ISLAM: THE RELIGION OF EASE (Book)

God desires ease for you; He does not desire difficulty for you...

(Qur'an, 2:185)


INTRODUCTION

The religion God chose for people, which best suits their temperament, is the religion of Islam. God has made His religion very easy for people to live by. Religion lifts all the burdens, and things that are limiting and restricting and that cause people hardship. It informs people that they should always seek God's approval, lean towards Him, and resign themselves to the fate that He has determined for them, for He is infinitely compassionate, kind and forgiving; He creates everything with a purpose for righteous people; He is the possessor of all power.

To trust and befriend God, Who is the possessor of all creatures and controller of all the events that take place, means to put an end to the fears, worries, troubles, and hardships in a human being's life. For one who lives by his religion, what is most important is the ease and beauty religion provides him. Moreover, God has made all His commands and decrees commensurate with people's dispositions and no hardship will ensue from any of them.

God, in the Qur'an, declares that religion is easy and that He will make things easier for those who follow their religion:

We will ease you to the Easy Way . (Qur'an, 87:8)

… He has selected you and not placed any constraint upon you in the observance of your religion—the religion of your forefather Abraham… (Qur'an, 22:78)

Our Prophet (saas), in the light of these verses, invites us in following our religion to declare: “Religion is easiness.” (Sahih Bukhari)

The practices and beliefs that people see as hardships have been added to religion and passed on as if they were a part of the real religion by polytheists or by people who deny religion and try to distance others from religion. Yet others have adopted an ostentatious manner in their observance of religion, thinking that if they perform harder things to show themselves as more pious, that will be more generally acceptable. However, our Prophet (saas) has always ordered Muslims around him to make religion “easier.” As a result, righteous Muslims should obey this command and should not suffer the consequences of representing easy things as hard. One of our Prophet's (saas) sayings on this matter is as follows:

"Make things easy for the people, and do not make it difficult for them, and make them calm (with glad tidings) and do not repulse (them)." (Sahih Bukhari)

In this book, in accordance with the advice of our Prophet (saas), we are reminded of how easy it is to live God's religion. Furthermore, it is explained that the religion of Islam encourages the lifestyle most suitable to a person's temperament, comfort, and happiness: a life lead by the morals of the Qur'an is the best possible life a person can live.


THE QUR'AN, A GUIDE TO WHAT IS EASY

We did not send down the Qur'an to you to make you miserable, but only as a reminder for those who have fear. (Qur'an, 20:2, 3)

In order for all of humankind to find the truth, to reach the absolute reality, and acquire knowledge about religion, God has sent down holy books and prophets to convey and explain these books, throughout history. The last book God sent down, as a guide to humankind, was the Qur'an. In one verse the attribute of the Qur'an as a guidebook is explained as:

Previously, as guidance for mankind, He sent down the Torah and the Gospel (Furqan). Those who reject God's Signs will have a terrible punishment. God is Almighty, Exactor of Revenge. (Qur'an, 3:4)

The books sent down prior to the Qur'an, have all been tampered with by polytheists and opponents of religion. These books have been adulterated by the addition of superstitions and false beliefs. But, God has adjudicated clearly in His verses that only the last Holy book, the Qur'an, will not be corrupted and that it will be protected till Judgment Day:

It is We Who have sent down the Reminder (the Quran) and We Who will preserve it. (Qur'an, 15:9)

Falsehood cannot reach it from before it or behind it—it is a revelation from One Who is All-Wise, and Praiseworthy. (Qur'an, 41:42)

Believers, who know that the Qur'an will be valid and protected till Doomsday, live with this comfort and confidence. The Qur'an is a book one can fully trust its every command and decree, and follow without experiencing any resentment or doubt in his heart or conscience. For people to have such a “trustworthy” guide is a great blessing and mercy given by God. In one of His verses, God informs us of the importance of the Qur'an to believers:

We have sent down the Book to you which manifests the truth about all things and as guidance and mercy and good news for Muslims. (Qur'an, 16:89)

Every individual who knows the Qur'an and makes it his guide learns the purpose of his creation, the means to acquire God's approval and mercy, how to reach Heaven, what life will be like in Heaven and Hell, the secrets of God's creation, the best morals, and many more things in the most correct and complete way.

Every type of question that can be asked by different people about religion is answered in the Qur'an. God states this in one of His verses:

Every time they come to you with a difficult point, We bring you the truth and the best of explanations. (Qur'an, 25:33)

As all knowledge about religion is provided in the Qur'an, this leaves no room for dispute whatever the subject. God tells us that one of the purposes for the revelation of the Qur'an is to clarify issues that people disagree on:

We have only sent down the Book to you so that you can make clear to them the things about which they differ, and as a guidance and a mercy to people who believe. (Qur'an, 16:64)

As can be seen in this verse, the Qur'an is a great blessing and a guide in every respect to those who have faith in God and are righteous. God, through the Qur'an, informs us of topics about which we have no knowledge and the secrets of His creation. For example, the Qur'an instructs us on the existence of Satan, his qualities, his purpose, the angle from which he gets close to people, the tactics he uses, his insidious character, as well as giving much other information. Furthermore, the way to free oneself from Satan's influence is spelled out in the Qur'an. Whatever is explained in the Qur'an about Satan is a great advantage to believers, because it enables them always to be alert to the insidious and invisible enemies who approach them.

The Qur'an is a book that is very clearly comprehensive and which appeals to everyone. As a result, on Judgment Day when people are giving their account of all the things they did, they cannot put forward the excuse that nobody had informed them of what was right or wrong or that they were unaware of certain precepts. God, by the mediation of the Qur'an, warns people in the best possible way and informs them of the most vital issues pertaining to their lives.

Again for the sake of simplicity, God explains His points in a variety of ways so that people may fully comprehend them. God thus makes known to us this style of the Qur'an:

We have brought them a Book elucidating everything with knowledge, as guidance and a mercy for people who believe. (Qur'an, 7:52)

Look how We explain the Signs with various symbols so that hopefully they will understand. (Qur'an, 6:65)

In spite of these declarations of God, the error that most people generally fall into is thinking that the Qur'an cannot be understood by everyone. Most people think that they need to be educated for many years to be able to read, understand, and live by the teachings of the Qur'an. Most of those who reach such a conclusion have never actually read the Qur'an before, even once. Or they have, but haven't tried to understand it; they have conditioned themselves from the beginning to think that they would not be able to understand it. Whereas the Qur'an, as it informs us, is crystal clear. It possesses a style which is easily comprehensible to anyone who reads it with sincerity.

It is a great blessing for people that the language of the Qur'an can be easily understood. In one of His verses, God declares that He has simplified the Qur'an so that people may read and understand it with ease:

We have revealed to you the Qur'an in your own tongue, so that you may give good news to those who guard against evil and give warning to a contentious nation. (Qur'an, 19:97)

When God has made His religion so much easier for people to understand, out of His mercy and compassion, the only thing left for them to do is reflect upon what God has said and act upon it. However, many people opt for the hard way when there is a simpler way. They go in search of things that will only misguide them and they live their life far from the Qur'an, which is the sole means of their learning the purpose of their life, and which can be their saviour for all eternity. As a result, our Prophet (saas) called out to God:

"My Lord, my people treat this Qur'an as something to be ignored." (Qur'an, 25:30)

Those true believers whose hearts are content and who have submitted to God, know that the Qur'an is sent down by the All- Powerful and Wise God and that it is the guide that leads to the right path. God also informs us that the Qur'an is “ a healing and a mercy to the believers” (Qur'an, 17:82). Through the verses in the Qur'an, all the questions and doubts that may be formed in people's minds are abolished and its readers learn from it the morals and lifestyles most suited to themselves.

This is a very important point: God has created people in such a way that if they live by the foundation of Islam, they can be happy, peaceful, and mentally and physically healthy individuals. Those who search for other ways to achieve this will never be able to find them, even if they search for thousands and millions of years. The only way for an individual to be at ease in this world and the next is to abide by the Qur'an God has sent down. As God declares in the following verse, the Qur'an is the only true Book that lifts people up from darkness into light:

Alif, Lam, Ra. This is a Book We have sent down to you so that you can bring mankind from the darkness to the light, by the permission of their Lord, to the Path of the Almighty, the Praiseworthy. (Qur'an, 14:1)

Those who follow the light of God's Book and submit to its guiding rule will always be blessed with ease and lead a wonderful life in this world and in the Hereafter, by the will of God.


GOD HAS ORDERED WHAT IS EASY

The religious knowledge most people possess is based on what they have heard since their childhood. Because they haven't learned about religion from its real source, that is the Qur'an, they are a prey to many superstitions and foolish thoughts about religion. One of the most harmful of these beliefs is that it is hard to be religious: this is completely fallacious.

Those who have aimed at causing religion to deviate from its essence and tried to prevent religion from being practiced, have throughout history, attempted to add on many difficult practices and superstitions to it. With the practices they have invented, they have caused people to move away from religion, intentionally or unintentionally. However, the information set forth by God in the Qur'an and the traditions of our Prophet (saas) teach us that it is very easy for sincere people to practice religion.

First of all, we must aver that God has created humans from nothingness, as He has with everything else in the universe. God, Who knows human beings better than anyone else and Who is closer to them than their jugular veins, has created a religion appropriate to their characteristics. God states in the following verse that humans are called to the most appropriate religion, which is best suited to their character:

Therefore, stand firm in your devotion to the true Faith, as a pure natural believer, following God's natural pattern on which He made mankind. There is no changing God's creation. That is surely the true Religion—but most people do not know it. (Qur'an, 30:30)

As a result of our God's compassion and kindness, all of the true religions sent down through the ages have possessed commandments which are easy to carry out, because, God has always wished ease for His devotees. The verse “… God desires your well-being” (Qur'an, 2: 185) records this reality. One who obeys the limits specified by God is also one who lives in the most excellent way the life most suited to his characteristics.

Certain people who do not know these truths think that they will be able to lead a more comfortable life when the limits of religion are removed, for example, they think that they will be freer when they need not concern themselves with moral values. Or they presume that religion will engender particular restrictions that will make their lives more difficult. On the contrary, these are great errors into which people fall and are Satan's deceptions, for it is extremely easy to live God's religion and fulfil His commands. The real difficulty is in living in a place where the inhabitants do not acknowledge God's limits. Such an experience brings about extremely dreadful consequences.

