You are free

Shariah has given Insaan an extraordinary freedom. One can do whatever one wants. There is only one thing that one is not allowed to do. One must abstain from sins or things that prevent one from doing necessary things. Apart from these, one is free as long as one does not displease one's Rabb. Allah Ta'ala is our true beloved. To abstain from sin means not to displease our beloved. There is a special pleasure in doing things that pleases a beloved. Thus, we should feel an extraordinary joy by remaining in the obedience of Allah Ta'ala because He is our Mehbub-e-Haqiqi (true beloved).

To follow Deen means to remain in the obedience of Allah Ta'ala. Thus, we should not consider Deen as a burden or an obstacle because it is the only means to get closer to our true beloved. Never was closeness to the beloved a burden. It is an exceptional contentment and joy. A beloved in this world is like a shadow that changes orientation, direction and dimension constantly until it disappears. A beloved in Dunya is perishable and condemned to be reduced to dust. Today one loves him but tomorrow one may not recognise him or one will have to pretend that one does not recognise him because one does not see the same charm that he had the day before. Today, we have to regret and shed tears over this precious life that has been wasted on such mortals. On the other hand, the one who has loved Allah Ta'ala will always be satisfied and happy with no regret because the savour and charm that exists in having love for Allah Ta'ala is such that one will never be satiated with it. It is such a savour that continues to increase. One always feels an exceptional feeling because Allah Ta'ala is Eternal and beyond anything that may be termed as shortcoming. Those who sacrificed their lives for the sake of Allah Ta'ala must have perceived something that made them sacrifice their lives without hesitation.

[English version of "Ou libre …" – Al Jamiat – Vol.6 No.12]