Fireworks

In today's sitting, let's call ourselves to account and try to figure out why our hearts are deprived of peace and contentment, and why do feelings of insecurity constantly surrounds us.

Our heart becomes restless when we see that each person is lost in a maze of thoughts, oblivious of his surroundings, displaying the image of sadness and grief on his face, absorbed in his own world. Those who have much and those who have little are equally afflicted. Monstrous shadows of illness, worries, vanity, and inferiority complex, hold us tight in their clutches. In short, there are as many problems as there are people, but they do share one thing in common: None is at peace. On the forehead of each are deep creases of discontent, Insecurity, and feelings of loss. Each stands as one defeated; each stand as an image of hatred and contempt. Greed for wealth and the ever-increasing demand and expectation to raise one's standard of living, has turned this world into hell for the progeny of Adam. Nations greedy for power have spent profligate sums of money for showy displays of fireworks in the name of human welfare and development, while teeming masses of humanity are afflicted with hunger and poverty.

 Why is this negative thinking so common today that a person is not happy with the things he has. Why does he run after things in pursuit of which he is forced to stray away from a life of moderation? There is only one answer to that: We are deprived of the blessings of patience [sabr] and the reliance upon God and the acceptance of His will [istaghna]. Allah the Exalted says:

 Surely, Allah is with those who patiently persevere

[The Holy Quran, chapter 2: verse 153]

 This means that those who are not patient and at peace with. Allah's will, who are not grateful for what they have, and who are not content with what they have, move away from Allah. This distance from Allah means the loss of peace and wellbeing and the loss of contentment of heart. This loss causes one to become unfamiliar with the pleasure of patience and contentment with the will of Allah. This patience and contentment is the sword with which we can cut the shackles that bind us, the obstacles that impede us, and the insecurity that strangles our spirit. When a person acquires the treasure of patience and contentment, trials and tribulations lose their hold on him. And when patience and contentment become an integral part of a nation, the society within that nation collectively reforms, and begins a sure and steady march towards true progress and prosperity.

 Keep in mind that happiness and peace of heart are not something external. This is an internal feeling. When we gain familiarity with this internal feeling, we are suffused with peace and contentment. When he gains familiarity with this all-embracing style of thought, a person frees himself from hellish life of trials and tribulations and becomes aware of that true joy and happiness which is the right and the inheritance of those who possess this way of thinking.

It is proven from heavenly scriptures and all revealed books that Allah the Exalted has created this universe with love, when one ponders the formulas of the creation of the universe, every facet of life appears an image of love and sincerity, from the beginning until the end, the entire life of a human being, for whose sake this entire universe has been created, is established along two [opposing] aspects [or two differing outlooks]. Adopting one of these outlooks brings a person closer to the creator of the universe, whereas, adopting the other outlook moves a person away from his Creator.

 It is related in a Hadith-e-Qudsi ['a saying of the Holy Prophet(saw) narrating a direct revelation from God'] that Allah the Exalted says; I was a hidden treasure, thus I created creatures with love I may be known." The point under consideration here is that Allah the Exalted says that, 'I have created with love,' which means that the only means to recognize Allah the Exalted is love, and thus the emotion which leads away from Allah the Exalted is ‘hatred,' in opposition to love. The teachings of the Holy Quran and the life of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah he upon him, are beacons of light, showing humanity the right and true path. It has been the mission of Gods prophets to train the minds of Allah's creatures in such a way that they develop amongst themselves brotherhood, selflessness, sincerity, and love for one another.

 A society in which love holds a prominent place always remains peaceful, whereas societies where estrangement and hatred prevail remain forever inflicted with mental chaos and insecurity.

Love is Sincerity, hatred is entirely composed of anger, wrath, and revenge. Anger is also a form of hatred. It is stated in Holy Quran that

 Allah the Exalted loves those benevolent people who control their anger and forgive others [The Holy Quran, chapter 3: verse 134].

 One aspect of hatred is prejudice. The Holy Prophet (saw) said person who lived with prejudice and died with prejudice is not from me." In other words, the one who is prejudice will lose the intercession of the Holy Prophet (saw).

Since love is a means to achieve a peaceful life and a peaceful heart, a person in whom this delicate energy of love circulates remains safe from trials, tribulations, and serious illnesses, and his face develops a special attractive quality. In contrast, the impure, intense, and scorching waves of hatred burn the human face and in fact, make one's mind so heavy, distressed and gloomy that the life-giving beneficial waves bestowed on him by Allah the Exalted become poisoned and venomous. On account of this poison, a person suffers from many kinds of obstacles, and many types of diseases.

 A detailed account of diseases caused by hatred would make for very gruesome reading. The biggest misfortune borne out of hatred is that a person moves away from his Creator, and this distance causes his expulsion from the circle of Ashraful-makhlooqat ['best of the creation' —a distinction bestowed on humans by Allah' and into the realm of lowliness and beastliness. Hatred mutilates the human face, and among the diseases which develop within a person due to this satanic emotion are cancer, various forms of fistula, and many other such untreatable ailments, in which a person is trapped and dies in pain and misery.