First of all, in communities where religion is not practiced or in the lives of unreligious people, there is always chaos, turmoil, anxiety, fear, unhappiness and stress. One who doesn't fear God can commit any sort of immoral acts, does not acknowledge any limit on any topic, and leads a degenerate life. In such a life, people don't show each other any spirit of sacrifice, any sort of love, or respect, and do not support each other spiritually or financially. For these reasons, such a life never brings anyone any happiness. When the boundaries of religion are taken away, the opposite of a peaceful atmosphere surfaces and a hell-like environment emerges, just as Satan desires.

For example, the events that we have been experiencing very frequently in recent years, such as widespread drug use and dealing, prostitution, corruption, and deception are linked with being far from religion and hence from any spiritual values or beauty. In such circumstances, people assume that they have the licence to act freely and as they wish. However, the spiritual and physical destruction brought about by this way of living without acknowledging any boundaries far outweighs any feelings of freedom they assume. Think about it. What can be the benefits of a person who is sick, has aged prematurely, whose hair and skin has lost its shine and vitality, who leads an exhausted and destitute life, all because of prostitution, drug and alcohol abuse? Really, not recognizing any boundaries, disregarding moral values, leading a life one assumes has no purpose and ends in nothingness, will bring about great physical and emotional damage to all concerned, without exception. Furthermore, these consequences are plain for all to see.

There may be people who think that the examples given here are very extreme. But the truth is that the more a person lives a life far from religion, flouting God's boundaries, the more that person will lead an unhappy and difficult life. And, just because a person doesn't live a life as extreme as in the given examples, it doesn't mean that he has an easy and happy life. Maybe he lives a more comfortable life than the ones we mentioned. But he can never find real happiness and peace. Moreover, as a result of distancing himself from God's commands, this person will face a Hereafter in which he will feel great remorse and where he will experience the greatest difficulties and pain.

Those who fear God and who fulfil God's commands without any shortcomings are in a position of great advantage in this world and the next. Above all, they experience spiritual pleasure and have the clear conscience of obeying God. There are always glad tidings and beauty for them. God gives good news to those who seek His approval and who protect His boundaries:

Those who repent, those who worship, those who praise, those who fast, those who bow, those who prostrate themselves, those who enjoin the right, and forbid evil and, those who observe the commandments of God shall be richly rewarded. (Qur'an, 9:112)

Those, who are remiss in upholding God's constraints, contrary to their conscience, or who see faith as horrid and infidelity as good, will face hardships and difficulties in this life and in the Hereafter. God tells us in one of His verses:

… Those are God's limits, and anyone who oversteps God's limits has wronged himself… (Qur'an, 65:1)

Along with those who presume it is hard to be religious, there are those who represent being religious as a hardship, as we mentioned above. True are some, who have not grasped the essence of religion, who are prone to take religion to extremes. Just as some ignore the boundaries of religion in the name of freedom, others have the temerity to change the boundaries God has set and make religion harder, all in the name of piety. This is actually a trap of Satan. By showing things that are not forbidden as being prohibited, such people think that it is their privilege to make up other prohibitions. What's more, they do not comply as they should with the rules they lay down and so suffer because of their conscience. On this topic God gives the example of Christians, who altered Christianity after Jesus (peace be upon him):

Then We sent Our Messengers following in their footsteps and sent Jesus the son of Maryam after them, giving him the Gospel. We put compassion and mercy in the hearts of those who followed him. As for monasticism, they instituted it themselves—We did not prescribe it for them. (Qur'an, 57:27)

God, therefore, warns believers against this danger and declares in the Qur'an that those who go extremes in religion have strayed from the true religion:

Say: “People of the Book! Do not go to extremes in your religion, asserting other than the truth, and do not yield to the whims and desires of people who were misguided previously and have misguided many others, and have themselves strayed far from the right path.” (Qur'an, 5:77)

The only rule that the individual has to follow is to carry out the commands set forth by God in the Qur'an and to abstain from whatever is prohibited. When God decrees everything to be easy to believers, those who try to make religion harder will have to account for their behaviour on Judgment Day. As is true of all else, our Prophet 's (saas) life and practices are a good example for us. In one of his traditions, the Prophet (saas) reminds believers not to abandon and at the same time not to exceed God's boundaries and states that religion is easy.

"Religion is simple. No one can be severe against religion. For he will be defeated. (That is to say, that one should conform to religion's ease. Whoever tries to be firm will be helpless). Straighten your line of conduct, be close to the boundary/end." (Ramuz al-Ahadith, Vol 1, p 98)

People should evaluate religion in the manner of the tradition of the Prophet (saas), as mentioned above. That is to say, it is a mistake to show what God has conveyed as easy and straightforward and that can be easily implemented as difficult and incomprehensible. In fact, God has made the commands He sets forth in the Qur'an, so easy that everyone in every situation and environment can easily comply with them. In the coming sections, the simplicity God gives people in His boundaries of permissible and forbidden things will be dealt with.

Leniency acknowledged in terms of food

God has given people many blessings as a means of sustenance. Colourful fruits, a variety of food, vegetables, meats, drinks, dried fruits and nuts… Each one has been presented as a service to human beings: “They will ask you what is lawful for them. Say: ‘All good things are lawful for you…'” (Qur'an, 5:4) God informs us that all the food that has been declared as clean is permissible for people to eat.

The food God forbids people to eat are such as are harmful to people, namely, carcasses, blood, and pork. God states in one of His verses:

Say: “I do not find, in what has been revealed to me, any food it is forbidden to eat except for carrion, flowing blood, and pork—for these are unclean—and any flesh that has been profanely consecrated to gods other than God. But if anyone is forced to eat it, intending neither to sin nor to transgress, your Lord is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Qur'an 6:145)

There is great wisdom in the word “unclean” that is used for these forbidden foods, for pork really does have qualities that are pernicious to people's health.

For example, pork is very fatty and, when eaten, this fat passes into the blood stream. This excessive fat in the blood causes the veins to harden, the blood pressure to go up, and finally a heart attack. Furthermore, in the case of the poisonous chemicals found in pork fat,—“toxins”—the lymph nodes have to work harder than usual to get rid of them. This condition especially occurs in children as lymph node infections and swelling. In addition to this, pork contains sulphur in great quantities. The excess sulphur taken in by the body accumulates in cartilages, muscles, and nerves, and causes illnesses such as infections, calcification, and lumbar hernia. Along with all of these, it brings about various types of serious skin diseases and trichina (trichina is only transmitted by pigs and is life-threatening for humans). (Only a few of the known harmful qualities of pork are mentioned here).

As can be seen, it is beneficial to and protective of health for certain foods which are harmful to humans to be forbidden.

However, another point is worth mentioning here. Of course, it is by God's command that things are either permissible or forbidden. And people are only held accountable for their actions according to God's law. It is a matter of God's will whether to show us the reasons behind forbidding a certain food or not. But, to make things easier for people and to make people's hearts rest content, as the example we gave previously demonstrated, God reveals the reasons behind things at many points.

When God mentions the forbidden foods in the Qur'an, He also clarifies how people should react to all sorts of situations they may be faced with. Any confusion people experience when they face an unexpected situation is thereby prevented. Some of the verses on this subject are as follows:

So eat from what God has provided for you, lawful and good, and be thankful for the blessing of God, if it is Him you worship. He has forbidden you carrion, blood and pork and anything consecrated to gods other than God. But whoever is forced through necessity, intending neither to sin nor to transgress, will find that his Lord is Ever-Forgiving, and Most Merciful. (Qur'an, 16:114-115

The reminder at the end of these verses of God's forgiveness and protectiveness brings good news and comfort to believers, human beings, having been created weak creatures, they can make mistakes, forget, be absorbed, or act without volition. But, when they repent sincerely, God will forgive and protect them.

The ease granted to those who pray

Prayer is a duty Muslims are obliged to perform at certain times, which God has determined, throughout their lives without neglecting it. Those who do not carry out their religious duties, usually defer prayer till their old age. Yet, prayer is extremely easy to perform, as with all the other acts of worship.

It should be noted that whatever God has decreed as obligatory it is the responsibility of each individual to carry it out as his obligation to God. In return for this, he may hope for God's approval, mercy, and Heaven. God's making the obligatory forms of worship simple is an indicator of His mercy and compassion. Those who do not, in spite of this, abide by God's commands will not be able to say they didn't have enough strength, or that it was hard for them to pray, as an excuse. (Except those mentioned by God in the Qur'an as not having any responsibilities).

For example, to perform ablutions has been made very straightforward. In fact, in case a person cannot find any water to wash himself with, God has given tayammum — the substitution of sand, stone, or snow for water—as an alternative, and tayammum can be easily done in any type of situation. For those who cannot find water, God informs us in one of His verses how to perform tayammum:

... If you are in a state of major impurity, then purify yourselves. But if you are ill or on a journey, or have come from the lavatory, or have touched women, and cannot find any water, then do tayammum with pure sand, and wipe your faces and your hands with it. God does not want to make things difficult for you, but He does want to purify you and to perfect His blessing upon you so that hopefully you will be thankful. (Qur'an, 5:6)

As God tells us in His verse, He does not want to make things demanding for people. God has simplified all the things mentioned in the Qur'an. The acts of worship God has commanded are extremely easy for those who have faith. God, in His mercy and compassion, has commanded the easiest and most wonderful forms of worship and lifestyle and has given the good news of His approval, mercy and Heaven to those who abide by these.

Shortening prayer in times of war

In the Qur'an, forms of respite have been laid down for certain periods. For example, at the time of Prophet Mohammad (saas), when believers were in dire conflict with the deniers, God was lenient towards the believers in the carrying out of their worship at that time. It has been laid down that, in times of war believers may shorten their prayers when it is imperative:

When you are travelling in the land, there is nothing wrong in your shortening your prayer if you fear that those who do not believe may harass you. The unbelievers are your inveterate cut enemies. (Qur'an, 4:101)

As can be understood from this verse, every one of God's decrees and commands is full of benefits and wisdom for each and every one of the believers. God does not want hardship for His subjects. God is the believers' real friend and sole protector.

