A new chapter

Assalamu'alaikum waRahmatuLlah, brothers and sisters...

There are many different ways people try to achieve happiness. Yet, in their ignorance, many of them seek happiness by doing certain things at the expense of something greater. Or in their stubbornness and heedlessness, they pay no heed to the warning signs that lay ahead. In pursuit of carnal pleasures and temporary happiness, they forget the most important things in life.

Likewise, i was that person. I sought happiness through many different means (many of which i discovered were Haram). And yet.... at that time... Life felt meaningful and wholesome... i liked it.

But something was missing.

It lacked a sense of direction, a true sense of meaning and long-term bliss. Whenever I would spend hours doing these activities, they gave me a certain happiness, but whenever it was over, that was it - it was over. We would share moments of rapture and extreme joy, and yet, the moment it was over, when we went back home, lying in our beds, in a blink of an eye - it disappeared.

We used to ponder at the futility and uselessness of the hobby of drinking. One would spend his wealth decadently and spend his precious hours with friends to destroy his sobriety, lose his mind, do shameful acts, only to wake up the next morning, with a painful headache, no memory of what happened the night before, and usually in regret of the state he is in. It brings no benefit to him, and in fact it brings nothing but harm.

So busy was I to judge others by their actions, that I never really put into perpsective - that what I was doing wasn't all that different at all! I felt as if life had lacked some sense of meaning, of direction. Life was from one enjoyment to another. Whenever we felt anguish or difficulty, all we thought about was to get to that next enjoyment. After a great weekend, we get to the depressing Monday and only look forward to the Friday, without appreciating or enjoying the little blessings of the days that pass by.To what end? This cannot possibly be what life is about. There has to be some way that we can constantly live in peace, bliss and happiness without this void in our hearts.

And then, by the Grace, infinite Mercy and Blessings of Allah, He Shows me the path - the path of Guidance, of light - of salvation. Slowly i begin to learn again, what does it truly mean to be a Muslim. I learn the error of my past ways... I learn what it was that saved mankind from their own ignorance and arrogance, since 1400 years ago.

And as Allah, Exalted is He, continually enlightens this path for me, I begin to truly see the perfection of this religion that is Islam. Slowly, I began to feel that something which i have always yearned for - true happiness.

"Those who believe, and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah: Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest" (Ar-Ra'd 13:28)

Narrated Abu Musa (RA) the Prophet (SAW) said, "The example of one who remembers (& glorifies praises of) his Lord, in comparison to the one who does not remember his Lord, is that of a living creature compared to a dead one" (Bukhari)

And Alhamdulillah, challenging as it may be, Allah has made things gradually easier for me. To abandon the things that I used to love so much - one would think that perhaps i may have been in some state of coercion or I have been compelled to do such - in which I would definitely feel conflicted and unhappy. And yet, by abandoning these things which I used to love so dearly, I actually felt happier. Yes, you lose out on a few things in this world, but you begin to feel something you've never felt before - a sweetness, unlike any other you would ever feel. This is the sweetness of iman. You feel your heart is suddenly alive! It's amazing what Allah can bless with us... Allahu akbar!

The Messenger of Allah (SAW) used to say in the beginning of every khutbah, "He whomsoever Allah guides, there is none that can misguide him (from the Straight Path), and he whom Allah misguides, there is none that can guide him"

"Allah guides to His Light whom He wills.." (An-Nur 24:35)

So I challenge you, dear reader... go now, take your ablutions (wudhu') and perform solat to Allah, and in your final sujud, make sincere du'aa, and ask Him to guide you. Ask him to show you what it means to be happy. Ask Him to soften your heart, to be able to let go of your egos and self-desires, so that you may be able to easily receive bliss and the sweetness of faith.

"And your Lord has said: Make du'aa to Me, I will respond do you" (Surah Ghafir, 60)

"And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad) concerning Me, then (tell them), I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me. So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be led aright" (Al-Baqarah 2:186)

If you are sincere and persistent, it is impossible that He does not help you.

Let's achieve this success together, O believers! If perhaps we may help each other to receive the ultimate goal of salvation, then let us do it together!!