Good Life

Shaykh Abdul-Baaree Ath-Thubaytee
Dhul-Qa'dah 7, 1423 ( January 10, 2003)

All praise is due to Allaah, Lord of all the worlds. May peace and blessings of Allaah be upon the Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayihi wa sallam), his household and companions.

Fellow Muslims! Fear Allaah for that is the only way to salvation in this world and the hereafter. Allaah says,

"Whoever works righteousness - whether male or female - while he (or she) is a true believer, verily, to him We will give a good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful provision), and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do (i.e. Paradise in the Hereafter)."
(An-Nahl 16:97)

The scholars give 'good life' in this verse many interpretations like lawful and good provision in this world, contentedness, or pleasure among others.

But Ibn Al-Qayyim gave a deeper meaning to it when he said, "It is the lively heart.  A heart that is full of bliss and happiness through Eemaan, knowledge about Allaah, returning to Him in repentance, and having trust in Him. For there is no life better than that and there is no bliss greater than that except the bliss of Paradise . It is as said by one of those who were knowledgeable about Allaah, 'I used to experience some periods in which I said to myself: If the dwellers of Paradise are in situations like these, there are indeed, in a good life.' And if the life of the heart is a good life, it will be followed by the life of all other parts of the body for the heart is their king."

Fellow Muslim! We are in a period in which there are many causes of distress and sorrow, crises and afflictions; and in which there prevail mutual hatred, rancour and dissention.

Modern life do excellently created luxuries and enjoyment for men, but ironically, it could not guarantee for them a good life, psychological bliss and peace of mind. The modern science has actually reached a degree of progress but it could only provide physical enjoyment and material luxuries which fail to provide the heart its desired good life.

Fellow Muslims! Some people wrongly believe that good life only means high social standing and beautiful cars. Some think that it means having enormous wealth at one's disposal to satiate the lusts. While others think that it means erecting gigantic palaces and huge mansions.

Though, all the above are available in this cotemporary world of ours, yet despair, distress, pains, anarchy and misery that threaten mankind and seek to destroy the very essence of our life are so conspicuous everywhere that they have become the characteristics of the modern world.

Dear brethren! Good, secure, peaceful and stable life is the goal of every human being. But how can we have it in our souls and feel it in our societies? How can we guarantee it for our coming generations? Allaah says,

"Whoever works righteousness - whether male or female - while he (or she) is a true believer verily, to him We will give a good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful provision)"

In this noble verse, Allaah makes Eemaan a condition for usefulness of good deed, which produce good life that makes man really happy.