Spiritual fulfillment is possible only when we strive with all our
body, mind, and soul to live in conformity with Allah’s will. Stated
differently, we cannot attain fulfillment or felicity in life unless we
strive to fulfill the very purpose of our existence. The purpose of our
existence, as defined by our Creator and Lord, is none other than
rendering worship unto Him. Allah says in the Qur’an ...
فَمَا أُوتِيتُم مِّن شَيْءٍ فَمَتَاعُ الْحَيَاةِ
الدُّنْيَا وَمَا عِندَ اللَّهِ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَى لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا
وَعَلَى رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ
وَالَّذِينَ يَجْتَنِبُونَ كَبَائِرَ الْإِثْمِ وَالْفَوَاحِشَ وَإِذَا مَا غَضِبُوا هُمْ يَغْفِرُونَ
وَالَّذِينَ اسْتَجَابُوا لِرَبِّهِمْ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَأَمْرُهُمْ شُورَى بَيْنَهُمْ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ
وَالَّذِينَ إِذَا أَصَابَهُمُ الْبَغْيُ هُمْ يَنتَصِرُونَ
Whatever you are given [now] is but for the [passing] enjoyment of
life in this world - whereas that which is with God is far better and
more enduring; provided to all who attain to true faith and place their
trust in their Sustainer; those who shun the more heinous sins and
abominations; and who, whenever they are moved to anger, readily
forgive; who respond to [the call of] their Sustainer and are constant
in prayer; and whose rule [in all matters of common concern] is
consultation among themselves; and who spend on others out of what We
provide for them as sustenance and who, whenever tyranny afflicts them,
defend themselves. [Qur’an 42:36-39]
Spiritual fulfillment is possible only when we strive with all our
body, mind, and soul to live in conformity with Allah’s will. Stated
differently, we cannot attain fulfillment or felicity in life unless we
strive to fulfill the very purpose of our existence. The purpose of our
existence, as defined by our Creator and Lord, is none other than
rendering worship unto Him. Allah says in the Qur’an, “I created the (species of) jinn and humankind solely to worship Me.”(Q 51:56). So
no matter how accomplished and successful we are in life, we will never
gain fulfillment unless we conform strictly to the above stated
purpose, for it alone will determine our ultimate success or failure.
The Pathway to Spiritual Fulfillment
1. The first step towards spiritual fulfillment is to sincerely repent
of all sins. We must always recognize our weaknesses and limitations
and ever flee to Allah and act before Him like a helpless child
entreating His mercy and forgiveness.
2. Purify our heart, mind, and heart of all base thoughts and
destructive emotions, beliefs, and concepts. This is not possible
unless we guard our faculties of tongue, stomach, hands, ears, eyes,
hands, feet, and mind of all sins, both outward and inward, and thus
rid ourselves of all diseases such as pride, jealousy, malice and
ill-feeling towards others, backbiting, lying, clinging to this world,
anger, self-righteousness, pretension, vanity, vainglory, obsessive
love of the world, power, and wealth, and so on.
3. We must observe the laws of Allah openly and secretly.
4. We must role model ourselves after the Messenger of Allah by emulating his excellent morals and behavior such as simple life-style, magnanimity, generosity, his attitude, noble morals.
5. Celebrate dhikr (remembrance of Allah) consistently.
6. Develop the habit of reflecting and contemplating, and think
of the transient nature of life. Meditate frequently upon death and
afterlife and visualize standing before the Lord of the worlds for
reckoning.
7. Develop the virtues of sincerity, truthfulness, gratitude, patience, generosity, simplicity, humility, magnanimity, love of Allah.
_______________________
By: Br. Sadullah Khan
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