"The intelligent person amongst you will therefore not seek happiness in this world, nor in children, family, wealth, foodstuffs, articles of clothing, vehicles or sexual opportunities. All of this is mere delusion. The believer (mu'min) finds happiness in the strength of his faith (iman) and certitude (yaqin) and in the arrival of his heart at the door of the nearness of his Lord (Almighty and Glorious is He). Surely the true kings of this world and the hereafter must be those who really know ('arifun) Allah and who work for His sake."
- Shaykh Abdul Qadir al-Jilani in Al-Fath ar-Rabbani
translated into English by Muhtar Holland
Muhtar Holland was born in England in 1935. He embraced Islam in 1969. At the age of four, someone asked his name, to which he replied: "I'm a stranger to myself."
You might have noticed that I have been quoting plenty of his translated work especially during last year's Ramadhan. I pray he would not consider it to be beyond fair dealing. I believe for the sake of Ghawth al-Azam, he wouldn't mind. Bi-iznillah.
Anyhow, we know now from the venerated Shaykh Abdul Qadir al-Jilani, how to be intelligent and where to seek happiness. And that there is a chance for a nobody like us to be the true king of this world. In fact, that's what it takes to be a king, to be nobody even to ourself. Because one who knows Allah ('arifun) will realize that he is a nobody. Hence, he works solely for His Creator.
"I am a stranger to myself"
Heh heh...I liked that!
Jumaah Mubarrak to all.
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