A common hidden affliction
In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy upon him, stated:
One common hidden afflictions occurs when a person receives a blessing from Allah but grows weary of it. Instead of appreciating the gift, they seek to discard it, and due to ignorance, turns towards something else he claims is better for them. Out of mercy, his Lord (Allah) does not immediately take away this blessing, excuses him for his ignorance and poor choices, until he becomes fed up with the blessing, angered and dissatisfied, and being fed up becomes firmly rooted (in his heart, behaviour), thus, Allah takes away the blessing. Once he pursues what he thought would be better and realises the stark contrast between his former state and current situation, feelings of anxiety and regret surge, prompting him to yearn for the return of the previous blessing. When Allah wants goodness and guidance for His servant, He makes him witness the fact that that the blessings are from Him and enables the person be grateful for it. If their soul suggests distancing from the blessing, he turn to his Lord for guidance through Istikharah, [Footnote a] acknowledging his lack of knowledge about what is best for him, and entrust the matter to Allah, asking Him to make a good choice for him.
There is nothing more detrimental to a person than becoming weary of Allah’s blessings, for neither does he recognise the blessing nor express gratitude, and does not rejoice in it; instead, he is angered by it. He complains and view the blessing as a calamity, despite being among the greatest blessings from Allah. The majority of people act as adversaries to Allah’s blessings, unaware of the blessings available to them, and they often work to reject and push them away due to ignorance and wrongdoing. Countless blessings are bestowed upon them, yet they strive to resist them. They receive much, even while attempting to deny and eliminate these blessings because of their own injustice and ignorance.
Allah [The Exalted] said:
ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَمْ يَكُ مُغَيِّرًا نِّعْمَةً أَنْعَمَهَا عَلَىٰ قَوْمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُوا۟ مَا بِأَنفُسِهِمْ
That is so because Allah will never change a grace which He has bestowed on a people until they change what is in their ownselves. [Al-Anfal. 53]
Allah, The Exalted, said:
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُوا۟ مَا بِأَنفُسِهِمْ
Verily! Allah will not change the good condition of a people as long as they do not change their state of goodness themselves (by committing sins and by being ungrateful and disobedient to Allah)]. [Ar-Rad. 11]
There is not a greater enemy against a blessing than the soul that (whispers evil) because he overcomes himself through his enemy. His enemy throws fire on his blessings while he fan the flames. Then, he calls for help to avoid being burnt when the fire intensifies, all the while blaming Qadr. (Footnote b)[Al- Fawaa’id 259-260]
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Footnote a: https://www.troid.org/salat-al-istikharah-explained/
Footnote b:
[1] Why do we need to be more cautious of the soul than an avowed enemy
[2] Why do we need to be more cautious of the soul than an avowed enemy
[3] Why do we need to be more cautious of the soul than an avowed enemy