Mystical Mindset and Problem-Solving – Concluding Part

By Kaniz Fatma, New Age Islam 13 March 2024 Understanding the Causes of Problems and Tragedies Main Points: 1. Sins and disobedience are often the primary cause of problems and tragedies. 2. Wealth does not always equate to prosperity and mental tranquillity. 3. True contentment and tranquillity of mind are found in submission to Allah Ta'ala and remembering Him. 4. Worship and remembrance of Allah provide the soul with satisfaction and nourishment. 5. We need to repent on an individual and group level, beg Allah Ta'ala for forgiveness, stop disobeying immediately, and make restitution for our future actions. ------ When we say that sins and disobediences are the primary cause of problems and tragedies, some doubters contend that people who uphold moral principles are virtuous, pious, and good—and who refrain from sins—also face problems and difficulties. Why is this the case, exactly? One explanation for this is that the idea that sins and disobedience to God Almighty are the main source of problems is predicated on recurrent occurrences. Most troubles arise as a result of sins and disobedience, but some come in the form of trials that lead to the attainment of blessings. There are occasions when Allah Ta'ala wishes to promote a pious servant to a certain position in the Hereafter. Allah Ta'ala allows hardships to occur in this world to elevate the rank of the servant, even when the servant does not deserve it because of human weakness. These trials are not trouble but a blessing, leading to the elevation of ranks. The sufferings and trials of prophets are of the same kind. Such troubles are like the stings of a bee, ultimately leading to the attainment of bliss like honey. The second response to this question is that being human, the servant is prone to making mistakes. Allah Ta'ala, the Most Merciful, forgives this servant for his sins committed during his time on earth. For this reason, Allah permits the servant to suffer throughout this life to protect him from severe disgrace and punishment in the hereafter. This is just another way that Allah is merciful. But the reality is that humankind cannot fathom the wisdom of Allah. These responses lead to the conclusion that two kinds of suffering can affect a person. One of them manifests in this world as a short divine punishment. This world is indeed the site of action; the true place of punishment and reward is the Hereafter. However, as Allah Almighty states in the Holy Qur'an sometimes He gives a small glimpse of the retribution that awaits humanity in the Hereafter. “And we will surely let them taste the nearer punishment short of the greater punishment that perhaps they will repent.” (32:21) This verse seems to be telling us that all of the ills, pains, and afflictions that people who commit sins endure are acts of mercy for them, helping them to turn from their carelessness and avoid the consequences of the Hereafter. But for those who do not learn anything from even these unwanted events and do not turn to Allah, this punishment becomes dual: the first is the punishment that occurs in this world, and the second is the Great punishment that occurs in the Hereafter. The second type of trouble is that which is not a punishment from Allah Ta'ala, but rather a test from Him which serves as a means of upgrading ranks or erasing sins. And this trouble and suffering is the grace and mercy of Allah Ta'ala that because of this small trouble, Allah Ta'ala saves His weak servant from the great punishment of the Hereafter or bestows him with the great blessing of the Hereafter in the form of elevation of ranks. There is even a hadith that says: "Most prone to trials are Prophets, then the most pious, and then the less pious." The prophets (peace be upon them) were not subjected to punishment; rather, the divine purpose was to elevate their status and ranks even higher. It is a common criticism to say that disobedient individuals are wealthy and appear content. One way to counter this argument is to point out that, although riches are a blessing and can appear to be the source of happiness and joy, wealth does not always equate to prosperity and mental tranquillity. This is because some people appear to have riches, extravagance, and entertainment options, yet their emotions are always restless with worldly greed, concerns about advancement, and fear of lack due to a lack of happiness and trust. You notice how many individuals, even with all the resources at their disposal, lack inner peace and tranquillity. Yes, in fact! Finding disobedient people to be happy is extremely rare, and when it does occur, it is rarely remarkable. True contentment and tranquilly of mind, however, are not to be found in material abundance, but rather in submission to Allah Ta'ala and remembering Him, as stated in His saying: “Only in the remembrance of Allah is the solace of hearts!” (13:28) The majority of us are oblivious to the solace of hearts. They have not done the proper remembering of Allah. They are unaware of this and haven't even entered this valley. There is also the explanation that those who disobey Allah Almighty seem to be doing well; in reality, Allah Ta'ala grants them a little period of relaxation. This is a short-term prosperity. Should anything that ends in irreversible devastation within a few days be referred to as prosperity? This situation is similar to how a rat will happily consume something laced with poison even though it will ultimately destroy it. The primary idea is that, in addition to being necessary for the body, peace is also related to the soul. The body can be comforted by material possessions and outside sources of solace, but these things cannot satisfy the soul or bring inner peace. Worship and remembrance of Allah provide the soul with satisfaction and nourishment. Since it is in man's nature to revere an eternal being, it is impossible to satisfy this innate need with a materialistic lifestyle. To satiate the soul, it is crucial to employ spiritual ways (good activities like worshipping Allah and remembering Him, among others). A holy man put it quite well when he said, "People who live in a world without knowledge of God are compelled to live in a condition of unconscious indecision. What is even more upsetting about this indecision is that they are unable to pinpoint the source of their indecision. They always experience an enigmatic whisper and unexplained anxiety in their hearts, but what causes this anxiety? For what purpose is it used? They are ignorant." In conclusion, our activities are the cause of the problems and hardships we encounter. Consequently, we need to repent of our sins on an individual and a group level, beg Allah Ta'ala for forgiveness, stop disobeying right away, and make restitution for our future actions if we are to enjoy a life of peace and contentment. ---- Kaniz Fatma is a classic Islamic scholar and a regular columnist for New Age Islam Previous Articles: Mystical Mindset and Problem-Solving – Part 1 Mystical Mindset and Problem-Solving – Part 2 URL: https://newageislam.com/debating-islam/mystical-mindset-problem-solving-concluding/d/131903 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism