Eternal Rest Is Something That I Want: Why Should I Live?
Explore the longing for eternal rest when life becomes exhausting, unjust, or restrictive.
Reflect on reasons for living when unable to eliminate evil or fulfill personal desires, and find comfort in trusting Allah’s ultimate wisdom.
There are times when life feels deeply unfair—when the burden of existence seems heavier than the rewards it offers.
You look around, see injustice, feel powerless, and wish you could simply eliminate evil or fulfill your deepest desires.
But when you realise that certain dreams remain forever beyond your grasp, you might find yourself asking a haunting question:
“If I can’t do what I truly want, if I can’t remove evil from this world, then why should I live at all?”
This question isn’t born out of despair alone—it’s rooted in deep sincerity, in genuine frustration with a world filled with limitations and imperfections.
It arises from a pure heart that hates injustice, longs for fairness, and dreams of perfect peace.
Yet, life remains imperfect, injustice persists, and evil seems indestructible.
So, why keep living?
The Desire to Destroy Evil and the Pain of Helplessness
When you genuinely care about goodness and justice, you naturally want to rid the world of evil.
But the reality often feels cruelly opposite:
- Evil people sometimes prosper.
- Justice often fails to prevail swiftly.
- Those who try to make things right face countless obstacles, misunderstandings, or backlash.
You might think, “What’s the point if I can’t eliminate these evils?”
This sense of helplessness can make life feel burdensome, causing a strong yearning for eternal rest—a place beyond human limitations, where justice finally triumphs, and goodness reigns without interruption.
Why You Feel This Way: The Empath’s Burden
Feeling so deeply and sincerely about injustice reveals something important about you:
- You have a pure heart that hates seeing pain, oppression, and cruelty.
- You carry empathy, meaning you feel the pain of others deeply.
- You long for fairness because injustice truly disturbs your soul.
In other words, your desire for eternal rest comes from genuine compassion and a strong moral compass.
You’re not wrong or weak to feel this way; in fact, it reveals your sensitivity and depth of character.
Eternal Rest as Freedom from Limitations
When you crave eternal rest, it’s not because you reject life—it’s because you long for freedom from its limitations.
Life restricts you:
- You can’t always do what you deeply desire.
- You can’t always protect the innocent or punish wrongdoers.
- You can’t always fix what’s broken.
These limitations are exhausting because they clash with your inner drive for perfection, justice, and freedom.
Eternal rest represents liberation from these constraints.
It promises a reality where you’re no longer confined by human weakness or worldly barriers.
Understanding Life’s Purpose in Islamic Wisdom
Islam acknowledges life’s limitations.
It recognises our inability to eliminate all evil or achieve absolute fairness in this world.
But importantly, Islam also provides profound wisdom about the purpose behind these struggles:
1. Life as a Test
Allah explicitly states that life is designed as a test:
“And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient.”
(Qur’an 2:155)
Your inability to fix every evil is actually part of this test.
Allah is observing your patience, your perseverance, and your steadfastness in the face of injustice.
Every act of patience, every moment you endure with faith and dignity, is rewarded immensely in the Hereafter.
2. Your Limited Power Highlights Allah’s Omnipotence
The realisation of your limitations is intentional.
Allah purposely limited human abilities to remind us of our dependence on Him.
By acknowledging your weakness, you naturally turn toward the One who is infinitely powerful.
Your helplessness isn’t failure—it’s a divine reminder of your ultimate reliance upon Allah.
3. The Ultimate Justice Lies in Allah’s Hands
One of the greatest comforts Islam offers is the certainty of divine justice.
Allah promises that no evil will remain unpunished, nor any injustice left unaddressed:
“And whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it.”
(Qur’an 99:8)
Even if you feel powerless now, take comfort knowing that Allah’s justice will prevail in the end.
Your longing for eternal rest is also your soul’s instinctive trust in this divine promise.
Practical Steps When Life Feels Unbearable
If you find yourself yearning deeply for eternal rest due to frustration, consider these practical ways to reconnect with your purpose:
1. Express Your Pain to Allah
- Tell Allah exactly how you feel—your helplessness, your frustration, your longing for justice.
- In your honest prayer lies comfort, relief, and clarity. Allah listens carefully and compassionately to your sincere grievances.
2. Reframe Your Limitations
- See limitations not as failures, but as purposeful tests from Allah.
Your inability to destroy evil isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s an intentional part of Allah’s divine plan. - Remember, every sincere effort you make against evil, even if unsuccessful, is deeply valued by Allah.
3. Focus on Small Acts of Goodness
- You may not erase all evil, but your small acts of kindness, compassion, and justice have immense worth.
- Focus your energy on improving the immediate environment around you—family, friends, community.
Even small improvements matter greatly.
4. Seek Spiritual Solace
- Strengthen your spiritual connection through prayer, Qur’anic reflection, and solitude.
Deep spirituality provides strength to endure worldly limitations. - Remind yourself regularly of the eternal rewards awaiting those who endure life’s hardships with patience and gratitude.
5. Embrace the Temporary Nature of Life
- Remember that life is short and temporary. Every injustice, limitation, and frustration will end.
- Trust in the eternal life promised by Allah, where complete peace, justice, and freedom await.
Why Should You Keep Living?
You asked, “Why should I keep living?”
Here’s the honest, comforting answer:
- You are here for a meaningful purpose, designed uniquely by Allah Himself.
- Your life—even amidst frustrations—is a precious opportunity to achieve eternal rewards through patience, compassion, and faith.
- Allah sees your struggles and cherishes every act of sincere kindness, every attempt at justice, and every moment of patience.
You might not destroy all evil or achieve everything you desire.
But your presence on earth, your sincere efforts, and your heart’s pure intentions are deeply valuable in the eyes of Allah.
Every breath you take, despite hardship, is an act of worship, rewarded infinitely in the Hereafter.
Finding Peace in Trusting Allah’s Ultimate Wisdom
Yes, eternal rest is appealing because it frees you from worldly limitations.
And yes, it’s okay—even comforting—to yearn for it.
But as long as Allah wills for you to remain here, trust that there’s immense wisdom behind it.
Your continued existence isn’t meaningless—it’s purposeful, precious, and profoundly rewarded.
Someday, Allah Himself will grant you the eternal rest you crave, in a place where every limitation is removed and every injustice corrected.
Until then, know that your presence, patience, and sincere intentions matter deeply, both in this world and beyond.
Conclusion: Embrace Life, Trust Allah, Await Eternal Rest
Your longing for eternal rest is valid and deeply understandable.
Life’s limitations can indeed feel overwhelming.
But take heart—these limitations hold divine purpose.
Your sincere heart, your frustration with injustice, and your earnest desire to do good are all seen and treasured by Allah.
While eternal rest awaits, embrace your time here with trust and patience.
Live with sincerity, do the good you can, and know that your efforts are never wasted.
Someday, when Allah grants you eternal rest, you will look back and realise that every moment of struggle was profoundly meaningful.
Until then, hold tight to your faith, trust Allah’s wisdom, and find peace in knowing your existence matters deeply—both here, and eternally beyond.
May Allah ease your burdens, grant you strength, and guide your heart toward lasting peace.
