There are a lot of people out there who are apparently following the way of the disbelievers but inside their hearts they have this feeling that they should go the other way… the way of Allah’s obedience.
Because they know that success and peace can only be found in the path of Allah…
So why are they not doing what their hearts yearn for? What’s stopping them?
There are many reasons for this but one of them is the “difficulty syndrome”… the misconception that acting on Islam is too “difficult”.
Basically it is just a deception of the devil that he makes beneficial things appear to be so hard and boring… and on the other hand beautifies the bad things and makes it so easy and tempting for people to fall into sins…
But we must remember that his tactics are purely on the psychological level… because he has no “real” control over us as such.
The decisions we make in life depend purely on our own choice, and that is why we are going to be held accountable for what we do in life…
It is therefore very important that we realize that Islam is a religion of ease… not difficulty. In the Quran Allah says:
“Allah wants ease for you and does not want difficulty for you”… (Al-Baqarah: 185)
But to experience the inner peace of being on the way of Allah, we have to believe in Allah’s love and mercy…
Appearances are just a test of our faith… even in the worldly things, working hard for achieving success, appears to be so hard but what happens when you actually do strive and get the results of your dreams? The hardship seems like a dream and the success remains with you forever… whether it is in the form of good grades, or a good job or whatever…
And what happens to the ones who cannot put up with hard work? Apparently they have a good time but it is only for a short while! But the regret and failure which follows this path of ease… remains with them forever…
This concept has been discussed in the book Fiqh-ul-Qulub in the following words:
In following the commands of Allah and His Messenger (s.a.w) apparently there is hardship;
But this hardship is like a drop;
While the tranquillity which is hidden behind this (apparent difficulty), is like an ocean…
And in following the desires and rejecting the commands of Allah and His Messenger (s.a.w) apparently there is ease and tranquillity;
But this tranquillity is like a drop;
While the pain and hardship hidden behind it is like an ocean
So the choice is ours:
Are we willing to put up with a drop of temporary hardship to enjoy an ocean of permanent delight and tranquillity?
Or should we lose an ocean of goodness for the sake of a drop?
The Seekers Path 