Satisfaction

The Dissatisfaction of Sin



by Arif Billah, Hazrat Mawlana Shah Hakim Muhammad Akhtar Saheb (damat barakatuhum)



Hazrat (damat barakatuhum) says, “The question often arises: does one attain true satisfaction and contentment by fulfilling the demands of one’s base desires?



Hazrat Hakimul Ummah Thanwi (rahimahullah) says in answer to this, ‘If a person casts lustful glances at all the beautiful women of the world except for one. And then someone was to tell him whether he wants to see that one also, then he would definitely say yes.’



From this is it is understood that the example of trying to acquire fulfillment through committing sins is like hoping to extinguish a fire by adding more fuel to it.



And the example of hoping to gain satisfaction through committing sins is like the hope of trying to gain purity by washing away feces with urine.



Likewise, by closely observing the lives of people who worship their lust and are addicted to casting evil glances, one will discover a life of worries, depression, dissatisfaction and sleepless nights.



On the other hand, those people who are occupied with the remembrance of Allah Ta`ala and accompany the Ahlullah, their lives are filled with peace of mind, contentment of heart and comfort.



Through the blessings of Allah’s remembrance, a person actually enters the “lap” of Allah’s mercy. Allah Ta`ala takes the people of His remembrance into the loving embrace of His mercy.



Hazrat Hakimul-Ummah Thanwi (rahimahullah) says, ‘By continuously being involved in a tug of war with the lower self by fighting the temptations of the nafs, one actually attains more of a closeness to Allah Ta`ala, even though apparently the heart may become restless and disturbed by this.



On the other hand, by committing sin and falling into the trap of temptation, the temporary enjoyment and short-term satisfaction wherein the nafs finds gratification is actually the moment wherein the wrath of Allah Ta`ala descends.



[In other words, when a person fulfills his impermissible, base desires for the sake of coming out of the restlessness and inner agitation to gain “peace of mind”, this state is actually a cursed state, even though one may feel satisfied. This is because of the fact that this “satisfaction” has been acquired by Allah’s disobedience.]



And the continuous feeling of restlessness and non-fulfillment of desires was through taqwa and fear of Allah. [Therefore this will become a means of closeness to Allah and elevation of one’s ranks.]



A short while after committing the sin, that temporary satisfaction one was feeling will also be snatched away. After this stage, such an intense desire for sin will overtake the person that was never experienced previously.



This is because the nafs has now become strengthened by having received its vile sustenance of sin and the spirituality has become weakened. Now the onslaught of nafsani desires and temptations will be doubled.”



May Allah Ta`ala bestow us the ability to please Him and to abstain from those things which invite His displeasure. Ameen



(Kashkol-e-Ma`rifat; 367-68)