The leniency granted in fasting

God has commanded Muslims to fast during the month of Ramadan. However, God also mentions the exceptional cases, such as illnesses and travelling, and with this He once again declares that He wishes us ease rather than hardship:

The month of Ramadan is the one in which the Qur'an was sent down as guidance for mankind, with Clear Signs containing guidance on distinguishing between right and wrong. Therefore, any of you who are present in that month let him fast. But any of you who are ill or on a journey should fast a similar number of days later on. God desires your well-being, not your discomfort. He desires you to fast the whole month so that you may proclaim God's greatness for the guidance He has given you and so that hopefully you will be thankful. (Qur'an, 2:185)

That God wishes us ease in the verses concerning His commands shows us that we should think of and comprehend the simplicity of religion too. Those who run away from carrying out their religious obligations because they think that they will experience difficulties have no proper knowledge of religion and are thus in a state of error.

Those not held responsible by God

As another manifestation of God's compassion, people who are incapacitated are not burdened with the same responsibilities as others. God tells us this in one of His verses:

There is no constraint on the blind, nor on the lame, nor on the sick. We will admit all who obey God and His Messenger into Gardens with rivers flowing under them. But We will punish with a painful punishment anyone who turns his back. (Qur'an, 48:17)

By relieving disabled people of the responsibilities of worship, God displays another proof of His mercy and infinite compassion. In the following verse, it is stated that God does not bring about difficulties for people and this is a manifestation of His compassion and kindness:

... If God had wanted, He could have been hard on you. God is Almighty, All-Wise. (Qur'an, 2:220)

Leniency shown for the breaking of oaths inadvertently made

Making oaths is a common occurrence, often entered into out of sheer habit, especially when promises are being made. Allegiance to oaths, and the fulfilling of promises are attributes of a believer, as God commands in the Qur'an. However, human beings are forgetful creatures; in some situations they can absent-mindedly forget what they were supposed to do what their promise was. This is a very natural mistake, resulting from human weakness. So, in these circumstances, God does not hold people accountable for the oaths they make haphazardly, absent-mindedly or out of habit; He removes this accountability from the believers. The due fulfillments of oaths made will be asked about on Judgment Day, but with the exception of oaths made randomly or aimlessly. God informs us of this in one of His verses:

God will not call you to account task for inadvertent statements in your oaths, but He will take you to task for that which is intended in your hearts. God is Ever-Forgiving and All-Forbearing. (Qur'an, 2:225)

There is another concession God has bestowed concerning the issue of oaths. He shows leniency towards those who make an oath in His name with a purpose, but who later wish to break it, by adjuring penitence:

God has given you absolution from such oaths. (Qur'an, 66:2)

… But He will take you to task for the oaths you make intentionally. The expiation in that case is to feed ten poor people with the average amount you feed your family, or clothe them, or free a slave. Anyone without the means to do so should fast for three days. That is the expiation for breaking the oaths which you have sworn. Keep your oaths. In this way God makes His Signs clear to you, so that hopefully you will be thankful. (Qur'an, 5:89)

As can be understood from the verses, God provides an easy way for people to act according to religion in both situations. What is best and right is, of course, to honour oaths. However, a person can forget his promise or situations can change from the time he gave his word and he may be unable to keep it. In desiring everyone's well-being, God informs us of the conditions that will compensate for not fulfilling promises and has shown a way out for everyone.

Also, the rule for compensating for breaking an oath is designed to ease the oath-taker's conscience. Because the person breaking the oath will be faced with compensating for his action, he will think twice about whether he really has to break his oath or if he can still fulfill it. And, at the end, he will arrive at the most conscientious and best decision.

What can be understood from the points mentioned so far is that God has decreed that His religion be very simple. The religion of Islam is a religion of ease at all times and, in every respect. When a person intends to be a sincere believer and to be thankful in return for the blessings God has given us, he will not experience any difficulties whatsoever in practising his religion.

The test God has created is very easy

People who live far from religion determine certain goals for themselves throughout their lives. The common point between these goals is generally that they are geared towards worldly life. For example, most people's ideals are to be an expert doctor, a successful engineer, a good father, a wealthy businessman, an artist known worldwide, and things of this nature. People strive, work hard, and at times sacrifice various things in order to attain success, happiness, and a comfortable life in many areas other than thus previously mentioned and they try to reach a certain status by themselves. However, when they become absorbed in all these, they forget or ignore the real reason for their being in this world.

To rectify such a lapse everyone should ask himself certain questions by reflecting on his life and thinking that he will one day pass away. “Why am I in this world?” “What is the purpose in my being alive?” “Maybe I was a really successful architect, designed many buildings, became rich and wealthy, earned a title, became well-known, but what did all these achievements bring me? Which one of them will still have any value after death? What kind of benefits will any of the things I left behind in the world bring me in the Hereafter? Does my existence consist only of life in this world?” These are the principal questions people should ask themselves before they die.

At this point we should mention that obviously people will have a career, even desire to be extremely successful in their career and work hard at this. But, it is very important not to forget that all forms of employment are devices that should bring people closer to their ultimate aim. A great number of people however, forget or ignore their real purpose in life and devote their entire lives to such things, which are transient and, in fact, mere instruments.

There is a great reality that everyone can comprehend without giving it any way deep thought: God has created humans and the world with a purpose. As told to us in the Qur'an, the purpose of humans is solely to serve God. The purpose in the creation of the universe is for it to serve as a testing ground, where the status of human beings in the Hereafter is determined. God informs us of this reality in the Qur'an:

He created death and life to test which of you is best in action. He is the Almighty, the Ever-Forgiving. (Qur'an, 67:2)

God has given numerous proofs for people to understand the ephemeral quality of this world and that their real abode where they will live forever is the Hereafter.

For example, there are hundreds of different types of illnesses; there is the microscopic virus's ability to threaten the life of a human being who is millions of times bigger than itself; there is the need for a person to constantly keep clean, eat, rest and sleep; the life of an individual is very short, on an average 60-70 years, time has a very wearying effect on a person, and every human being's end is death without exception; one has to leave behind all loved ones and all the wealth, property, and esteem one has acquired throughout one's life; last but not least, the human body enters a stage of decay when dead and buried. These and many other similar reasons are all enough for people to comprehend that their lives are short-lived, and full of imperfections, and as such, can never satisfy the human soul. All these are very important realities that will deter people from being attached to this world. In the Qur'an, God tells us that the world was not created aimlessly; it was made for a specific reason:

We did not create heaven and earth and everything in between them as a game. If We had desired to have some amusement, We could have found it near at hand. (Qur'an, 21:16-17)

As a matter of fact, with just a little thought, one will easily understand that the world is not a place where one will stay forever; it is merely a testing ground. This life is not the last stop but actually a short stopover, and one will be held accountable for every moment one lives in this transient place. Most importantly, one has a responsibility towards God, Who has created everything from nothingness.

One who is capable of such thought should proceed a step further and think: God tests people with different types of events, both good and bad. All the incidents a person faces throughout the day are, in fact, composed of tests that determine what his eternal abode will be, after death. And God has made these tests easy for everyone and has informed him of the path he should take, that is, of what he should do:

We created man from a mingled drop to test him, and We made him with hearing and sight. We guided him on to the right path, whether he be thankful or oblivious of Our favours. (Qur'an, 76:2-3)

As recorded in the verses, God has definitely shown people the right path for them in their lives and has enabled them to acquire knowledge about religion and good morals. It is inevitable that everyone will be called to religion before he dies and will have the opportunity to learn what is right. Everyone knows that the world is a transient place and, for the sake of his life in the Hereafter, he has to live in a way that will please God. Briefly, it is not a test that people are unaware of or don't know how to succeed at. By the messengers God sends in every era, the books He has sent in the past, and the conscience He has created in everyone, God shows people the right path and protects them from what is wrongful. For those who believe in God, who submit to Him totally, who see only God as their real friend and sole protector, and who turn to God in every situation and surrender to Him, every test God has created is very easy and pleasurable. There will be no hardships, difficulties, sadness, suffering, or complications in this world for those who know the secret of faith and who sincerely believe in God. Every situation turns into a blessing whereby one may come closer to God and may hope for Heaven even more.

A prerequisite to sincere faith is to recognize God and be well acquainted with Him. The more clearly a person recognizes God and knows His power, the more pious and close to God he will be. For example, one who knows God's forgiveness will never become hopeless or pessimistic because of his faults or mistakes. One who believes that God is the provider doesn't become greedy about money. He knows that God provides sustenance: he works, makes an effort but knows that God determines the amount of blessings he will receive and that he himself cannot change that. As a result, for one who knows and recognizes God, the world is full of ease and blessings; that person lives his every moment by seeing God's revelations and the beauty in His creation. In brief, for pious Muslims who have submitted to God, the test God has created for them is extremely easy and pleasurable.

God is Forgiving

God's infinite mercy and compassion are a great blessing for people. Because, humans are creatures who can be negligent, who can forget, and make mistakes. God, in His infinite compassion, has always given people the chance to ask for forgiveness and repent. Anyone who, going in fear of God, sincerely wishes his or her sins to be forgiven can hope for God's forgiveness. As is stated in the Qur'an: “God desires to turn towards you…” (Qur'an, 4: 27) God informs us of this ever-forgiving attribute of His:

Anyone who does evil or wrongs himself and then asks God's forgiveness will find God Ever-Forgiving and Most Merciful. (Qur'an, 4:110)

God, in His forgiveness, continuously gives new opportunities to people throughout their lives. The only thing a person has to do is to admit his mistake in the hope of not repeating it and to repent by listening to his conscience before the time of death comes. God tells us in one of His verses that only insincere people's repentance will not be forgiven:

There is no forgiveness for people who persist in doing evil until death comes to them and who only then say, “Now I repent,” nor for people who die while they are disbelievers. We have prepared for them a painful punishment. (Qur'an, 4:18)

God's forgiveness of people's mistakes, delaying of their punishment, and giving them another chance at every turn throughout their lives is a manifestation of His great kindness, mercy, and compassion. As God tells us, if people were to be punished for their sins immediately, there would be no living creature left on this earth:

If God were to punish people for their wrong actions, not a single creature would be left upon the earth, but He reprieves them till a predetermined time. When their appointed time arrives, they cannot delay it for a single hour nor can they bring it forward. (Qur'an, 16:61)

Consequently, whatever people's mistakes or sins, they are never too late to change themselves into the type of subjects God approves of. No matter how many mistakes a person has committed nor how far from religion he has lived in the past, he doesn't have to think about this as long as he repents sincerely and becomes a pious subject of God. His sins are merely memories, which provide an opportunity to learn a lesson so that he should neither repeat the same mistakes, nor commit similar ones in the future. God declares that He will not hold accountable for their past those pious Muslims, who have found the right way after they were warned:

God has pardoned all that took place in the past; but if anyone relapses into wrong doing God will take revenge on him. God is Almighty, Exactor of Revenge. (Qur'an, 5:95)

Say to those who do not believe that if they mend their ways, their past will be forgiven, but if they persist in sin, let them reflect upon the fate of previous peoples in the past. (Qur'an, 8:38)

Without a doubt, this is a great concession made by God in His religion.

