The most important favour of Allah: His good pleasure

Allah has promised to believers, men and women, gardens under which
rivers flow, to dwell therein, and beautiful mansions in gardens of
everlasting bliss. But the greatest bliss is the good pleasure of
Allah: that is the supreme felicity. (Surat at-Tawba: 72)
It is evident that paradise is a place containing all the joys man can
experience through his five senses. However, the superior quality of
paradise is thegood pleasure of Allah. For believers, attaining the
good pleasure of Allah becomes a major source of peace and joy in the
hereafter. Furthermore, seeing the favours of Allah and being grateful
to Allah for His benevolence makes them happy. In the Qur'an, the
believers in paradise are described as follows:
...Allah is well pleased with them and they withAllah. That is the
great salvation, (the fulfilmentof all desires). (Surat al-Ma'ida:
119)
What makes the favours of paradise so precious is the good pleasure of
Allah. The same types of favours may also exist in this world, yet if
the good pleasure of Allah is not involved, believers do not enjoy
these favours. This is a very important issue on which one needs to
ponder. What actually makes a favour precious is something beyond
thesavour and pleasure it gives. What really matters, is the fact that
Allah has bestowed that favour.
A believer who has the benefit of such a favour and is grateful to his
Creator derives his main pleasure from knowing that it is the
benevolence of Allah. The satisfaction can be found only from the fact
that Allah protects him, loves him and that his Creator shows His
Mercy to him. Therefore, one's heart only takes pleasure from
paradise. He is created to be a servant of Allah and therefore he
takes only pleasure from His benevolence.
In brief, paradise is a gift of Allah to His true servants and that is
why it is important to them. Since "they are (but) slaves raised to
honour,"(Surat al-Anbiya: 26) they attain eternal happiness and joy.
The words of the believers inparadise are "Blessed bethe name of your
Lord, full of Majesty, Bounty and Honour." (Surat ar-Rahman: 78)

Mockery is forbidden in the Qur’an

It's a sin and a depravity according to the Qur'an for a believer to
criticize a person's' defects withmockery. Mockery is a
characteristic of those who live in distance from religious moral
values and do not fear Allah as should be. Thesepeople resort to such
methods as caricature etc. When they want to criticize a person or an
event and thus exceed the limits of respect and courtesy by choosing a
language, which is not compatible with the Qur'anic moral values.
Whereas, a Muslim uses amethod of communication while criticizing a
manner which he finds not compatible with the Qur'anic moral values
and the Hadith, thus he expresses the falsity of the manner in
question according to the Qur'an and the Hadith of our Prophet (may
Allah bless him and grant him peace). Especially about the issues
concerning religion and holy values, he uses careful and mindful
tongue as a necessity of his deep love and respect for Allah. Allah
mentions in the Qur'an that ordering good and forbiddingevilis an
important sign of believers:
Those who repent, thosewho worship, those who praise, those who fast,
those who bow, those who prostrate,those who command theright, those
who forbid the wrong, those who preserve the limits of Allah: give
good news tothe believers. (Surat at-Tawba, 112)
Throughout the history, prophets and sincere believers were mocked,
and Allah imposed punishments on those who were in depravity against
believers:
Messengers before you were also mocked,but those who jeered were
engulfed by what they mocked. ( Surat al-An'am, 10)
Allah mentioned in the Qur'an that mockery is an indecent morality and
a sin and thus, believers should avoid such depravity. Moreover, Allah
informs believers in a verse in case they encounter an atmosphere
where there's mockery about the religious issues, they should leave or
they would be in the positionof those who do it:
It has been sent down toyou in the Book thatwhen you hear Allah's
Signs being rejected andmocked at by people, you must not sit with
them till they start talking of other things. If you do you are just
the same as them. Allah will gather all the hypocrites and unbelievers
into Hell. (Surat an-Nisa', 140)
Allah informs us the position of those who resort to mockery in some
other verses in the Qur'an.
You who believe! Do nottake as friends any ofthose given the Book
before you or the unbelievers who make amockery and a game outof your
believe. Fear [and respect] Allah if youare believers. (Surat
al-Ma'ida, 57)
... lest anyone should say, 'Alas for me for neglecting what Allah was
due, and beingone of the scoffers!' (Surat az-Zumar, 56)
When he does learn something of Our Signs, he makes a mockery of them.
Such people will have a humiliating punishment. (Surat al-Jathiyya, 9)

