Mystical Mindset and Problem-Solving – Concluding Part
By
Kaniz Fatma, New Age Islam
13 March
2024
Understanding
the Causes of Problems and Tragedies
Main
Points:
1. Sins and
disobedience are often the primary cause of problems and tragedies.
2. Wealth does
not always equate to prosperity and mental tranquillity.
3. True
contentment and tranquillity of mind are found in submission to Allah Ta'ala
and remembering Him.
4. Worship and
remembrance of Allah provide the soul with satisfaction and nourishment.
5. We need to
repent on an individual and group level, beg Allah Ta'ala for forgiveness, stop
disobeying immediately, and make restitution for our future actions.
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When we say
that sins and disobediences are the primary cause of problems and tragedies,
some doubters contend that people who uphold moral principles are virtuous,
pious, and good—and who refrain from sins—also face problems and difficulties.
Why is this the case, exactly?
One
explanation for this is that the idea that sins and disobedience to God
Almighty are the main source of problems is predicated on recurrent
occurrences. Most troubles arise as a result of sins and disobedience, but some
come in the form of trials that lead to the attainment of blessings. There are
occasions when Allah Ta'ala wishes to promote a pious servant to a certain
position in the Hereafter. Allah Ta'ala allows hardships to occur in this world
to elevate the rank of the servant, even when the servant does not deserve it
because of human weakness. These trials are not trouble but a blessing, leading
to the elevation of ranks. The sufferings and trials of prophets are of the
same kind.
Such
troubles are like the stings of a bee, ultimately leading to the attainment of
bliss like honey.
The second
response to this question is that being human, the servant is prone to making
mistakes. Allah Ta'ala, the Most Merciful, forgives this servant for his sins
committed during his time on earth. For this reason, Allah permits the servant
to suffer throughout this life to protect him from severe disgrace and
punishment in the hereafter. This is just another way that Allah is merciful.
But the reality is that humankind cannot fathom the wisdom of Allah.
These
responses lead to the conclusion that two kinds of suffering can affect a
person. One of them manifests in this world as a short divine punishment. This
world is indeed the site of action; the true place of punishment and reward is
the Hereafter. However, as Allah Almighty states in the Holy Qur'an sometimes
He gives a small glimpse of the retribution that awaits humanity in the
Hereafter.
“And we will surely let them taste the nearer
punishment short of the greater punishment that perhaps they will repent.” (32:21)
This verse
seems to be telling us that all of the ills, pains, and afflictions that people
who commit sins endure are acts of mercy for them, helping them to turn from
their carelessness and avoid the consequences of the Hereafter. But for those
who do not learn anything from even these unwanted events and do not turn to
Allah, this punishment becomes dual: the first is the punishment that occurs in
this world, and the second is the Great punishment that occurs in the Hereafter.
The second
type of trouble is that which is not a punishment from Allah Ta'ala, but rather
a test from Him which serves as a means of upgrading ranks or erasing sins. And
this trouble and suffering is the grace and mercy of Allah Ta'ala that because
of this small trouble, Allah Ta'ala saves His weak servant from the great
punishment of the Hereafter or bestows him with the great blessing of the
Hereafter in the form of elevation of ranks.
There is
even a hadith that says: "Most prone to trials are Prophets, then the most
pious, and then the less pious." The prophets (peace be upon them) were
not subjected to punishment; rather, the divine purpose was to elevate their
status and ranks even higher.
It is a
common criticism to say that disobedient individuals are wealthy and appear
content. One way to counter this argument is to point out that, although riches
are a blessing and can appear to be the source of happiness and joy, wealth
does not always equate to prosperity and mental tranquillity. This is because
some people appear to have riches, extravagance, and entertainment options, yet
their emotions are always restless with worldly greed, concerns about
advancement, and fear of lack due to a lack of happiness and trust. You notice
how many individuals, even with all the resources at their disposal, lack inner
peace and tranquillity.
Yes, in
fact! Finding disobedient people to be happy is extremely rare, and when it
does occur, it is rarely remarkable. True contentment and tranquilly of mind,
however, are not to be found in material abundance, but rather in submission to
Allah Ta'ala and remembering Him, as stated in His saying:
“Only in the remembrance of Allah is the solace
of hearts!” (13:28)
The
majority of us are oblivious to the solace of hearts. They have not done the
proper remembering of Allah. They are unaware of this and haven't even entered
this valley. There is also the explanation that those who disobey Allah
Almighty seem to be doing well; in reality, Allah Ta'ala grants them a little
period of relaxation. This is a short-term prosperity. Should anything that
ends in irreversible devastation within a few days be referred to as
prosperity? This situation is similar to how a rat will happily consume
something laced with poison even though it will ultimately destroy it.
The primary
idea is that, in addition to being necessary for the body, peace is also
related to the soul. The body can be comforted by material possessions and
outside sources of solace, but these things cannot satisfy the soul or bring
inner peace. Worship and remembrance of Allah provide the soul with
satisfaction and nourishment. Since it is in man's nature to revere an eternal
being, it is impossible to satisfy this innate need with a materialistic
lifestyle. To satiate the soul, it is crucial to employ spiritual ways (good
activities like worshipping Allah and remembering Him, among others).
A holy man
put it quite well when he said, "People who live in a world without
knowledge of God are compelled to live in a condition of unconscious
indecision. What is even more upsetting about this indecision is that they are
unable to pinpoint the source of their indecision. They always experience an
enigmatic whisper and unexplained anxiety in their hearts, but what causes this
anxiety? For what purpose is it used? They are ignorant."
In
conclusion, our activities are the cause of the problems and hardships we
encounter. Consequently, we need to
repent of our sins on an individual and a group level, beg Allah Ta'ala for
forgiveness, stop disobeying right away, and make restitution for our future
actions if we are to enjoy a life of peace and contentment.
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Kaniz Fatma is a classic Islamic scholar and a
regular columnist for New Age Islam
Previous
Articles:
Mystical Mindset and Problem-Solving – Part 1
Mystical Mindset and Problem-Solving – Part 2
URL: https://newageislam.com/debating-islam/mystical-mindset-problem-solving-concluding/d/131903
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