The intelligent person knows that his
real life is the life he lives in happiness and tranquility, and that it is
very short indeed. Therefore, he should not make it shorter by allowing
grief and moaning over troubles to get the better of him, because that is
the
opposite of real living. He should be very covetous of his life, so that
most of it does not become the loot of worries and troubles; and in this there
is no difference between both the good and the bad people. Except that the
believer has a more complete and perfect realization of this fact, and makes
better use of it for the good of both this world and the hereafter.
When something unpleasant happens to
him, or he is afraid that it will happen to him, he should remember the other
blessings of Allaah on him in his religion and worldly life, and compare them
with the unpleasant thing. If he does that, he will realize how abundant are
the blessings of Allaah on him, and how insignificant are the troubles that
befell him.
He should also compare between his fear
in the evil that may possibly befall him, and the many other possibilities of
safety and deliverance from that evil that may occur. Therefore he should not
let a weak and insignificant possibility outweigh stronger and more numerous
possibilities. By this, his fear and anxiety will fade away. He should also
assume the occurrence of the worst possible trouble on him, and then prepare
himself to deal with it if it occurs, and strive as much as possible to ward it
off if it has not occurred, or remove or lighten it if it has occurred.
Among the useful things to remember is
to know that what people do to hurt you, especially slander and other evil
talk, will not hurt you. Rather it is them that it hurts. The only way it
will hurt you is when you occupy yourself with grieving over it, and allow it
to get the better of your feelings. When you do that it will hurt you as it did
hurt them. But if you pay no attention to it, it will not hurt you in any way.
Know also that your life is subservient
to your thoughts. If you engage your thoughts in what is useful to you in
your religion and your worldly life, then your life will be good and happy
otherwise, the opposite will be the case.
Among the most useful ways to drive
away grief is to train yourself not to desire thanks and gratitude from anyone
except Allaah.
So if you do good to someone who has a right over you, or has no right over
you, then know that your deal is with Allaah, and do not pay any heed to the
thanks and gratitude of the one to whom you were good. This is as Allaah, the
Most High said regarding His elite among creation:
“(They say): We feed you for the sake
of Allaah alone: no reward do we desire from you, nor thanks.”
[Surat Al-'Insān 76:9]
This is more important when dealing
with the family, children or any other person strongly connected to you.
Whenever you make it your habit to drive away evil from them, you rest in
peace, and make others also rest in peace.
Among the things that make life easy for
you, is to follow a natural path in your effort to do righteous and excellent
actions and avoid constraining yourself to follow an unnatural path that will
fill your heart with worries and anxieties, and you end up going nowhere in
attaining the excellent positions. This is because you followed a crooked path.
All this is wisdom. Also make use of the moments of turbidity, and turn them to
moments of sweetness and clarity. By that, the sweetness of your pleasures will
increase and your troubles will vanish.
Make the attainment of useful things
your goal, and strive to realize them, and pay no attention to harmful things.
This will occupy you away from the things that bring about grief and sorrow. Seize moments of
leisure and mental concentration to accomplish important activities.
When undertaking useful things you
should rank them in order of priority and importance. Find out the one which
you have a stronger urge to do, and which yourself desires more. Its opposite
will bring about boredom, weariness and irritation. Seek help in good thinking
and good counsel. It is said that the one who seeks good counsel never
regrets. Study what you intend to do carefully and thoroughly. When you are
certain of the good that is in it and resolve to do it, then rely on Allaah,
and know that Allaah loves those who rely on Him.
~
[Transcribed from: Useful Ways Of Leading A Happy Life,
Chapter 8 Pages 34-38|By: Shaykh Abdur-Rahman bin Nasir As-Sa'di
(rahimahullaah)|Translated by: Bashir Aliyu Umar|Printed by: The Ministry of
Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Da`wah and Guidance|Supervised by: The Ministry's
Deputyship for Printing and Publishing Affairs]
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