Taste of Paradise in a Fleeting World

There is nothing more powerful and wondrous in the life of a human being than the power of sincere Iman in a truthful heart. The latter literally transforms the entire soul, rendering it a shining light guiding to the truth, “And is one who was dead and We gave him life and made for him light by which to walk among the people like one who is in darkness, never to emerge therefrom? Thus, it has been made pleasing to the disbelievers that which they were doing.” (6:122).

The outstanding willpower produced by this light of Iman makes the believing ones hasten to do good works and vie in doing so with one another. They are, as they have been described by the Quran, “You see them bowing and prostrating ˹in prayer˺, seeking Allah’s bounty and pleasure. The sign ˹of brightness can be seen˺ on their faces from the trace of prostrating ˹in prayer˺.” (48:29).

Their characteristic is that they hold fast only to Allah, they rely only on Allah, and they strive for the sake of Allah. Their ultimate supplication, regardless of whatever situation they are enduring, is as it has been reported in the Quran: “But they never lost assurance due to what afflicted them in the cause of Allah, nor did they weaken or submit. And Allah loves the steadfast. And their words were not but that they said, "Our Lord, forgive us our sins and the excess [committed] in our affairs and plant firmly our feet and give us victory over the disbelieving people.” (3:146-147).

These noble ones, rejoicing the true delight of life and spiritual inner joy, are always driven towards getting nearer and nearer to Allah. It is this drive which led Ammar Ibn Yaser (may Allah be pleased with him) to carry instead of one brick, two bricks during the construction of the Prophet’s Masjid. It is also this drive that had Abdullah Ibn Jahsh, long for martyrdom and he beseeched Allah to grant it to him in the Battle of Uhud. It is the same drive which led the young companions, who were under fifteen years old at the time of the Battle of Uhud, try and compete each other, wishing that the Prophet Pbuh allow them to join the battle. One of them stood on his toes to look taller than his brothers so the Prophet Pbuh would notice him and might then pick him. Among them was Usama Ibn Zaid, Abdullah Ibn Umar, Zayd Ibn Thabit and Abu Said Al-Khudhri (may Allah be pleased with them), who later became true shining stars of guidance for their generation and for the whole Umma.

One would wonder, what exactly is the fuel of this drive? It is, indeed, the sweetness of Iman which elevates one’s quality of life and makes one live the life of eternity in this fleeting world. It is this sweetness of Iman which preserves a peaceful mind and a smiling heart, and instills in the soul the power of endurance and perseverance. Bilal ibn Rabah (may Allah be pleased with him) applied this sweetness of faith in a practical manner when he was being tortured by Quraysh after proclaiming the word of Tawheed. He was tortured on the scorching sands of Mecca. When asked how he endured it, Bilal said: “the sweetness of faith was mixed with the bitterness of torture, and the sweetness of faith overwhelmed the bitterness of torture, so I was able to endure.”

To gain this wondrous sweetness of Iman one has to work on attaining three qualities described in the following Hadith of the Prophet Pbuh: “Three things, whoever possesses them will find the sweetness of Iman: to have Allah The Almighty and His Messenger be more beloved to him than anything else; to hate returning to disbelief after Allah has saved him from it as much as he would hate being thrown into the fire; and to love another person solely for the sake of Allah.”

However, a closer reading of the Hadith makes one realize that the foundation of these qualities is the love of Allah, which is the soul of the Ubudya (servitude) and the soul of Islam (submission).

A journey of steadfastness and sincere striving is required for one to attain the level of the true love of Allah. The one who attains it will be provided the taste of paradise and sweetness of Iman. It is this quality of the love of Allah which makes the one who possesses it, earn the love of Allah to him/her.

Some of the wise have said: “The people of this world are truly unfortunate; they leave it without tasting the best it has to offer.” When asked what the best thing in it is? They replied: “The love of Allah, knowledge of Him, and His remembrance.”

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, used to say: “Indeed, in this world, there is a paradise; whoever does not enter it will not enter the Paradise of the Hereafter.” He also said: “There is no true joy or complete delight for the hearts except in the love of Allah and drawing closer to Him by doing what He loves. And there can be no love for Him unless one turns away from all that is loved besides Him.”

Every sincere believer longing to attain the true love of Allah should engage steadfastly on a path of striving, which is proper to him/her, as everyone has his/her own background, his/her unique inner state of self, and living in a particular social context. However, the signs of attaining the love of Allah should be the same. Therefore, one needs to look for the signs to detect whether he/she is on the right path or not.

Among these signs are:

Dispelling doubts, and the steady increase in focus

Finding joy in worship and in doing the deeds which Allah loves.

Being bestowed solace in times of hardship.

The first great deed to start with, which will pave the path towards attaining the true love of Allah, is to find peace and joy in the prayer. Indeed, such an achievement is the first step towards success, “Successful indeed are the believers, those who offer their Salat (prayers) with all solemnity and full submissiveness.” (23:1-2).