I will not elaborate further, as the lessons here speak for themselves, and demonstrate the importance of discernment in sensitive times, the danger of offering uninformed advice, and the distinction between momentary pleasure and lasting happiness. The following three accounts each carry a distinct message - the first highlights the virtue of prudence, the second warns against giving counsel without experience, and the third explores the illusions we often mistake for true well-being.

After four decades of conflict, Al-Zeer Salem Al-Muhalhil had aged, his posture was stooped, his hair had turned white, and the weight of countless wars had left him profoundly weary. Determined to travel, he set out on a journey across the lands, with provisions and two slaves provided by his nephew to assist him. As the journey wore on, the two slaves grew exhausted from the arduous trek. They secretly conspired to kill him and report his death to his family.

However, Al-Muhalhil sensed their intentions. He turned to them and said, “If my death is to come, I ask that you deliver my will to my family and swear to honor and uphold it.” Upon reaching the area, recite these verses to my family: “Who will tell the people that Al-Muhalhil has died? Well done, you have fulfilled your task.” The slaves solemnly swore to deliver the message faithfully. He repeated the two verses to them until they had committed them to memory. When night fell, they killed him, buried his body, and returned home. On their way back, the two slaves ran into Adi and Yamamah, the nephews of the late poet. They informed them of his death and recited the verses he had asked them to deliver. Upon hearing the lines, Adi was taken aback and said, “My uncle never composed such weak poetry in his life.” Yamamah, the daughter of Al-Muhalhil’s brother Kulayb, used to complete verses with her uncle.

He would recite the first half, and she would reply with the second. She turned to the two slaves and said, “Repeat to me exactly what my uncle said.” After he recited them again, Yamamah completed them by saying, “Who will tell the people that Al-Muhalhil has died? “Was slain, slain in the desert. “Well done, you have fulfilled your task. “The two servants will not leave until they are killed.”

The two slaves were arrested and subjected to severe torture and beatings until they confessed to killing Al- Muhalhil and burying him. The two slaves were executed immediately, and thus Al-Muhalhil had exacted his revenge both during his lifetime and after his death.

Everyone is wise ... until the story is their own. When Wa’il ibn Rabi’ah was killed, Al-Harith ibn ‘Abbad said, “Blood money for the noble is an apology.” But when his own son, Jubayr, was slain, his tone changed: “I will kill for him as many as there are pebbles, stars, and grains of sand in the world.” Everyone is wise when it is not their story. Everyone is generous when it is not their wealth. Everyone is patient when it is not their calamity. Everyone is brave when it is not their battle. Refrain from passing judgment on what you have not experienced. Do not criticize the one who is drowning while you stand safely on dry land. And do not judge others until you have walked through their storm.

The Difference Between Happiness and Pleasure. Many people struggle to understand the difference between pleasure and happiness. Pleasure is temporary, while happiness is permanent. Pleasure is rooted in the physical, while happiness comes from the spiritual. Pleasure is something you take; happiness is something you give. You can find pleasure in harmful things like drugs or other vices, but happiness can never come from destructive things. Pleasure is often experienced alone.

Happiness, on the other hand, is shared. While too much pleasure can lead to addiction, whether to drugs or behaviors, there is no such thing as being addicted to too much happiness.

Finally, and most importantly, pleasure comes from dopamine, and happiness from serotonin. One of the things that lowers serotonin is an excess of dopamine. So the more you chase pleasure, the more unhappy you are likely to become. Las Vegas, Madison Avenue, Wall Street, Silicon Valley, and Washington, D.C. have all played a role in blurring the lines between happiness and pleasure. They have confused us to the point that we believe we can buy happiness, when in fact we are certainly unhappy.