The Solution to Secret Worldly Sorrows

Throughout this book, it has been explained that some people have a depressed, unhappy, withdrawn and tense spiritual state. The purpose in writing this book was not only to tell why people are unhappy, which insincerities will return to them as torment and what dangers await them in this world and the Hereafter, but first and foremost to show them how to rescue themselves from troubled spiritual states and to achieve sincerity. Everyone should know that to live a comfortable, peaceful and happy life in this world and the next is extremely easy—and above all rational and correct.

For this, even if a person has some faith, he needs to sincerely intend to become "truly pious." In the Qur'an, Allah describes the characteristics of righteous believers. There is only one morality peculiar to the righteous. Allah has promised that those with the morality of the pious believer will find salvation both in this world and the Hereafter. To achieve this, it is a necessary priority to remember that every event takes place with Allah's permission and under Allah's control. Knowing this very important fact and acting at every moment in its knowledge are most important methods by which a person can rescue himself from secret sorrows in worldly life. One who grasps this fact in the full sense will know that everything is a blessing for him, no matter what befalls him, and thus greets everything with gladness.

Truly religious people believe in destiny and know that it is out of the question for anybody to change his destiny. A person's fate is determined before he is even born. Allah explains this in the Qur'an:

Allah created you from dust and then from a drop of sperm and then made you into pairs. No female becomes pregnant or gives birth except with His knowledge. And no living thing lives long or has its life cut short without that being in a Book. That is easy for Allah. (Surah Fatir: 11)

You do not engage in any matter or recite any of the Qur'an or do any action without Our witnessing you while you are occupied with it. Not even the smallest speck eludes your Lord, either on Earth or in heaven. Nor is there anything smaller than that, or larger, which is not in a Clear Book. (Surah Yunus: 61)

In the face of this truth, a person living out his destiny needs to be cheerful about every detail of every event and see the goodness in it. These are the conditions for being a righteous believer. For a person who has and understands this knowledge, it is out of the question to feel sad, be over-emotional, cry, believe that he has suffered an injustice, fall into jealousy, take offense, become angry, react to events with protests, fly into rages and despair. A believer is pleased with every moment of his life, can see every blessing created and lives in a spiritual state of feeling grateful for the comfort brought by living his life under Allah's control. Whether or not he understands His Divine wisdom, he feels pleased with everything which comes from Allah. No event in the world can make such a person give way to sorrow, tension or worry or cause him fear. Because he knows that he cannot step outside his destiny and because his intentions are clean and pure, he always hopes for goodness and benefits from Allah and does not allow any negative thinking into his life.

Another of the most important conditions that rescues a person from the sorrows of the world is his full intention to be sincere. This concept, as well as sincerity itself, embraces honesty, avoidance of selfish interests, remaining true to Allah and preferring the morality of the Qur'an or the comfort of the faithful over one's own interests.

In addition, it is necessary for a person to keep his heart devoted to Allah at all times and not give way to the blandishments of his lower self. He should always keep his heart pure, never forgetting that Allah hears and sees him at every moment and, furthermore, is closer to Him than his own jugular vein. Allah reveals this truth to us in the Qur'an:

We created man and We know what his own self whispers to him. We are nearer to him than his jugular vein. And the two recording angels are recording, sitting on the right and on the left. He does not utter a single word, without a watcher by him, pen in hand. (Surah Qaf: 16-18)

Understanding this is another of the basics for being a righteous believer. Such a person knows that he is under Allah's inspection at every moment. And because he is aiming to gain Allah's good will, he strenuously avoids any of the behaviors which give rise to insincerity. For anyone who knows that Allah sees and hears him, it is impossible to speak in a way that deliberately discomforts others, to adopt insincere expressions, display selfish behavior or behave deceitfully by concealing one's true character—because he has a sure faith that Allah is with him at all times. Because he knows that in the Hereafter he will definitely be called to account for any unconscionable behavior, he invariably displays a morality that will earn Allah's approval.

He does not at any time stoop to secret acts and treacheries which he thinks cannot be proven, because he is aware that Allah possesses knowledge of all secrets. In the same way, he does not resort to self-deception by convincing himself that he is innocent. He knows Allah also sees such deceptions. He does not try to conceal from people any truth that Allah knows, because what is most important for him is Allah's approval.

As a result of all these factors, a pure, conscientious, honest and sincere person emerges. Such a person lives in the peace, security and internal cheerfulness of behaving as Allah approves. Just as a sincere individual lives a beautiful life in the world, he will also live in unparalleled eternal happiness in the boundless beauty prepared for the faithful in Paradise.