Re: Is it okay to be happy?
Do you feel guilty to try and find happiness when you know there are so many unhappy people in today’s world?
Happiness itself is an illusion one creates for ones heart. Some feel happy in increrasing their materialistic resources, others achieve it by sacrificng their resources in bringing smile to other peoples face. I should be happy in remaining thankful to Allah (swt) for not putting me in such tough tests of life. Also trying my level best to bring happiness in the life of those whom I can (by the grace and mercy of Allah SWT), through any possible means. It can even be sharing of a motivational quote, if nothing else is in my control.
Do you feel guilty to indulge in things like personal style and fashion and brands when you know there are people in the world who have scarce clothing?
I feel guilty for not having contributed yet as much to their life as I should have, because they are more deserving of ‘my’ extra money then is my lavish lifestyle. It is never my money in the first place, because Allah (swt) is giving me more than I deserve so that I spare some for those who are in need. There are people who are a lot more hardworking than me and unfortunately get a lot less salary and other benefits than me. I would be answerable for the money that I spent with “Israaf”. It is not my achievement that my parents supported me financially for a long time and Allah (swt) blessed me with good luck throughout my career, so why should I hesitate in sharing it with others.
p.s. There is a difference between “Fatwa” and “Taqwa”. Buying limited good quality stuff in accordance to ones ‘true needs’ is not bad if the intention is to use it for a long time in order to save the money that one spends in buying cheap quality stuff time and again. The problem is when people waste money for show off and for buying stuff they don’t ‘actually’ need. Ofcourse, the higher the Taqwa, the more one limits (sacrifices) one’s personal needs for others. (such people are rare in our age. I wish Allah SWT make us like them). As mentioned in the Quran, you can’t reach the highest degree of good deed unless you give in the way of Allah (swt) what you like the most (Allah swt expects very less from us, unlike Ismail (a.s) was demanded from Ibrahim (a.s))
Do you feel guilty to avail all the resources God has provided to you when you know how many people live in shabby conditions?
I feel guilty for not ‘valuing’ those resources and for not utilizing it in helping others as much as I should have. This guilt helps me in raising my level of sacrifice, (sadaqa) charity, repentence, thankfulness of Allah’s blessings… from time to time.
I agree, I don’t deserve half the blessings Allah has bestowed me with. And you’re the first one who said that this guilt can actually be a good thing, since it keeps reminding you that more and more needs to be done.