Page 60 - Islam: The Religion of Ease

ISLAM: THE RELIGION OF EASE

frightening, hard, and full of worries at times. But every one of
these events is planned down to its finest detail and hidden in
Allah's Presence. For example, the Prophet Joseph (as) was a
prisoner for many years, even though he hadn't committed any
crime. But, as he had joyfully submitted to the destiny Allah or-
dained for him, prison didn't seem like a hardship or difficulty.
In fact, he saw it as an event that opened the doors to many
blessings and beauties. For instance, a believer who can com-
pare such hardships with comfort and ease can realize the de-
light of blessings with greater-intensity. Obviously, the pleasure
experienced by a person who sees a rose garden every day will
be very different from the pleasure of one who for years has seen
nothing but concrete walls. One who knows hardships and un-
pleasantness will derive more pleasure from comfort and
beauty. Or one who has to endure the difficulties of life in prison
because of being wrongfully accused can be happy with his des-
tiny by thinking that all this will return to him as Allah's ap-
proval and reward in the Hereafter. In the end, by knowing that
he is living his destiny, and no one, including himself, can
change even a second of it, he lives with the solace of resigning
himself to his destiny.
A believer who submits to destiny, certainly exerts himself
to do whatever he can in every situation. For example, a sick
person will obviously go to the doctor, take his medicine, and
care for all aspects of his sickness. However, when he is doing
so, he acts with the knowledge that the result of going to the
doctor, the medicine he is taking, and his treatment are all writ-
ten in the destiny Allah has created. Because of this, he never be-
comes unhappy, worried, distressed, or pessimistic. He lives in
the comfort and trust of knowing that Allah wills what is best

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