Its Hard, Its Easy- It’s a state of mind by Fahad

I was born Muslim, to Muslim parents. Growing up was easy, easier was falling for the worldly life. Longing for good clothes, nice car, and wasting money was part of life, alcohol and women were things of entertainment.

Without realizing where I was heading, I continued for years until it became a habit, things started going out of control, was cursing myself for the failure which came my way until I realized that I, myself was the reason for my self destruction.

It’s really hard to let go of the things which make you happy, it’s hard to let go of the people who make you laugh, it’s hard to let go of things which you have grown up with.

Whenever I thought of changing my direction in life something or someone would come along who wouldn’t let me leave the path of my self destruction. I started losing my own identity. I was losing control. People and things around me controlled my life; I used to live for them, used to do things they asked me to do. Being a Muslim just became a name tag.

I had to figure out the problem which I was facing, my outlook was of being wild and happy, but deep inside I was just a robot programmed to live a life which led me to nothing. If I look back it seems I never had brains, it was a total blank up there.

Muslims who grow up in an environment of worldly good tend lose their identity, like I did. Purpose of our creation on this earth was that we should to do well and live for the life of hereafter but instead temptations of the worldly good, led us to self destruction.

Shaytan (the devil) plays an important part in the whole purpose of our creation, weakness of my faith led to failure. I started blaming Shaytan (the Devil) for all what I did, and then one fine day I realized the real failure lies in my weakness for worldly good.

In the beginning Its was really hard for me to leave things which I enjoyed the most, I couldn’t imagine my life without people around me who I knew for ages and entertainment I was into. It was like I was addicted to something that if I leave I would die or become a mad man. I made my world in a bubble, whatever I saw was my world in there. Looking beyond that bubble was a nightmare of darkness.

But the life expectancy of the bubble is short lived, from somewhere wind of mercy blew on that bubble and my life sentence of thirty years was over. The new lease of life in the outside world seemed strange to me, I didn’t know people, and no one knew me. It was the hardest thing I was going through, who in the world at the peak of his youth would leave pleasures of life. The women, the parties, the clothes, coffee shops, music, movies seemed to be the hardest addiction to quit, Quitting life altogether seemed easier. The feeling I had, reminded of a breakups I had after every breakup life came to an end, loss of appetite, loneliness, guilt and realization of a loss of a loved one.

As the time went on I felt at ease, I was seeing a world I have never seen before, met the people I never met before. Just like after a break up you meet a different person and that person occupies your mind and makes you forget your past, Islam had that effect on me, it helped me forget and realize that the world is way beyond the temptations and entertainment of life.

I rediscovered Islam again; it was a treasure map that was lost in my mind somewhere during my time of self destruction. The path at first seemed rocky and harsh, but when I started to follow it, it gave me sense of self satisfaction. Fear of worldly things started to disappear, for a change there were no hangovers, drunk driving, waste of money, and fear of sexual disease, disrespect and disloyalty of people of the past.

On this path of Islam people seem to be more honest, helpful, clean from worldly desires and down to earth, I suddenly feel like home. The hardest thing seems to be the easiest; I realized it was just state of mind that I was into.

Living on this earth will always make me prone to the evils of life, the past keeps coming back. Realization of my weakness for the evil of the world has made me a better person then I was in the time of ignorance at least now I know what to guard against. My mind isn’t blank anymore; no person or anything can control me. I am trying to control my life from now on, strive (Jihad) against my temptations, Strive (Jihad) to be a better person and Strive (Jihad) in the way of Allah.

The Right path seems hard just because we think it’s hard, if you follow it than Allah will make things easier for you. The path of evil will be lonely; if need company then we should take the right path because Allah will be with us.

Allah Says:
“…Thus did Adam disobey his Lord, so he went astray.” (Qur’an: Translation of the meaning, 20:121)
“But whosoever turns away from My Reminder (i.e. neither belies in this Qur’an nor acts on its teaching) verily, for him is a life of hardship….” (Qur’an: Translation of the meaning, 20:124)
The definite result for disobeying Allah and following the way of the Satan and is sadness, misguidance, trouble, and wretchedness.