Don't Be Sad

**- Qatada -** · 12-14-2006

Don't Be Sad

wwwislamicboardcom - Don't Be Sad

In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

Aaidh ibn Abdullah al-Qarni

At a time in which the Muslims are beset with trials from every periphery and within, comes this heartening book rooted in the commandments of Allah (swt), the Sunnah and the excellent guidance and examples of the Muslims that have come before us.

Don't Be Sad is an absolute must-read for all people. It is full of practical advice on how to replace sadness with a pragmatic and ultimately satisfying Islamic outlook on life. It exposes to the modern reader how Islam teaches us to deal with the tests and tribulations of this world.

So, take heart and hold firmly onto the rope of Allah (swt).

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**- Qatada -** · 12-14-2006

Contents: [will keep updating everyday insha'Allaah]

**- Qatada -** · 12-14-2006

Find Consolation By Remembering The Afflicted

Look around you, to the right and to the left. Do you not see the afflicted and the unfortunate? In every house there is mourning and upon every cheek run tears. How many tribulations and how many people persevere with patience? You are not alone in your troubles, which are few compared to those of others. How many sick people remain bedridden for years suffering from unspeakable pain? How many have not seen the light of the sun for years due to their imprisonment, having knowledge of nothing but the four corners of their cell?

How many men and women have lost their dear children in the prime of youth? How many people are troubled or tormented? Find consolation with those that are worse off than you; know that this life is like a prison for the believer, an abode of grief and sadness. In the morning castles are bustling with inhabitants; then in an instant, disaster occurs, and they are empty and desolate. Life can be peaceful, the body in good health, wealth abundant, and children aplenty; and yet in only a matter of days poverty, death, separation, and sickness can all take their place.

“And it was clear to you how We had dealt with them. And We put forth [many] parables for you.” Surah Ibrahim – Ayah – 45.

You must adapt like the experienced camel, which manages to kneel upon a rock. You must also compare your difficulties with those around you, and with those that have come before you: you should realize that you are in good shape relative to them, and that you have been merely pricked by tiny difficulties. So praise Allah for His kindness, be thankful for what He has left for you, seek recompense from Him for what He has taken, and seek consolation with those that are afflicted.

You have a perfect example in the Prophet Sallalahu Alayhi Wasalam. The entrails of a camel were placed upon his head; his feet bled; his face was fractured; he was besieged in a mountain pass until he was forced to eat tree leaves; he was driven out of Makkah; his front tooth was broken in battle; his innocent wife was accused of wrongdoing; seventy of his Companions were killed; he was bereaved of his son and of most of his daughters; he tied a stone around his stomach because of hunger; and he was accused of being a poet, a magician, a soothsayer, a madman, and a liar - all at the same time. Yet Allah protected him throughout these severe trials and tribulations.

“Or think you that you will enter Paradise without such [trials] as came to those who passed away before you? They were afflicted with severe poverty, ailments and were shaken.” Surah Al-Baqarah – Ayah 214.

**- Qatada -** · 12-14-2006

The Prayer The Prayer

“O you who believe! Seek help in patience and the Prayer.” Surah Al-Baqarah - Ayah 153.

If you are beset with fear and anxieties, stand up on such occasions and pray: your soul will find comfort and solace. The prayer - as long as you perform it sincerely with a wakeful heart - is guaranteed to have this effect on you.

Whenever the Prophet Sallalahu Alayhi Wasalam was afflicted with hardship, he would say:

“O Bilal! Give us comfort and call for the prayer.”

The prayer was his joy and pleasure; it was the delight of his eye. I have read biographies of many righteous people, people who would singularly turn to prayer when they were surrounded by difficulties and hardship, people who would pray until their strength, will, and resolution returned to them.