God answers all prayers and is very close to everyone

In circles far from religion, prayer to God has been complicated by superstitions and false beliefs. People have determined set times when they can pray to God, even though they can do so at any time they wish, or they have put intermediaries between themselves and God. God warns people against these false notions:

To God alone is true worship due. As for those who take protectors besides Him, saying, "We only worship them so that they may bring us nearer to God"—God will judge between them regarding the things about which they differed. God does not guide the untruthful disbelievers. (Qur'an, 39:3)

Those who assert that one needs certain intermediaries to pray to God, are actually people who try to fool others by showing religion as a hardship. Because as verse, 50:16 of the Qur'an tells us: “We created man and We know what his own self whispers to him. We are nearer to him than his jugular vein” , God is closer to people than anyone else. That is to say, the suppliant can turn toward God, can make his voice heard to God, and ask for help by prayer whenever he wants.

The individual does not need to look out for special times. He can pray to God any time, any minute. Otherwise, he would be fabricating new rules by himself. He can pray to God and tell Him what he wants, when he is going from place to place, when going down the stairs, when shopping, when preparing dinner, when watching television, in the elevator, when he is waiting somewhere, when he goes to bed at night, when he wakes up, when he is having breakfast, when he is driving, in short, anywhere and any time. To do this it is enough for him even to think about it briefly, because God knows everything, even what someone is hiding in his bosom.

Hence, whoever prays to God should know that God definitely answers all prayers. God tells us that He will simplify things for those who are in need and who turn towards Him:

Surely worthier is He Who responds to the oppressed when they cry out to Him and removes their distress. It is He Who has appointed you inheritors of the earth. Is there another god besides God? How little you pay heed! (Qur'an, 27:62)

This unlimited opportunity God gives people is without a doubt a manifestation of God's infinite mercy. In numerous verses in the Quran, God mentions His closeness to human beings, that He will be a guardian for those who turn towards Him, and that He will definitely answer those that pray to Him. One of these verses is:

If My servants ask you about Me, I am near. I answer the call of the caller when he calls on Me. They should therefore respond to Me and believe in Me so that hopefully they will be rightly guided. (Qur'an, 2:186)

Believers should think about this mercy and blessing of God once more and live in accordance with God's approval. Because, this clemency that God has shown us gives us a great and unlimited opportunity; God, Who is the Possessor and Owner of everything, promises to respond to everything that people desire. And God never fails to keep His promise.

God never burdens anyone with more than he can bear

The situations one faces in life, no matter how tough it seems at the moment, are all actually at an intensity that one can bear. God, the Creator of human beings, gives them their souls. He knows best how much they can tolerate and how much of a burden and difficulty they can bear.

God states in many verses that He would not afflict anyone with more than he could handle and that no one would face injustice:

God does not impose on any soul more than it can bear. It shall be requited for whatever good and whatever evil it has done. (Qur'an, 2:286)

As for those who believe and do right actions—We impose on no soul any more than it can bear—they are the Companions of the Garden, remaining in it timelessly, for ever. (Qur'an, 7:42)

Without a doubt, the events people will have to deal with and be patient with will be different. Most people are tried with many different contingencies. But, in the end, God tests people in relation to their strength. For example, some people lead a destitute life on this earth and hence their patience in a state of impoverishment is tested. Some people live in wealth and abundance and so it is their thankfulness to God, their morals and whether they cling on to the world with greed or not that are tested. But eventually, the rich and the poor live the life that is best for them. No matter how needy the poor person becomes, it is not a difficulty that he cannot handle. Likewise, no matter to what degree the rich person lives in abundance, this would not force him to be a spoiled and ungrateful person. In the end, these people's faithfulness to God and their fears regarding the Day of Judgment enable them to live by the morals of the Qur'an and become people who abide by the commandments of religion. Such people submit to God in every event they encounter. They seek only His help and His approval. They never show disappointment in the face of difficulties and never stray from religion, even if their trial is extremely hard. For people who resign themselves to God and trust in Him, God makes things, even the hardest seeming things, easy for them as a sign of His mercy and compassion. In Surat al-Kahf, verse 88 clarifies this point: “ But as for him who believes and acts rightly, he will receive the best of rewards and We will issue a command, making things easy for him.” God draws attention to this truth in other verses as well:

As for him who gives in charity and guards against evil and confirms the Good, We will pave his way to ease. (Qur'an, 92:5-7)

Those who do not submit to or trust in God will regard even easy things as hard. As a result of their ungratefulness, their denial of religion, and their distance from the morals of the Qur'an, God causes them hardship in this world:

But as for him who is miserly and self-satisfied, and denies the Good, We will pave his way to difficulty. His wealth will not help him when he plummets to the depths. Assuredly, it is for Us to give guidance. (Qur'an, 92:8-12)

God grants ease with every hardship

God has given us the good news that, by His grace, He will create ease with every hardship when testing people in this world. God tells us this good news in the following verses:

For truly, with hardship comes ease; truly, with hardship comes ease. (Qur'an, 94:5-6)

When we look at the Prophet's (saas) and pious people's lives in the Qur'an, we find it striking that, in every seemingly hard situation they encounter, God creates simplicity. God, with his attribute “The Conquerer,” opens up and simplifies all paths.

The Qur'an gives examples of believers who had to leave their homes, that is, they had to emigrate, because of the reactions and abuse they experienced when they were struggling in the name of God. These people had to leave their jobs, houses, gardens, and belongings and emigrate to strange lands where they knew no one. When looked at from the outside, this seems like a hard situation. But, in Surat an-Nisa' God informs us that He made the situations of the believers who had to emigrate easier and that He blessed them:

Those who migrate for the cause of God will find many places of refuge in the land and ample sustenance. If anyone leaves his home, as a refugee for God's and His Messenger's sake, and he is overtaken by death, it is God Who will reward him. God is Ever-Forgiving and Most Merciful. (Qur'an, 4:100)

Consequently, God proved His promise to the believers living in our Prophet's time. The Companions of the Prophet (saas), who didn't give importance to worldly goods and who selflessly undertook any hardships in the name of God, were given means of sustenance and sheltered in the best possible way by God. God made their work much easier compared to other people's work. The ease and mercy the companions received are mentioned in the Qur'an:

When you were few and oppressed in the land, and afraid of your enemies' onslaught, He gave you refuge and supported you with His help and bestowed great benefits upon you, so that hopefully you would be thankful. (Qur'an, 8:26)

Other experiences in the lives of the other prophets are clear example of making life easy for the believers.

For example, this alleviation of hardship is obvious in many incidents in the life of Prophet Joseph (as). After being thrown into a well by his brothers, the Prophet Joseph (peace be upon him) was found by a caravan. The people who found Joseph (peace be upon him) sold him to a vizier, (minister), as a slave. Shortly afterwards, Joseph (as) was accused of wrongdoing and thrown into jail, even though he hadn't done anything wrong. The turn of events in Joseph (as)'s life may at first sight seem very difficult. But, God rewarded him for his demonstration of good morals and gratefulness, and showed that He willed ease along with hardship. The Prophet Joseph (as), through seemingly negative events, was placed at the head of the treasury and became an important minister.

God supports the believers by alleviating the hardship the Prophet Moses (as) experienced. The Prophet Moses (as), in his struggle against one of the most ferocious people who ever lived, Pharaoh, gains superiority with God's help and support. When Moses (as) prays to God to give him his brother Aaron (as) as a helper, God answers his prayers. Besides this, by equipping Moses (as) with miraculous powers, God enables him to defeat Pharaoh's sorcerers. And the Prophet Moses (as), even in the most trying times, doesn't forget that God's help is with the believers. When being followed by Pharaoh's army and the Red Sea blocking their way ahead, Moses (as) reminds his companions that God's help is always with them and that God will show them a way out:

He said, “Never! My Lord is with me and He will guide me.” So We bade Moses: “Strike the sea with your staff.” And it split in two, each part like a towering cliff. And We brought the others right up to it. We rescued Moses and all those who were with him. Then We drowned the rest. (Qur'an, 26:62-66)

Another illustration from the life of the Prophet (saas) is the occasion when the Prophet Mohammad (saas) is being pursued by the unbelievers and he hides in a cave along with a believer. There being a believer who supports Prophet Mohammad (saas) when he is under the threat of unbelievers, is one of the examples of the easing of hardship that God provided.

If you do not help him, God will help him as He did when the unbelievers drove him out and there were two of them in the Cave. He said to his companion, “Do not be despondent, God is with us.” Then God sent down His serenity upon him and sent to his aid invisible warriors, so that he routed the unbelievers and exalted the word of God. God is Almighty, All-Wise. (Qur'an, 9:40)

Actually, when a person looks at the inner meaning of things, he can see how God facilitates everything at every moment of his life. But, people who can see this reality are those who fear God, who put themselves in God's hands, who know that whenever they face a difficulty it is in their fate, and who have faith in God as their only real friend and guardian. In His verses, God informs us that He will bless these kinds of people when they least expect it and make their tasks easier:

… This is admonishment for all who believe God and the Last Day. Whoever has fear of God—He will give him a means of salvation out and provide for him from where he does not expect. Whoever puts his trust in God—He will be all-sufficient for him. God will surely bring about what He decrees. God has appointed a measure for all things. (Qur'an, 65:2-3)

He who has plenty should spend according to his wealth, and the poor man should spend from what God has given him. God does not demand from any man more than He has given him. God, after difficulty, will bring ease. (Qur'an, 65:7)

As God tells us in His verses, He simplifies things for those who sincerely abide by His commands. Those who believe in this, never show any weakness in the face of hardships.

