Allah’s (s.w.t.) Pleasure with Us

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ 

The following is adapted from a swuhbah by Shaykh Muhammad Nazhim Adil al-Haqqani (q.s.) on 11^th April 2010. 

Shaykh Muhammad Nazhim (q.s.) supplicated that Allah (s.w.t.) increase him and all of us in knowledge that is beneficial.  The entirety of knowledge brought by Rasulullah (s.a.w.) consists of only beneficial knowledge.  The spiritually drunk are those who seek other than this knowledge.  The intoxicated cannot differentiate reality from illusion.  They live in their own world of fantasy.  Far too many of us lives in a make-believe world of worry, uncertainty and fear.  They worry about their future, their wealth and their lives; they invent scenarios full of what ifs.  Why are they always worried and unhappy?  This is a way of life that is whispered by Shaythan into our hearts.  Such fear are useless acts that drain us emotionally and destroy our faith in Allah (s.w.t.). 

Why so many religious scholars always stern and grouchy?  Why have they made themselves unapproachable?  Why do they treat others harshly as if this was part of the requisite for being learned?  By acting so, they have created a special level for themselves as if they are superior to others in this ummah.  Have they not heard of the hadits, “Give good tidings and do not repel people?”  Allah (s.w.t.) Says: 

سُوۡرَةُ یُونس

قُلۡ بِفَضۡلِ ٱللَّهِ وَبِرَحۡمَتِهِۦ فَبِذَٲلِكَ فَلۡيَفۡرَحُواْ هُوَ خَيۡرٌ۬ مِّمَّا يَجۡمَعُونَ (٥٨) 

Say: “In the Bounty of Allah and in His Mercy ― in that let them rejoice”: that is better than the (wealth) they hoard. (Surah Yunus:58) 

Allah (s.w.t.) Wants His servants to be happy.  We must be happy that we have been Created as human beings.  We must be happy to be servants to One Who is Merciful and Bountiful.  We must be grateful to have been Bestowed life and pleasure, goodness and blessings by the Most Generous.  We must be so cheerful that people around us would pause and ask us, “Why are you so happy?”  And we must recite the Qur’anic verse above to them as explanation.  It is a Commandment of Allah (s.w.t.) that we be happy so we should stop scowling and frowning at every tiny inconvenience.  We must be filled with joy to have been Created and to Receive what Allah (s.w.t.) has Decreed for us. 

A hadits says, “Bring them good news.”  We must spread the joy amongst the believers.  Every representative of Rasulullah (s.a.w.) has been ordered to be joyful and to spread that cheer.  Allah (s.w.t.) is Pleased when His servants are pleased.  We should show Muslims the way to be pleased with their Lord, for, true happiness lies in being with Allah (s.w.t.), not with dunya.  Whoever abandons the Company of Allah (s.w.t.), and seeks the companionship of dunya falls into sorrow. 

There are those, seemingly rich, who always monitor commodity prices.  When their stocks fall, they are filled with sorrow.  When their stock prices rise, they are then filled with joy.  Such is the meaningless cycle of worldly sorrow and joy.  They take their sorrow and joy from these meaningless cycles instead of being joyous when they are with Allah (s.w.t.).  Why are so many worried about dunya?  Rasulullah (s.a.w.) said that the worth of this world in the Sight of Allah (s.w.t.) is akin to the wing of a mosquito.  One who understands this will not fret even if his oil wells dried up.  He would accept it and give thanks since it is Allah (s.w.t.) Who Grants and Allah (s.w.t.) Who Takes Away.  We must use the wealth He Bestows upon us for the path of Allah (s.w.t.); for performing good deeds with it. That is more fulfilling. 

Even if our source of sustenance dries up or if we face any difficulties, we must still be pleased and not show sorrow. We should constantly say, “O our Lord, if You are Pleased with us, that is our capital!  Nothing is better than Your Divine Presence on the Day of Resurrection and to hear the Lord of Heavens Say, ‘O My servant, I am Pleased with you.’”  Anyone who has been told that Allah (s.w.t.) is Pleased with him, even if he were to be Thrown through the Seven Hells, the fires therein would be extinguished by the pleasure in the heart of such a person.  Is there any happiness beyond this?  We do not curse anyone, even if he has brought us misfortune for it is His Will that such a person was Created.  When we are displeased with such a trouble-maker, it means we are displeased with His Will and that will backfire, resulting in our loss, not the person whom we curse.  To make Him Pleased, we must begin by tolerating those around us patiently. 

The Prophet (s.a.w.) said, “Make it easy and do not make it difficult.”  The Prophet (s.a.w.) speaks only by Divine inspirations, not from his own desire. 

سُوۡرَةُ النّجْم

وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ ٱلۡهَوَىٰٓ (٣) 

Nor does he say (aught) of (his own) desire. (Surah an-Najm:3) 

Many rulers, leaders and scholars are making things difficult for Muslims and mankind in general.  They will come before Allah (s.w.t.) and they will be Questioned for it.  Many Muslim leaders have allowed Shaythan to convince them to implement unjust laws and practices.  Shaythan has a huge arsenal of tricks and traps and he offers them convenient excuses to put into place laws that defy the Qur’an.  We must fulfill everyone’s rights and not oppress people.  No excuses will be accepted in the Divine Court on Judgement Day.  On that Day, these leaders will have their hands and necks bound by iron chains and they will be brought before their subjects, and if it is said by them, “He did his best for us,” then the chains will be opened, and only then will the personal judgement of that leader begin.  It is not easy to lead.  It is a heavy amanah.  It is amazing how many people seek to lead in today’s world.  It is a temporary honour in this world and it brings with it a heavy responsibility in akhirah. 

When Sayyidina Abu Hafsw ‘Umar ibn al-Khaththab al-Faruq (r.a.) was appointed as Amir al-Mu’minin, Commander of the Faithful, he wept inconsolably.  When he was questioned why, he said, “‘Umar will be Questioned on the Day of Resurrection, should a single sheep be eaten by a wolf.”  For the duration of his rule, not a single wild animal attacked a domestic animal.  One day, a shepherd in Dijla, a place far from Madina, saw a wolf running off with a lamb of his.  He deduced, “Amir al-Mu’minin has passed away,” and he was right.  Sayyidina ‘Umar (r.a.) ruled with such justice that it prevailed even in the animal kingdom.  He was a fair and just leader, yet so many leaders today are tyrants and oppressors.  Hell is a valley of fire for leaders who oppress their people.