This generation, which is raged by psychological sicknesses, must return to the Mosque, prostrating and seeking Allah’s pleasure. If we do not do this, tears will burn our eyes and grief will destroy our nerves,

By earnestly performing the five daily (obligatory) prayers, we achieve the greatest of blessings: atonement for our sins and an increase in rank with our Lord. Prayer is also a potent remedy for our sicknesses, for it instils faith into our souls. As for those that keep away from the Mosque, away from prayer, for them is unhappiness, wretchedness, and an embittered life.

“For them is destruction, and Allah will make their deeds vain.” Surah Muhammad – Ayah 8.

**- Qatada -** · 12-14-2006

Allah [Alone] Is Sufficient For Us

By leaving your affairs to Allah, by depending upon Him, by trusting in His promise, by being pleased with His decree, by thinking favourably of Him, and by waiting patiently for His help, you reap some of the greater fruits of faith and display the more prominent characteristics of the believer. When you incorporate these qualities into your character, you will be at peace concerning the future, because you will depend on your Lord for everything. As a result, you will find care, help, protection, and victory.

When Prophet Ibraheem was thrown into the fire, he said, “Allah (Alone) is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs (for us).” Thereupon, Allah made the fire to be cool, safe, and peaceful for Ibraheem. When the Prophet Muhammad and his Companions were threatened by the impending attack of the enemy, they said:

“Allah [Alone] is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs [for us]. So they returned with Grace and Bounty from Allah. No harm touched them; and they followed the good Pleasure of Allah. And Allah is the Owner of Great Bounty. Surah Al-Imran – Ayah 174.

No person by himself is capable of fighting against the current of misfortune, nor can he fend off the blows of disaster when they strike. This is because man was created weak and fragile. However, when in times of difficulty, the believer places his dependency and trust with his Lord; he knows that all difficulties can be overcome.

“And put your trust in Allah if you are believers indeed.” Surah Al-Ma’idah – Ayah 23.

O’ you who wish to be sincere to yourselves: depend upon the All- Mighty, the All-Rich to save you from calamity and disaster. Live your lives according to this precept: Allah Alone is sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of our affairs. If you have meagre means, if you are deep in debt, or if you are in any kind of worldly difficulty, call out: Allah Alone is sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of our affairs.

If you face your enemy and are alarmed, or if you fear the misdeeds of the oppressor, say aloud: Allah Alone is sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of our affairs.

“But Sufficient is your Lord as a Guide and Helper.” Surah Al-Furqan – Ayah 31.

**- Qatada -** · 12-14-2006

Travel Through The Earth

This is a continuation of the section (from yesterday) called – Allah [alone] is sufficient….

There is one activity worthy of mention here, because it gives both pleasure and removes dark clouds that may hang over you; namely, for you to travel through the lands and observe the open book of creation, appreciating all of its wonders. During your journeys, you can see gardens of splendour and beautiful green meadows. Leave your home and contemplate that which surrounds you. Climb mountains, traverse valleys, ascend trees, and drink sweet, pure spring water. Thereupon, you will find your soul to be free like the bird that sings and swims in the sky in perfect rapture. Leave your home and remove the black blindfold from your eyes, and then travel through the spacious lands of Allah, remembering and glorifying Him.

To isolate yourself to the confines of your own room, while passing the hours away with lethal idleness, is a certain path to self-destruction. Your room is not the only place in the world, and you are not the sole inhabitant of it. Then why do you surrender yourself to misery and solitude? Call out with your eyes, ears and heart:

“March forth, whether you are light or heavy.” Surah At-Taubah – Ayah 41.

Come, recite the Qur’an beside a mountain brook or among the birds as they sing. Travelling through the land is an activity which doctors recommend, especially for those who are feeling downcast, constricted by the narrowness of their own rooms. Therefore go forth and find delight in travelling.

“And they think deeply about the creation of the heavens and the earth: Our Lord! You have not created [all] this without purpose, glory to You!” Surah Al-Imran – Ayah 191.

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Patience Is Most Fitting

Only a minority of people meet hardship with a strong bearing and a patient countenance. But we must consider this, though it may seem obvious; if you or I will not be patient then what else is there for us to do? Do you have an alternative solution? Do you know of any better provision than patience?