In Surat al-Inshirah, God gives us the good news that there is ease with every suffering again, and that it is He Who lifts the burdens from people:

Did We not lift up your heart and relieve you of the burden which weighed down your back? Did We not give you high renown? For truly, with hardship comes ease; truly, with hardship comes ease. (Qur'an, 94:1-6)

God grants believers ease and support by means which cannot be seen or sensed

As we mentioned in the beginning, the world is created as a place of trial where everyone's belief in God and the Hereafter is tested. As one of the necessities of this testing ground, when looked at from the outside, those who do good deeds and those who do bad deeds seem to be living by the same standards. However, the life believers lead is very different from the life led by people who deny God. As we mentioned in the previous pages, God always makes things easier for those who believe in Him; even in really difficult situations He always gives them a way out. This is clearly God's help.

The news that God will help his subjects in ways that are imperceptible and that He will help them and bring them ease in unexpected ways is given. We list here some of the forms of assistance mentioned in the Qur'an under a few sub-headings.

God sends believers help through His angels

God's help to believers is manifested in certain different ways. One form of God's help is to send angels to believers at their time of need. God informs us of this help in the Qur'an by giving an example of an incident experienced in the time of our Prophet (saas):

You said to the believers, “Is it not enough that your Lord reinforced you with three thousand angels specially sent down?” Yes indeed! But if you are steadfast and guard against evil and they suddenly, attack you your Lord will help you with five thousand angels, making a terrific onslaught. God designed this as good news for you and so that your hearts might be set at rest. (Victory comes from no one but God, the Almighty, the All-Wise) (Qur'an, 3:124-126)

In another one of His verses, God clarifies that He helps believers with armies they cannot see:

You who believe! Remember God's blessing to you when forces came against you and We sent a wind against them and other forces you could not see. God sees what you do. (Qur'an, 33:9)

God letting us know that believers will always be victorious is a very comforting and encouraging promise for believers. But there is another point that needs to be drawn attention to here: all support is from God and He is without a doubt the Possessor of all power. Believers know that real victory and help are actually in God's hands. They never forget that the angels supporting them is God's good news for them, and that the help and support of God are manifested through His angels. Our Creator mentions this reality in His verses:

Remember when you called on your Lord for help and He responded to you: “I will reinforce you with a thousand angels riding rank after rank.” God only did this to give you good news and to set your hearts at rest. Victory comes from no one but God. God is Almighty, All-Wise. (Qur'an, 8:9-10)

Believers who know that God helps whomever He wills and in whichever way He wills, never lose their trust and keep their serenity even in really difficult situations. In this state of mind they lead the most beautiful life in spiritual terms.

God portrays believers to their enemies in greater numbers than they actually are

By God's will, believers have been lesser in number in every period than unbelievers. However, the winning side has always been the believers, not the ones in greater numbers. Believers, with their God-given qualities of wisdom, sagacity, discernment, and good morals have always been successful against unbelievers. Moreover, God has chosen to present believers in greater numbers than they actually are, and consequently this has led the unbelievers to feel intimidated and fearful. In His verses God relates this with an example from the Prophet's (saas) era:

Remember when God made you see them as few when you met them, and also made you seem few in their eyes. This was so that God could settle a matter whose result was preordained. All matters return to God. You who believe! When you meet their army, stand firm and remember God repeatedly so that hopefully you will be successful. (Qur'an, 8: 44-45)

It is definitely a miracle of God for the unbelievers to perceive the small army of believers as a mighty through, and at the same time greatly eased the minds of the believers. With this, God has enabled the believers to succeed.

Also in His other verses, God informs the Prophet Mohammed (saas) that He will increase the power of the believers many times over whenever He wills. He promises believers that He will bestow upon them greater powers and make them victorious in return for their patience:

O Prophet! Spur on the believers to fight. If there are twenty of you who are steadfast, they will overcome two hundred; and if there are a hundred of you, they will overcome a thousand of those who disbelieve, because they are people who do not understand. Now God has lightened your burden, knowing that you are weak. If there are a hundred of you who are steadfast, they will overcome two hundred; and if there are a thousand of you, they will overcome two thousand with God's permission. God is with the steadfast. (Qur'an, 8:65-66)

As presented in the verses above, God has supported believers when they were at war in the time of the Prophet (saas) by portraying them as being stronger in number and strength in the eyes of the unbelievers. This is because God is always believers' friend and helper. No matter how vast the unbelievers are in number and strength, in the end God is the Possessor of all strength. God can do whatever He wills by just ordaining, “Be.” Those who lean toward God and trust Him, and who appreciate His infinite strength are always solaced by this.

God imbues the hearts of believers with feelings of trust and solace

In Surat al-Anfal , God informs us of the spiritual support He provided the believers when they were experiencing a difficult situation, again in the Prophet's (saas) era:

He overcame you with sleep, making you feel secure, and sent you down water from heaven to purify you and remove the taint of Satan from you, and to fortify your hearts and make your feet firm. (Qur'an, 8:11)

The phrase “overcome with sleep” in the verse points to a spiritual sleep, without a doubt. God engendered such a state in those who were sincere in their time of need and as a result of this spiritual support, the believers experienced feelings of peace, trust, and determination.

Actually, this feeling of peace and trust is apparent in all aspects of a believer's life. People who have faith in God and the Hereafter, do not panic and become sad or worried about anything because they know that God is the sole possessor of everything. They know that God creates everything in the most beneficial way for them and in the most advantageous way for their life in the Hereafter. “If God helps you, no one can vanquish you. If He forsakes you, who then can help you? So the believers should put their trust in God.” (Qur'an, 3:160) According to this verse, the believers clearly have faith and lead their lives in the comfort of resigning themselves to God. No matter the magnitude of the hardship they encounter, they know that it is transient. They bear in mind that compared to the infinite Hereafter, this worldly life has indeed a very short time frame. A difficulty experienced in this world, even if it lasts a lifetime, ends in 50-60 years. A life of 50-60 years lived in resignation to God and with good morals being rewarded with infinite life in the Hereafter will surely be unparalleled. Believers will never experience worries, sadness, destitution, boredom, or hardships; on the contrary, they will attain what their hearts desire in the midst of infinite beauty.

So, being aware of this reality enables a believer to resign himself to God in a determined and steady way in the face of any situation. The spiritual comfort and joy of knowing this is one of the greatest kinds of ease in the world.

It should be borne in mind, that all hearts and all strength are in God's hands. God can create any situation He wills, in whatever way He wills it, and whenever He wills it. One looking for repose and trust cannot succeed without God's will. The ease religion brings to people, is knowing that everything is under God's control. Turning to God in everything one does and expecting the rewards for one's toils only from God will enable one to find God's help and support in a variety of ways.

God is your Protector. And He i s the best of helpers. (Qur'an, 3:150)




THE EASE OF LIVING BY THE MORALS OF THE QUR'AN

God desires to lighten your burdens, for man was created weak. (Qur'an, 4:28)

Altruism, trustworthiness, compassion, modesty, honesty, behaving amicably, feeding the poor, keeping one's promises, returning a borrowed item on time, being dignified, mature, emotional, soft-hearted, forgiving, grateful, patient, brave, respectful, composed, not defrauding or cheating anyone, not belittling anyone, and similar virtuous qualities are some of the requirements of the Qur'an's morals which God commands.

In reality, everyone knows as a matter of conscience, which good morals God will approve of. However, Satan portrays living by these morals as very hard and impossible to many people. In fact, practising good morals all throughout one's life without ever compromising, is acknowledged as a form of superiority unique to Prophets and their companions. The good moral qualities ignorant people possess are like a bond tied with a fine string, --it breaks at the slightest blow. For example, a person known as a very composed gentleman can become very angry, uncontrollable, vulgar, and very aggressive in a situation in which he feels his interest is compromised. He doesn't know how to be patient even about a small thing. In our current society, people mostly have this kind of distorted morality. Because the majority display similar attitudes, negative traits such as selfishness, walking over people in order to protect one's own interest, deceit, dishonesty, hypocrisy, lack of concern, scornfulness, arrogance, rudeness, jealousy, etc., are seen as quite normal, but are actually the inventions of ignorant people. In fact, when anyone is defining himself he can list the most appalling qualities, such as: “I am a very ambitious, jealous, and selfish person,” as if these unpleasant qualities were an important and valuable part of his personality. As a result, the majority of people accept themselves and each other with these negative qualities.

In fact, the saying: “A person in his seventies is the same as he was when he was seven” is used among the common people. According to this misconception, it is acceptable for immoral qualities, habits, and behaviour to stay constant and never change throughout a person's life.

However as we mentioned earlier, God has created humankind as innately religious. Naturally, it is human nature to take pleasure in observing and upholding good morals. Other ways are difficult and bring nothing but misery. A very important Islamic scholar of our recent past, Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, draws our attention to the ease of living a religious life and the difficulty faithlessness brings to human life in his work titled, “The Rays:”

“… the way of belief and the affirmation of Divine unity is extremely short, direct, straight, and easy. And the ways of unbelief and denial are extremely lengthy, difficult, and dangerous. That is to say, unbelief and the association of partners with God are not tenable in this straight, wise universe, in which everything is driven down the easiest and shortest path, and belief and the affirmation of Divine unity are as necessary and essential in the universe as the sun. Also, the most comfortable, beneficial, and the shortest and safest way in human morality and conduct is the way of the straight path and moderation.” (Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, The Risale-i Nur Collection, The Rays Collection, 15th Ray)

In another work, Bediuzaman thus expresses this issue:

“Walking along the way of unbelief is like walking on ice or under earth and essentially repulsive, and therefore very difficult for him who inclines to this way knowingly to walk along it. However, one with a careless, imitative view cannot discern this difficulty. As for the way of belief, going along it is like travelling in water or air or light, and essentially attractive, and therefore very easy for him who is inclined to follow it.” (Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, Epitomes of Light, 2nd Chapter, p. 71)

A person may experience certain pleasures in a life void of belief. But these are short-lived and they definitely bring sorrows and suffering with them. Even if he lives in the midst of riches, abundance, beauty, and pleasure, if he doesn't have any faith he will experience the sorrow of knowing that he will one day lose them. All the things that he possesses will eventually be lost either as a consequence of the situations he faces in this world or when one day he faces the inevitable end: death. So it is not possible to experience real peace and pleasure where there is no belief in the Hereafter and no submission to God. Bediuzzaman thus expresses what kind of an end an individual without faith or good morals will face:

“As for life, if it is without belief or because of rebelliousness belief is ineffective, it will produce pains, sorrow and grief far exceeding the superficial, fleeting enjoyment it brings.” (Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, The Risale-i Nur Collection, The Words Collection, 13th Word)

Good morals are the standards of right and wrong that are best and easiest for each individual. For those who choose the path of faith, there is an uninterrupted path from this life to the Hereafter of pleasure, joy, and comfort. Even if they become aware of certain deficiencies, they still live with the eagerness of knowing that it is only temporary and that whatever is missing in this world is promised to them in the Hereafter. To attain infinite blessing, what they have to do is very easy; by obeying the Qur'an and listening to their conscience they will attain Heaven, a place of infinite beauties and continuous blessings, by the will of God.

