QUESTION:
In Surah 91, “As Shams” Allah Ta’ala states: “…He has put good and bad in the soul”, which means that the desire to do bad is not intrinsically the fault of a person. The act of doing it is sinful and the fault of the person. For a person to be successful in the Hereafter, he has to kill that desire to do wrong which Allah Ta’ala has placed in the soul. The soul is constantly inviting wrong, sin, desires, lust, etc. Therefore, to fight this daily without giving in to it, and to never commit any sin is an arduous task. This is certainly not an enjoyable exercise. While there is sweetness in doing A’maal, there is the longing of the heart to commit sin, as mentioned in Surah As Shams. So does this mean that a person has to be depressed, sad, angry, in conflict with the soul, and deprived in order to attain Jannah? This, associated with the daily issues of Dunya, makes it for a very difficult for one’s existence. Does one have to accept that in order to attain Jannah or a high level in Jannah, one has to forget about any joy in this world? And if that is the case, how does one start the preparations to live a joyless life?
ANSWER:
The true joy and happiness of life lies in obeying the commands of Allah and refraining from the disobedience of Allah Ta’ala. The world and its contents are referred to as deception in the Quraan Sharif; hence, they can never be a means of enjoyment. Yes, it outwardly seems like enjoyment with all its glitter and glamour, but it is a thorny bush that only brings grief and sorrow upon a person. Give your heart to Allah Ta’ala and see the enjoyment of life you will experience. When the love of Allah Ta’ala enters the heart, then the world and its adornment will automatically fall from the heart. When the love of Allah Ta’ala enters the heart, the spiritual illnesses are cured, and one becomes the beloved of Allah Ta’ala. May Allah Ta’ala bless us all with His love. Ameen!
ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai
Date: 14 Shawwal 1445 / 23 April 2024
