Save Yourself From a Life of Misery and Inner Turmoil

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Allah Ta’ala guarantees a life of depression, misery and discontentment for those who turn away from Zikrullah (remembrance of Allah):

وَمَنْ أَعْرَضَ عَن ذِكْرِى فَإِنَّ لَهُ مَعِيشَةً ضنكا

“Whosoever turns away from My Zikr, verily, for him is a life of depression.” (20:124)

The famous Tafseer of Ibn Katheer states in commentary:

ﺃﻱ ﺿﻨﻜﺎ ﻓﻲ اﻟﺪﻧﻴﺎ، ﻓﻼ ﻃﻤﺄﻧﻴﻨﺔ ﻟﻪ ﻭﻻ اﻧﺸﺮاﺡ ﻟﺼﺪﺭﻩ، ﺑﻞ ﺻﺪﺭﻩ ﺿﻴﻖ ﺣﺮﺝ ﻟﻀﻼﻟﻪ، ﻭﺇﻥ ﺗﻨﻌﻢ ﻇﺎﻫﺮﻩ ﻭﻟﺒﺲ ﻣﺎ ﺷﺎء ﻭﺃﻛﻞ ﻣﺎ ﺷﺎء ﻭﺳﻜﻦ ﺣﻴﺚ ﺷﺎء

“That is, depression in the Dunya (this world). He will have no tranquillity and no expanding of his chest (i.e. ease). Rather, his chest will be (constantly) constrained (and in difficulty) due to his misguidance, even if outwardly he appears to be leading a life of luxury, wearing whatever he wants, eating whatever he desires and living wherever he wishes…”

In another verse, Allah Ta’ala states:

أَلاَ بِذِكْرِ اللّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ

“…Behold! (Only) in the Zikr of Allah do hearts find tranquillity.” (13:28)

Abundant Zikr of Allah, with the tongue, heart and body,  which encompasses abiding by the Commands and Prohibitions of Allah, will lead one to a life of tranquillity and inner peace, and will eventually qualify one to be a true Mu’min (believer) as defined here by Allah Ta’ala Himself:

إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ اللّهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ

“The (true) believers are only those whose hearts tremble in awe when Allah is mentioned.” (8:2)

On the other hand, neglect of Zikrullah, by the tongue verbally, and by the body through transgression of the sacred boundaries (Commands and Prohibitions) of Allah,  will lead to our hearts dying and becoming devoid of the slightest feeling of awe, even when Allah is mentioned many times, and even when the greatest of sins are being committed.

Amongst the qualities of those for whom Allah Ta’ala has reserved the greatest of rewards, is the quality of abundant Zikr:

…والذاكرين الله كثيرا والذاكرات أعد الله لهم مغفرة وأجرا عظيما

“…the men who do abundant Zikr, and the women who do abundant Zikr – for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward.” (33:35)

May Allah Ta’ala enable us to strive to be men and women of abundant Zikr whose hearts tremble in awe at the mention of Allah Ta’ala, whose rewards in this temporary life are inner peace and tranquillity, and whose rewards in the Hereafter are forgiveness and eternal bliss.