Those who listen to their conscience always win

Think about the cars driving on the highway… In each one these are people from different cultures, working in different jobs, with different characters, with different education levels, all looking different, basically, people who are totally different from each other are driving along the highway.

Let's imagine that two of these cars have an accident on this road. Let's say that we can clearly see that someone in one of the cars is injured and he is unconscious. In this situation, one passer-by only looks at the inert body and drives on, whereas another driver immediately stops and helps the injured person, taking him to a nearby hospital and trying to help him as much as he can…

The important distinction between these two people is that one listened to his conscience whereas the other didn't. The difference of culture, education, work, race, and lineage between them did not have any significance. Every person, without an exception, possesses this voice of conscience, which tells him what is right. Whenever he is doing something wrong and in every error he falls into, his conscience always tells him what is right. For a person to recognize the voice of his conscience is extremely simple, because the voice of conscience, that tells a person the right thing to do in a situation, is always the first thing one hears. As long as a person follows this voice, he will live a life of comfort and peace. But, on the other hand, if he blocks his ears against this voice and tries to find excuses and justifications for himself, he will have to live with a guilty conscience and experience difficulties from which he cannot escape.

For this reason, the existence of our conscience is a great gift from God in that it brings us ease and blessings. One who appreciates this blessing and listens to his conscience will be able to differentiate right from wrong in every situation and will acquire such understanding as will enable him to please God and save him in this world and the Hereafter.

God tells us that we will be saved by listening to our conscience:

By the soul and Him that moulded it and inspired it with knowledge of sin and piety: blessed shall be the man who has kept it pure. (Qur'an, 91:7-9)

The phrase in this verse, “blessed shall be the man who has kept it pure” clearly puts forward the idea that whoever listens to his conscience finds peace.

The situation for those who do not listen to their conscience is explained in the verse succeeding the ones above:

And ruined he that has corrupted it! (Qur'an, 91:10)

The conscience of those who do not practise religion and the morals God approves of, continues to command what is good, right, and just; and this results in a battle within oneself. The agony of committing immoral besets the sinner day or night. And this brings destruction for a person in this world and the next.

The simplicity of submitting to God and having faith in Him

Everybody experiences incidents that seem to be unlucky, negative, or adverse, and seemingly powerful enough to affect a person's entire life. People who do not live by the morals of the Qur'an, experience distress, worry, unhappiness, tension, and fear when they face unpleasant events whether of minor or major importance. However, this is a cruelty they experience as the result of their choosing to live in unawareness of a very important reality. As God mentions in one of His verses: “God does not oppress people, people oppress themselves.” The outcome for people who do not have faith in God or who, even though they do have faith, live their lives ignoring the realities God informs us of, is always living with this worry, sadness, and anxiety and being a prey to the many fears and weaknesses, which begin in this world.

For those who know the reality, there is nothing that will cause them to be fearful, worried, or unhappy in this world, because those who have faith know that everything is created by God, that everything is inscribed in a Tablet close to God, and that they are followers of fate like everyone else. They never forget that the events God creates for them will always end in a positive way and that the fate of pious subjects of God is ordained in the most wise and most beneficial way.

The majority of people know about destiny, but they have a deficient understanding of it. For example, they think that certain things such as a person's hair colour, height and parentage are written in that person's fate, but in other respects they think that they can alter their fate if they try hard enough and show perseverance. However, the reality is this: a person's every moment, all his life, every incident he has faced and will face, every word uttered, every look, every voice is in his fate. For example, it is already written in a person's fate that he will be reading the lines of this book at this hour, of this day. God knew of this moment millions of years before you were even created. Maybe a person has experienced many events before reading this book. Maybe just as he was about to read this book the doorbell rang and his friend came over, thus delaying his reading for three hours. Even before you live these events, that is, just when you pick up this book to read it the doorbell rings, you open the door and your friend's smiling face says “Hello,” your reading this book is delayed for three hours,—all these are engraved in God's memory word for word, and your, this book's, and your friend's fate have all already been determined. God mentions this topic in one of His verses as:

You shall not engage in any matter or recite any verse of the Qur'an or do any action without Our witnessing you while you are occupied with it. Not even the smallest speck eludes your Lord, either on Earth or in heaven. Nor is there anything smaller than that, or larger, which is not recorded in a Clear Book. (Qur'an, 10:61)

God is free from time and place. It is humankind who is dependent on time and place. For this reason, the past, this moment, and the future are all one moment for God. For example, our next year's birthday is in the future for us. In reality, that moment has already been lived in God's presence; God knows of that moment. So He already knows what we will wear on our next birthday, who we will be with, and what we will do on that day. In the same manner, God knows every single detail of what we will do in two, three, ten, or forty years time. Just as God is aware of the days, and even minutes, and seconds of a single person's life, He is also aware of every second of the lives of the billions of people that have lived since the creation of the universe and that will live till the end of time. God has created infinite time in an infinitesimal period, that is to say, He has created all of time in a fraction of a second.

To be aware of God's infinite knowledge of these events and realize that people are observers of their fate are great blessings and comfort for the believer. A righteous believer who sincerely submits to God, takes the destiny that has been prepared for him as a lesson, and with excitement, thankfulness, and contemplation watches his fate unroll with the same comfort, trust, and happiness as if he were sitting on his couch and watching a movie.

One who regards God as his friend and guardian, and is happy with the events, sights, and speeches God has created is also happy with his destiny. God can create different events and sights in a person's fate to try him. These can be seen as frightening, hard, and full of worries at times. But every one of these events is planned down to its finest detail and hidden in God's presence. For example, the Prophet Joseph (as) was a prisoner for many years, even though he hadn't committed any crime. But, as he had joyfully submitted to the fate God ordained for him, prison didn't seem like a hardship or difficulty. In fact, he saw it as an event that opened the doors to many blessings and beauties. For instance, a believer who can compare such hardships with comfort and ease can realize the delight of blessings with greater-intensity. Obviously, the pleasure experienced by a person who sees a rose garden every day will be very different from the pleasure of one who for years has seen nothing but concrete walls. One who knows hardships and unpleasantness will derive more pleasure from comfort and beauty. Or one who has to endure the difficulties of life in prison because of being wrongfully accused can be happy with his fate by thinking that all this will return to him as God's approval and reward in the Hereafter. In the end, by knowing that he is living his fate, and no one, including himself, can change even a second of it, he lives with the solace of resigning himself to his fate.

A believer who submits to fate, certainly exerts himself to do whatever he can in every situation. For example, a sick person will obviously go to the doctor, take his medicine, and care for all aspects of his sickness. However, when he is doing so, he acts with the knowledge that the result of going to the doctor, the medicine he is taking, and his treatment are all written in the destiny God has created. Because of this, he never becomes unhappy, worried, distressed, or pessimistic. He lives in the comfort and trust of knowing that God wills what is best for him. It is an extremely important point for a person to believe that there is a reason behind every event. Believers even believe that in seemingly wicked events there is great benefit for them and they resign themselves to God. This quality only pertains to believers. Our Prophet (saas) has expressed this issue in one of his traditions:

“How remarkable a believer's affair is! For it is always to his advantage, and this is peculiar to none other than a believer. If something good happens to him, he gives thanks to God and this is to his advantage, and if something harmful happens to him, he endures it, and this is to his advantage also.” (Sahih Muslim)

God is the only Judge of the universe and possessor of infinite strength. For those who know this reality and can see it clearly, there is no other way than to submit to God and resign themselves to Him. Because every event, every person, every speech, every voice a person faces is under the control of God. As our Prophet (saas) said, everything from our God is a beauty and blessing for a believer. God informs us of the believers who put their trust in Him with the awareness of this reality:

I have put my trust in God, my Lord and your Lord. There is no creature on Earth whose destiny He does not control. My Lord is on a Straight Path. (Qur'an, 11:56)

Those who do not trust God, assume that everything is within their own power and control, and live in continuous fear, sadness, worry, and pessimism. This is like a person who becomes excited and panicky thinking that he can change the ending of the movie he is watching. Just as this fear is inappropriate and unnecessary, so are the feelings of a person watching his fate inappropriate and unnecessary. For example, those who accuse someone wrongly are beings under the control of God. And God creates such situations to test people. As long as a believer endures being wronged and goes on hoping for God's approval, Heaven, and mercy, there can be no reason for him to become sad and grief-stricken. For God certainly sends His help to believers and makes things easier for them. This is God's definite promise. For those who have been wronged, God declares the following in one of His verses:

That is so. And if anyone inflicts an injury the same as the one done to him and then is again wronged, God will come to his aid. God is All-Pardoning, Ever-Forgiving. (Qu'an, 22:60)

In this case, the only path for believers who know God's power, help, and friendship is to submit to Him and this is the best and easiest of paths. Otherwise, a person will burden himself with more than he can handle. Bediuzzaman explains in “The Words” of the hardship one will inflict upon himself when he doesn't trust God:

Man is helpless and exposed to numerous misfortunes. He is indigent, and his needs are numerous. He is weak, and the burden of life is most heavy. If he does not rely on the Omnipotent One of Glory, place his trust in Him and confidently submit to Him, his conscience will always be troubled. Fruitless torments, pains and regrets will suffocate him and intoxicate him, or turn him into a beast. (Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, The Risale-i Nur Collection, The Words Collection, 6th Word)

We should note that, this advice is not given so that people may console themselves or others, nor is it given for people to inspire themselves with after reflecting upon hardship. It is the reality of God's creation and worldly life. Truly, a person who believes the opposite or acts on the contrary would be deceiving himself. As a result, whereas ignorant people live with the tensions and difficulties of not trusting God, even in their most prosperous and comfortable days, one who believes in realities lives with the ease, happiness, and comfort religion brings to people, no matter what kind of condition one might be in.

