Five Instructions from Nahj-ul-Balaqa about Reaching Happiness
The book Nahj-ul-Balaqa has many pieces of advice and many warnings, reflecting on each of which can help us find the path to happiness in this world and the next.
In aphorism 82, Imam (AS) says:
“I impart to you five things which, if you ride your camels fast in search of them, you will find them worth it. No one of you should repose hope save in his Lord (Allah); no one of you should fear anything save his sin; no one should feel ashamed of saying "I do not know" when he is asked a matter which he does not know; no one should feel ashamed of learning a thing that he does not know; and you should practice endurance, because endurance is for belief what the head is for the body, so that just as there is no good in a body without the head there is no good in belief without endurance.”
Hope in God
A man asked the Holy Prophet (PBUH) to teach him something doing which will make him popular with God and people on earth. The Prophet (PBUH) told him: Have hope only in what is with God so that God will like you and be unenthusiastic about what is with people so that people will also like you.
So reposing hope in God and refusing to pin hope on others will not only make one dear before God but will also make others like him.
Fear nothing except your sins
There are five types of fear called Khawf, Khashiyat, Wajl, Ruhbat and Haybat, which respectively belong to sinners, scholars, the humble, the pious, and the Arifs (mystics). Khawf is fear for one’s sins. God says in verse 46 of Surah Al-Rahman: “Those who fear their Lord will have two gardens”. Khashiyat is for those who see themselves to blame: “…those amongst His worshippers that fear Allah who have knowledge.” (Surah Fatir, Verse 28)
Wajl is for abandoning one’s duty: “When God is mentioned, the true believers begin to feel fear of Him in their hearts and when His revelations are recited to them their faith strengthens. In God alone do they trust.” (Surah Al-Anfal, Verse 2)
Ruhbat comes from a feeling of not doing enough: “(They) called on Us out of yearning and awe, and they were humble to Us.” (Surah Al-Anbiya, Verse 90)
Haybat is due to Shuhud (witnessing) of the truth when discovering the secrets of Arifs: “Allah warns you to be cautious of Him, the arrival is to Allah.” (Surah Al-Imran, Verse 28)
Do not feel ashamed of saying ‘I don’t know’
Imam Ali (AS) says: “Whoever abandons saying, "I do not know" meets his destruction.” (Nahj-ul-Balaqa, Aphorism 85) No one has knowledge about everything because everyone has expertise only in one or a few fields and is unversed in other areas.
Do not be ashamed of learning
Seeking knowledge is incumbent upon every man and woman. One should refer to those who have knowledge to learn from them. Acquire knowledge for the pleasure of Allah, for learning engenders piety, reverence for one’s Lord and fear of wrongdoing. Seeking knowledge for Allah’s pleasure is an act of worship, studying it is a celebration of God’s glory, searching for it is a rewarding struggle, teaching it to someone who realizes its worth is a charity, and applying it in one’s home strengthens family unity and kinship. Knowledge indeed helps the believer to discern between the lawful and the unlawful. It is the guiding light for the seekers on the path of Allah and the future dwellers of the heavenly paradise.
Be patient
Life is full of ups and downs and without patience and endurance we will not be able to continue the path. Imam Sadiq (AS) said the meaning of patience is anything that is bitter but is not accompanied by anxiety. If it is accompanied by anxiety, it is not called patience but is called Jaza’a, which is anxiety in heart along with expression of grief and change in one’s mood.
