Allah says, “Beautified for people is the love of that which they desire—of women and sons, heaped-up sums of gold and silver, fine branded horses, and cattle and tilled land. That is the enjoyment of worldly life, but Allah has with Him the best return.” (Quran, Aal-‘Imran 3:14)
This ayah reminds us that while the world is adorned with many appealing things, the true and eternal destination worth striving for is with Allah. Ibn Ata’illah reminds us in his Hikam that “the source of every disobedience, distraction, and indulgence is in seeking the world over the Hereafter.”
This world is not meant to fulfill our longing and desires—it is the abode of tribulation and sadness, not of purity and perfection. As Allah says in ayah, the pleasures of this world are beautified to us, but with Him is the best return.
You must be realistic and embrace the reality of this world, and know that no matter how long you live, no matter what you know, no matter how hard you try to live free of troubles, it’s never going to happen. This is the nature of couples, family or community.
No stage of life is free from difficulty—whether it’s wealth with illness, health with loss, or ease followed by hardship. The illusion that the “grass is greener” elsewhere only deepens our disappointment. True contentment comes when we stop seeking permanence in the impermanent and begin anchoring our hearts with Allah, the Eternal.