Those that achieve greatness most likely had to surmount an ocean of difficulties and hardships before finally achieving success. Know that each time you escape a difficulty, you will have to face another. Through this constant conflict, you must arm yourself with patience and a strong trust in Allah.

This is the way of the noble-minded: they face difficulties with firm resolution and they wrestle hardship to the ground.

Therefore be patient and know that your patience is only through Allah. Have the patience of one who is confident of forthcoming ease, one who knows that there will be a good ending, one who seeks reward from his Lord, hoping, that by facing these difficulties, he will find expiation for his sins. Have patience, no matter what the difficulty and no matter how dark the road ahead seems. For truly, with patience comes victory, and with difficulty relief follows close behind.

After having read biographies of some successful people from the past, I became amazed at the amount of patience they displayed, at their ability to bear heavy burdens only to emerge as stronger human beings. Hardship fell upon their heads like the lashing of freezing rain and yet they were as firm as mountains. And then, after a short time had passed, they were rewarded for their patience with, success.

**- Qatada -** · 12-14-2006

Don't Carry The Weight Of The Globe On Your Shoulders

In a certain class of people there rages an internal war, one that doesn’t take place on the battlefield, but in one’s bedroom, one’s office, one’s own home. It is a war that results in ulcers or an increase in blood pressure. Everything frustrates these people: they become angry at inflation, furious because the rains came late, and exasperated when the value of their currency falls. They are forever perturbed and vexed, no matter what the reason.

“They think that every cry is against them.” Surah Al-Munafiqun – Ayah 4.

My advice to you is this: do not carry the weight of the globe on your shoulders. Let the ground carry the burden of those things that happen, and do not attempt to carry them. Some people have a heart that is like a sponge, absorbing all kinds of fallacies and misconceptions. It is troubled by the most insignificant of matters, somehow being troubled by all that takes place. This kind of heart is sure to destroy its possessor.

Those who are principled and are upon the true path are not shaken by hardship; instead, their faith increases. But the reverse is true for the weak-hearted: when they face adversity or trouble, it is only their level of fear that increases. At a time of calamity, there is nothing more beneficial to you than a brave heart. The one who has such a heart is composed - he has firm faith and cool nerves. On the other hand, during the course of any given day, the coward slaughters himself many times with apprehensions and presentiments of impending doom. Therefore, if you desire for yourself a stable life, face all situations with bravery and perseverance.

“And let not those who have no certainty of faith discourage you.” Surah Ar-Rum - Ayah 60.

Be more resolute than your circumstances and more ferocious than the winds of calamity. May mercy descend upon the weak-hearted, for how often are they shaken by the smallest of tremors.

“And verily, you will find them the greediest of mankind for life.” Surah Al-Baqarah – Ayah 96.

As for those who are resolute, they receive help from their Lord and are confident of His promise.

“He sent down calmness and tranquillity upon them.” Surah Al-Fath – Ayah 18.

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Don't Be Crushed By What Is Insignificant

Many are those that are distressed not by pressing matters of great importance, but by minor trifles. Observe the hypocrites how weak they are in their resolution. These are their sayings quoted by the noble Qur’an:

“Those who stayed away [from the Tabuk expedition] rejoiced in their staying behind the Messenger of Allah; they hated to strive and fight with their properties and their lives in the Cause of Allah, and they said: ‘March not forth in the heat.’” Surah At-Taubah – Ayah 81.

“Grant me leave [to be exempted from Jihad] and put me not into trial?” Surah At-Taubah – Ayah 81.

How wretched are the souls of such people!

Their principal concerns are for their stomachs, cars, houses, and castles. They never raise their eyes even once to a life of ideals and virtues. Their only concern and the extent of their knowledge is their car, clothes, shoes, and food.

