For Inner Peace

Inner peace is a universal need

• Everyone on this planet desires inner peace• Everybody has been searching for it

throughout the ages• Search goes on regardless of color, creed,

religion, race, nationality, age, sex• Search does not end with wealth or

technological advancement

Different paths in trying to achieve inner peace

• Accumulating material possessions and wealth • Drugs;• Music• Meditation• Spousal and family relations• Careers • Children’s achievements• Physical comforts through technology

Inner peace remains elusive

• in America some 18.8 million adults or 9.5% US population suffer from depression yearly

• Depression is but a total lack of inner peace• In the year 2000, death rate due to suicide

was double of those who died of Aids• More people die from suicide in America

than from homicide • Homicide rates themselves are massive

Personal pleasures do not bring inner peace

• We achieve elements of pleasure from a variety of things , e.g., wealth, food, comforts, intimate spousal relations

• But these do not last, they come and go• True inner peace is a sense of stability and

contentment • This carries us through all the trials and

difficulties of life.

What is inner peace and true happiness ?

• Happiness is that state of body and soul 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 Almighty God (Allah) and obedience to Him

• Life of this world is nothing more than a temporary joy and means of attaining the eternal happiness in the Hereafter.

Inner Peace and good life promised to those who believe & act right

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).” (Nahal, 16:97)

Muslim finds inner peace in all circumstances

• He gets it through, Iman, sincere worship, hastening to do virtuous deeds, and by performing acts of kindness or giving charity.

• Prophet Mohammad 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. ”(Muslim)

No true inner peace for those who turn away from Zikr of Allah

“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.” (Taha,20: 124)

Man is created to face struggles

• Verily We have created Man into toil and struggle Balad,90:4

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.).” (Baqarah 2:155)

Obstacles which prevent us from attaining peace

Personal

• Negative traits like anger, jealousy, arrogance etc

• Dreams not realized

• Spiritual void

Family

• Strained spousal relations

• Children’s issues• Relative’s issues

Society• Conflicts• Joblessness• Financial hardship

How to remove the obstacles?

• First step is to identify the obstacles themselves.

• Second step is to accept them as obstacles within ourselves ,e. g., anger.

• Third step is to work hard to remove these obstacles

• We have to be able to distinguish which obstacles are within our control and which ones are beyond our control.

To remove obstacles we have to focus mostly on self-change

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

• “Whoever pretends to be patient (with a desire to be patient) God will give him patience.”

[Saheeh Al-Bukhari.]

Accepting Destiny (Qadar)

• God has destined for us some things in our lives• They are not really obstacles, but we have

misinterpreted them as being obstacles.• One might find oneself born black in a world that

favors white people over black• Born poor in a world that favors the rich over the

poor• Born short, or crippled, or with any other physical

condition which is considered a handicap

Things that are beyond our control

• We did not choose which family to be born• We did not choose which body for our spirit

to be blown into• 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.

There is some good in things not in our control

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

Lessons from story of Khidr and Musa in Surah Kahf

• Khidr made a hole in the boat of the people who were kind enough to take him and Musa across the river

• Owners saw the hole in the boat and they wondered who did it and thought that it was a nasty thing to have done

• A 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 the boat

Khidr Kills a Boy

• Then they journeyed on until they met a boy and Khidr slew him.

• Musa cried out, "have you killed an innocent person, though he had killed no body?

• Khidr explained it latter that his parents were true believers and he could trouble them with his rebellion and unbelief.

• Therefore Allah Willed to grant them another child who may be more righteous and filial.

Khidr repairs a Falling Wall• Then they traveled on until they reached a town and

requested some food but people declined to entertain them.

• There they saw a wall which was about to fall down and Khidr set it up.

• Musa said, "Had you wanted, you could have demanded for your labor".

• The wall belonged to two orphan boys, who resided in that city. A treasure for them lied under that wall.

• As their father was a righteous man, Allah willed that when those children grow, they should dig out their treasure.

Major lessons from this story • Constant effort is necessary to keep our knowledge square

with the march of time

• We might set out with realistic aims and attainable ambitions.

• Soon we get obsessed with the journey, forget about the destination and run after vain illusions and fancy deceptions.

• If we settle for what we initially wanted, we can be happy and the world would be a much better place to live in.

