Page 364 - Bigotry: The Dark Danger
P. 364
Bigotry:
The Dark Danger
The Joy in Paradise and the True Meaning of Sorrow
God has created in paradise, our eternal abode, the way of life
that He likes and loves; the life that our Lord praises and loves in
paradise is therefore the ideal way of life for us. God reveals that
people in paradise are in a state of joy:
As for those who had faith and did right actions, they will be
made joyful in a verdant meadow. (Qur'an, 30:15)
Fanatics wish to deprive "joyful" Muslims of this joy of paradise
while in this world by way of these false hadiths. They are not even
aware of the true meaning of sorrow. To grieve in the face of an
event is equivalent to saying "I wish it had not happened" and that,
whether a person is aware of it or not, whether he does it knowingly
or not, is rebellion against destiny. Fanatics should be aware that by
making grief legitimate they are opposing God's commandment and
the destiny created by Him.
Faith is one of the greatest blessings that God can bestow on a
person. For someone who has faith, the peace and happiness created
in his heart by that faith are above all other things, even if he is
deprived of the blessings of this world and is tested with the greatest
of difficulties, and even if the circumstances all seem to be against
him. God bestows peace and health on the heart that turns to Him,
and happiness on the soul. It is impossible for someone who does not
turn to God to be truly happy, even if he maintains otherwise. God
may bestow the blessings of this world on such a person as part of
the test and that person may seem to enjoy many blessings and
delights. He may experience temporary desires and happiness.
However, the longing in his soul will never allow him permanent
happiness, or inner peace. In verse 28 of Surat ar-Ra'd, God says; "...
those who have faith and whose hearts find peace in the remem-
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