Some people are distressed day and night, because of a disagreement with their spouse, son or relative, or because they have had to forbear criticism, or because of some other trivial event. Such are the calamities of these people. They have no aspiration to higher principles or goals to keep them busy, and they have no noble ambition in their lives to an end for which they can strive day and night. It has been said, when water leaves a container, it is then filled with air. Therefore reflect on that which gives you cause for concern or anxiety, and ask yourself: Does it merit your energies and toils? This is an indispensable question, because whatever it is that causes your anxiety, you are, with mind, flesh, and, blood, giving it energy and time. And if it does not merit your energy and time, you have lost much. Psychologists say that you should judge everything in proportion to its true value and then put it in its proper place. More truthful than this is the saying of Allah:

“Indeed Allah has set a measure for all things.” Surah At-Talaq – Ayah 3.

So pay your attention to each situation according to its size, weight, and measure. And stay away from immoderation or from exceeding the proper bounds - exaggeration.

**- Qatada -** · 12-14-2006

Be Content

The complete title of this section is "Be content with that which Allah has given you, you will be the richest of people."

Wealth, appearance, children, house, and talents - you must be content with your share in these things:

“So hold that which I have given you and be of the grateful.” Surah Al-A’raf - Ayah 144.

Most Islamic scholars and pious Muslims of the early generations of Islam were poor, needless to say they had no beautiful houses or nice vehicles, cars and grandeur. Yet, despite these disadvantages, they led fruitful lives, and they benefited mankind, not by some miracle, but because they used all that they were given, and spent their time in the correct way. Hence they were blessed in their lives, their time, and their talents.

On the contrary, there are many people who have been bestowed with wealth, children, and all forms of blessings, yet these blessings have been the very reason for their misery and ruin. They deviated from what their inborn instincts were telling them, namely, that material things are not everything. Look at those that have obtained degrees from world- renowned universities, and yet they are paragons of obscurity. Their talents and abilities remain unused. While others who are limited in the scope of their knowledge have managed to make mountains out of what they have been given, benefiting both individual and society.

If you are a seeker of happiness, be satisfied with the looks Allah has favoured you with, with your family situation, with the sound of your voice, with the level of your understanding, and with the amount of your salary. Certain educators go further than this by saying that you should imagine being contented with even less than you have now.

Here are some examples from our Islamic heritage of those who shone despite each being challenged by various disadvantages:

‘Ala ibn Rabali was a world-renowned scholar of his time. He was not only a freed slave and snub-nosed with peppery hair, but he was also paralysed.

Al-Ahnaf ibn Qais is famous for extra ordinary patience among the Arabs. Being extremely emaciated, humpbacked, with crooked legs and a fragile frame challenged him.

Therefore your value is in your abilities, good deeds, manners, and contribution to society. Do not feel grief, then, over that which has passed you by in life in terms of good looks, wealth or family; and be content with what Allah has allotted for you.

“It is We Who portion out between them their livelihood in this world.” Surah Az-Zukhruf – Ayah 32.

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Remind Yourself Of Paradise

The complete title for this section is “Remind yourself of Paradise, which is as wide as the heavens and earth.”

If you are hungry in this world, if you are sad, ill or oppressed, remember the eternal bliss of Paradise. If you do this, then your losses are really profits and the hardships you face are really gifts. The most wise of people are those that work for the Hereafter, because it is better and everlasting. And the most foolish of mankind are those that see this world as their eternal abode - in it reside all of their hopes. You will find such people to be the most grief-stricken of all when faced with calamity. They will be the most affected by worldly loss simply because they see nothing beyond the insignificant lives that they lead. They see and think only of this impermanent life. They wish for nothing to spoil them in their state of felicity. Were they to remove the veil of ignorance from their eyes, they would commune with themselves about the eternal abode - its bliss, pleasures, and castles. They would listen attentively when they are informed through the Qur’an and the Sunnah about its description. Indeed, that is the abode that deserves our attention and merits our striving and our toiling, so that we may achieve the best of it.