God informs about believers in the Qur'an as:

Yes, the friends of God will feel no fear and will know no sorrow: for those who believe and guard against evil, there is good news in the life of this world and in the Hereafter. There is no changing the Word of God. That is the great victory! (Qur'an, 10:62-64)

The rewards of just seeking for God's approval

If you pay attention, you will notice that most people try to win the approval, likeness, and love of each other throughout their lives—of friends, bosses, co-workers, neighbours, followers, children… In the life of a person with this kind of mentality, there is always someone he aims to please, in his way of life, from his style of dressing and his manner of speech to the music he listens to, basically, in everything. This, from many different perspectives, is a very difficult, boring, tiring, and wearisome life. Above all else, one who seeks other people's approval will always have to suppress his conscience. For example, he will hesitate to point out the wrongful actions of a group of friends he has recently made, in order not to be an outcast and to be accepted by others. All his life he will make concessions in what his conscience tells him out of fear of being alone and losing the people around him. This behaviour will make him very uncomfortable in the beginning, but with time his conscience will become completely rusty and he will become unable to differentiate between right and wrong, good and bad, and beauty and ugliness.

Another difficulty likely to arise for one who tries to please many people is the possibility of angering one person while pleasing another. While a person is trying to please his friends he can anger his family and lose them, and vice versa. Or, when he is trying to make a good impression in his boss' eyes, he may win the contempt of his co-workers. As a consequence to all these, obviously it is predictable that there will be discomfort, tension, and discontent in this person's life.

A sincere Muslim on the other hand seeks only God's approval. It is not what other people will say about him that is important, but rather what God commands. Seeking God's consent and acting accordingly are always the most righteous way. In one of His verses God tells us of the difference between the situation of a person who seeks God's consent and the situation of a person who is “owned” by several disagreeing partners:

God has made a metaphor for them of a man belonging to several partners in dispute with one another and another man belonging wholly to a single man. Are they the same? Praise be to God! The fact is that most of them have no knowledge. (Qur'an, 39:29)

As the verse clarifies, the only suitable course for a person's life to take is along a path leading to God's approval. Bediuzzaman also declares that striving to achieve God's approval will always bring a very easy life:

You should seek Divine pleasure in your actions. If Almighty God is pleased, it is of no importance even should the whole world be displeased. If He accepts an action and everyone else rejects it, it has no effect. Once His pleasure has been gained and He has accepted an action, even if you do not ask it of Him, should He wish it and His wisdom requires it, He will make others accept it. He will make them consent to it too. (Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, The Risale-i Nur Collection, The Flashes Collection, The 21st Flash)

This reflection of Bediuzzaman, is extremely important; it is the key to real sincerity and earnestness. A person can be a truly sincere and devout Muslim only by seeking God's approval. If one leans towards gaining other people's approval in the things he does, then there is definitely hypocrisy involved in this issue. And hypocrisy leads to ruin both in this world and the Hereafter. First of all, those who seek other people's approval will never be able to receive the reaction they expect. They will keep trying to please the other person as if fawning on him, but he will not be able to appreciate their hard work. And even if he does recognize their labour, he is probably a helpless and a pitiful person himself. The only Judge and Owner of everything, God, gives the good news of infinite Heaven for those who seek His approval, and Heaven is a place where everything a person can desire is present. God has declared that only those who obey His wishes will be saved:

God guides those who follow what pleases Him to the ways of Peace. He will bring them from the darkness to the light by His will, and guide them to a straight path. (Qur'an, 5:16)

Obeying only God's commands will bring everyone the easiest, the best, and most joy-filled life both in this world and the Hereafter.

Altruism is easy and selfishness is difficult

People in ignorant societies usually think of their own desires and interests first. They always act with the thought that “my well-being, pleasure, and comfort come first.” Altruism seems very difficult for such people. Egoistic behaviour is interpreted as being bright and altruistic behaviour is interpreted as being naïve, whereas, for those who believe in God and do altruistic deeds in order to win God's approval, altruism is a great prize and an extremely easy act of worship.

God tells us of the altruistic thoughts of believers:

They give food, despite their love for it, to the poor and orphans and captives: “We feed you for God's sake only. We want neither repayment from you nor thanks. Truly, We fear from our Lord a day of anguish and wae.” So God will safeguard them from the evil of that Day and make their face shine with radiance and pure joy. (Qur'an, 76:8-11)

A believer knows that, in return for the altruistic deeds he has done, he will win God's approval and the blessings of the Hereafter where he will experience “radiance and pure joy,” as the verse states, and the things he has sacrificed will have no importance. In this life, which is temporary, short, and full of deficiencies, even a person's most loved possession will have no value or beauty in comparison to God's satisfaction and the Heaven which He will give as a reward. Believers, who have faith in this, neither expect appreciation nor leave other people feeling obliged for their kindness, no matter how great it may be.

God furthermore promises abundance and blessings in this world too, and grants the altruist more than he has sacrificed. God expresses this promise in the following verse:

Is there anyone who will make God a generous loan so that He can multiply it for him many times over? It is God Who enriches and makes poor. And you will all be returned to Him. (Qur'an, 2:245)

Those who spend their wealth for the cause of God are like a grain which produces seven ears; in every ear there are a hundred grains. God gives such abundance to whoever He wills. God is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing. Those who spend their wealth for the cause of God, and then do not follow their alms-giving by demands for gratitude or insulting words will be rewarded by their Lord. They will feel no fear and will know no sorrow. (Qur'an, 2:261-262)

For those who do not believe in God or the Hereafter, sacrificing anything is a great loss, and seen as highly detrimental to their interests. Because they don't have faith, they see the wonderful benefits that will be a great gain for them as a bad loss. They live with the tension and distress of selfishness, trying to hold their possessions and money tightly in their hands. Even when they are sitting at home they are in continuous discomfort. Their furniture aging, their food being exhausted, their friends visiting are always a form of suffering and trouble for people of this kind. They torture themselves with their decadence and miss out on the comfort and abundance decency brings.

Forgiveness is what is best and most advantageous for a person

“It is He Who accepts repentance from His servants and pardons evil acts and knows what they do.” (Qur'an, 42:25). As is expressed in this verse, God is forgiving. And believers, obeying the morals God approves of, know to forgive when they face malevolence and how to banish wickedness with kindness. Without a doubt, to overlook wickedness by being patient and not be vindictive by forgiving the wrongdoer are qualities specific to a pious person. And the recompense for this behaviour is God's approval and love. God informs us in one of His verses:

Those who give alms in times of both ease and hardship, those who control their rage and pardon their fellow man—God loves the charitable. (Qur'an, 3:134)

By responding to wrong-doing with goodness, the person forgiving would also be creating a place full of peace and comfort for himself and others. Of course, such an environment is vastly superior in terms of ease, comfort, and peace to one ruled by continuous revenge, grudge, hatred, and animosity. Of course, the individual may have to control himself and exercise great patience for some time to rid himself of the anger and feelings of resentment which at first well up him, but in return he will achieve an environment and soul full of friendship, love, respect, and peace. This is what God tells believers in His verses:

A good action and a bad action are not the same. Requisite evil with good and, if there is enmity between you and someone else, he will become like a bosom friend. But none will obtain this save those who are truly steadfast. None will attain this save those who have great good fortune. (Qur'an, 41:34-35)

As a reward for good morals, God gives people a good and an easy life. Around a person who doesn't forgive, there are always enemies who hate and despise him, whereas one who forgives is blessed with a life full of comfort and peace in this world and warm friends.

Modesty brings about an easy and comfortable life

Haughtiness and a feeling of superiority bring about the greatest suffering and difficulty. Modesty, on the other hand, brings a person comfort and peace. First of all, a haughty person thinks that he owns all his qualities. For example, instead of thinking that his brain has been given as a blessing by God and thanking God, he boasts about his intelligence. By magnifying this quality, he sees those around him as inferiors and belittles them. As a result of this behaviour, people around him do not like him and see him as being repulsive. Some people may show him respect because he can trample over them. But the respect shown to an arrogant person is not real, sincere, and heartfelt, but is rather behaviour displayed to escape the damage of his arrogance and conceitedness. Therefore, a haughty person cannot have friends who are attached to him with real, sincere, and candid love. There will always be people around him who will show fake respect and regard.

Another major agony a haughty person causes himself, is to always try to appear to be without any imperfections or inadequacies. As in the example we mentioned above, one who is conceited about his intelligence asserts that he is always the most intelligent person. He can never admit to making any mistakes. When he makes a mistake, he tries to do whatever he can so that others don't notice it; he even lies about it and in so doing debases himself. However, human beings are extremely vulnerable, full of deficiencies, and are being tested at every moment in this worldly life. As a result, it is only natural that they have many deficiencies and make many mistakes. To try to hide these from other people is really meaningless and unnecessary. Realizing that God sees and knows everything, that humans are weak and full of shortcomings, and that it is not what you look like in the eyes of others that is important but what your position is in God's eyes will make one's life easy and peaceful; one's shoulders will no longer be bowed in misery.

Another notion that a person has which causes the greatest distress is considering oneself more valuable than others because of certain qualities. This is also a characteristic of Satan. When God created the Prophet Adam (as), He commanded Satan and all the angels to bow down to him. The angels, being created by God with good morals, immediately bowed down. Whereas Satan insisted on not bowing down and gave the following excuse:

He said, “I am better than him. You created me from fire but You created him from clay.” (Qur'an, 38:76)

As is clear from this verse, because of seeing himself as more superior to other creatures, Satan became ferocious enough to disobey God.

The Qur'an also mentions those who diverged from true religion because they saw themselves as being superior to others. For example, by saying “We are God's children and His loved ones...” (Qur'an, 5:18) the Jews and Christians deviated. However all human beings, including them, are God's vulnerable creations. Every person is reliant on God and follows the destiny God has ordained for him. No one can develop certain qualities by himself and achieve superiority through them. People's superiority can be measured only by their effort to come close to God and by their piousness.

The answer God gives to those who presume they are exceptional and superior is:

“Say: ‘Why, then, does He punish you for your wrong actions? Surely you are mortals of His own creation. He forgives whoever He wills and He punishes whoever He wills. The kingdom of the heavens and the Earth and everything between them belongs to God. He is our final destination.'” (Qur'an, 5:18)

Claiming to be without any imperfections and not making any mistakes is a great burden for people. They try to be exceptional among their peers and because of this they constantly monitor their behaviour and are pretentious in manner. For example, when they attend a meeting, they want to be the one who gives the most influential speech, the best dressed, the one who comes up with the cleverest solutions, and the one who attracts the most attention. When they are in any type of gathering, they try to put on airs of extraordinariness, distinction, and superiority down to the very seat they choose to sit on; they can never accept going unnoticed in the midst of others. And because of this they are as if sitting on a stack of needles, all the time. None of their mannerisms can be natural or sincere. Everything they do is calculated and planned to be commensurate with their assertions. The suffering this will bring to a person and the burden it will be on a person's shoulders are plain for all to see.