Lessons from this story• When one grows in prosperity beyond a limit which one cannot

control with ease, he would attract envy, hatred and enmity

• Man must be content with the decree of God

• Some defeats or losses may actually be a blessing in disguise

• We tend to let stereo-typed impressions and the external environment cloud our judgment.

• In the middle of evil there might be a single hidden good which we often overlook

How to deal with material element of our lives?

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

• If you give the son of Adam a valley of gold he would want another one.” (Saheeh Muslim)

• 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)

Ways of achieving true inner peace in Islam

Iman Marafa Ilm Ibadah Zikr Serving Humans

TRUE INNER PEACE

1- Iman or strong fai

• God is the only Creator and continual Sustainer of the Universe, worthy of worship

• Muslims believe that God is Loving, Compassionate and Merciful, and that He is concerned with the daily affairs of human beings

Full trust in Allah is part of Iman

• And if any one puts his trust in Allah, sufficient is (Allah) for him. For Allah will surely accomplish his purpose: verily, for all things has Allah appointed a due proportion. (TALAAQ 65:3)

• Say: "Nothing will happen to us except what Allah has decreed for us: He is our protector": and on Allah let the Believers put their trust. ( Taubah 9:51)

2-Marafa or recognizing God

• God calls on man to ponder over the creation in order to build a better understanding of his Creator

• The Quran is the literal word of God. Its recitation with understanding brings true recognition of God and His complete Guidance in all matters of life.

• • Muhammad taught Quran, preached it, lived it and

put it into practice. Following his footsteps, takes one to God.His Mercy and Love.

3- Ilm or knowledge

• "And Allaah has brought you out from the wombs of your mothers while you know nothing. And He gave you hearing, sight, and hearts that you might give thanks (to Allaah)" [Quran, 16:78]

• "and say: `My Lord! Increase me in knowledge" [Quran, 20:114]

Hadith Bukhari

Ilm leads to path of inner peace and Jannah

• The main purpose of acquiring knowledge is to bring us closer to our Creator.

• Knowledge is to be pursued and practiced with modesty and humility

• Knowledge leads to dignity, freedom and justice which leads to inner peace.

4-Ibadah

So serve thou me (only) and establish regular prayer for celebrating My praise. Taha, 20:14

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

Inner Peace is reached by submitting to God

• 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 Majah

5-Zikr-Remembrance of Allah

"Those who believe and whose hearts find satisfaction in the remembrance of Allah: for without doubt in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find satisfaction Raad, 13:28

3 Ways of realizing Zikr

• 1-With the tongue: To say thanks, chant glory of Allah, sing His greatness and recite Quran

• 2- With the heart and mind: To think and discover the wisdom behind the various obligations of Islam, to contemplate over Hereafter, to understand the attributes of Allah

• 3- To keep every limb and joint engaged in acts approved by Allah and refrain from his prohibitions.

Recommended Azkaar

Do not forget Zikr of Allah

6- Serving suffering humanity

Then as for him who gives away and guards (against evil), and accepts the best, We will facilitate for him the easy end." (Lail,92:5-7)

Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said "No wealth (of a servant of Allah) is decreased because of charity." (Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith No. 2247).

'The believers ... are steadfast in prayers, and in whose wealth there is a right acknowledged, for the poor and the destitute. (Qur'an 70:22-24).

Charity will bring freedom from fear and grief

• Those who believe, and do deeds of righteousness, and establish regular prayers and regular charity, will have their reward with their Lord: On them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve' (2:277).

11 But he hath made no haste on the path that is steep.12 And what will explain to thee the path that is steep?13 (It is:) freeing the bondman; 14 Or the giving of food in a day of privation 15 To the orphan with claims of relationship 16 Or to the indigent (down) in the dust Balad,90:11-16

Some acts of Charity and kindness• Emancipation of slaves (90:13; 2:177), • Feeding of the poor (69:34; 90:11-16; 107:1-3),• Taking care of orphans (17:34; 76:8; 89:17;

90:15; 93:9, 107:2) and • Doing good to humanity in general, • Speaking of a kind word to parents is referred

to as Ihsan (doing good) in 17:23• Use of the kind words is recommended as in

itself a charitable deed in 2:83, 4:8