Navigating the Turbulence - Seeking Inner Peace June 24, 2011

We saw in recent months the massive political turmoil in the Middle East affecting Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Syria, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Yemen. We also witnessed frequent seismic movements that resulted in some of the worst earthquakes and tsunamis in recent history, triggering colossal humanitarian crises. The political turmoil, civil unrest, financial meltdown, terrorist acts and the wrath of mother earth, only accentuates the fact that peace is now the rarest commodity. Peace in this world cannot be achieved unless and until we attain peace within ourselves. Allah says in the Holy Qur’an,

O thou peaceful soul! Return unto thy Lord, well-pleased and well-pleasing. Enter thou among My righteous bondmen, and enter thou My Garden. (89:27-30)

Islam places great emphasis on inner peace. When Prophet Muhammad faced trouble and turbulence in his Meccan community and received the Divine instruction to migrate, “Allah sent down His peace upon him” (9:40). And, concerning the Hereafter, Allah says,

The Day whereon neither wealth nor sons will avail, But only he (will prosper) that brings to Allah a peaceful heart (26:88-89).

Those who believed (in Allah) and whose hearts find satisfaction in the remembrance of Allah: for without doubt, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find peace. (13:28)

Indeed we are in a time of anxiety and great turbulence. Questions remain abound though: how do we spiritually navigate these troubling times? How can we establish peace and sakinah (serenity) within ourselves? What can and should we do?