Conclusion: How to Escape the Disease of Romanticism

Sentimentality is one of the most common character flaws of those who have adopted a way of life and morality contrary to religion. It is not, however, as has typically been thought, a trait of character that one is born with and cannot change.

This spiritual condition is one that a person has either adopted consciously or unconsciously. Those who claim that introversion, weepiness, melancholy and irascibility, cannot be controlled by the will, will find, upon sincere reflection, that their contention is untenable. For example, if a melancholy person is offered a large sum of money, or something else of considerable value, he might immediately become overjoyed, this being clear evidence to the fact that if someone wishes, he can very easily abandon his despairing attitude. So, it is clear that sentimental attitude adopted by a person merely represents a lack of consideration for those around him, and is a typical example to a person's wronging himself, as the Qu'ran says:

God does not wrong people in any way; rather it is people who wrong themselves. (Qur'an, 10:44)

However, sentimental people cannot grasp this reality, because they are continually in a melancholic and despairing state of mind. No matter what happens, they will always find a reason to feel sad and anxious. Actually, these people wrong themselves. This fact is revealed in the Qur'an as follows:

When We give people a taste of mercy, they rejoice in it, but when something bad happens to them because of what they themselves have done, they immediately lose all hope. (Quran, 30:36)

For this kind of person to escape the romantic state of mind, and to be cured of this disease, he must be on his guard, with full state of awareness, of the false promises of Satan and of his deceptions. And only a person's faith can make this possible.

A true believer will find the weakness of romanticism unbecoming for himself. He will behave rationally, bring solutions to problems, and make himself an example to those around him. Moreover, because of his superior moral manner and conversation, he is naturally content. The brightness and light shining forth from his righteous behaviour will make people joyful and happy, even in the most difficult circumstances. Such behaviour will pave the way to a beautiful, peaceful and honourable life in this world, and to a life of joy and bliss in the world to come. Therefore, for the believer, whose behaviour and state of mind are pleasing to God, there can be no cause for sadness or anxiety; there can be nothing to draw him into pessimism. God reveals it in this way:

God will give security those who have done their duty in their victorious Safe Haven. No evil will touch them and they will know no sorrow. (Qur'an, 39:61)

Unhappy, overly emotional and pessimistic people cannot appreciate the beauty and blessings of this world. Though they may be surrounded by countless examples of this beauty, they see only the negative aspect of things, and become even more depressed. However, God, in His mercy and compassion, created these blessings for the sake of human beings. A believer keeps this idea at the forefront of this mind, and is grateful to God for His blessings.

Moreover, for the believer, joy, happiness, peace and security are merely earthly reflections of the conditions of life in Paradise. These pleasures begin in this world; and when those who have hoped in God finally attain Paradise, they will find that those pleasures will persist into eternity. The Qu'ran describes the bliss enjoyed by the believers in the life hereafter:

So God has safeguarded them from the evil of that Day and has made them meet with radiance and pure joy. (Qur'an, 76:11)

In another verse, God reveals the difference between believers and unbelievers on the Last Day:

That Day some faces will be radiant, laughing, rejoicing. That Day some faces will be dust-covered, overcast with gloom. Those are the dissolute disbelievers. (Qur'an, 80:38-42)

Unbelievers, in the hereafter, will come to know with the reality of the life of Hell, earned in this world by succumbing to the temptations of Satan-a life that will continue eternally, but with much greater intensity. On the other hand, the believer's happiness enjoyed in Paradise will go on uninterrupted into eternity.

On the Day it comes, no self will speak except by His permission. Some of them will be wretched and others glad. As for those who are wretched, they will be in the Fire, where they will sigh and gasp, remaining in it timelessly, for ever, as long as the heavens and earth endure, except as your Lord wills. Your Lord is the Doer of what He wills. As for those who are glad, they will be in the Garden, remaining in it timelessly, for ever, as long as the heavens and earth endure, except as your Lord wills: an uninterrupted gift. (Qur'an, 11:105-108)