The United Colors of Islam (part 3 of 3)

This universal brotherhood preached by Islam was championed by the Prophet’s Companions after him.  When the Companion, Ubada bin as-Samit, led a delegation to Muqawqis, the Christian patriarch of Alexandria, the latter exclaimed: ‘Get this black man away from me and bring in his stead another to talk to me! ...  How can you be content that a black man should be the foremost among you?  Is it not more fitting that he be below you?’  ‘Indeed no!’, Ubada’s comrades replied, ‘Though he is black as you see, he is still the foremost among us in position, intelligence and wisdom; for black is not despised among us.’

“Truly, the Believers are but brothers...” (Quran 49:10)

It is the Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca, which remains the ultimate symbol of the oneness and brotherhood of man.  Here, rich and poor from all nations stand and bow in unison before God in what is the largest gathering of humanity; testifying to the Prophet’s words when he said:

“There is truly no excellence for an Arab over a non-Arab; or for a non-Arab over an Arab; or for a white man over a black man; or for a black man over a white man; except through piety.” (Ahmad)

And this confirms the Quran, which says:

“O humanity!  We have created you from a single male and female and have made you into nations and tribes that you may know one another (not that you have pride over one another).  Verily, the most honorable of you in the God’s Sight is the one most pious…” (Quran 49:13)

As for nationalism, with its factionalizing of Muslims along ethnic and tribal lines, it is considered an evil innovation.

“If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your wives, your tribe, the wealth you have gained, the commerce in which you fear a decline, and the dwellings in which you delight are dearer to you than God and His Messenger and striving hard in His Cause, then wait until God brings about His Decision.  And God guides not a rebellious people.” (Quran 9:24)

The Prophet said:

“... whoever fights under the banner of the blind, becoming angry for nationalism, calling to nationalism, or assisting nationalism, and dies: then he dies a death of jahiliyya (i.e. pre-Islamic ignorance and disbelief).” (Saheeh Muslim)

Rather, the Quran says:

“While those who disbelieved placed in their hearts pride and haughtiness - the pride and haughtiness of jahiliyya, God sent down His tranquility upon His Messenger and upon the Believers…” (Quran 48:26)

In fact, the Muslims in and of themselves constitute a single body and supra-nation, as the Prophet explained:

“The parable of the Believers in their mutual love and mercy is like that of a living body: if one part feels pain, the whole body suffers in sleeplessness and fever.” (Saheeh Muslim)

The Quran confirms this unity:

“Thus, We have made you (Believers into) a (single) justly-balanced community...” (Quran 2:143)

Perhaps one of the greatest barriers to the acceptance of Islam by many Westerners is the fallacy that it is primarily a religion for Orientals or dark-skinned people.  No doubt, the racial injustices against many blacks, be they Abyssinian slaves of pre-Islamic Arabia, or 20th century Afro-Americans, has prompted many to embrace Islam.  But this is beside the point.  The Prophet Muhammad was himself of whitish complexion, described by his Companions as being ‘white and ruddy’ - a description many tens of millions of believing Arabs, Berbers and Persians share.  Even blue-eyed blondes are not so rare amongst Near Easterners.  Furthermore, Europe has more indigenous white Muslims than it has ‘colored’ immigrants.  The Bosnians, for example, whose numbers were decimated at the end of the 20th century but who, due to their heroism and tradition of tolerance, have contributed most to Balkan peace and stability.  Albanians too, descended from Europe’s ancient Illyrians, are also largely Muslim.  In fact, one of the 20th century’s leading Muslim scholars, Imam Muhammad Nasir-ud-Deen al-Albani, was, as his title suggests, Albanian.

“Truly, We created humans in the best stature.” (Quran 5:4)

Whites have been called ‘caucasian’ ever since anthropologists declared the Caucasus Mountains, home to Europe’s highest peaks, to be the ‘Cradle of the White Race.’  Today, the natives of these mountains are Muslims.  Amongst many a lesser-known tribe of fierce mountaineers and fair maidens are the Circassians famed for their bravery and beauty and who, as Mamluke rulers of Syria and Egypt, helped defend the civilized world and safeguard its holy lands from the ravages of the Mongol hordes.  Then there is the brutalized Chechen, arguably the most unwieldy of all God’s creatures, whose tenacity and resistance has helped them avoid the fate of the Circassians.  Meanwhile, over 1,000,000 American and North European Caucasian whites - Anglo-Saxons, Franks, Germans, Scandinavians and Celts included - now profess Islam.  In fact, Islam peacefully entered parts of Europe before Christianity, when: ‘In times long ago, when the Russian Slav had not yet started to build Christian churches on the Oka nor conquered these places in the name of European civilization, the Bulgar was already listening to the Quran on the banks of the Volga and the Kama.’ (Solov’ev, 1965) [On 16 May 922, Islam became the official state religion of the Volga Bulgars, with whom today’s Bulgarians share a common ancestry].

Every faith besides Islam calls for the worship of creation in some way, shape or form.  Moreover, race and color play a central and divisive role in almost all non-Islamic belief systems.  A Christian’s deification of Jesus and the saints or a Buddhist’s deification of Buddha and the Dalai Lamas has people of a particular race and color being worshipped in derogation of God  In Judaism, salvation is withheld from the non-Jew Gentile.  Hinduism’s caste system likewise checks the spiritual, socio-political and economic aspirations of the ‘unclean’ lower castes.  Islam, however, seeks to unite and make one all the creatures of the world upon the Unity and Oneness of their Creator.  Thus, Islam alone liberates all peoples, races and colors in the worship of God alone.

“And among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth and the (wonderful) differences of your languages and colors.  Verily, in that are indeed signs for people of sound knowledge.” (Quran 30:22)

The United Colors of Islam (part 2 of 3)

Salman the Persian

Like most of his countrymen, Salman was raised a devout Zoroastrian.  However, after an encounter with some Christians at worship, he accepted Christianity as ‘something better’.  Salman then traveled extensively in search of knowledge, from the service of one learned monk to another, the last of whom said: ‘O son!  I do not know of anyone who is on the same (creed) as we are.  However, the time of the emergence of a Prophet is at hand.  This Prophet is upon the religion of Abraham.’  The monk then proceeded to describe this Prophet, his character and where he would appear.  Salman migrated to Arabia, the land of the prophecy, and when he heard about and met Muhammad, he immediately recognized him from his teacher’s descriptions and embraced Islam.  Salman became renowned for his knowledge and was the first person to translate the Quran into another language, Persian.  Once, whilst the Prophet was amongst his Companions, the following was revealed to him:

“It is He (God) Who had sent among the unlettered (the Arabs) a Messenger (Muhammad) from among themselves... and (also to) others (i.e. non­-Arabs) among them who have not yet joined them (as Muslims)...” (Quran 62:2-3)

God’s Messenger then placed his hand on Salman and said:

“Even if the Faith were near (the stars of) Pleiades, a man from amongst these (Persians) would surely attain it.” (Saheeh Muslim)

Suhayb the Roman

Suhayb was born into privilege in the luxurious house of his father, who was a client governor for the Persian emperor.  While he was still a child, Suhayb was captured by Byzantine raiders and sold into slavery in Constantinople.

