The Purity Of Heart - The Good Life = A Life of Luxury?

Everyone desires happiness, yet the paths we take and the definitions we hold for it vary greatly. For some, happiness means wealth and material possessions, for others it’s fame and recognition, while for some it’s indulgence in sensual pleasures. There are also those who find happiness in achieving breakthroughs in their fields.

Despite the abundance of pleasures and luxuries available today, many remain unfulfilled. No matter how much we accumulate or how much validation we receive, there’s often a lingering sense of emptiness within us, a void that material possessions and accolades cannot fill.

This emptiness stems from neglecting our innate instinct to recognise and worship our Creator. The pursuit of true happiness lies in knowing and worshipping Allah. As mentioned in the Quran;

وَمَنْ أَعْرَضَ عَن ذِكْرِى فَإِنَّ لَهُۥ مَعِيشَةًۭ ضَنكًۭا وَنَحْشُرُهُۥ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ أَعْمَىٰ ١٢٤

“But whoever turns away from My Reminder will certainly have a miserable life, then We will raise them up blind on the Day of Judgment”

 (Surah Taha: Ayat 124)

 The Good Life;

Allah promises a good life to those who do good deeds and believe in Him 

مَنْ عَمِلَ صَـٰلِحًۭا مِّن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَىٰ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌۭ فَلَنُحْيِيَنَّهُۥ حَيَوٰةًۭ طَيِّبَةًۭ ۖ وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْرَهُم بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ ٩٧

Whoever does good, whether male or female, and is a believer, We will surely bless them with a good life, and We will certainly reward them according to the best of their deeds.

— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran

(Surah An Nahl: Ayat 97) 

But what exactly is this “good life”? It’s the paradise of this world, a life where believers find contentment, happiness, and inner peace through their worship and connection with their Creator.

Abū Bakr al-Warrāq described the good life as “the sweetness of obedience.” Just as we savour delicious foods with our mouths, obedience to Allah brings a sweetness and satisfaction to the heart, which is the essence of the good life.

Truly in the heart there is a certain loneliness that cannot be removed except by spending time with Him in solitude. In it there is a sadness that cannot be removed except through the happiness of knowing Him and being true to Him … In it there is a void that cannot be filled except through loving Him, turning to Him constantly, always remembering Him, and being sincere to Him. Were a person to be given the entire world and everything in it, it would never fill this void.”             

— Ibn al-Qayyim (raḥimahullāh)

However, many struggle to experience this sweetness despite engaging in acts of worship. The reason often lies in focusing solely on outward actions rather than nurturing the internal state of the heart. Ibn al-Qayyim noted that one may perform rituals abundantly but lack the inner connection with Allah.

To truly live a good life, we must combine external acts of worship with internal states of the heart, such as belief, sincerity, piety, and gratitude. Just as our bodies need nourishment, our hearts need their “soul food” to flourish.

Purifying the heart from diseases like pride and envy is essential. Just as illness diminishes the enjoyment of food, spiritual diseases hinder the sweetness of faith and worship.

The Good Life = A Life With Allah

Living a good life means living a life with Allah at its centre. It starts with sincere repentance and finding joy in reconnecting with the Creator. It’s about relishing the sweetness of prayer, finding solace in late-night conversations with Allah, and sacrificing worldly desires for His sake.

A life with Allah involves immersing oneself in the Quran, serving others selflessly, and embodying the character of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

This life isn’t about luxury or comfort but about aligning every action with the pleasure of Allah. It’s about speaking, moving, and living for His sake.

We may think that the ‘good life’ is a life devoid of any difficulties; a comfortable luxurious life. On the contrary, those who enjoy the ‘good life’ may experience some of the worst worldly difficulties. However, despite the difficulties and severe illnesses they may suffer, their hearts are at peace. Their hearts are content with Allah’s decree. They may have very little material wealth, but their hearts are brimming with īmān and the love of Allah. Our beloved Prophet ﷺ is the person who best personified this. He ﷺ owned very little of the world: he would sleep on a simple mat which would leave marks on his blessed back, but despite this, he lived the best life.

Ibn al-Qayyim (raḥimahullāh) explains that the ‘good life’ in the above āyah does not refer to a life of fine clothing, food, drink and spouses, as Allah (ʿazza wa jall) may bestow this in far greater quantities to His enemies. But rather the ‘good life’ is the life of the believer who occupies himself with one goal: pleasing his Beloved (ʿazza wa jall). Instead of feeling confused and torn in many directions of life, the believer who enjoys the ‘good life’ has one focus. Everything he does and seeks is to attain the love and closeness of his Beloved.

When he speaks, he speaks for Him. When he is silent, he is silent for Him. When he moves, he moves for Him. When he is still, he is still for Him.

His focus is Allah. He lives for Allah. He dies for Allah.