The Halal Way

Allah عز وجل says in the Holy Qur’an:

وَأَمَّا مَنْ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهِ وَنَهَى النَّفْسَ عَنِ الْهَوَى

فَإِنَّ الْجَنَّةَ هِيَ الْمَأْوَى

As for he who fears the standing before his Lord and prevents his nafs from fulfilling its desire, Jannah is his abode.
[Surah Naziaat 79:40-41].

Doing something the halal way is always very difficult and a test in itself, and doing something the haraam way can often be very easy but again this is the test. Doing things the halal way may be difficult initially but in the long-term one will find much barakah (blessings) in the halal option.

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said in a hadeeth:

Hellfire is veiled with desires and Paradise is veiled with displeasures. [Reported by Bukhari, Muslim and Tirmidhi]

This is why the most attractive and easy way is the haraam way.  Deen is difficult and the whole life of a Muslim is one of trials and tribulations. In another hadeeth, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

The world is a prison for the believer and a paradise for the unbeliever. [Reported by Muslim and Tirmidhi].

Thus, believers are jailed and prevented in the world from haraam and disliked desires. When someone gives up on religion because they find it difficult, Shaytaan attracts them with the easy option. We should not give up doing things the halal way and remember Allah tests us often.

[This short excerpt is based on a brothers’ majlis (gathering for spiritual training) held by Shaykh Abu Yusuf Riyadh ul Haq on 9th February 2002].