Suhayb eventually escaped from bondage and fled to Mecca, a popular place of asylum, where he soon became a prosperous merchant nick-named ‘ar-Rumi’, the Roman, due to his Byzantine tongue and upbringing.  When Suhayb heard Muhammad preach, he was at once convinced of the truth of his message and embraced Islam.  Like all the early Muslims, Suhayb was persecuted by the pagans of Mecca.  So, he traded all his wealth in exchange for safe passage to join the Prophet at Medina, whereupon the Prophet, delighted to see Suhayb, greeted him thrice: ‘Your trade has been fruitful, O [Suhayb]!  Your trade has been fruitful!’  God had informed the Prophet of Suhayb’s exploits before their reunion with this revelation:

“And there is a type of man who ransoms himself to earn the pleasure of God.  And God is full of kindness to His servants.” (Quran 2:207)

The Prophet loved Suhayb a great deal and described him as having preceded the Romans to Islam.  Suhayb’s piety and standing among the early Muslims was so high that when Caliph Umar was on his deathbed, he selected Suhayb to lead them until they could agree upon a successor.

Abdullah the Hebrew

The Jews were another nation that the pre-Islamic Arabs held in contempt.  Many Jews and Christians had been expecting a new Prophet to appear in Arabia during the time of the Prophet Muhammad.  Jews from the Levite tribe in particular had settled in large numbers in and around the city of Medina.  However, when the much­ anticipated Prophet came, not as a Hebrew son of Israel, but as the Arab descendant of Ishmael, the Jews rejected him.  Except, that is, for a few like Hussein bin Salam.  Hussein was the most learned rabbi and leader of the Medinan Jews but was denounced and vilified by them when he embraced Islam.  The Prophet re-named Husayn, ‘Abdullah’, meaning ‘Servant of God’, and gave him the glad tidings that he was destined for Paradise.  Abdullah addressed his tribesmen saying:

‘O assembly of Jews!  Be conscious of God and accept what Muhammad has brought.  By God!  You certainly know that he is God’s Messenger and you can find prophecies about him and mention of his name and characteristics in your Torah.  I for my part declare that he is the Messenger of God.  I have faith in him and believe that he is true.  I (for one) recognize him.’  God revealed the following about Abdullah:

“And a witness from the Children of Israel testified to this (Quran being from God) like (the Torah).  So he believed while (most of) you (Jews) are too proud (to believe).” 

(Quran 46:10)

Thus, in the ranks of the Prophet Muhammad’s Companions could be found Africans, Persians, Romans and Israelites; representatives of every known continent.  As the Prophet said:

“Indeed, my friends and allies are not the tribe of so and so.  Rather, my friends and allies are the pious, wherever they may be.” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari, Saheeh Muslim)

The United Colors of Islam (part 1 of 3)

“God said: ‘What prevented you (O Satan) that you did not prostrate when I commanded you?’  Iblees (the Satan) replied: ‘I am better than him (Adam).  You created me from fire, and him You created from clay.” (Quran 7:12)

So begins the history of racism.  Satan thought himself superior to Adam on account of his origins.  Since that day, Satan has misled many of Adam’s descendants into also believing themselves superior to others, causing them to persecute and exploit their fellow man.  Quite often, religion has been used to justify racism.  Judaism, for example, despite its Middle­-Eastern origins, is readily passed off as a Western religion; but the entry of Jews into all levels of Western society actually betrays Judaism’s elitist reality.  A pious reading of the bible verse:

“There is no God in all the world but in Israel.” (2 Kings 5:15)

…would be to suggest that in those days God, or God, was not worshipped except by Israelites.  However, Judaism today remains centered around its boast of ‘chosen’ racial superiority.

“Say: ‘O Jews!  If you pretend that you are the beloved slaves of God to the exclusion of the rest of humanity, then long for death if you are really truthful.’” (Quran 62:6)

Conversely, while most Christians are overwhelmingly non­-Jew, Jesus, as the last of the Israelite Prophets, was sent to none but the Jews.

“And (remember) when Jesus, son of Mary, said:    ‘O Children of Israel!  I am the Messenger of God sent unto you, confirming the Torah before me and bearing glad tidings of a Messenger after me whose name shall be Ahmad[2]...’” (Quran 61:6)

And likewise every Prophet was sent exclusively to his own people,[3]  every Prophet, that is, except Muhammad.

“Say (O Muhammad): ‘O People!  I am the Messenger of God sent to you all…’” (Quran 7:158)

As Muhammad was God’s final Prophet and Messenger, his mission was a universal one, intended for not only his own nation, the Arabs, but all the peoples of the world.  The Prophet said:

“Every other Prophet was sent to his nation exclusively, while I have been sent to all of humanity.” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari)

“And We have not sent you (O Muhammad) except as a bearer of glad tidings and a Warner to all mankind, but most of people know not.” (Quran 34:28)

Bilal the Abyssinian

One of the first to accept Islam was an Abyssinian slave named Bilal.  Traditionally, black Africans were a lowly people in the sight of Arabs who thought them to be of little use beyond entertainment and slavery.  When Bilal embraced Islam, his pagan master had him brutally tortured in the scorching desert heat until Abu Bakr, the Prophet’s closest friend, rescued him by buying his freedom.

The Prophet appointed Bilal to call the believers to prayer.  The athan heard from minarets in every corner of the world since, echoes the exact same words recited by Bilal.  Thus, a onetime lowly slave won a unique honor as Islam’s first muezzin.

“And indeed We have honored the Children of Adam...” (Quran 17:70)

Western romantics hail ancient Greece as being the birthplace of democracy. The reality was that, as slaves and women, the vast majority of Athenians were denied the right to elect their rulers.  Yet, Islam ordained that a slave could himself be ruler!  The Prophet ordered:

“Obey your ruler even if he be an Abyssinian slave.” (Ahmad)

Forgiveness for All Previous Sins

When someone converts to Islam, God forgives all of his previous sins and evil deeds. A man called Amr came to the Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, and said, “Give me your right hand so that I may give you my pledge of loyalty.” The Prophet stretched out his right hand. Amr withdrew his hand. The Prophet said: “What has happened to you, O Amr?” He replied, “I intend to lay down a condition.” The Prophet asked: “What condition do you intend to put forward?” Amr said, “That God forgive my sins.” The Prophet, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, said: “Didn’t you know that converting to Islam erases all previous sins?”