Moreover, it should be accepted that such people can never reach their goals. As they become haughtier, they win the hatred and anger of the people around them and when the things they have are taken away from them, they become depressed and angry at life. In one of His verses, God informs us that haughty people can never reach their goals:

Certainly those who argue about the Signs of God without an y authority having been vouchsafed them have nothing in their breasts except for ambition which they will never be able to fulfill. Therefore seek refuge with God. He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing. (Qur'an, 40:56)

More importantly, haughty people, since they cannot attain any of their ambitions, lose God's love. God expresses this in one of His verses:

Do not avert your face from people out of haughtiness and do not strut about arrogantly on the Earth. God does not love anyone who is vain or boastful. (Qur'an, 31:18)

Modest people on the other hand, never experience the agonies and pressures of haughty people. Of course, everyone would like to own the best of everything and be best at everything. But those who aim at these objectives in order to satisfy their worldly desires, to grow in the eyes of people, and acquire respect are at the worst disadvantage. A humble person wants these things in order to win God's approval and reward. When he accomplishes something or acquires some quality, he knows that none of these are by his doing but are rather the result of the blessings God has been so kind as to grant him. He thanks God for giving these to him, and causing success, beauty, and blessing to enhance his destiny. As a result, he is not saddened when he loses one of them. He knows that this is a test for him and he trusts God. He lays claim to neither success, nor failure, neither beauty, nor ugliness. Knowing that all these are created to test him in this world, he lives in the comfort and peace of this knowledge.

Bediuzzaman briefly defines the discrepancy between the lives of haughty and modest people as:

“One who thinks too highly of himself is visited with calamities and meets with difficulties. Whereas one who is not fond of himself, finds happiness, and receives mercy.” (Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, The Risale-i Nur Collection, The Letters Collection, 23rd Letter)

The ease and peace which stem from honesty and sincerity

Whenever ignorant people are in trouble, they immediately resort to falsehood. They see this as an easy means to save themselves. Whereas, not being honest and deceitfulness are traits that gives the most torture and suffering to a person. Above all else, one who lies, lives in apprehension of his lie being discovered and is fearful of being humiliated. In addition, lying brings about a burdened conscience, which causes a tense and turbulent situation. And an atmosphere in which everyone lies to one another is extremely insincere and hypocritical. Everyone is skeptical of what the others say. They cannot even trust each other on minor issues. For example, when they ask how the new outfit they bought looks on them, they know that they will get a dishonest answer. A friendship based on lies and hypocrisy will evidently not be a sincere and heart-felt bond.

On the other hand, to a person who fears God, honesty is very important. In one of His verses, God commands believers to be honest:

You who believe! Have fear of God and speak the truth. (Qur'an, 33:70)

Honesty and sincerity bring believers a good, trustful, and comfortable life. For example, a believer who makes a mistake never hides it from others, because he knows that God is watching him and listening to him every second and by facing God he repents. If other believers have to know of his mistake, he will tell them about it in the most accurate and honest way. He knows that other believers will not exploit his sincerity. On the contrary, whatever the wrongdoing he has committed, believers will be pleased with him and trust him for his sincerity and modest manner. This is because a sincere person, who doesn't have anything to hide, and who doesn't put on a mysterious air, is very trustworthy and people around him are always comfortable. A community where such people are assembled is a great blessing and an advantage. People may escape the possibility of being humiliated and experiencing hardships by being honest, for God creates a very joyous, trustful, and comfortable atmosphere for honest and sincere people. The recompense they will receive in the Hereafter is much better and full of good tidings:

God will say, “This is the Day when the sincerity of the sincere will benefit them. They will have Gardens with rivers flowing under them, remaining in them timelessly, for ever and ever. God is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him. That is the Great Victory.” (Qur'an, 5:119)

Upholding good morals brings comfort and ease to everyone

In this section, it was explained by giving a few examples that real ease and happiness are brought about by practicing the morals of the Qur'an. It is possible to extend the examples given here. And for one, who is rid of one of his bad qualities and develops a good quality in stead, there is one more thing to be happy about. For example, a jealous person who formerly allowed himself to become emotionally drained by jealousy will begin to derive pleasure from all kinds of beauty, from good people, and from other people's successes. For example, the beauty of his friend, which he used to look upon with jealousy and contempt, instantly causes him to praise God's creation and he sees it as a blessing from God. Or, one who used to make himself suffer by being impatient about even the slightest contretemps, now learns the beauty and the value of patience in God's eyes, and lives in the happiness and peace of being patient and resigning himself to and trusting in God, even in extremely difficult situations. When he shows patience in the face of any hardship, he becomes much happier thinking of his reward. Indeed, to believe in God, the destiny He has created, and in Heaven and Hell is a great secret that brings a person the greatest of all happiness, peace, and comfort. Those who try to attain these states by following other paths are greatly mistaken; they can never reach these blessings without having faith.



SATAN'S WEAK TRICK

God tests every human being in this world. And according to the morals and faith people show in this world, He determines where their real life will be lived, either Hell or Heaven. This test which God has created for His subjects, is extremely easy and comfortable. As mentioned earlier, the duty of the individual is to live the life that God wishes, one which brings happiness and peace in this world too. In this test, God has created Satan as a negative force against faith. As God mentions in His verses, by insinuating unfounded suspicions into people's thoughts, by suggesting faithlessness, or through other peoples actions and speechs, Satan tries to divert people from religion, from God's commands, and good morals. To achieve this he tries every possible method and sets up many different traps for people. The fact that Satan is the enemy of human beings is mentioned in one of the verses:

You who believe! Enter Islam totally. Do not follow in the footsteps of Satan. He is an outright enemy to you. (Qur'an, 2:208)

But, the traps laid by Satan are quite ineffective and anyone who looks at them with faithful eyes can see them and break them. God tells us in the Qur'an that Satan's tricks are quite inadequate and that they have no telling effect.

As is stated in the verse: “When Our judgment has been passed, Satan will say, ‘God made you a promise, a promise of truth, and I made you a promise but broke my promise. I had no authority over you, except that I called you and you responded to me. Do not, therefore, blame me but blame yourselves. I cannot come to your aid nor you to mine. I reject the way you associated me with God before.' The wrongdoers will have a painful punishment.” (Qur'an, 14: 22), Satan has no coercive power, so the believer is the one with the strength. And this is a great comfort.

Another verse mentions that Satan has no independent will:

Satan was correct in his assessment of them and they all followed him, except for a group of true believers. He had no authority over them except to enable Us to know those who believe in the Hereafter from those who are in doubt about it. Your Lord takes cognizance of all things. (Qur'an, 34:20-21)

Satan not having any influence on people is an advantage granted by God. Satan only whispers wickedness, denial, and immorality and calls upon people to deny God. However, uses no force on people to do these things; his traps are weak and can be seen through. One need not strive very hard to be liberated from Satan's influence. Anyone who can think a little can see the reality and not go along with Satan. For example, Satan can show the worldly life as very attractive and beautiful. He can make a young person feel as if the world will never end and try to tie him to this worldly life with passion. However, for a person who is intelligent and reasonable, the efforts of Satan are quite weak and ineffective. One, who thinks and knows that one day everyone will eventually die, that everything that seems attractive in this world is ephemeral and, when compared to the things in Heaven definitely insufficient and unsatisfactory, will have broken Satan's trap. Or, again, Satan whispers arrogance and vanity. In this case, one who thinks of his own vulnerability and shortcomings, or who remembers that when he dies one day his body will decay under the earth, will easily thwart Satan's propositions.

Obviously, this ease is for those pious people who sincerely have no desire to live under Satan's influence, and who aim at earning God's approval, mercy, and Heaven. Otherwise, that is, when one doesn't fear God and submit to Him, and does not care for God's approval, it will be very easy for him to walk right into Satan's ambush. God, informs us on the contrary that Satan will have no effect on pious people:

He said, "I swear by Your might, that I will mislead all of them except for Your chosen servants among them." (Qur'an, 38:82-83)

In spite of this, the fate of those people who respond to Satan's calls and befriend him is thus explained:

“He led me astray from the Reminder after it came to me.” Satan always leaves man in the lurch. (Qur'an, 25:29)


CONCLUSION

Like all the other human beings living on this Earth, you too are drawing closer to the end of your life with every hour, every minute, and every second. This is an inescapable reality. One day your life will somehow come to an end, and you shall have to give an account to God of all the things you did in this world.

You may have stayed far from religion till now because you saw it as a hardship, did not practice the morals of the Qur'an and may have committed many sins. But, what is important after this moment is to sincerely repent to God, do what is best for your next life, and lean towards what is easy. With God's permission, it is a reality that you will achieve a different and a better life than you are used to.

The notion of a “good life” seems strange to people. The majority see a life without any worries, sadness, fears, and anxieties as a dream that they can never attain. Truly, this kind of life is an impossible dream for people who live their lives distant from religion.

Only those who aim to achieve God's approval, Heaven, and mercy and those who fear Him and submit to Him can experience a life full of comfort and happiness. God promises this good news to believers:

Be they men or women, those who embrace the Faith and do what is right We will surely grant a happy life; We shall reward them according to their noblest deeds. (Qur'an, 16:97)

As has been explained in detail throughout the book, the religion God has given to people is very easy and without arduousness. Moreover, it relieves a person of all the difficulties, troubles, and suffering in his life. One who lives by religion, achieves success and the best in everything he does under God's protection and, as is mentioned in the verse, lives the best life.

Therefore, you should choose the best and at the same time the easiest life. You can achieve such a life easily by living by the morals of the Qur'an, because, the Qur'an is the word of God, Who has created you as He has everything else in this world. By setting aside the acquired teachings of the culture you live in, the people in your society, newspapers, and television, you should lean towards the right religion--which is God's word--and think of the ease of living by the teachings of the Qur'an.

Do not forget, if you ignore the fact that religion can be comfortably lived, and abandon what is easy, you may face infinite and unexpected pain in the other world.