOD then increased Bin ar-Rawandi in his misery, humiliation, and poverty.

The benefits one reaps by being contented (12-17)

During hard times, if one remains contented with one’s situation, one is able to remain calm and composed.
In contrast, the malcontented heart is filled with sickness, doubt, and instability; such a heart remains rebellious and troubled. It is as if this heart too has a voice, but the words it speaks are ever so different.
The people who possess this kind of heart are contradictory in their dealings. If they have rights upon another, they hurry to claim their rights. Yet if they are sought after to fulfill their obligations, they turn away in disdain. When good befalls them they feel calm and complacent, but when they are put to the test, how sudden is their change for the worse! They are those who have lost not only this world, but also the Hereafter.
So those are two opposites which yield results that are equally opposite in nature: contentment leads to peace, which eventually leads to prosperity; resentment about GOD’S decree leads to anxiety, which eventually leads to failure. You must remember that from the greatest of blessings that GOD can give to one of his slaves is bestowing tranquility upon him, and one of the best ways of achieving tranquility is being contented and pleased with GOD at all times.

Do not challenge your Lord (12-18)

By being contented, one is saved from being like those who challenge their Lord in His decrees and rulings. To understand this, one needs only look at the case of Iblees (the Devil). He argued and disputed with his Lord because he was displeased with His decree and ruling. Those who refuse to believe in GOD only do so because they seek to challenge Him in might and power instead of submitting to Him. Then they abandon His orders, perpetrate what is unlawful, and challenge His divine decree by showing resentment.

Resentment yields no return (12-19)

Being resentful about one’s situation generally issues from two possibilities.Either it is caused by not achieving what one desires, or by the occurrence of what one hates. Yet if one truly believes that whatever has passed him by was never meant for him, and whatever afflicted him was always meant to be, then he has no reason to feel disgruntled.

Safety is in contentment (12-20)

Contentment offers safety in that the contented heart is healthy and free from deceit, corruption, and rancor. And it is only a sound and healthy heart that will be saved from GOD’S punishment, a heart that is safe and free from doubt, disbelief, and the various tricks of the devil. Such a heart is only concerned about how to please GOD.
Bitterness and resentfulness are concepts that are foreign to the healthy heart, and so, the more one is contented with GOD’S Decree, the more healthy and sound one’s heart will be.
Wickedness, corruption, and deceit accompany discontent, while a healthy heart, righteousness, and sincerity accompany contentment. Also, jealousy is another of the fruits of discontent.

Dissatisfaction is the door to doubt (13-1)

Dissatisfaction opens the door that leads to doubt in GOD, in His Decree, in His Wisdom, and in His Knowledge.
Rarely is the complainer free from these accompanying doubts that mix within his heart and permeate his being.
If he were to delve deep into his self with honest introspection, he would find his faith to be infirm and questionable.
Contentment and faith are like brothers that accompany one another; meanwhile, doubt and discontentment have a similar fraternal relationship.
So those who are dissatisfied are resentful on the inside, and also angry, even if their anger is not expressed in words. Inside them mingles an assortment of questions, such as why has this happened, or how could this be?

Satisfaction is richness and safety (13-2)

Whoever fills his heart with satisfaction regarding the Divine Decree, GOD fills his heart with richness, safety, and comfort. And whoever becomes dissatisfied, then his heart will be filled with the opposite, and his heart will be preoccupied with matters that clash with happiness and success.
Therefore contentment empties the heart of all superfluous carriage, thus leaving it entirely for GOD. Discontent removes from the heart all thought of GOD. And so there is no real life for the resentful, complaining person who always feels that he is shifting from one problem to the next. He feels his sustenance to be insufficient, his luck poor, his problems manifold, and above all, he feels that he is deserving of more. Basically, he is discontented with what GOD decreed for him. How then can such a person find comfort, peace, and a good life?

The fruit of contentment is thankfulness (13-3)

Contentment leads to thankfulness, which is among the highest levels of faith. In truth, it is the reality of faith. The epitome of all the differing levels of righteousness is thankfulness of GOD. And the one who is not content with GOD’S favors and rulings and with His giving and His taking away is not thankful to Him. Indeed, the thankful person is the most blessed and prosperous of people.