After converting to Islam, the person will be rewarded for his or her good and bad deeds according to the following saying of the Prophet Muhammad: “Your Lord, Who is blessed and exalted, is most merciful. If someone intends to do a good deed but does not do it, a good deed will be recorded for him. And if he does do it, (a reward of) ten to seven hundred or many more times (the reward of the good deed), will be recorded for him. And if someone intends to do a bad deed but does not do it, a good deed will be recorded for him. And if he does do it, a bad deed will be recorded against him or God will wipe it out.”

The Search for Inner Peace (Inner Peace is reached by submitting to God)

We have to keep in mind that people will not get from this world except what God has already written for them, this is the bottom line.  After all that running around, staying up late at night, being a workaholic a person will only get that which God has already destined for him or her.  The Prophet, may God raise his name, said:

“Whoever sets the Hereafter as his goal, God gathers his affairs for him, gives him richness of (faith in) the heart and the world will come to him grudgingly and submissively.” (Ibn Maajah, Ibn Hibbaan)

Such a person attains richness of the heart.  Richness is not about having a lot of wealth, but richness is having wealth of the heart, and what is wealth of the heart?  It is contentment, and this is where the peace comes from, when a person submits themselves to God, and this is Islam.

The inner peace is accepting Islam in our hearts and living by the principles of Islam.  So God will put richness in a person’s heart and this world will come to him submissively, on its knees and humbled.  Such a person will not have to chase it.

This is the Promise of the Prophet if a person puts “first things first”, and that is the Hereafter.  If it is Paradise that we want then that should be manifest in our lives, it should be the point of our focus, what we keep putting in the forefront.

So how do we know when the Hereafter is our focus?  If we sit down with a person and all we talk about are the latest cars, expensive houses, traveling and holidays and money, if the majority of our conversations is about material things or it is gossip, talking about this person and that person then it means that the Hereafter is not our focus.  If the Hereafter was our focus then it would be reflected in our conversation.  This is a very basic level in which we can judge ourselves, so we should stop and ask ourselves, “What do we spend most of our time talking about”?

If we find that our priority is this world, then we need to re-focus, we need to put “first things first”, meaning the Hereafter before the life of this world, and if we do this we can achieve inner peace, and God informed us of this in the Quran, a precise step to take in order to attain inner peace, and God says:

“Verily, in the remembrance of God do hearts find rest.” (Quran 13:28)

So it is only by the remembrance of God that hearts find rest.  This is the inner peace.  The remembrance of God is in everything we do as Muslims.  Islam is living a life remembering God, and God says:

“Perform the prayer for My remembrance…” (Quran 20:14)

Everything that we do (in Islam) involves the remembrance of God as Muslims.  God says:

“Say: ‘Indeed, my prayer, my sacrifice, my living and dying are for God, Lord of all the worlds.’” (Quran 6:162)

So here is the way to achieve inner peace, to remember God in all aspects of our lives.

This remembrance (dhikr) is not as some people think i.e. to sit in the corner of a dark room constantly repeating “Allah, Allah, Allah…” This is not how we remember God.  Yes, such a person is saying God’s name, but if we think about it, if somebody came to you (and for example your name is Muhammad) and kept saying “Muhammad, Muhammad, Muhammad…” you would wonder what is wrong with that person.  Does he want something?  Is there something that he needs?  What is the purpose of repeating my name without further talk?

This is not the way to remember God because this is not how the Prophet remembered God and there is no record of him doing that.  Some people say that we should remember God by dancing around or swaying from side to side.  This is not the way to remember God, as this too is not how the Prophet remembered God and there is no record of him doing that.

The Prophet remembered God in his life.  His life was a life of remembrance of God, he lived a life in remembrance of God and this is the true remembrance, in our prayers and in our living and our dying.

In summary, the search for inner peace involves recognizing the problems that we have in our lives, recognizing our obstacles, recognizing that inner peace will only come when we identify those obstacles and understand which of them we can change and that we focus on those obstacles we can change, the ones which are related to our self.

If we change our self then God will change the world around us and give us the means to deal with the world around us.  Even though the world is in turmoil God gives us inner peace with it.

Whatever happens we know that it is God’s destiny and that it is God’s trials and we know that ultimately it is for our good and has good in it.  God created us in this world and the world as a means to attain Paradise and the trials of this world is our own spiritual growth.  If we can accept all this, accepting God in our hearts then we can find inner peace.

The Search for Inner Peace (Patience and Goals in Life)

Going back to the story of Moses and Khidr, after they crossed the river they came across a child, and Khidr intentionally killed that child.  Moses asked Khidr how he could possibly do such a thing?  The child was innocent and Khidr simply killed him!  Khidr told Moses that the child had righteous parents and if the child had grown up (God knew that) he would have become such a terror for his parents that he would have driven them into disbelief, so God ordered the death of the child.

Of course the parents grieved when they found their child dead.  However, God replaced their child with one who was righteous and better for them.  This child honored them and was good to and for them, but the parents would always have a hole in their heart due to losing their first child, right until the Day of Judgment when they will stand before God, and He will reveal to them the reason why He took the soul of their first child and then they will then understand and praise God.

So this is the nature of our lives.  There are things, things which are apparently negative, things which happen in our lives which seem to be obstacles to inner peace because we do not understand them or why they happened to us, but we have to put them aside.

They are from God and we have to believe that ultimately there is good behind them, whether we can see it or not.  Then we move on to those things that we can change.  First we identify them, then we move to the second major step and that is removing the obstacles by developing solutions for them.  To remove the obstacles we have to focus mostly on self-change and this is because God says:

“Verily!  God will not change the good condition of a people as long as they do not change their state of good within themselves…” (Quran 13:11)

This is an area which we have control over.  We can even develop patience, although the common idea is that some people are just born patient. 

A man came to the Prophet, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon himraise his name, and asked what he needed to do to get to Paradise, so the Prophet told him: “Do not get angry.” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari)

The man was an individual who would get angry quickly, so the Prophet told the man that he needed to do change his angry nature.  So changing oneself and one’s character is something achievable. 

The Prophet also said: “Whoever pretends to be patient (with a desire to be patient) God will give him patience.”  

This is recorded in Saheeh Al-Bukhari.  This means that although some people are born patient the rest of us can learn to be patient.

Interestingly in Western psychiatry and psychology they used to tell us to get it off our chest, don’t hold it in because if we did we would explode, so better to let it all out.

Later on they discovered that when people let it all out small blood vessels would burst in their brain because they were so angry.  They found that it was actually dangerous and potentially damaging to let it all out.  So now they say it is better not to let it all out.

