As long as you have faith in Allah, don’t be sad
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.