Ways
of
Praise

You know

the word Islam means Peace and Surrender,

and ask muslims anywhere "why would anyone choose to be muslim?"

and the most common answer is that it brings peace.

But then the obvious question is 'Where?'.

All around the world muslims are at war,

sometimes with non-muslim neighbours,

and the occasional attacks on western targets

which obviously receive a great deal of attention in our news,

but mostly muslims fight each other.

And the only kind of peace for those involved in that

is the peace that comes with death.

All that fighting, all that anger.

So what about anger?

We know anger is there to give us strength to fight against injustice,

but it needs to be contained within the Deen.

It is said that Ali ibn Abu Talib was about to kill a man in battle

and the man spat in his face.

At which point Hazrat Ali backed away

because the man had made him angry,

and he would not kill him out of anger

but only for defence of the muslim community.

So if Islam doesn't provide an obvious external peace,

how about internal peace,

a personal peace with oneself and the world

and the way that it affects us?

Are we at peace with the way we are,

what we have and what we have to deal with?

When we talk of such peace we are talking about

being content with who we are and our lot in life.

Are we happy with the way we look

or does each glance in a mirror cause anguish?

What do we want that is different and why?

Fashions in body image and ideas of beauty change,

but beauty comes from inside,

attraction comes from within.

If we think of the people we like,

is it because of the way they look, or the way they are?

What about the talents we have?

Are we happy with the things that we are good at?

Are they not worth liking as much as any other talents?

Is being good at sports for the few years of youth

better than being good at maths or languages or art?

How about being good at caring for other people?

Knowing ourselves and our part in God's plan

is what brings contentment and peace.

But if we are always content with everything about ourselves,

doesn't that mean that we never improve,

never try to do anything better?

Trying to do things better gives us purpose in life,

but a purpose that lies within the Deen,

improving things for ourselves and other people,

doing better in business or at our studies,

or at our loving and caring.

Contentment doesn't mean apathy.

It means not just looking up at those who have more than us,

but looking down towards those who have less.

There is an old saying

“I used to complain because I had no shoes

until I saw someone who had no feet".

Looking down brings not just contentment,

but gratitude for what we have,

and if we look up,

how much better to look past those who have more

to the the One Who provides for us all.

Clearly Beauty and Fame don't bring happiness.

Look to the lives of celebrities

and question if they are happy and at peace.

Do they like to have the paparazzi following their every move?

Are they happy to be judged by millions

on the basis of what newpapers and magazines say about them?

Is that really a way to find peace and contentment?

We have no contentment

if we are dissatisfied with our lot in life,

so how can we control dissatisfaction?

By recognising God's Will for us in this life,

seeing what is good about what we have been given,

accepting God's creation as it affects us,

and surrendering to that reality.

And with that kind of surrender,

living in the Deen,

comes peace, satisfaction and contentment.

So what else helps keep us in the way of peace?

What if at first you don't succeed?

Should we be afraid?