Have we reflected at length about the description of the inhabitants of Paradise? Illness does not befall them, grief does not come near them, they die not, they remain young, and their attire remains both perfect and clean, they are in a beautiful home. In Paradise is found that which no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human mind has imagined. The rider travels under a tree in Paradise for one hundred years and yet he does not reach its end. The length of a tent in Paradise is sixty miles. Its rivers are constant, its castles lofty, and its fruits close-by, easily picked.

“Therein will be a running spring. Therein will be thrones raised high, and cups set at hand, and cushions set in rows, and rich carpets [all] spread out.” Surah Al-Ghashiyah – Ayah’s 12-16.

The happiness of Paradise will be absolute. So why do we not contemplate this?

If that will be our final destination then the hardships of this world are less heavy than they may seem., so let the hearts of the afflicted find solace.

O’ you who live in poverty, or are afflicted with calamity, work righteous deeds so that you shall live in Allah’s Paradise, welcomed with the words:

“Peace he upon you, because you persevered in patience. Excellent indeed is the final home!” Surah Ar-Ra’d – Ayah 24.

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Thus We Have Made You A Just Nation

To continue: Both your conscience and your Religion demand that you be just, which means that you should neither exaggerate nor understate, neither go into excess nor do too little. Whoever seeks happiness should be just, regardless whether he is in an angry, sad, or joyful mood. Exaggeration in our dealings with others is unacceptable. The best course is the middle course. Whoever follows his desires will likely magnify the importance of any given situation, always making a big deal out of nothing. He will feel jealousy and malice toward others. Since he lives in a world of exaggeration and imagination, he will envisage everyone else to be against him, even to the extent that he feels others to be always conspiring to destroy him. Because of this, he lives under a dark cloud, constantly overcome by fear and apprehension. To quote the Qur’an:

“They think that every cry is against them.” Surah Al-Munafiqun – Ayah 4.

Living according to hearsay and superstition is prohibited in our Religion. More often than not, what you fear will happen does not actually occur. Here is something you should try; when you fear something, imagine that the worst possible outcome takes place, and then train yourself to feel prepared and contented with that outcome. If you do this, you will find that you have saved yourself from apprehensions and superstitions that tear apart your heart.

Give your attention to each matter in proportion to its importance. In any given situation do not exaggerate mountains from molehills; rather, keep in mind your objectivity and fairness. Do not follow false suspicion or the deceitful illusion of the mirage, but be balanced. Listen to the balance of love and hate as explained by the noble and kind Prophet Sallalahu Alayhi Wasalam, he said:

“Love the one who is beloved to you in due moderation, for perhaps the day will come when you will abhor him. And hate the one whom you detest in due moderation, for perhaps the day will arrive when you will come to love him.”

And the Qur’an informs:

“Perhaps Allah will make friendship between you and those whom you hold as enemies. And Allah has power [over all things], and Allah is Oft Forgiving, Most Merciful.” Surah Al-Mumtahinah – Ayah 7.

**- Qatada -** · 12-14-2006

Being Sad Is Not Encouraged In Our Religion

Allah has asked us not be sad. He says:

“So do not become weak [against your enemy], nor be sad…” Surah Al-Imran - Ayah 139.

“And grieve not over them, and be not distressed because of what they plot.” Surah An-Nahl - Ayah127.

“Be not sad, surely Allah is with us.” Surah At-Taubah - Ayah 40.

We are informed in the following verse about the believers that:

“…upon such shall come no fear, nor shall they grieve.” Surah Al-Baqarah - Ayah 38.

Sadness enervates the spirit’s will to action, paralysing the body into inactivity. The secret of this is that sadness prevents one from action instead of compelling one towards it. The heart benefits nothing through grief. The most beloved thing to the Devil is to make the worshipper sad in order to prevent him from continuing on his path. Allah says:

“Secret counsels [conspiracies] are only from Shaytaan (Satan), in order that he may cause grief to the believers.” Surah Al-Mujadilah – Ayah 10.

In the following hadith, the Prophet Sallalahu Alayhi Wasalam said:

“In a company of three, it is forbidden for two to hold secret counsel while excluding the third, as this will be a cause of sadness for him.”