The Prophet told us to try to be patient, so externally we should give that façade of being patient even when internally we are boiling.  And we do not try to be patient externally in order to deceive people; rather, we do so in order to develop patience.  If we are consistent in this then the external image of patience also becomes internal and as a result complete patience is achieved and is achievable as mentioned in the Hadeeth quoted above.

Among the methods is to look at how the material elements of our lives play a major part with regards to patience and us achieving it.

The Prophet gave us advice on how to deal with these elements by saying:

“Do not look to those above you who are more fortunate, instead, look to those below you or less fortunate…”

This is because no matter what our situation is, there are always those who are worse off than us.  This should be our general strategy with regards to the material life.  Nowadays the material life is a huge part of our life, we seem to be obsessed with it; gaining all we can in this world seems to be the main point that most of us focus our energies towards.  So if one must do this then they should not let it affect their inner peace.

While dealing with the material world we should not keep focusing on those who are better off than us otherwise we will never be satisfied with what we have.  The Prophet said:

“If you give the son of Adam a valley of gold he would want another one.” 

(Saheeh Muslim)

The saying is that the grass is always greener on the other side; and the more a person has the more a person wants.  We cannot achieve satisfaction in the material world if we are chasing after it in such a way; rather, we should look to those who are less fortunate, this way we will remember the gifts, benefits and mercy that God has bestowed upon us with regards to our own wealth, no matter how little it may seem.

There is another saying of the Prophet Muhammad which helps us in the realm of the material world to put our affairs in their proper perspective, and is a Prophetic example of Steven Covey’s principle of “first things first”.  The Prophet stated this principle over 1400 years ago and laid this principle down for the believers by saying:

“Whoever makes this world his goal God will confuse his affairs and place poverty before his eyes and he will be able to attain nothing from this world except for what God has already written for him…” (Ibn Maajah, Ibn Hibbaan)

So a person’s affairs will not come together for him, he will be all over the place, like a chicken with its head cut off, running wild; if he makes this world his goal.  God will place poverty before his eyes and no matter how much money he has he will feel poor.  Every time someone is nice to him or smiles at him he feels that they are only doing so because they want his money, he can’t trust anyone and is not happy.

When the stock market crashes you read about some of those who invested in it committing suicide.  A person may have had 8 million and lost 5 million with 3 million left after the market crashed, but losing that 5 million seems to him to be the end.  He sees no point in living after that, as God has put poverty between his eyes.

The Search for Inner Peace (Accepting Destiny)

We have so many problems, so many obstacles that they are like illnesses.  If we try to deal with them one by one we will never get through them.  We need to identify them, put them in some general categories and tackle them as a group as opposed to trying to tackle each individual obstacle and problem.

To do this we have to first of all remove obstacles that are beyond our control.  We have to be able to distinguish which obstacles are within our control and which ones are beyond our control.  While we perceive the ones that are beyond our control as obstacles the reality is that they are not.  They are the things that God has destined for us in our lives, they are not really obstacles, but we have misinterpreted them as being obstacles.

For example, in this time one might find oneself born black in a world that favors white people over black people; or born poor in a world that favors the rich over the poor, or born short, or crippled, or any other physical condition which is considered a handicap.

These are all things that were and are beyond our control.  We did not choose which family to be born in to; we did not choose which body for our spirit to be blown into, this is not our choice.  So whatever we find of these kinds of obstacles then we just have to be patient with them and realize that, in fact, they are not really obstacles.  God told us:

“…and it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you.  God knows but you do not know.” (Quran 2:216)

So the obstacles that are beyond our control, we may dislike them and we may want to change them, and some actually people spend a lot of money trying to change them.  Michael Jackson is a classic example.  He was born black in a world that favors white people, so he spent a lot of money trying to change himself but he only ended up making a mess of things.

Inner peace can only be achieved if the obstacles that are beyond our control are accepted by us patiently as part of God’s destiny.

Know that whatever happens which we had or have no control over, then God has put in it some good, whether or not we are able to grasp what is good in it; the good is still there.  So we accept it!

There was an article in a newspaper which had a photograph of a smiling Egyptian man.  He had a smile on his face from ear to ear with his hands stretched out and both thumbs sticking up; his father was kissing him on one cheek and his sister on the other cheek.

Underneath the photograph it had a caption.  He was supposed to have been on a Gulf Air flight the day before, Cairo to Bahrain.  He had dashed down to the airport to catch the flight and when he got there he had one stamp missing on his Passport (In Cairo you have to have many stamps on your documents.  You get a person to stamp this and sign that and that person to stamp that and sign this) but there he was at the airport with one stamp missing.  As he was a teacher in Bahrain and this flight was the last one back to Bahrain which would enable him to report back on time, missing it meant that he would have lost his job.  So he nagged them to let him on the flight.  He became frantic, started crying and screaming and going berserk, but he could not get on the plane.  It took off without him.  He went (to his home in Cairo) distraught, thinking that he was finished and that his career was over.  His family comforted him and told him not to worry about it.  The next day, he heard the news that the plane he was meant to be on crashed and everybody on board died.  And then there he was, ecstatic that he did not make the flight, but the day before it, was as if it was the end of his life, a tragedy that he did not get on the flight.

These are signs, and such signs can be found in the story of Mosa and Khidr (which best we read every Jumu’ah, i.e. Chapter al-Kahf of the Holy Quran).  When Khidr made a hole in the boat of the people who were kind enough to take him and Mosa across the river, Mosa asked why he (Khidr) did that.

When the owners of the boat saw the hole in the boat they wondered who did it and thought that it was a nasty thing to have done.  A short while later the king came down to the river and forcefully took away for himself all the boats except the one with a hole in it.  So the owners of the boat praised God due to the fact that there was a hole in their boat.[1]

There are other obstacles or rather things which are perceived as obstacles in our life.  These are things in which we cannot figure out what is beyond them.  A thing happens and we do not know why, we do not have an explanation for it.  For some people this drives them into disbelief.  If one listens to an atheist, he has no inner peace and has rejected God.  Why did that person become an atheist?  It is abnormal to disbelieve in God, whereas it is normal for us to believe in God because God created us with a natural inclination to believe in Him.

God says:

“So set you (O Muhammad) your face towards the religion of pure Islamic Monotheism Hanifa (worship none but God Alone) God’s Fitrah (i.e. God’s Islamic Monotheism), with which He has created mankind.  No change let there be in Khalq¬illah (i.e. the Religion of God Islamic Monotheism), that is the straight religion, but most of men know not.” (Quran 30:30)

The Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, said:

“Every child is born with a pure nature (as a Muslim with a natural inclination to believe on God)…” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari, Saheeh Muslim)

This is the nature of human beings, but a person who becomes an atheist without having been taught it from childhood usually does so because of a tragedy.  If a tragedy happens in their life they have no explanations as to why it happened.

