‘Life is so hard!’ An expression heard too often. The question is ‘How can we make life easier, simpler yet fruitful and beneficial?’
We’re so busy chasing after our “dreams” that we forget that “dreams” are not reality! They are after all just delusions. And, when one dream is realized, another is yearning to be fulfilled, until finally our time on this earth is up.
People exhaust themselves in order to lead a ‘chilled’ life, running after mundane pleasures, but in most cases they never really get to enjoy what they gather from this world….can one call this, success?
How to Chill.
To lead a stress free life let’s first understand and accept that ultimate success has to be permanent, and can only be determined and decided by our Creator, Allah, the source of all knowledge. Therefore, whatever we are striving for besides that is a sheer waste of energy, time, health and resources.
The most important question is, how to make this worldly life, both tension free and successful, without deviating from our goal of acquiring victory in the Hereafter. That is, how to strike a balance between Deen and Dunia to get the best of both worlds.
We live in a technologically advanced world where we choose to become puppets in the hands of Satan. Our dependence on this technology has given Satan a free access to our soul, corrupting it with materialism and negativity. He makes us believe that to chill we need to be among the trendy crowd. But can we really ‘chill’ that way?
If you want to really chill, then here’s the pill.
Allah through His Prophet (salalahu alaihi wa sallam) has told us numerous times that peace in this world and the Hereafter can only come through adherence to Allah’s laws, as they elevates us to the highest level of human existence. Then only the satisfaction of pleasing Allah and the firm hope of attaining Jannah will bring real peace and tranquility in our lives. Once we start treading on Allah’s path, we can really begin to ‘chill’. As Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) Himself said in Surah Baqarah:38.
‘And when guidance comes to you from Me, whoever follows My guidance – there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve’.
Ultimate Prescription.
So people, the ultimate prescription is obedience to our Creator, to take heed of the warnings of punishments and to believe with certainty in the glad tidings of eternal rewards mentioned in Quran and Sunnah.
Repetitive Remedy.
Anything we do regularly eventually becomes a habit and a way of life. This is one of the magnificent qualities of human beings; that we can change ourselves and achieve almost anything – first by planning, and then by doing it.
Obedience to Allah has to be our top priority in order to make life both worthwhile and successful, and with time Allah will make ease for us in reinforcing and digesting this pill of obedience.
What is Obedience?
Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) says;
And I created not the Jinn and Mankind except that they should worship Me.
What does worship mean? Worship means that everything that I think, say or/and do should be in obedience to the teachings of Allah and His Messenger. Worship means that I refrain from acts that displease Him and acquire those traits that please Him. Finally, worship means total submission and obedience to Allah’s will.
He has favoured humanity with free will, intellect, and intelligence, as He (subhanahu wa ta’ala) wants us to worship Him with true conviction. In addition, He has kept in this obedience and worship a special reward for us, peace of mind and heart, and eternal pleasures of the hereafter, something not offered to any other creation.
Self Destruction.
When we become heedless to Allah, that’s when self-destruction begins. That’s when we leave Him and start worshipping our nafs (soul), our desires and lusts.
Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) says in Quran,
Have you seen him who takes his own lust as his god, and Allah left him astray with knowledge, and sealed his hearing and his heart, and put a cover on his sight. Who then will guide him after Allah? Will you not then remember? (Jathiya, 23)
Remember submission is not just through mere words but actions too.
A Pitfall to Avoid.
A major pitfall to avoid is submission to Allah only on one’s whims. Who do we turn to when we are in trouble? At such times, we become acutely aware of our insignificance and the Greatness of our Rabb (the Sustainer), we turn our faces humbly to Him alone and pledge our obedience, but as soon as He blesses us with ease, we forget all our promises.
Like He says in Surah Fussilat, verse 51
‘And when We show favor to man, he turns away and becomes arrogant; but when evil touches him, then he has recourse to long supplications.’
So What’s the Cure.
The cure is to establish a strong bond with Allah that holds in both good times and bad. To willingly strive in His Path by establishing a strong bond that never breaks.
How do we establish and maintain this strong connection with Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala)?
Through salah and Quran. Salah is when we talk to our Rabb, and Quran is where He talks to us. Both are means of Allah’s remembrance and a source of peace. Where salah strengthens our soul, Quran strengthen our minds. The need is to ponder, comprehend and implement the teachings of Quran in every aspect of our lives.
Chillax for Real.
Moreover, this in actuality is ‘chillax’ for real. No worrying about anyone’s reactions, no sweating to live up to anyone’s expectations, except our Creator’s.
For as our blessed Prophet (salalahu alaihi wa sallam) said,
‘If anyone seeks Allah’s satisfaction at the expense of people’s anger, Allah will be pleased with him and will cause people to be pleased with him. However, if anyone seeks people’s satisfaction at the expense of Allah’s anger, Allah will be angry with him and will cause people to be angry with him.’
At-Tirmidhi (2416)).
So let’s turn to the only true source of power in this world, the only one who puts respect in the hearts of people and let’s lead a ‘chilled’ life as a result. InshaAllah.
Perspective 