Page 26 - Faith: The Way to Happiness

FAITH: THE WAY TO HAPPINESS

People who do not have the intellect to enable them to see the
truth, because they do not use their consciences, are wrapped up in
the material goods they see in the world and in their beauty. Their
material goods and their children are at the head of the list of things
whose attractiveness deceive such people. They think that when
they achieve the wealth they desire or have healthy and beautiful
c h i l d ren they will attain great peace and joy. However, when they
achieve these aims what they experience is still unhappiness and
trouble. Their lives become monotonous because they are perform-
ing the same tasks every day. The vicious circle they have fallen into
makes them tired of life. They believe at the outset that everything
will happen in a nice and enjoyable way but after a short time they
begin to notice how much the things they wanted are tiring them
out and taking up all their time.
The weariness, trouble and sorrow they feel manifest them-
selves in all their speech and behavior. Their unhappiness can be
seen in every aspect of their beings. Neither does acquiring wealth
make any difference. A person uses the money and goods he owns
in ways he believes will bring him pleasure and enjoyment. He un-
wisely wastes all his money for such purposes. While he expects
that all this will also bring him peace, he continually suffers disap-
pointment and his trouble and misery increase all the time. The rea-
son people fall into such a position is that they are attracted by the
deceptions of worldly life and because of this strive only to capture
these illusions. All these troubles come of their living in ignorance of
the truth of which Allah informs us in this verse:
Wealth and sons are the embellishment of the life of this
world. But, in your Lord's sight, right actions which are
lasting bring a better reward and are a better basis for hope.
(Surat al-Kahf: 46)

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