"الوحشه (Loneliness) is one of the evil consequences of committing sins" - Ibn Qayyim
The people who have this in their hearts feel no delight when they remember Allah, recite the Qur'an, etc.
E.g. When people finish praying, they do their تسبيح in a hurry and only give lip service to it. We should feel tranquil when we remember Allah.
The opposite of الوحشه is الأنس بالله. This is one of the highest degrees of worship. .
What will help a person have الإنس بالله (Joy and Delight with Allah)?
1) Knowing Allah, remembering Him, contemplating on the impact of His names and attributes in your life.
This feeling of joyfulness comes when you know Allah by His names and attributes, when the Qur'an becomes a spring of your heart. The heart that doesn't see the impact of Allah's kindness and mercy will never feel joy.
That's why it is preferred for one to isolate himself from the people from time to time and reflect over the impact of Allah's names and attributes. Sit down and contemplate on His kindness, beneficence, what He has provided you of provision, of blessings, etc. You will feel His nearness.
This doesn't mean you should totally isolate yourself from people. The true believer mixes with people. but his heart is with Allah. He feels more joyful when he remembers Allah.
That's why it is preferred for one to isolate himself from the people from time to time and reflect over the impact of Allah's names and attributes. Sit down and contemplate on His kindness, beneficence, what He has provided you of provision, of blessings, etc. You will feel His nearness.
This doesn't mean you should totally isolate yourself from people. The true believer mixes with people. but his heart is with Allah. He feels more joyful when he remembers Allah.
If a person feels happier being around people than being alone remembering Allah it means there's something wrong with his faith. It means that he doesn't truly know Allah.
We should strike the balance between associating with people and being alone with Allah. Intimacy with Allah is something required.
2) Performing Acts of Worship.
Increasing in the performance of voluntary acts of worship will bring you closer to Allah. As you draw nearer to Allah as your happiness increases.
Allah said, "..My slave approaches Me with nothing more beloved to Me than what I have made obligatory upon him..."
This means we need to perfect our obligatory acts, because they are the most beloved acts to Allah.
"...and My slave keeps drawing nearer to Me with voluntary works until I love him. And when I love him, I am his hearing with which he hears, his sight with which he sees, his hand with which he seizes, and his foot with which he walks. If he asks me, I will surely give to him, and if he seeks refuge in Me, I will surely protect him" (Fath al-Bari, 11.34041, Hadith 6502)
The person will not see, hear, talk, take, walk, etc except with what Allah loves. This person is loved by Allah. Because of his increase in closeness with Allah, his delight increases.
And the reverse is true as well: If a person commits sins, he will be distanced from Allah and his sadness will increase.
And the reverse is true as well: If a person commits sins, he will be distanced from Allah and his sadness will increase.
" كل طائع مستأنس، وكل عاص مستوحش" - Ibn AlQayyim
3) Contemplate on the virtues of seclusion with Allah.
يقول الله تعالى: أنا عند ظن عبدي بي, أنا معه إذا ذكرني, فإن ذكرني في نفسه ذكرته في نفسى, و إن ذكرني في ملأٍ ذكرته في ملأٍ خير منهم , وإن تقّرب إليّ شبراً تقربت إليه ذراعاً, وإن تقّرب إليّ ذراعاً تقربتُ إليه باعاً و إن أتاني ىمشي أتيته هرولة
Allah says: ‘I am just as My slave thinks I am i.e. I am able to do for him what he thinks I can do for him) and I am with him if he remembers Me. If he remembers Me in himself, I too, remember him in Myself; and if he remembers Me in a group of people I remember him in a group that is better than them; and if he comes one span nearer to Me, I go one cubit nearer to him and if he comes one cubit nearer to Me, I go distance of two outstretched arms nearer to hi m, and if he comes to Me walking I go to him running.” [Reported by al-Bukhari]
If you truly believe in this you will feel joyful knowing that your name will be mentioned in the heavens! And even if you remember Allah alone, without uttering a single word, of Allah's graciousness and beneficence, how He guided you, brought you out of the darkness of ignorance to the light of guidance, Allah will remember you in His noble self.
Don't ever think that wealth, or doing whatever you want, can bring happiness to your heart. The real, true delight comes when you know Allah.