Story, - It is lying on my conscience

Hello,
I frequently read your stories and I decided I can write mine, too. I
willstart by saying that I had a great childhood, but from a certain
point I started seeing inappropriate people.
When I was 19, my mother told me that she and her husband are not my
real parents, that theyhave adopted me. I couldn't stand it, was it
because I was in puberty,I don't know. I told them I hate and despise
them and moved to live in another town.
I didn't endure long and after three months I wentback. I have met a
man… accidentally… we went for a coffee, talked for 3 hours, and I
left with himfor Varna. It was the mostamazing evening I've ever had…
but he was married. Nevertheless, our relationship lasted about two
years. I loved him very much, bud I hadno future with him… he was
married.
20 days before my birthday I realized that I was pregnant… false
pregnancy… I was in the forth month. He made meget rid of the baby. I
was afraid, how would I go there… lie there… and what is more, my
mother was working in the same hospital and everyone knew me. Christ,
if she finds out – she will kill me, but I don't give a damn.
I didn't think much of my mother, I don't know why... I just didn't
love them… I still don't, I only respect them, I don't know why.
Anyway, I did the abortion, and the above-mentioned man did not even
appear... did not even call to see how I was. I decided that all this
will have to end… but he didn't want to. He told me he loved me, thatI
was his thrill and so on. For the first time in my life I saw a crying
man, and it was over me. I am a good person, I care a lot for my
friends, if I have friends at all… but I respect them.
I have helped so many people… familiar and strangers. So when I broke
up with this man I met my best friend… She knows everything about me
and I know everything about her, but even for her, now I can hardly
say she is a friend… why is that so?
Because of her I was being forced to become aprostitute, I was raped
twice… they kidnapped me and what not. I have had lots of men… I am
not a beauty queen, but Iguess I attract men in some way. There was a
time in my life when I didn't care who I would go to bed with, only if
hewas a bit cute… that lasted for 3 years.
One day my life turned upside down. My friend had a small business… I
used to spend almost all my time with her… One day two men
approachedus… one of them smiling… it seemed he knew V~(my friend's
name). He looked at me and smiled. I only asked V~ who is he? She
didn't answer… they started talking… and suddenly hesaid – aren't you
going tointroduce me to this wonderful lady… he meant me. I pretended
not to be there… BecauseI hate arrogant men… so Iact inaccessible… we
were introduced, but I didn't even make eye contact. He said – look me
in the eyes, but I said:no, I only look a person in the eyes when I'm
lying:)))) Inaccessible… phew. And he was really handsome, with big
green eyes… amazing:))) He and V~ agreed to meet on the next day for
coffee… but he said… only if your friend comes along, otherwise no.
And… I had the feeling that… I don't know exactly what this feeling
was, but I couldn't wait to see him again. I didn't want V~ to find
out, so I didn't know what to do. She simply said: S~ (his name) likes
you very much. Yes, of course, we all know these things… just to get
you in his bed and then you suddenly stop being pretty… but still I
wanted to see him. Next day he called her and we decided to meet in a
coffee place. My feelings were mixed, I wanted to go and still, I
didn't. We went, of course, my curiosity to see what will happen took
over me. We met at the coffee place… and he started talking to me… I
was pretending that I'm not listening… until we drank 3 or 4
cocktails… That same night I slept with him… it was great… he left me
in front of my place and said: I need to go to Sofia to get some
documents in order and when I come back I will call you. But nothing
happened… a month passed, then a month and a half, he didn't show up
and I already missed him… I had the feeling that I knew this guy for
ages, that we have always been together, but I had no news from him
and knewnothing at all. One day V~called me and said that S~ called
his friends last night to ask for my phone number… they met me and I
gave it to them, you are not angry with me, are you? I told her no…
next day I was starting a new job and I had to get up early… I
switched on my phone and I received a text message: I had to leave for
England, I am sorry about that, if you want me to call you just text
me, kissing you. I was outof myself with happiness,I wanted to shout
as loudas I can. Of course I wanted to hear his voice,to find out why
things turned out that way… And so… A year of telephone love went by.
Iwas on the phone with him every other day for 2hours, one whole year.
And then came the moment when he was coming back for a while… He
wanted me to go to Sofia and meet him, he was in Bulgaria for 2 months
and it was the best summer I've everhad, but then he had to go back
again. In the meantime I also applied for an English visa. When he was
leaving it was likesomething broke inside of me. I wasn't sure whether
I was going to obtain a visa, but he said:if it doesn't work, I am
giving you some homework… to think if you want to marry me. My God, I
didn't know what to say, I only smiled.So he left and I was without
him for 2 months… and I cheated on him… 3 times. I don't know why… it
wasn't fairto him. He was so good to me and I, the fool, cheated on
him.
I am now with him in England. We have been living together for a
year,but this lies on my conscience. I want to confess, but I am sure
it would be the end. I have one more problem. I was pregnant from him,
but I got rid of the baby… he doesn't know about that either… too many
lies and I can't live with themanymore.
I don't know, I want to tell him, but whenever I think it is the right
time…I get scared. I started treating him bad, we fight all the time.
Of course, it is all my fault. A week ago we even wanted to end our
relationship, because he said that he can't stand it any more, the way
I treat him… oh, I really don't know how exactly.
Please, tell me what to do… I am sorry, I probably bored you, but at
least I feel better now.

Story, - I want him back. But...

I had known this guy since we were little kid. we had crush to each
other since then. one dayi met him again and sincethen, we started to
contact. we talked, we chat, but we were not officially dating that
time. just kinda flings.
After all the obstacles that we've been through,at last we were going
out. but after two months, i broke up with him as i thought
I had no feelings for him..he was hurt by then. after few months, I
went back to him and he accepted me. But then, the event recycled over
and over again for 3 times. and it was for the same reason: i have no
feelings for him. The problem was me, I just made the decision without
thinking much. I was so stupid. Now, he has a new girlfriend..
andthey'll be having one-year-relationship this September. I'm not
over him, i still love him but i wont disturb his relationship. I'll
just wait for him to come back to me.
The problem is... last week he told my best friend that he was
confused with his feelings, between me or his current girlfriend. I
could tell that he still cares for me. So, I gave him a text. we
managed to talked, and he didn't gave me much details though on his
problem. My friends said that i might have chance with him. I miss him
so much, and i want him back. But if i have to hurt his current
girlfriend in order to get him back, I don't think I can do that. But
I really want him back. I don't know what to do anymore. :(