“’I do not say my self was free from blame. The self indeed commands to evil acts – except for those my Lord has mercy on. My Lord, He is Forgiving, Merciful.’”
(Surah Yusuf, 53)
As stated in the Qur’an, when the self (nafs) is left to itself, it generally directs a person toward various paths that cause spiritual harm and unhappiness, leading them into negative and unstable states such as greed, selfishness, jealousy, and romantic emotionalism. In addition to these, another trait that affects a person’s Hereafter is adopting a constantly dissatisfied, complaining, almost ungrateful attitude despite the countless blessings for which one should give thanks. People in whom this perspective takes root often ignore the opportunities they possess. They become overly accustomed to blessings that many others strive hard to obtain, yet which they themselves have in abundance. Forgetting that life is a test, they adopt a reckless, insatiable, and dissatisfied attitude, as though this world were their permanent home. Our Lord describes this situation in the Qur’an as follows:
“Say: ‘Do not consider your Islam a favor to me. No indeed! It is God Who has favored you by guiding you to faith, if you are telling the truth.’” (Surat al-Hujurat, 17)
For example, someone who does not suffer financial hardship, lives in a good neighborhood, has graduated from quality schools, and is healthy and young is expected to be grateful for having better opportunities than many segments of society. Yet if such a person remains constantly dissatisfied and discontented, this often stems from yielding to the ingratitude of the self. When asked about the cause of their unhappiness, they usually list extremely trivial reasons or compare themselves with those they perceive to be in better circumstances, assuming they will be happy once they attain those conditions—while overlooking the blessings they already possess.
However, contrary to what the self whispers, there are countless reasons for people to be content with their lives and to live happily—first and foremost, being healthy. Even if a person possessed all the blessings and wealth of the world, a serious illness could instantly render all of it meaningless. Considering the extraordinary structure of the human body—the heart beating tirelessly throughout life, the flawless functioning of the digestive system, the continual renewal of cells, and the uninterrupted operation of the immune system—it becomes clear that all of this is only possible through God’s compassion.
Yet people who live in dissatisfaction often fail to recognize that merely being healthy is, in itself, a tremendous blessing—sufficient on its own to bring happiness—and that all of this requires gratitude to God. They overlook living in a clean, peaceful, and secure home; having sincere friends who truly care about them; being tested not with trials beyond their capacity but with challenges they can bear as a manifestation of God’s mercy; and being surrounded by limitless, unearned blessings despite having no inherent superiority. They grow insensitive to all these favors.
Such individuals, trapped within the insignificant flaws of their narrow personal worlds, lack even the broader perspective to consider helping those who suffer in places where trials such as hardship and war are intense. This self-centered outlook gradually simplifies and diminishes their lives, condemning them to a dry and meaningless existence. Thus, instead of adopting an attitude pleasing to God, they choose to follow the desires of their self and suffer spiritual unhappiness as a consequence.
In contrast, those who love God and whose hearts are constantly with Him exercise willpower against the persistent whispers of the self that command evil and follow the voice of their conscience. When they sense even the slightest fluctuation in their morale, they recognize their distraction and immediately realign themselves with God through acts to please Him. Knowing that everything—from the infinite vastness of the universe to the smallest particle—has been created by God with specific wisdom, they strive to view events positively and seek out the beauty within them. They give thanks for the blessings God has made easy for them and do not display dissatisfaction. They do not ignore what they have while endlessly desiring more, nor do they compare themselves with those in better circumstances and fall into ingratitude. Knowing that God has created the best destiny for them and will continue to create what is best in the future, they possess a peaceful, secure, and contented state of soul.
It is also evident that a constantly dissatisfied and unhappy state of mind has spiritually and physically destructive effects on a person—and, moreover, it brings no benefit or gain whatsoever. By contrast, the peace, happiness, and strength that trust in God (tawakkul), gratitude, and patience bring to a person are clearly stated in the Qur’an. Our Lord gives glad tidings in the Qur’an regarding what He will grant to His servants who are grateful for blessings:
“And when your Lord announced: ‘If you are grateful, I will certainly give you increase, but if you are ungrateful, My punishment is severe.’” (Surah Ibrahim, 7)
“Remember Me – I will remember you. Give thanks to Me and do not be ungrateful.” (Surat Al-Baqara, 152)
