THE SEVEN GATES TO A GOOD LIFE

A Spiritual Reflection by Prof. Dr. Mustafa Cerić

European Muslims League (EML) – Introduction

The European Muslims League is pleased to share a profound spiritual reflection by Prof. Dr. Mustafa Cerić, former Grand Mufti of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a distinguished Islamic scholar and an internationally respected voice for interreligious dialogue, human dignity and peace.

Entitled “The Seven Gates to a Good Life”, this reflection offers 35 guiding principles organised around seven essential dimensions of human existence: happiness, respect, personal growth, family harmony, daily discipline, goodness towards others and closeness to Allah Almighty.

At a time when humanity faces increasing divisions, uncertainty and spiritual challenges, these teachings remind us that peace begins within the individual and becomes visible through kindness, responsibility, compassion and respect for others.

The European Muslims League welcomes this contribution as a meaningful invitation to rediscover the moral and spiritual values that unite humanity.

Alfredo Maiolese
President – European Muslims League (EML)

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THE SEVEN GATES TO A GOOD LIFE

Mustafa Cerić

Daily Reflection: A Moral Guide to Serenity of the Soul, Nobility of the Heart, and Closeness to Allah, the Most Merciful

Every morning, a person is given a new opportunity to improve something within themselves and do something good for those around them. Sometimes, we let that opportunity pass us by while waiting for major events, more favourable circumstances, or people who will understand us. Yet life most often changes through what is already within our reach: a smile we can offer, a word we can soften, a responsibility we can fulfil, and a supplication we can make.

Before us are seven groups of simple reminders, each containing five guiding principles. Their value does not lie merely in remembering beautiful words. It begins when those words become part of our conduct.

For spiritual maturity is reflected in how we live with others, endure life’s trials, and give thanks to Allah Almighty for what has been entrusted to us.

Five Things That Nourish Our Happiness

A smile, gratitude, rest, good company, and helping others.

A smile is a small gift through which we tell another person: your presence is not a burden to me. In a world of worried faces and hasty judgements, a gentle smile can open the door to trust. Yet someone who is grieving need not conceal their pain to deserve our love. The most beautiful smile emerges where the soul feels safe enough to be honest.

Gratitude teaches us to notice what we have grown accustomed to receiving and have consequently stopped seeing: water, bread, a home, a friendly voice, and the opportunity to correct a mistake. A grateful person can aspire to something better while remaining mindful of the good they already possess.

Rest, too, is part of our responsibility. The body has its limits, and an exhausted soul finds it harder to preserve gentleness. Allowing ourselves a moment of respite means preserving the strength needed to fulfil the trust placed in our care.

We recognise good company by the fact that, after spending time with such people, we feel more inclined towards truth and goodness. They know how to comfort us, but also how to offer a warning without humiliating us. Helping others, meanwhile, gives life a broader meaning: as we lighten another person’s burden, we discover that our own lives, too, can become a source of hope for someone else.

Five Things on Which Respect Is Built

Truthfulness, trustworthiness, good manners, loyalty, and respect.

Truthfulness means being willing to forgo an advantage we might gain through a lie. It is especially valuable when a person acknowledges their own mistake. At that moment, truth ceases to be a demand we place on others and becomes the measure of our own character.

Amanah means that whatever has been entrusted to us is safe in our hands: another person’s words, property, honour, work, or a shared responsibility. A person who honours this trust fulfils their duties conscientiously, even when no one is watching.

Good manners give truth a dignified expression. It is possible to be firm without being harsh and to disagree without insulting others. Loyalty, in turn, preserves a grateful memory: it does not forget a benefactor once they are no longer needed, nor abandon a friend when difficult times arrive.

Respect is most clearly demonstrated in how we treat those from whom we expect no benefit. The way we speak to a worker, a person living in poverty, an older person, or someone whose views differ from our own reveals how deeply we understand human dignity.

Five Things That Make Us Better

Learning, work, patience, change, and progress.

Learning begins with a humble admission: there is still much I do not know. Such an admission opens the door to wisdom and protects us from the kind of self-confidence that no longer listens.

Work gives knowledge its fruits. However beautiful our intentions may be, they require hands to bring them to life, time devoted to their fulfilment, and a willingness to accept responsibility for the consequences of our actions.

Sabr teaches us to endure the journey between effort and its rewards. It encompasses perseverance, self-control, and sound judgement. When confronted with injustice, sabr helps us seek a way forward without losing our moral direction.