Contrary to what some believe (those who have an extreme ascetic bent), the believer should not seek out sadness, because sadness is a harmful element that afflicts the soul. The Muslim must repel sadness, fighting it in any way that is permissible in our Religion. There is no real benefit in sadness; the Prophet Muhammad Sallalahu Alayhi Wasalam sought refuge from it in the following supplication:

“O’ Allah, I seek refuge in you from anxiety and grief.”

Grief is coupled with anxiety in this hadith. The difference between the two is that if a bad feeling that pervades the heart is related to what is going to happen in the future, then it is anxiety. And if the cause of this feeling concerns the past, then it is grief. Both of them weaken the heart, causing inactivity and a decrease in will power.

**- Qatada -** · 12-14-2006

Being Sad Is Not Encouraged In Our Religion (2)

Grief may sometimes be both inevitable and necessary. When they enter Paradise, its dwellers will say:

“All the praises and thanks be to Allah, Who has removed from us [all] grief.” Surah Fatir – Ayah 34.

This verse implies that they were afflicted with grief in this life, just as they were afflicted with other forms of hardship, both of which were out of their control. So whenever one is overcome by grief and there is no way to avoid it, one is rewarded, because grief is a form of hardship, and the believer is rewarded for going through hardship. Nonetheless, the believer must ward off grief with supplication and other practical means.

As for the saying of Allah:

“Nor [is there blame] on those who came to you to be provided with mounts, and when you said: ‘I can find no mounts for you’, they turned hack, while their eyes overflowing with tears of grief that they could not find anything to spend.” Surah At-Taubah – Ayah 92.

They were not praised for their grief in itself but for what that grief indicated and pointed to - namely, strong faith. This occurred when they remained behind during one of the Prophet’s expeditions, due to their inability to find the necessary resources needed to make the trip. Hence the hypocrites are exposed, because they did not feel grief when they remained behind.

Therefore the good kind of grief is that which is occasioned when one misses out on an opportunity to do a good deed, or when one performs a sin. When one feels sad because he was negligent in fulfilling the rights of Allah, he shows a characteristic of a person who is on the right path.

The last of the Prophets Sallalahu Alayhi Wasalam said:

“Whatever befalls the believer in terms of anxiety, hardship or grief, Allah will make it an atonement for (some of) his sins.”

This indicates that grief is a trial with which the believer is afflicted, and through which some of his sins are atoned for. However, it does not indicate that grief is something to be sought after; the believer should not seek out means of finding grief, thinking that he is performing an act of worship. If this were the ease, then the Prophet Sallalahu Alayhi Wasalam would have been the first to apply this principle. But he didn’t search for misery; rather; his face was always smiling, his heart was content, and he was continually joyful.

**- Qatada -** · 12-14-2006

Being Sad Is Not Encouraged In Our Religion (3)

Let us make these supplications, their purpose being to eliminate hardship, anxiety and grief:

“There is none worthy of worship except Allah, the Ever-Forbearing, the All-Great. There is none worthy of worship except Allah, the Lord of the Tremendous Throne. There is none worthy of worship except Allah, the Lord of the Heavens, the Lord of the earth and the Lord of the Noble Throne. O’ Ever-Living, and O’ One Who sustains and protects all that exists, there is none worthy of worship except You, and by Your mercy do we seek Your aid.”

“O’ Allah, Your mercy do I hope for; so do not leave me to myself not even for the blinking of an eve. And make well for me all of my affairs. There is none worthy of worship except You.”

“I seek forgiveness from Allah: none is worthy of worship except Him. He is the Ever-Living and the One who sustains and protects all that exists, and I turn to Him in repentance.”

“There is none worthy of worship except You, and how perfect You are; verily, I was among the wrongdoers.”

