Allah awards bliss
Qad – aflaha ‘man tazakka:
“He indeed has attained bliss who has purified himself.”
(The Qur’an 87.14)
“The happiness of liberation, whereby one merges into the Lord’s existence, cannot even be compared to a fragment of the transcendental bliss obtained by service unto the Lord”, Shree Chaitanya Mahaprabhu continued.
(Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya-lila, 18.195)
Here Mahaprabhu explains how mediocre the happiness derived from merging into the existence of the Lord’s existence by stating that it cannot be compared to even a “fragment” of the transcendental bliss obtained by devotional service to God. He reiterates that spiritual bliss obtained by devotional service to the Supreme Lord is the highest form of happiness in all creation. Thus other types of spiritual advancement pale into insignificance before such incomparably sublime spiritual bliss.
Thus in the sura “Al-Ma’ida”, or “The Table Spread” of the Holy Qur’an it is written:
Qa-lallahu haza yawmu yanfa-’us-saadiqina sidquhum / lahum jannatun-tajri min-tahtihal-’anharu kha-lidina fiha ‘abada / razi-yallahu ‘anhum wa razu ‘anh / zalikal-fauzul-’azim: “Allah will say: This is a day on which the truthful will profit from their truthfulness. For them are Gardens, with rivers flowing beneath, which is their eternal Home. Allah takes pleasure in them and they in Him. That is the great triumph.” (5.119)
In this verse the word “fauz” is very significant. Faus means triumph, felicity, happiness, achievement, salvation, and the attainment or fulfillment of desires. How beautiful salvation or the end of earthly life is! How elevating and wonderful it would be if only we could win Allah’s good will and thereby reach the stage at which His good pleasure will be our only aim!
Another important statement is Razi-yallahu ‘anhum wa razu ‘anh: “Allah takes pleasure in them and they in Him”. Actually our pleasure is dependent on Allah’s pleasure. Only if Allah is pleased with our devotional service can we feel real happiness. This happiness is transcendental and has nothing to do with mundane happiness achieved through material senses. No pleasure can be compared with the bliss obtained by devotional service to the Supreme Lord.
Furthermore, in the sura “At-Tauba”, or “Repentance,” the Holy Qur’an says:
Was-sabi-qunal ‘awa-luna minal-muhajirina wal-’ansari wallazinataba-’uhum-bi-’ihsanir-razi-yallahu ‘anhum wa razu ‘anhu wa ‘adda lahum jannatin-tajri tahtahal-’anharu khalidina fiha ‘abada / za-likal-fawzul-’azim: “The vanguard (of Islam) – the first of the Muhajirs (Emigrants) and the Ansar (Helpers), and those who followed them in good deeds, – Allah is well pleased with them and they are well pleased with Him. For them has He prepared Gardens under which rivers flow, to dwell therein for ever. That is the supreme triumph.” (9.100)
Next it states in the sura “Al-Baiyina”, or “The Clear Evidence”:
Innallazina ‘amanu wa ‘amilus-salihati ‘ula-’ika hum khayrul-bariyah.
Jaza ‘uhum ‘inda Rabbihim jannatu ‘adnin-tajri min-tahtihal-’anharu khalidina fiha ‘abada / raziyal-lahu ‘anhum wa razu ‘anh / zalika liman khashiya Rabbah:
“Those who believe and do righteous deeds, – they are the best of created beings.
Their reward is with their Lord: Gardens of Eden beneath which rivers flow, they will dwell therein for ever. Allah has pleasure in them and they have pleasure in Him. This is for him who fear his Lord.” (98.7-8)
Ustad Abdullah Yusuf Ali comments:
“The Good Pleasure of Allah is the final Bliss of Salvation. The good pleasure is mutual; the truly saved is the he whose will has become completely identified with Allah’s universal will.” (9, p. 1989)
It is stated in the sura “Al-A’la”, or “The Most High”:
Qad – aflaha ‘man tazakka
Wa – dhakarasma rabbihi fasalla:
“He indeed has attained bliss who has purified himself,
And who remembers the name of his Lord, and prays.”
(87.14-15)
Some people try to obtain happiness through the liberation from material sufferings, some strive for merging into the Lord’s existence, His spiritual light like Sufis. But in the Holy Qur’an, it is explained that the bliss and pleasure obtained by service unto the Lord are eternal and of the highest. By taking shelter of the Supreme Lord, devotional service unto Him and love for God, devoted souls finally obtain the eternal abode of the Lord and derive supreme transcendental pleasure by associating with God.