Don't try to experiment with this. Be certain that Allah sees and hears you, and be sure that He will give you that happiness and delight when you take the means.
The Salaf used to say, "If you want Allah to talk to you recite the Qur'an, and if you want to talk to Allah then pray"
The Shaytan will not allow us to enjoy this seclusion. He will come and try to distract you, remind you of your children, husband, duties, problems, sad events, evil things, etc.
This is one of the goals of the Shaytan, He loves seeing you depressed and sad. Don't give him this chance.
4) Oppose your evil self and desires.
Our self inclines towards laziness, etc. Oppose your desires.
- التبتل -
In (73:8):
واذكر اسم ربك وتبتل إليه تبتيلا
واذكر اسم ربك وتبتل إليه تبتيلا
This is an act of worship which many people don't practice. It is to dedicate or completely devote oneself to worshiping Allah. Allah commands the Prophet and us with it.
How many of us seclude ourselves from the people and worship Allah alone for some time whether it's once a day or once a week?
Allah freed many people from worldly occupations. For example, a woman may not be married or have children to occupy her. Instead of being grateful that Allah freed her to devote herself to Him, she feels lonely, cries, and complains.
In (3:42):
وإذ قالت الملائكة يا مريم إن الله اصطفاك وطهرك واصطفاك على نساء العالمين
The word اصتفاك is mentioned twice. Scholars have said the former refers to her being devoted to Allah and the latter refers to her being the mother of Jesus.
In Verse 43:
يا مريم اقنتي لربك واسجدي واركعي مع الراكعين
Allah chose Maryam to devote herself in the worship of Him, and this is what she did.
In (19:16):
واذكر في الكتاب مريم إذ انتبذت من أهلها مكانا شرقيّا
In (19:16):
واذكر في الكتاب مريم إذ انتبذت من أهلها مكانا شرقيّا
فانتبذت means to throw away something you don't like. She felt this way when she stayed away from her people. Her joy was in being alone in the worship and remembrance of Allah.
When Maryam secluded herself from her family and worshiped Allah, Zakariya entered upon her and found her with food. She didn't tire herself to get it, it came straight to her house. Whoever devotes themselves to the worship of Allah, Allah will suffice them in all their worldly affairs.
This devoting yourself to Allah will not come unless you have strong belief in Allah, and strong belief in Allah will not come until you have knowledge about Him.
Freeing yourself from worldly occupation helps you have delight in your heart when you're with Allah.
- High Morals and Eeman -
Another reason it's important to study the names and attributes of Allah is that immoralities are prevalent in society. There's a weak adoption of high Islamic morals such as modesty, forgiveness, etc. This is all due to weak belief.
Ex. الشهامان (Magnanimity)
This was one of the characteristics of the Arabs in the past. They used to hasten towards helping the needy even if they didn't know them.
Nowadays you rarely find people helping each other out of fear they'll be told that they're being used or taken advantage of.
Nowadays you rarely find people helping each other out of fear they'll be told that they're being used or taken advantage of.
Morals are joined with Eeman in the Qur'an and Sunnah:
a) In (4:149):
إن تبدوا خيرا أو تخفوه أو تعفوا عن سوء فإن الله كان عفوّا قديرا
إن تبدوا خيرا أو تخفوه أو تعفوا عن سوء فإن الله كان عفوّا قديرا
Allah didn't mention the recompense. He ended the verse with two names: عفوا، قدير
If you really believe Allah is العفو and قدير then you should forgive the offence that had been done to you.
E.g. Allah decrees that someone offends you with words, actions, etc. After some time they apologize to you. The Shaytan will come to you and tell you to not forgive her in order to teach her a lesson. Understand that Allah, out of His mercy, is opening the gate of العفو for you.
المغفرة is to overlook the sin and not punish it while العفوا is that Allah will remove the traces from that sin from your record, as if you didn't commit that sin at all.
Abu Kabsha 'Ameri reported that the Messenger of Allah said: "… and no man pardons an oppression seeking thereby the pleasure of Allah but Allah will increase his honor therewith on the Day of Resurrection."
But our pride prevents us from pardoning people and attaining this great reward from Allah.
Every moral that we practice indicates our Eeman. Weak morality indicates weak faith.
