Safeguarding The Blessings

Believers in this society are between two paths. One path has been embraced unconsciously – being part of the reality of the world in which they live. The second is the path they aspire to be in, the one which defines them and in which their efforts are driven by the intention to remain steadfast on the path of the divine guidance are invested. The path they have absorbed unconsciously is portrayed in the material lifestyle prevalent in society, which shaped the individual’s perception to adopt success from a materialistic perspective. You see one entirely convinced that the key to success, happiness, and the achievement of goals lies in these material means.

Looking at these facts from the divine guidance perspective, one would realize that these material means are, in and of themselves, blessings from Allah Almighty. They undeniably serve as tools for an individual’s success in this worldly life, as wealth, status, power – which have been mentioned in the Quran as favors from Allah – and so on. This helps us to understand that the faith does not blame one for seeking a gain of material means, nor does the problem lie in the blessings themselves. It lies in how we manage, utilize, and engage with them. These apparent material blessings are characterized by commonly being the focus of attention of people and a source of envy, as they are characterized by being subject to the laws of change and extinction. Consequently, anyone who relies on these blessings, surrendering to them as a means and key to prosperity and success, would be placing his/her mind and emotional state under the volatile effects of the change or disappearance of these blessings, as well as becoming easy prey to the evil eye! Relying on these blessings would lead one to worship Allah on an edge, becoming as described in the following Ayah: “And there are some who worship Allah on the verge ˹of faith.˺ If they are blessed with something good, they are content with it, but if they are afflicted with a trial, they relapse ˹into disbelief˺, losing this world and the Hereafter. That is ˹truly˺ the clearest loss” (22:11). This management and this view toward these blessings is, indeed, an action of ingratitude. This ingratitude ultimately brings ruin and destruction, even to the people one is associated with. “Have you not seen those ˹disbelievers˺ who meet Allah’s favors with ingratitude, causing