For example, a person who became an atheist may say that he/she had a wonderful auntie; she was a very good person and everybody loved her, but one day whilst she was out crossing the road a car came out of nowhere and hit her and she died.  Why did this happen to her of all people?  Why?  No explanations!  Or a person (who became an atheist) may have had a child who died and say why did this happen to my child?  Why?  No explanations!  As a result of such tragedies they then think that there can not possibly be a God.

The Search for Inner Peace (The Obstacles to Achieving Inner Peace)

The topic of inner peace addresses a universal need.  There is nobody on this planet that does not desire inner peace.  It is not a desire that is new to our time; rather, it is something that everybody has been searching for throughout the ages, regardless of color, creed, religion, race, nationality, age, sex, wealth, ability or technological advancement.

People have taken a variety of different paths in trying to achieve inner peace, some through accumulating material possessions and wealth, others through drugs; some through music, others through meditation; some through their husbands and wives, others through their careers and some through their children’s achievements.  And the list goes on.

Yet the search also goes on.  In our time we have been led to believe that technological advancement and modernization will produce for us physical comforts and through these we will attain inner peace.

However, if we were to take the most technologically advanced and most industrialized nation in the world, America, then we would see that what we have been led to believe is not factual.  The statistics show that in America some 20 million adults suffer from depression yearly; and what is depression but a total lack of inner peace?  Furthermore in the year 2000 death rate due to suicide was double the rate of those who died from Aids.  However, the news media being what it is, we hear more about those who die from Aids than we do about those who die by committing suicide.  Also more people die from suicide in America than from homicide, and the homicide rates themselves are massive.

So the reality is that technological advancement and modernization have not bought inner peace and tranquility.  Rather in spite of the comforts that modernization has brought us, we are further away from inner peace than our ancestors were.

Inner peace is for the most part of our lives very elusive; we never seem to get our hands on it.

Many of us mistake personal pleasures for inner peace; we achieve elements of pleasure from a variety of things, be it wealth, sexual relations or other than that.  But these do not last, they come and go.  Yes we have personal pleasures from time to time and we are pleased with various things from time to time, but this is not inner peace.  True inner peace is a sense of stability and contentment which carries us through all the trials and difficulties of life.

We need to understand that peace is not something that will exist in this world around us because when we define peace according to the dictionary definition it states that peace is freedom from war or civil strife.  Where do have this?  There is always a war or some sort of civil unrest happening somewhere in the world.  If we look at peace in terms of the state level then peace is freedom from public disorder and security, but where in the world do we have this in a complete form?  If we look at peace on a social level, family and work, then peace is freedom from disagreements and arguments, but is there such a social environment that never has disagreements or arguments?  In terms of location, then yes, we can have a place which is calm, peaceful and tranquil, some islands for example, but this external peace only exists for a small amount of time, sooner or later a storm or a hurricane will come.

God says:

“Verily, I have created man in toil (struggle).” (Quran 90:4)

This is the nature of our lives; we are in toil and struggle, ups and downs, times of difficulties and times of ease.

It is a life full of tests as God says:

“And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to as-Saabirin (the patient ones, etc.).” (Quran 2:155)

To deal with our circumstances, the circumstances of toil and struggle in which we live, patience is the key.

But if we go back to the inner peace that we are looking for, then patience cannot manifest itself if we do not have that inner peace.

We are living in a world of toil and struggle, but yet within ourselves it is possible to attain inner peace, peace with the environment, with the world in which we live.

Obviously there are some obstacles which prevent us from attaining peace.  So first we have to identify the obstacles in our lives which prevent us from achieving maximum inner peace and develop some kind of strategy to remove them.  The obstacles will not be removed just by thinking that we need to remove them; we have to develop some steps to achieve this.  So how do we go about removing these obstacles so that we can achieve what is possible of inner peace?

The first step is to identify the obstacles themselves.  We have to be aware of them, because if we cannot identify them then we cannot remove them.

The second step is to accept them as obstacles within ourselves.  For example anger is one of the biggest obstacles to inner peace, for example.  If a person is angry, worked up and has blown a fuse, how can he or she have inner peace in that circumstance?  It is not possible.  So the person needs to recognize that anger is an obstacle to inner peace.

However, if a person states that, “Yes, it is an obstacle but I do not get angry”, then such a person has a problem.  He has not accepted that obstacle as a problem and is in a state of self denial.  As such he cannot remove it.

If we look at the obstacles in life we can put them under a variety of headings: personal problems, family issues, financial dilemmas, work pressures and spiritual confusion.  And there are many issues under these headings.

Happiness in Islam (Happiness is Found in Sincere Worship)

In previous article of happiness in western thought, and its effect on western culture.  In part 2, we re-examined the definitions of happiness and tried to understand the relationship between science and happiness.  Now, in part 3, we will learn about happiness in the teachings of Islam.   

Islam is the religion that is more than a religion; it is the religion that is a complete way of life.  Nothing is too small or too big to be covered by the teachings of Islam.  Rejoice and be happy, remain positive and be at peace.This is what Islam teaches us, through the Quran and the authentic teachings of Prophet Muhammad, may God praise him.  Every single one of God’s commandments aims to bring happiness to the individual.  This applies in all aspects of life, worship, economics, and society.

“Whoever works righteousness - whether male or female - while he (or she) is a true believer verily, to him We will give a good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful provision), and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do (i.e.  Paradise in the Hereafter).” (Quran 16:97)

As most of us have come to realise, happiness is that ethereal quality that encompasses contentment and peacefulness; it is the soft joy that causes our lips, faces and hearts to smile.   It is determined by faith in God and obedience to Him.  Thus happiness embodies the peace security and submission that is Islam.  The injunctions and regulations of Islam reinforce the happiness that comes from knowing God and they help to guarantee humankind’s happiness during life in this world.  However, Islam also emphasizes that the life of this world is nothing more than a means of attaining the Hereafter.  By following the guidelines of Islam it is possible to be happy while awaiting our eternal happiness.

Sometimes, in order to achieve happiness, people attempt to follow complicated paths; they fail to see the easier path that is Islam.  Happiness can be found in the solace that comes from being upon the truth.   It can be achieved by sincere worship, hastening to do virtuous, noble and beautiful deeds, and by performing acts of kindness or giving charity.  These things all have the potential to make us happy, every day, under any circumstances.  Even giving the smallest charity, in order to please God, can bring a smile to your face and a feeling of joy to your heart.

“And the likeness of those who spend their wealth seeking God’s pleasure while they are sure and certain that God will reward them (for their spending in His Cause), is the likeness of a garden on a height; heavy rain falls on it and it doubles its yield of harvest.  And if it does not receive heavy rain, light rain suffices it.” (Quran 2:265)

Prophet Muhammad said:

  “Indeed amazing are the affairs of a believer!  They are all for his benefit. If he is granted ease then he is thankful, and this is good for him.   And if he is afflicted with a hardship, he perseveres, and this is good for him.”