If someone didn't give you your right and you pardoned them, then know that Allah will give you your rights, increase your honor and enter you into Paradise.
The believers practice morals as an act of worship to Allah. They don't do it seeking praise, but rather they hope for the reward from Allah.
Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The most complete of the believers in faith, is the one with the best character. And the best of you are those who are best to their women.”(At-Tirmidhi and authenticated by Al-Albani)
Your behavior indicates your Eeman. Immorality indicates weak faith.
b) Modesty
"....Modesty is a branch of faith." (Muslim)
Modesty prevents disobedience to Allah and from immoralities and committing sins. When you feel modest before Allah, you feel shy to commit sins or do any wrong while He is watching you. This keeps the society free from sins.
c) Backbiting, Lying, Gossiping
People abuse each other through electronic devices. This indicates lack of faith. Allah is watchful and will take account of our hands which we are writing.
Before you send a message, think if it's good or not, if it will be for you or against you in your record.
d) In (4:108):
يستخفون من الناس ولا يستخفون من الله وهو معهم إذ يبيتون ما لا يرضى من القول وكان الله بما يعملون محيطا
One of the descriptions of the hypocrites is that when they are with people they show that have morals, but when alone they do contrary to that. They have lack of belief that Allah is watchful over them.
يستخفون من الناس ولا يستخفون من الله وهو معهم إذ يبيتون ما لا يرضى من القول وكان الله بما يعملون محيطا
One of the descriptions of the hypocrites is that when they are with people they show that have morals, but when alone they do contrary to that. They have lack of belief that Allah is watchful over them.
Weak morals indicate weak knowledge of Allah's names and attributes. If we know Allah well we will show good morals whether we are alone at home or outside with the people. The believer doesn't have two faces nor do that have two tongues.
We are in this life as guests, the real home is in the hereafter. We are only here temporarily, and nothing we have here belongs to us, but to the true owner, الملك. Everything we spend has been provided to us by Allah.
Whoever knows that he is journeying to Allah will never show arrogance or pride. He will be worried about what He has prepared for the day when He meets Allah. How will he answer Allah for his actions?
Allah repeats the phrase "يأيها الذين آمنوا " ninety eight times in the Qur'an.
"Whenever you hear this know that Allah is calling you by your attribute of Eeman to whatever is coming after" - Ibn Uthaymeen
(i.e. Your belief requires you to act upon what is coming next in the context)
If you do contrary to what comes after يأيها الذين امنو it indicates your lack of faith.
Ex. In (49:10-12):
إنما المؤمنون إخوة فأصلحوا بين أخويكم واتقوا الله لعلكم ترحمون
يا أيها الذين آمنوا لا يسخر قوم من قوم عسى أن يكونوا خيرا منهم ولا نساء من نساء عسى أن يكن خيرا منهن ولا تلمزوا أنفسكم ولا تنابزوا بالألقاب بئس الاسم الفسوق بعد الإيمان ومن لم يتب فأولئك هم الظالمون
يا أيها الذين آمنوا اجتنبوا كثيرا من الظن إن بعض الظن إثم ولا تجسسوا ولا يغتب بعضكم بعضا أيحب أحدكم أن يأكل لحم أخيه ميتا فكرهتموه واتقوا الله إن الله تواب رحيم
إنما المؤمنون إخوة فأصلحوا بين أخويكم واتقوا الله لعلكم ترحمون
يا أيها الذين آمنوا لا يسخر قوم من قوم عسى أن يكونوا خيرا منهم ولا نساء من نساء عسى أن يكن خيرا منهن ولا تلمزوا أنفسكم ولا تنابزوا بالألقاب بئس الاسم الفسوق بعد الإيمان ومن لم يتب فأولئك هم الظالمون
يا أيها الذين آمنوا اجتنبوا كثيرا من الظن إن بعض الظن إثم ولا تجسسوا ولا يغتب بعضكم بعضا أيحب أحدكم أن يأكل لحم أخيه ميتا فكرهتموه واتقوا الله إن الله تواب رحيم
"Any believer, whether he is in the east or west, is your brother and has rights over you" - As-Sa'di
In a nutshell: Good morals requires faith. If you want to bring up your children on good morals, implant Eeman in their hearts.