Many fail to distinguish between excitement and happiness or peace of mind. Some may have not experienced the taste of happiness despite being surrounded with excitement most of the time.

So many five star rated performers are able to make thousands of their fans scream with excitement when they watch their show but the performers themselves are not happy.

Therefore, it is not surprising that so many celebrities are involved in drug abuse and lead a stressful life. Indeed, excitement does not necessarily equal to happiness or peace of mind.

When we see as if one is not bestowed by Allah with certain excitement or happiness, it does not mean that Allah does not give him inner peace. Allah’s Bounty is so vast. How many are lacking in wealth and good looks but are much happier than the rich and beautiful.

A king, president, prime minister or a minister does not necessarily have a blissful emotion and soul compared to a teacher who is not surrounded with bodyguards and not known by those other than his young and isolated students.

How many of those occupying high profile positions have disheveled emotion and soul thinking of the future of their positions, followers and their fate. Their condition is much worse than the dilemma faced by thousands of other humans.

Probably the VIP’s dinner table is huge, the treatment he receives is exceptional, the food is expensive, his bed is cosy, his vehicle is luxurious, the cheer he receives is lively but it does not mean that happiness and inner peace transpires amidst all those. Even more, how many in this world whom Allah sends affliction to through their wealth and children.

Allah says about the hypocrites (translated as): “Let not their wealth nor their (following in) sons dazzle thee: In reality Allah’s plan is to punish them with these things in this life, and that their souls may perish in their (very) denial of Allah.” (Surah al-Taubah: verse 55). Islam does not oppose wealth but wealth is not the true source of inner peace.

Many people who do not understand the Greatness of Allah think that wealth and power is everything. Because of that, they think that anyone who is not rich and does not possess power does not receive the gift of happiness from the Lord. It is as if the Lord’s Bounty is concentrated only to the powerful and the wealthy.

This presumption is wrong. Yes, wealth and power can become factors that can bring about inner peace and happiness if managed properly. However, if mismanaged, it can turn into a cause of pain and suffering.

Who knows how many rulers or rich people fail to get a good sleep in their luxurious castles while the poor is snoring soundly, enjoying the pleasure of having a deep sleep in his dilapidated house. Who knows how many rulers or rich people do not have any appetite to eat in front of a luxurious meal while the poor is having a delightful meal eating a package of rice wrapped in banana leave.

Allah S.W.T is the Greatest. He presents His Bounty in many and unexpected ways.

I remember of a talk given by Buya Hamka r.h in one of his recordings. He narrated that one day he rode around in a luxurious vehicle with a wealthy man and they passed by a paddy field. Out of the blue, they saw a paddy farmer taking a rest from the exhaustion of working while his wife served him his lunch.

Although the meal was very ordinary, the farmer ate it eagerly. The wealthy man then said to Buya Hamka, “Buya, I have a big house and a luxurious vehicle but I have never had the luck to eat heartily like the farmer.”

Yes, that is how Allah distributes His Bounty. Although one is given a great meal but he may not necessarily be able to savor its tastiness. Although one is given a luxurious dwelling, he may not necessarily be given the pleasure of living in it.

Thus, it is not surprising if a wealthy man or someone in power does not have a good appetite for food. Also, it is not surprising if the offspring of a wealthy man runs away from his or her father’s luxurious home.

Do not be surprised if a poor person is able to fully savor the deliciousness of his meal and sleep soundly everyday. Also, do not be surprised if somewhere, a soul is thinking of the dilapidated shack rather than the conspicuous bungalow.

Once again, Islam does not oppose wealth. However, a person must know how to be thankful of all the Bounty Allah bestows to him. The poor and the rich alike must realize that the purpose of having luxurious meals and homes is to obtain contentment and comfort and not all who possess wealth are able to savor its pleasure.

Also, not all who do not possess wealth are deterred from savoring its pleasure. Allah is the Greatest. He distributes His Bounty as He Wishes.

Sometimes, when we sit at the same table with a wealthy VIP and a commoner, we can see the wealthy only drinks plain water. When asked why, he answers, “I have diabetes.” He also refuses to eat most of the dishes served on the table saying that he has a heart disease and high blood pressure.

Whereas ‘the commoner’ sitting next to him is enjoying the meal so much without having to observe any strict diet. Yes, to own something does not always mean that we can get pleasure from it. If we just want to eat plain rice and plain water, we do not have to have an abundant wealth. Furthermore, plain rice and plain water is usually the everyday meal of a poor person who has nothing.

If Allah wishes to, one who is surrounded by wealth will live like the poor surrounded by poverty.

Once again, Islam does not oppose wealth but a person must realize that only Allah determines the way He distributes His Bounty. Thus, we should not be conceited of what seems to be ours and not be saddened by what Allah does not bestow on us. How much pleasure Allah has bestowed on us but we fail to realize it. How much pleasure Allah has prevented others from enjoying but we think that they are relishing it.

I brought to you this very long opening so that we realize that in this life, Allah is our true source of sustenance. Thus, we should not degrade our souls in front of others only because we see the power and wealth they possess leading us to think that they own everything. Even if we are destitute of wealth and power, let us not be destitute of honor.