Change requires the courage to reconsider a habit, a judgement, or an action. Admitting that we were wrong can mark the beginning of healing a relationship. Progress, in turn, means becoming more capable, more just, and more considerate towards those affected by our decisions.

At the end of the day, it is worth asking ourselves: Have I learned something today, and have I treated someone better because of it?

Five Things That Bring Happiness into the Home

Love, respect, cooperation, communication, and tolerance accompanied by a willingness to forgive.

A home acquires warmth through everyday actions. Love can be heard in the question, “How are you?”—when we have the patience to listen to the answer. It can be seen in our attentiveness to another person’s exhaustion and in the time we give them.

Respect preserves the dignity of everyone in the household, especially in moments of disagreement. Closeness gives us the opportunity to know another person’s weaknesses; morality obliges us not to use those weaknesses as weapons.

Cooperation means sharing responsibilities fairly. A household becomes more peaceful when its members notice the work that needs to be done and the burden that someone has been carrying alone for too long.

Communication prevents silence from turning into estrangement. We must speak clearly, but also listen without preparing our next accusation. Forgiveness opens the way to reconciliation when accompanied by an acknowledgement of the hurt caused and a willingness to change. Where hurtful behaviour is repeated, clear boundaries are also necessary to protect safety and dignity.

Let our homes be places where no one is afraid to admit weakness or ask for help.

Five Things That Bring Order to Our Day

Rising early, performing the Fajr prayer, organising our time, working with enthusiasm, and going to bed early.

The morning carries a special stillness. Those who can greet it well-rested have an opportunity to begin the day with a clear mind, before numerous obligations demand their attention.

The Fajr prayer gives this beginning a spiritual direction. Standing before Allah, we are reminded that our time has value and that our actions carry responsibility.

Organising our time means making room for worship, work, family, and rest. Enthusiasm for work comes more readily when we know what matters to us and have a realistic task before us. Going to bed early, whenever life’s circumstances and work commitments allow, helps us preserve the strength we need for the following day.

Let us practise these habits wisely, taking into account each person’s health, age, and responsibilities. Their purpose is to help us lead a more orderly and meaningful life.

Five Things Through Which Goodness Becomes Visible

Helping people, respecting older people, showing gentleness towards children, forgiving others, and speaking kind words.

Goodness becomes real when we make someone’s life easier. Help is most noble when it preserves the dignity of the person receiving it and does not make them feel perpetually indebted to us.

We show respect to older people by being patient with their speech, their slower pace, and their need to be heard. Towards children, we show a gentleness that teaches them to trust. A child needs guidance and boundaries, but also the assurance that a mistake will not become a reason for humiliation.

Forgiveness can free the heart from the prolonged burden of bitterness. It is a deeply personal journey and should never be imposed upon the person who has been hurt. Justice, protection, and accountability retain their indispensable place.

Kind words belong to every one of these acts. Sometimes they take the form of encouragement, sometimes an apology, and sometimes a quiet sentence: “I am here. I am listening.”

Five Things That Bring Us Closer to Allah, the Most Merciful

Salah, recitation of the Qur’an, dhikr, the pursuit of knowledge, and sadaqah.

Salah, the ritual prayer, regularly brings us back to an awareness of Allah and invites us to reflect on our lives. We should nurture its influence even after the concluding salutation of prayer, allowing it to be reflected in our honesty, gentleness, and sense of responsibility.

Reciting the Qur’an calls for the attention of the tongue, the mind, and the heart. As we read, let us ask ourselves what change the words we have read require of us and how we can bring that change into our relationships.

Dhikr, the remembrance of Allah, nurtures an awareness of His presence amid our daily activities. The pursuit of knowledge deepens our understanding and teaches us humility in the face of what we have yet to learn. Sadaqah, voluntary charity, gives this awareness a tangible expression: from what has been bestowed upon us, we set aside something to make life easier for another person.

Thus, worship and morality meet in a single life: in a person who turns to Allah and treats His creation with care.

We do not have to change everything today. We can begin with one sincere apology, one responsibility fulfilled, one attentive conversation, and one good deed that no one will see.

O Allah, the Most Merciful, grant us grateful hearts, truthful tongues, and trustworthy hands. Bring love into our homes, order into our days, and gentleness into our relationships. Teach us knowledge that is beneficial, and help us put it into practice. Accept our small good deeds and make us a source of relief for those we encounter.