“[We said], “O David, indeed We have made you a successor upon the earth, so judge between the people in truth and do not follow [your own] desire, as it will lead you astray from the way of Allah .” Indeed, those who go astray from the way of Allah will have a severe punishment for having forgotten the Day of Account.” (38:26)
At this verse Shaykh Abdallah highlighted the notion in the verse that faith is by definition tied up with restraint and discipline.
This is counter to the values that are advocated by contemporary consumer culture. Look at the language that we hear every day through mass media:
Indulge. Treat yourself. You deserve it.
There are, of course, countless other examples. Point being, mainstream culture is predicated upon ideas of complete self-ownership and autonomy, and happiness is understood to be a function of the realization and expression of that self-ownership and autonomy.
Our tradition teaches that we possess ourselves on loan from Allah and that our liberation and happiness is in disciplining our actions and even our desires to comport with Allah's wish for us.
Indeed, the path to paradise is lined with struggles while the path to hell is lined with pleasures.
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