The fruit of discontentment is disbelief (13-4)

Resentment causes one to deny the favors of GOD. Eventually perhaps, it could even lead to disbelieving in GOD. If the slave is pleased with his Lord in all circumstances, what follows necessarily is being thankful to Him.
He therefore becomes among the pleased and thankful ones.
But if he is devoid of contentment, he becomes among the resentful ones and follows the ways of the disbelievers.
Falsehood and deviation in beliefs only occurred because many of people wanted to become their own gods, to the point that many of them attempted to dictate to their Lord their wants and desires.

Dissatisfaction is a trap of the devil (13-5)

The devil prevails in his subjugation of man most often in two areas: dissatisfaction and desire. In these instances he finds his prey to be extremely vulnerable, particularly when displeasure becomes deep-rooted. At this point, he says, he does, and he thinks that which displeases his Lord.
The death of one’s dear is something that might lead to resentment in a person’s heart.
in such a situation regarding which most people are resentful and which causes them to say or do that which is displeasing to their Lord, they must not say anything except that which pleases their Lord.
If one were to keep the following three matters at his fingertips when he is displeased and angry about what has happened to him, then the burden of his calamity will lighten significantly.
They are:
1. To know and to believe in the wisdom of GOD, and in the fact that He knows best what is good and beneficial for His slaves.
2. To be conscious of the great reward and recompense that GOD promised to the slave who becomes afflicted and is then patient.
3. To know and accept that rulings and judgments are with GOD, while submission and obedience are for His slaves.

Another word on contentment (13-6)

The desires of one who is contented are subservient to what his Lord wants from him, meaning that which GOD loves and that with which He is pleased. Hence, contentment and the blind following of one’s own desires can never coexist in the same heart. And if one has a share of the former and a share of the latter, his heart will be conquered by the stronger of the two.

Contemplate this words:
“Become acquainted with GOD in good times, He will know you in harsh (times).”
“Become acquainted with GOD,” means that you should seek closeness to Him by being obedient to Him, by being thankful to Him for His blessings, and by turning to Him sincerely before hardship befalls you.
“In good times,” refers to times of peace, safety, blessings, and good health. “He will know you in harsh (times),” by alleviating your hardship and by giving you an exit from every difficult situation.
It is very important that a special relationship exists in the heart between the slave and his Lord, a relationship that allows the slave to feel so close to his Lord that he requires no other. Thus, he finds company when he is alone, and he tastes the sweetness of remembering Him and supplicating to Him. GOD’S slave will continually face hardship and difficulty until he dies, but if he has a special relationship with his Lord, that of being an obedient slave, all of the hardships of life will become easy for him.

Overlooking the faults of one’s friends (13-7)

It is not right for you to forsake your friend because of one or two faults that you find in him, especially if the rest of his character is honorable. As we know, perfection for any one of us is unattainable.
The wiser said:
“How is it that you want your friend to possess a specific pattern of characteristics when your soul, which is the closest of souls to you, does not always obey your commands. What right do you then have to expect another person’s soul to follow your orders.”
It is enough for you that you are satisfied with the main part of your friend’s character.
Some of the wise said:
“We are still not satisfied with ourselves, so how then can we expect ourselves to be satisfied with others.”
It has also been said:
“Don’t remain aloof from someone who impresses you with a good character and sound judgment because of some minor fault that is surrounded by an ocean of virtues. You will not find, as long as you live, a person so cultivated that he is free from blemish and sin. Contemplate your own self and how it often errs and strays. This kind of introspection makes your demand on others more balanced and makes you more sympathetic to the sinner.”
A poet said:
“Who is the one whose character is untainted, Sufficient worthiness for someone is that his defects can be counted.”
It has been said that one’s suspicions concerning one’s friend should not ruin a good mutual trust that has been tested over time.
A poet said:
“You seek a cultivated person who is free from defects,
But does the aloe exude a pleasant odor without smoke.”