What we should be hunting for in this life are inner peace and a contented emotional state and not just excitement and joy that will end when the party ends or when the cheers from the fans stop.

If it is happiness and contentment that we choose to have, then only Allah is able to give it to us. We do not necessarily achieve it by possessing wealth and power. Thus, we should not be begging the ruler or the wealthy in searching for contentment in life.

Implore Allah for only He can bestow us all those. Allah says (translated as): “Whoever works righteousness, man or woman, and has faith, to him will we give a new life, a life that is good and pure and we will bestow on their reward according to the best of their actions.” (Surah al-Nahl: verse 97)

We can see many people who are wealthy but have poor souls. Sometimes they flatter others to the extent that it is disgusting to see only to get the worldly gains they yearn for.

What is the meaning of having wealth if we have poor souls up to the point that we suck up to others. Wealth and power is highly required if it can make us to be like the pious khalifah and the grateful wealthy people. Just look at the way the politicians behave when they suck up to their bosses. All those are because they yearn for some pinches of their power.

Furthermore, I have met someone who holds a religious title in a certain state idolizing the residents of his state’s palace akin to idolizing a Prophet who is divinely guarded from making mistakes. Every word he says is centered on his state’s palace. He is probably hoping for an additional title in front of his name. Or else, he may have swallowed wholly the saying narrated from Hang Tuah that says, “I live my life only to be the servant of the Sultan of Malacca.”

I think that I am also in good terms with my state’s palace but not to that extent. There is a limit in respecting each other. That is why, in one function, I criticized a certain individual for saying, “With the Will of Allah S.W.T and your Highness’s blessing..”

I said to the master of ceremony, “I believe that the person you are praising has not instructed you to do as such. This praise you just made contradicts the hadith of the Prophet s.a.w from Ibn ‘Abbas: “A man said to the Prophet s.a.w, “Whatever that Allah and you wish.” He then said to him, “Are you making me an associate to Allah. Just say, whatever that Allah wish.”” (Reported by Ahmad, ranked as sahih (sound) by al-Albani)

It is this kind of praises that in the end will destroy a person or an institution. The Prophet s.a.w was much holier than all of us and still Allah commanded him to proclaim (translated as): “Say “I have no power over any good or harm to myself except as Allah willeth. If I had knowledge of the unseen, I should have multiplied all good, and no evil should have touched me: I am but a warner, and a bringer of glad tidings to those who have faith.” (Surah al-A’raf: 188)

When Islam came to humankind, it liberated humans’ souls from being slaves to others to worship only Allah. This was stated by Rib’i bin ‘Amir in front of the Commander of the Persian army, “Allah revived us so that we liberate whoever He wishes from being slaves to others towards total submission to Allah, from the cruelty of other religions towards Islamic justice, from the narrow world to the vastness of this world and the Hereafter. “(Ibn Kathir, al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah, 7/48, Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-’Ilmiyyah).

Look at Bilal bin Rabah r.a who was a slave to his master but Islam had succeeded in liberating his soul. He did not submit to the will of his deviant master. Even though his body was tortured under the hot sun but his liberated soul only submitted to the Lord. It is unfortunate for a person whose body is liberated and received adequate nourishment but suddenly his soul is submissive to humans traversing the boundaries set by Allah S.W.T.

Therefore, if humans perceive that the hands holding power and wealth are the source of happiness and placidity then they will become slaves to other humans. However, if they believe that only Allah is capable to give them tranquility then their souls will be liberated. Whoever is a servant to another human, he will not be a true servant of Allah. Whoever is a true servant of Allah, his soul will not be submissive to another human.

The Prophet s.a.w said, “He whose ultimate goal is the Afterlife, Allah will impart wealthiness in his soul. Allah will ease all of his affairs and the world will come to him in a disgraceful state (meaning he will be in an honorable state). He whose ultimate goal is the world, Allah will place poverty in between his eyes. Allah will mess up all of his affairs and the world will not come to him unless in the form that it is destined for him (meaning he will be in a disgraceful state).” (Reported by al-Tirmizi, ranked as hasan (good) by al-Albani)

From this hadith we know that whoever truly depends on Allah, his soul will be liberated and honorable. Also, the world will come to him without his pride and honor tainted. Whoever depends on humans, they world may fall into his hands but he will be in a state of disgrace and angst.

Perpetual anxiety will always emerge in between in his eyes because his dependency on Allah is weak. A true believer depends only on Allah the King of all kings, the Possessor of the whole universe. As for those whose souls are submissive to other humans, they will rely only on the king or ruler who is also waiting for his death to come or to be toppled by others just like the King of Nepal.

Islam teaches us to have a liberated soul even though we are destitute of wealth, titles and positions; souls that are liberated from being slaves to other humans to submitting only to Allah. That is the only thing that can bring about true happiness and tranquility. We need to have leaders, friends and aides who have liberated souls. We do not want to have wealth and power but be slaves to other humans. A beggar who is destitute of wealth is more honorable than a rich person who has a poor soul.