“O’ Allah, verily I am your slave, the son of your slaves; my forelock is in your hand, your order concerning me will be executed and just is Your judgment upon me. I ask you by all of Your names that you have named Yourself with, have revealed in your book, have taught to one of Your creation, or is in Your knowledge only (from the matters of the unseen): make the Qur’an the spring of my heart, the light of my chest, the remover of my sadness and the purger of my anxiety.”

“O’ Allah. I seek refuge in you from anxiety and grief, from inability and laziness, from avarice and cowardice, from being engrossed by debt, and from being overpowered by men.”

“Allah (Alone), is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs (for us).”

**- Qatada -** · 12-14-2006

Smile (1)

Laughing moderately can act as a cure or therapy for depression and sadness. It has a strong influence on keeping the soul light and the heart clear. Abu Darda’ said, “I make it a practice to laugh in order to give rest and comfort to my heart. And the noblest of people, Muhammad Sallalahu Alayhi Wasalam, would laugh, sometimes until his molars became visible.”

Laughing is an efficacious way to achieve comfort and light heartedness, but keep in mind that, as in other things, you should not be immoderate. The Prophet Sallalahu Alayhi Wasalam said:

“Do not laugh excessively, for verily, excessive laughter kills the heart.”

What is called for is moderation.

He Sallalahu Alayhi Wasalam further said: “And if you smile in the face of your brother, then this is a form of charity.”

Allah tells us: “So he, Sulayman, smiled, amused by her speech.” Surah An-Naml – Ayah 19.

Among the pleasures of Paradise will be laughter:

“But this Day those who believe will laugh at the disbelievers.” Surah Al-Mutaffifin – Ayah 34.

The Arabs would hold in high esteem the one known for his smile and laughter. They believed this to proclaim a generous personality, a person with a noble disposition and a clear mind. The truth is that the principles of Islam are based on moderation and on good measure, whether it be in matters of belief, worship, manners, or conduct. Islam does not condone a rigid, frowning expression, nor does it condone a constant playful giddiness; rather what it does promote is seriousness when it is called for.

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Smile (2)

Bearing a gloomy mien and a frowning countenance are marks of a lowly character, a troubled nature, and hot-headedness.

“Then he frowned and he looked in a bad tempered way…” Surah Al-Muddaththir – Ayah 22.

The Prophet Sallalahu Alayhi Wasalam advised the people:

“Do not disparage (underestimate) any good deed (no matter how small it is), even if that deed was to meet your brother with a friendly countenance.”

Ahmed Ameen said in his book Fayd al-Khaatir:

“People who are always smiling not only make their own lives more joyful, but what is more, they are more productive people in their work and have a greater ability to live up to their responsibilities. They are more prepared to face difficulties and to find expedient solutions for them. They are prolific workers who benefit themselves and others.”

If I were given a choice between having status in society and plentiful money, or between having a happy, radiant, smiling self, I would choose the latter. For what is great wealth if it begets misery? And what is high position if what comes with it is constant gloominess? And what good is the most beautiful wife if she transforms her house into a living hell? Much better than her - a thousand times at least - is a wife who has not reached such a pinnacle of beauty, but nonetheless has made her house to be a paradise.

The human being by his very nature is a smiling entity, were it not for those things that counteract this natural disposition, such as greed and selfishness, evils that contribute to his frowning. As such he is an anomaly and at odds with the natural harmony of all that surrounds him. Therefore the person whose heart is sullied cannot see things as they truly are. Every person sees the world through himself, by his actions, thoughts, and motives. So if our action is noble, our thought is clean, and our motive is honourable, then the spectacles through which we see the world will be clean, and the world will appear as it really is - a beautiful creation. If the spectacles become dirty, and their lenses stained, then everything will seem to be black and morbid.