 The nature of the human condition means that amongst the happiness there may be great sorrow and within the pain and despair there may be great joy.  A believer will accept God’s decree for him and lead a happy life free from total despair or unbearable pain.

Islam has the answer to all the problems that afflict humankind, and knowing this leads to happiness, because it allows us to look beyond the need for self-gratification, and the need to acquire possessions.    Following the teaching of Islam and striving to please God is a constant reminder that this life is but a transient pause on the way to life everlasting.   

“But whosoever turns away from My Reminder (i.e.  neither believes in this Qur’an nor acts on its teachings) verily, for him is a life of hardship, and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Resurrection.” (Quran 20: 124)

God says in the Quran, “Verily!  I am Allah!  None has the right to be worshipped but I, so worship Me.”  (20:14).  The key to happiness is knowing and worshipping God.    When one worships and remembers the Creator as He should be worshipped and remembered,   happiness can be observed all around us, at any given moment and even on the darkest night.  It is there in the smile of a child, in the touch of a comforting hand, in the rain on parched earth, or in the smell of spring.  These things can make our hearts truly happy because they are manifestations of God’s mercy and love.  Happiness can be found in worship.

To find true happiness we must seek to know God, especially through His names and attributes.  Seeking beneficial knowledge brings happiness.  The angels flutter their wings and keep records of those who seek knowledge; the mere thought of this brings a smile of happiness to the face of a believer.   Our righteous predecessors understood the inherent happiness and joy to be found in striving to be close to God.

Outstanding Islamic scholar Ibn Taymiyyah, may God have mercy on him, once said, “I once became ill and the physician told me that reading and giving talks on knowledge would only exacerbate my condition.  I told him that I could not abandon these pursuits.  I asked him whether the body becomes stronger and sickness is repelled if the soul feels happy and joyful.  He replied in the affirmative, so I said my soul finds joy, comfort and strength in knowledge”.

Perfect happiness will only be available to us if we spend life everlasting in Paradise.  It is only there that we will find total peace, tranquillity and security.  It is only there that we will be free of the fear, anxiety and pain that are part of the human condition.  However the guidelines provided by Islam allow us, imperfect humans, to seek happiness in this world.  The key to being happy in this world and the next is seeking the pleasure of God, and worshipping Him, without associating partners with Him.

And of them there are some who say: 

“Our Lord! Give us in this world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good, and save us from the torment of the Fire!” (Quran 2:201)

Happiness in Islam (Happiness & Science)

In previous article of Happiness in Islam discussed the evolution of happiness in western thought and its effect on western culture.  In part 2 we will re-examine the definitions of happiness and talk about the relationship between science and happiness and how this in turn relates to the teachings of Islam.   

The Merriam Webster online dictionary defines happiness as a state of well being or contentment, a pleasurable or satisfying experience.  Philosophers often define happiness in terms of living a good life.  Happiness has also been defined as a state of well-being, characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy.

In the past few years psychologists and researchers have been studying people all over the world to find out what exactly makes us happy.  Is it money, attitude, culture, memory, health, or altruism? New findings suggest that actions have a positive effect on happiness.  “Yes! Magazine” has come up with a list of scientifically proven strategies for becoming happy.   Not surprisingly they neatly correspond to the way God and His messenger Muhammad, may God praise him, have taught us to behave, which is an indication of the perfection of Islam.

Here in no particular order, are seven “scientifically” proven ways to increase happiness.

1.      Avoid comparisons.

According to Stanford psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky focusing on our own personal achievement instead of comparing ourselves to others, leads to greater satisfaction.  God says in the Quran, 

“Do not strain your eyes in longing for the things that we have given to some groups of them to enjoy, the splendour of the life of this world through which we test them.  The provision of your Lord is better and more lasting.” (Quran 20:131)

2.      Smile, even when you don’t feel like it.

“Happy people…see possibilities, opportunities, and success.  When they think of the future, they are optimistic, and when they review the past, they tend to savour the high points,” say Diener and Biswas-Diener.

Prophet Muhammad , may God praise him, said, “Do not think little of any good deed, even if it is just greeting your brother with a cheerful smile.” and “To smile in the face of your brother is charity given on your behalf.”

One of Prophet Muhammad’s companions said, “Since the day I accepted Islam, the Messenger of God would never meet me without a smiling face.”The late Islamic scholar Sheikh Bin Baaz, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “A smiling face indicates a good quality and causes blessed results – it indicates that one’s heart is free of rancour and it causes affection to grow between people”.

3.      Get out and exercise.

A Duke University study shows that exercise may be just as effective as drugs in treating depression.  Prophet Muhammad said: “A strong believer is better and more beloved in the sight of God than a weak believer.”He was not only talking in terms of faith and character, but also that optimum health and fitness were desirable traits in a believer.

4.      Make friends and treasure family.

Happier people tend to have good families, friends, and supportive relationships, say Diener and Biswas-Diener.“We don’t just need relationships, we need close ones” that involve understanding and caring.  Allah, the Exalted, says:  

“Worship God and join none with Him in worship, and do good to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, the poor, the neighbour who is near of kin, the neighbour who is a stranger, the companion by your side, the wayfarer (you meet). Verily, God does not like those who are proud and boastful.” (Quran 4:36)

Prophet Muhammad said, “Among the things that bring happiness to a believer in this life are a righteous neighbour, a spacious house and a good steed.”Islam places great emphasis on the solidarity of families, neighbourhoods and the wider community.

5.      Say thank you like you mean it.

People who keep gratitude journals on a weekly basis are healthier, more optimistic, and more likely to make progress toward achieving personal goals, according to author Robert Emmons.

At the core of the teachings of Islam is the idea that to be happy or content we must be grateful to God, not just for what we perceive to be blessings but for all circumstances.  Whatever condition we find ourselves in we are grateful and sure that it is good for us as long as we are following the teachings of God.  God said:

“Therefore, remember Me (God) and I will remember you, and be grateful to Me (for My countless Favours on you) and never be ungrateful to Me.” (Quran 2:152)

And (remember) when God proclaimed: ‘If you are grateful I will give you more (of My Blessings); but if you are ungrateful verily, My punishment is indeed severe.’ (Quran 14:7)

6.      Give it away, give it away now!

Make altruism, and giving in charity, part of your life, and be resolute about it.  Researcher Stephen Post says helping a neighbour, volunteering, or donating goods and services results in a “helper’s high,” and you get more health benefits than you would from exercise or quitting smoking.

Islam encourages people to be generous towards family, friends, neighbours, strangers and even enemies.  This is mentioned repeatedly throughout the Quran and the authentic traditions of Prophet Muhammad.

