First published on: Why is Grass Always Greener on the Other Side of the Fence?  


 Social Problems, The Muslim Society Islamic manners, Life Guide, Mental Health Omnia Khaled

     Do you believe that what you have is the best for you? Do you know that even what you don’t have is the best for you not to have? Have you thought before about the great wisdom behind the special things that you have been blessed with or even things that you are deprived of? It is not complicated as we think. It is such a simple equation. Just use your mind and contemplate!

 

Human Nature:


     It is our nature to see what others have and forget what we already have. The real winner is s/he who overcomes this sense and feels content in spite of what s/he loses.

 

The Ugly Face of Social Media: 


     Some social media platforms are the main reason for  dissatisfaction like Facebook and Instagram. People always tend to share only their happy moments, their achievements and they avoid showing their bad events. So, indirectly, we feel that some people have everything and they are overwhelmed with joy; however, the dark side of their lives is hidden. 

 

Dissatisfaction on Its Peak (Instagram):


     NHS reported that Instagram is rated as the worst social media platform when it comes to its impact on young people’s mental health. In fact, the survey asked 1,479 young people aged 14-24 to score popular social media apps on issues such as anxiety, depression, loneliness, bullying, body image and “fear of missing out” – where your social media peers seem to be enjoying a better quality of life.

How to be Overwhelmed with Satisfaction (Islam’s Point of View): 


     Imagine that you are doing nothing but looking at other people’s lives and striving to get all that they have: money, perfect relationship, family, health, perfect body, perfect face, and sincere friends. It is hard, right? Will seeking all these targets bring you ultimate happiness? Or is it a bootless errand? Eventually, look at how Islam solves it.

Life is too short but the Hereafter has no end. That’s why we are seeking incomparable endless happiness. In the Day of Judgment,


one of the people of Jannah (Paradise) who had experienced extreme misery in the life of this world will be dipped in Jannah. Then he will be asked [by God]: ‘O son of Adam! Did you ever experience any misery? Did you ever encounter difficulty?’ He will say: “By Allah, no my Rubb (my God), I neither experienced misery nor passed through hardship.” [Muslim](1)

God stated in the Quran:


Are you satisfied with the life of this world rather than the Hereafter? But what is the enjoyment of worldly life compared to the Hereafter except a [very] little.” [Qur’an 9-38](2)

Also,


Don’t be envious; Prophet Muhammad said:


None of you [truly] believes (in God)  until he loves for his brother that which he loves for himself.” [Nawawi](3)

All that you have must come to an end, but what God has is endless. God said, “Whatever you have will end, but what Allah has is lasting. And We will surely give those who were patient their reward according to the best of what they used to do.” [Qur’an 16-96] (4)


 

     To sum it up, be satisfied with what you have; you have countless blessings that you were showered with since you were a fetus in your mothers womb, till you meet your Lord, though you didn’t work hard to earn any of it! Be thankful to your God and worship Him properly; you must achieve your target, as God said “And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed,

If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe.” [Qur’an 14-7] (5)