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Smile (3)

There are those souls that are able to turn everything into misery, whilst there are those that are able to make from everything happiness and contentment. There is the woman in the house whose eyes fall upon nothing but mistakes. Today is black because a piece of fine china broke or because the cook put too much salt in the food. Then she flares up and curses, and no one in the house escapes from her execrations. Then there is the man who brings misery upon his own self and through his disposition heaps it upon others also. Any word that he hears he interprets in the worst possible way. He is affected gravely by the most insignificant of things that occur to him, or that have occurred to him by his actions. He is drawn into misery by profits lost, by profits expected that went unrealized, and so on. The whole world from his perspective is black, and so he blackens it for those around him. Such people have much ability to over-exaggerate the trifles that occur to them. Thus they make mountains out of molehills. Their ability to do well is negligent, and they are never happy or content with that which they have, even if what they had was plenty. No matter how great their possessions, they will never feel any blessings from what they have.

Life is like an art or a science: it needs to he learned and cultivated. It is much better for a person to plant love in his life than to glorify money, using all his might to help it ease its way into his pocket or into his account. What is life when all its energies are exploited and used for the sole purpose of accumulating wealth, an existence where no energy is directed toward the cultivation of beauty, splendour, and love?

Most people do not open their eyes to the beauty of life, but open them only to gold or silver. They pass by a lush and luxuriant garden, a beautiful bed of roses, a flowing river or a group of singing birds, yet they are unmoved by such scenes. All that moves them is the coming and going of money into or out of-their pockets. Money is but a means to a happy life. They have reversed this fact, have sold their happy existence, and have made money to be an end in itself. Our body has been equipped with eyes to see beauty with, yet we have trained them to look on nothing but money.

Nothing can cause the soul or the face to frown as does despondency. If you want to be a smiling person, wage war with despondency and hopelessness. The door to opportunity is always open to you and to others, and so is the door to success. So indoctrinate your mind with hopes of prosperity in the future.

**syilla** · 12-19-2006

MashaAllah.........thank you so much

i really loves this book...

but i bought it....and give it as a present to others (my father and my father inlaw)...

unfortunately i don't buy to keep one

and e book will make my life happier....lol

**- Qatada -** · 01-10-2007

Smile(4)

If you believe that you are inconsequential and have been created for things of only minor importance then your achievement in life will never surpass this initial goal. And if you believe that your calling in life is to achieve extraordinary feats, you will feel in you a determination that can destroy all kinds of barriers. This can be exemplified as follows. Whoever enters a 100 metre race will feel tired the moment he completes it, whereas anyone that enters a 400 metre race, will not-feel fatigue after passing the 100 or 200 metre mark. Therefore the soul gives resolution and will power in proportion to your goal. Thus you must identify your goal, and let it be high and difficult to achieve. And never feel despondency as long as you are taking a new step in its direction everyday.

What blocks the soul, making it frown and placing it in a dark prison? The answer is despondency, hopelessness, seeing everything as being evil, searching for faults in others and in constantly speaking about the evilness of the world.

Blessed is the one who has a teacher that helps him to develop his natural abilities and broaden his horizons. The best teacher is the one that instils kindness and generosity into his pupil, and teaches that the noblest of pursuits that one can strive for, is to be a source of goodness to others, in accordance with one’s abilities. The soul should be like the sun, radiating light and hope. The heart should be filled with tenderness, virtue, benevolence, and a genuine love for spreading good to all those that are connected to it.

The smiling soul sees difficulties, and loves to surmount them. When it sees problems, it smiles. It solves them, overcomes them, and smiles. The frowning soul, when faced with a problem, magnifies it and belittles its own determination, while spending all its time justifying. What is the age or times that it curses except its own self and upbringing. It loves success in life, but is not willing to pay its price. On every path, it sees a grinning lion. It waits only for gold to shower down upon it, or to chance upon some treasure in the ground.

Difficult things in life are only relative, for everything is difficult for the ordinary person, while there is no great difficulty for the remarkable person. While the remarkable person increases in worthiness by overcoming obstacles, the weak person increases in meanness by running away from them. Problems are comparable to a vicious dog. When it sees you scared or running away, it barks and follows in pursuit. However, when it sees your scorn, your lack of concern, and when you shine your eyes in its direction, it gives way and recoils within itself.