“Say: “Truly, my Lord blesses the provision for whom He wills of His slaves, and also restricts it for him, and whatsoever you spend of anything (in God’s Cause), He will replace it.   And He is the Best of providers.” (Quran 34:39)

The people came to the Prophet Muhammad, and asked, “If someone has nothing to give, what will he do?”  He said, “He should work with his hands and benefit himself and also give in charity (from what he earns).”  The people further asked, “If he cannot find even that?”  He replied, “He should help the needy who appeal for help.”  Then the people asked, “If he cannot do that?”  He replied, “Then he should perform good deeds and keep away from evil deeds and this will be regarded as a charitable deed.”

7.      Put money low on your list of priorities.

People who put money high on their priority list are more at risk for depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem, according to researchers Tim Kasser and Richard Ryan.  God’s messenger said, “Be happy, and hope for what will please you.  By God, I am not afraid that you will be poor, but I fear that worldly wealth will be bestowed upon you as it was bestowed upon those who lived before you.  So you will compete amongst yourselves for it, as they competed for it and it will destroy you as it did them.”

Happiness is not only intense joy, it also involves contentment.  In the next article we will examine the role of happiness in Islam and discover that following the commandments of God is the path to righteousness, contentment and happiness.

Happiness in Islam (Concepts of Happiness)

Real happiness and peace can be found in submitting to the commands of the Creator and the Sustainer of this world.  God has said in the Quran:

“Truly, in remembering God do hearts find rest.” (Quran 13:28)

On the other hand, the one who turns away from the Quran will have a life of hardship in this world.  God has said:

“But whoever turns away from the Quran, he will have a hard life, and We will raise him up blind on the Day of Judgment.” (Quran 20:124)

This may explain why some people commit suicide while they enjoy the material comfort money can buy.  For example, look at Cat Stevens (now Yusuf Islam), formerly a famous pop singer who used to earn sometimes more than $150,000 a night.  After he converted to Islam, he found true happiness and peace, which he had not found in material success.Even though happiness is perhaps one of the most important things in life, science still can not explain much about it.  Its concept itself is elusive.  Is it an idea, emotion, virtue, philosophy, ideal, or is it just programmed in the genes?  There is no agreed upon definition for it, yet  still everyone seems to be selling happiness these days - drug dealers, pharmaceutical companies, Hollywood, toy companies, self-help gurus, and, of course, Disney, creator of the Happiest Place on Earth.  Can happiness really be purchased?  Is happiness achieved by maximizing pleasure, earning fame and fortune, or living a life of unlimited leisure?  The series of articles will briefly explore the evolution of happiness in Western thought, followed by the present cultural understanding in the West.  Finally, the meaning and a few means of attaining happiness in Islam will be discussed.

Evolution of Happiness in Western Thought

The Christian idea of happiness was based on a reported saying of Jesus,

“…now is your time of grief, I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy” (John 16:22)

The Christian idea of happiness was developed over the centuries and, in turn, rested on a theology of sin, which, as St. Augustine explained in The City of God, taught that because of Adam and Eve’s original transgression in the Garden of Eden, true happiness was “unattainable in our present life.”

In 1776, Thomas Jefferson, summarizing a good century of reflection on the subject in Europe and America, deemed the “pursuit of happiness” a “self-evident” truth.  By this time, the truth of happiness had been declared so often and so confidently that, for many, it scarcely needed evidence.  It was, as Jefferson said, self-evident.  To secure the “greatest happiness for the greatest number” had become the moral imperative of the century.  But just how “self-evident” was the pursuit of happiness?  Was it, in fact, so obvious that happiness was our naturally intended end?  Christians confessed that human beings pursued happiness during their earthly pilgrimage, but remained skeptical about its attainment.  Elsewhere, Jefferson himself was pessimistic whether the chase would ever be brought to a satisfying conclusion.  “Perfect happiness...was never intended by the Deity to be the lot of one of his creatures,” he specified in a letter of 1763, adding soberly that even “the most fortunate of us, in our journey through life, frequently meet with calamities and misfortunes which may greatly afflict us.” To “fortify our minds” against these attacks, he concluded, “should be one of the principal studies and endeavors of our lives.”

Whereas in the fifth century, Boethius could claim that “God is happiness itself,” by the middle of the 19th century, the formula was reversed to read “Happiness is God.”  Earthly happiness emerged as the idol of idols, the locus of meaning in modern life, the source of human aspiration, the purpose of existence, the why and the wherefore.  If  happiness was not, as Freud said, ‘in the plan of Creation,’  there were those ready to alter the handiwork of the Maker to put it there by manufacturing, consuming, and exporting it as democracy and free-market economy (materialism).  As the philosopher Pascal Bruckner observed, “Happiness is the sole horizon of our contemporary democracies.”  As a surrogate religion, materialism relocated God to the shopping mall.

Happiness in Western Culture

In our culture, it is commonly believed that happiness is achieved when you become rich, powerful, or popular.  The young want to be that popular pop idol, the old dream of winning the jackpot.  We often seek happiness by removing all stress, sadness, and irritations.  For some, happiness lies in mood-altering therapies.  Eva Moskowitz, a historian, gives some idea of the American obsession with the gospel of therapy: “Today, this obsession knows no bounds…there are more than 260 [different kinds of] 12-step programs in America.”

One reason we have so much trouble attaining happiness is that we have no idea about what it is.  Consequently, we make poor judgments in life.  An Islamic tale illustrates the relationship of judgment with happiness.

“Oh, great sage, Nasrudin,” said

the eager student, “I must ask you a

very important question, the answer

to which we all seek: What is the

secret to attaining happiness?”

Nasrudin thought for a time,

then responded.  “The secret of

happiness is good judgment.”

“Ah,” said the student.  “But how

do we attain good judgment?

“From experience,” answered

Nasrudin.

“Yes,” said the student.  “But how

do we attain experience?’

“Bad judgment.”

An example of our good judgment is knowing that materialistic comforts by themselves do not lead to lasting happiness.  Having reached that conclusion by our good judgment, we do not retreat into our comforts.  We continue to crave a happiness that seems out of reach.  We make more money thinking that is the way to become happy, and in the process neglect our family.  Most big events we dream of yield less sustained happiness than we hoped for.  In addition to getting less happiness than we expected or hoped for, we frequently do not know exactly what we want, what will make us happy or how to get it.  We misjudge.

Enduring happiness does not come from ‘making it.’  Imagine someone could snap their fingers and give you fame, fortune, and leisure.  Would you be happy?  You would be euphoric, but in the short run.  Gradually you would adapt to your new circumstance and life would return to its normal mix of emotions.  Studies show that big lottery winners after a few months are no happier than the average person!  To recover the joy, you would now need an even higher high.

