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Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| happiness, contentment and success |
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| timbuktu |
| 04/09/05 at 02:40:41 |
| [slm] what is success in Islam? How much does one devote one's energies to this world's affairs, and how much to the Hereafter? Nearing retirement, and with a health that is likely to preclude much post-retirement involvement in this world, for me it is a moot point. But there are others on this board, who are much younger, and sometimes they must feel the direction of the world to be diametrically opposite to what Islam desires from them. I read that post from anonymous which states that not for once has s/he woken up feeling good. I wanted to say that is kuffraane naimah. A long time ago I was in the North of England, with chronic and severe bronchial asthma, and with the eye condition that I have described on this board. I felt miserable, because I realised I am not a doer, but a thinker, and industry rewards doers, so I was a misfit. I lived at the YMCA, where I saw a young man about 20 or less, every day. I saw him at breakfast and after five every evening, and longer on weekends; because the North East has a miserable weather, and one prefers to stay indoors. What was remarkable about him? I saw him every day for a whole year, and I never saw him without a smile. He was always happy! What was even more remarkable is that he was blind. He never once referred to his handicap. So what is happiness, and what is success? We measure success by our personal worldly possessions, but that is the non-believer's measure. Even things like fame are this-wordly, and transitory. Yet we do have to participate in the world's activities, and we do have to compete, and we do have to plan. So how should we go about it that our activities are not those of the non-believers. The most important part is the niyyah (intention). I study and I work, to help the world get better. I must develop and use my potential to the full, for mankind is Allah's Khalifa. I may do so for the money, but that should be so I have a halal income, so I am able to give, and not to live off others. But if there are some who have fallen on bad times, and we give Zakah or Sadaqah, they shouldn't feel that they are in any way inferior. They shouldn't be slighted. And we should exchange gifts. Where we unable to return gifts, duas are sufficient. All too often our activities becomes for this world only. |
| Re: happiness, contentment and success |
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| bhaloo |
| 04/12/05 at 10:01:26 |
| [slm] Anas ibn Malik and Zaid ibn Thabit (radhiyAllahu anhum) related that the Prophet (SAAS) said, "For the ones whose concern is this world, Allah will scatter his affairs, place poverty between his two eyes and he will not get from the world except what is written for him. As for the one whose intention is the Hereafter, Allah will gather for him his affairs, place contentment in his heart and the world will come to him willingly" IBN MAJAH, SAHEEH-UL-JAAMI NO. 6386 |
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