The Quest of a Curious Muslim — Page 63
63 which equates to 212 hospitalizations every single day. 35 To put it into perspective, this was more than the hospitalizations caused by heart attack. Out of these, 4,000 result in death every year. 36 Similarly, regarding the pursuit of pleasure, Dr. Susan Krauss notes, “Researchers examining the mental health associations of hookup sex report that participants who were not depressed before showed more depressive symptoms and loneliness”. 37 A lifestyle involving hookup sex, alcohol, dancing, taking drugs, and parties with free-mixing of the sexes is definitely “fun” in the moment. But, we ask: Is this fun really worth it despite the increase in depression, anxiety, hospitalizations, and even suicide? The rules in Islam are meant to make life more pleasant and heaven-like. Islam sees the larger picture and a life lived to its fullest potential with the greatest possible happiness. The Promised Messiah as writes, “Does he who owns a treasure, weep, cry and become sorrowful unto death over the loss of a single coin? Had you been aware of this treasure and knew that at every time of need God is