Consider, too, how we have “made it.”  In 1957, our per-person income, expressed in today’s dollars, was less than $8,000.  Today it is $16,000.  With doubled incomes, we now have double the material goods that money can buy - including twice as many cars per person.  We also have microwave ovens, color TVs, VCRs, answering machines, and $12 billion a year worth of brand-name athletic shoes.

So are we happier?  No.  In 1957, 35 percent of Americans told the National Opinion Research Center they were “very happy.”  In 1991, only 31 percent said the same.Meanwhile, depression rates have soared.

God’s Prophet of Mercy said:

“True enrichment does not come through possessing a lot of wealth, but true enrichment is the enrichment of the soul.” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari)

A Description of Hellfire (The Horrors of Hell Part 2)

God will blacken the faces of the people of Hell:

“On the Day (some) faces will turn white and (some) faces will turn black.  As for those whose faces turn black.  (to them it will be said), ‘Did you reject faith after your belief?  Then taste the punishment for what you used to reject.’” (Quran 3:106)

Their faces will be such as if the night has covered them:

“But they who have earned (blame for) evil doings – the recompense of an evil deed is its equivalent, and humiliation will cover them.  They will have from God no protector.  It will be as if their faces are covered with pieces of the night – so dark (are they).  Those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally.” (Quran 10:27)

The Fire will surround the unbeliever on all sides just as sins surrounded him like a sheet wound around his body:

“Theirs will be a bed of Fire and over them coverings (of Fire)…” (Quran 7:41)

“On the Day when the torment (of Hell) will cover them from above them and from underneath their feet.” (Quran 29:55)

“…and surely Hell will surround the unbelievers…” (Quran 9:49)

The Fire of Hell will leap up to the hearts.  The Fire will penetrate their super-sized bodies and reach the innermost depths:

“No!  He will surely be thrown into the Crusher.  And what can make you know what is the Crushers?  It is the fire of God, (eternally) fueled, which mounts directed at the hearts.”     (Quran 104:4-7)

The Fire will split the entrails as mentioned by the Prophet:

“A man will be brought on the Day of Resurrection and thrown into the Fire.  Then his entrails will be spilled out into the Fire and he will be forced to walk around and around like a donkey in a treadmill.  The people of Hell will gather around him and say, ‘O so-and-so, what is wrong with you?  Did you not enjoin us to do good and forbid us to do wrong?’  He will say, ‘I used to order you to do good, but I did not do it and I used to forbid you to do evil, but I used to do it myself.’  Then he will walk around and around like a donkey in a treadmill.”

God has described the chains, yokes, and fetters of Hell.  They will be tied up with chains and dragged with yokes on their necks:

“for the rejecters We have prepared iron chains, yokes, and a blazing Fire.” (Quran 76:4)

“With Us are fetters (to bind them), and a Fire (to burn them), and a food that chokes, and a penalty grievous.” (Quran 73:12-13)

“We will put yokes on the necks of the unbelievers.  It would only be requital for their evil deeds.” (Quran 34:33)

“when yokes will be put round their necks and the chains, they will be dragged along.”          (Quran 40:71)

“(The stern command will say): seize him and bind him, and burn him in the blazing Fire, further, make him march in a chain, whereof the length is seventy cubits.” (Quran 69:30-32)

The pagan gods and all other deities that were worshipped besides God who people thought will be their intercessors with God and bringing them closer to Him will be thrown into Hell with them.  This will be to humiliate and demonstrate that these false gods have no power,

“Indeed, you (disbelievers), and that which you worship other than God,  are but fuel for Hell.  Verily, you will enter it.  Had these (false deities) been (actual) gods, they would not have entered there, but all will eternally abide therein.” (Quran 21:98-99)

When the unbeliever will see Hell, he will be filled with remorse, but it will not be of any benefit:

“And they will feel regret when they see the punishment; and they will be judged in justice, and they will not be wronged.” (Quran 10:54)

The unbeliever will pray for his death when they sense its heat,

“And when they are thrown into a narrow place therein bound in chains, they will cry out thereupon for destruction.  (They will be told), ‘Do not cry this Day for one destruction but cry for much destruction.’” (Quran 25:13-14)

Their screams will get louder and they will call onto God hoping He will take them out of Hell:

“And they will cry out therein, ‘Our Lord, remove us; we will do righteousness – other than what we were doing!’” (Quran 35:37)

They will realize theirs sins and the error of stubborn disbelief:

“And they will say, ‘If only we had been listening or reasoning, we would not be among the companions of the Blaze.’  And they will admit their sin, so (it is) alienation for the companions of the Blaze.” (Quran 67:10-11)

Their prayers will be rejected:

“They will say, ‘Our Lord, our wretchedness overcame us, and we were a people astray.  Our Lord, remove us from it, and if we were to return (to evil), we would indeed be wrongdoers.’  He will say, ‘Remain despised therein and do not speak to Me.’” (Quran 23:106-108)

After that, they will call the keepers of Hell asking them to intercede to God on their behalf for reduction in torment:

“And those in the Fire will say to the keepers of Hell, ‘Supplicate your Lord to lighten for us a day from the punishment.’  They will say, ‘Did there not come to you your messengers with clear proofs?’  They will say, ‘Yes.’  They will reply, ‘Then supplicate (yourselves), but the supplication of the disbelievers is not except in error.’” (Quran 40:49-50)

Their will even plead for their own destruction to relieve themselves of the pain:

“And they will call, ‘O Malik, let your Lord put an end to us!’  He will say, ‘Indeed, you will remain.’” (Quran 43:77)

They will be told the punishment will never be reduced, it is eternal:

“Then be patient or impatient – it is all the same for you.  You are only being recompensed for what you used to do.’” (Quran 52:16)

They will weep for a long time:

“So let them laugh a little and then weep much as recompense for what they used to earn.”  (Quran 9:82)

They will weep until no tears are left, then that they will weep blood, which will leave its traces as described by the Prophet:

“The people of Hell will be made to weep, and they will weep until they have no tears left.  Then they will weep blood until they have, as it were, channels in their faces, if ships were put in them, they would float.”

As you have seen, the descriptions of Hell in the Islamic scripture are clear and graphic, as are the descriptions of the people who deserve their fate therein.  Such is the clarity that any person who believes in Judgment Day and the eternal destinies of the Hereafter must be motivated to at least try not to be of the people thrown inside.  The best, and really only, way of avoiding this fate is to seriously search into the true religion God has mandated for humanity.  A person should never follow a religion merely because it was that which he was “born into”, nor should they take religion to be a new age fashion.  Rather, they should look into the truth about this world and the life to come, and be sure that they have prepared for that judgment from which there is no return, by living a life and system of belief revealed and unchanged from the One High Above.