Emotionalism

Emotionalism is a significant factor that makes people lead troubled lives. It is not in conformity with the approach instructed by Allah in the Qur'an, but most people do not notice its danger. Indeed most of the time, being emotional attracts others' praise, admiration and encouragement.

It is deemed to be a manifestation of affection, whereas in fact it creates torment within people who are distanced from the morality of the Qur'an. True affection is a genuine and sincere emotion which is shown with neither hesitation nor conceit.

As for emotionalism, it springs from concealing affection or from directing toward people the love which ought to be felt for Allah. Those who behave in this way nurture feelings that border on the idolatrous toward those whom they love. Because of this, they live in constant anxiety.

Emotionalism is contrary to religion. The Qur'an brings people the ability to observe events objectively and interpret them logically. Emotionalism, on the other hand, distances people from reality, pushes them into illogical thinking, and directs into making wrong decisions.

For people who grasp faith and the morality of the Qur'an, there is no positive side to emotionalism. They realize that this mindset drives people into sorrow, disappointment and harm. Because of this, they permit no such weakness in their hearts, either openly or secretly.

People of faith who are unaware that these aspects of emotionalism are contrary to the Qur'an or who place no importance on them may show weakness in this matter. Sometimes they merely keep it concealed inside themselves, and other times let it openly control their behavior.

One of its clearest indications is an uncontrollable tendency to cry, from sorrow over something a person cannot cope with and from failure to submit with heartfelt calm and gratification to whatever destiny Allah has created.

Under the influence of emotionalism, these people have a permanently sorrowful appearance. They will definitely find something in every event they experience to upset and discomfort them. Because of this, they live with a continual tendency towards weeping, but a person's tears should not be all that comes to mind. Sometimes they cry with genuine tears, but sometimes go on weeping even though not shedding tears physically.

This is the wailing of the body. In this spiritual state, a person's eyes may moisten slightly. A certain pallor caused by sorrow shows itself on their faces. There is no strength or life in their voices. Their looks are stiff and grieving. There is a heaviness and weariness about them, and a deep hopelessness prevails in their speech.

Their bodies cannot perform functions as they should because of intense stress. For this reason, such people suffer not only spiritual depression but serious physical problems as well.

At times, when they are deep in this spiritual state, even were the world's greatest blessings offered to them, they would be unable to take any pleasure from them. None of them will be effective in rescuing them from their sorrow. While they could live in the calm and comfort of faith and submission, they create a world full of pain for themselves with their own efforts.

In the Qur'an Allah reveals the following with regard to unbelievers: "Let them laugh little and weep much... " (Surat at-Tawba: 82).

That is, crying, grieving and feeling sorrow are characteristic of unbelievers. In the same way, verses of the Qur'an often refer to the unhappiness and miserable state of unbelievers and the trouble-filled lives they lead.

In the Qur'an, the faithful are encouraged to be cheerful always; and a great many verses give them good news about matters that will bring them joy in this world and the Hereafter.

This being the case, if a person who professes faith is continually filled with sorrow or is in a spiritual state tending towards the tearful, this indicates that he is superficially evaluating a number of matters, including submission to Allah, and is not in a truly religious state of mind.

For these reasons, a person who says he has faith should not regard grieving and being sorrowful as normal for any reason. Rather than give way to such feelings he should take refuge in Allah. He should not regard living a life of such torment as natural, when it is possible to be friends with Allah and live in tranquility by trusting in Him.

As Allah points out in the Qur'an, "They will say, 'Our Lord, our miserable destiny overpowered us. We were misguided people. Our Lord, remove us from it! Then if we revert again, we will definitely be wrongdoers" (Surat al-Muminun: 106-107), we should take warning from the situation of people, defeated by unhappiness in the life of this world, who enter the Hereafter in a state of regret. We should aim to attain a true and unshakable faith.