Jazib Mehmood, Jamia Ahmadiyya International Ghana
The Mirror of Erised is a magical object introduced in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. This enchanted mirror shows the deepest, most desperate desires of one’s heart rather than a person’s reflection.
So for Harry, it reveals his longing to reunite with his deceased parents; whereas for others, like his friend Ron, it displays their dreams of glory and success.
In the book, Dumbledore – the headmaster of the school Harry attends – explains to Harry that the mirror can be dangerous because people might become obsessed with the visions it shows. He says, “However, this mirror will give us neither knowledge or truth. Men have wasted away before it, entranced by what they have seen, or been driven mad, not knowing if what it shows is real or even possible.”
Thus, the mirror’s true purpose is to reveal desires, not to grant them; making it a powerful yet treacherous artefact.
Later in the book, Dumbledore cleverly uses this mirror as part of his protection of the Philosopher’s Stone – a stone that can grant the possessor eternal life. He places a spell on it so that only someone who wants to find the Stone for unselfish reasons – i.e. find the stone without intending to use it – can retrieve it.
This is why Harry is able to obtain the Stone while looking into the mirror, as his desire is to keep it away from Voldemort (an evil wizard) rather than use it for himself. In contrast, the evil wizard Voldemort cannot acquire the Stone because his desire is driven by selfish ambition and the pursuit of immortality.
A profound lesson
The story of the Mirror of Erised serves as a profound metaphor for the dangers of materialism and the seductive nature of desire. The mirror’s ability to captivate its viewers reflects how people can become entranced by the pursuit of their deepest longings, often mistaking these desires for genuine fulfilment.
The evil characters in Harry Potter are consumed by their desire for power and immortality, which ultimately leads to their downfall. In the same way, the people of the world also lose themselves in the pursuit of wealth, status, or possessions.
The concept of this magical mirror tells us that material aspirations can lead people to fixate on illusions, believing that achieving these desires will bring happiness. But, just as Dumbledore warns, becoming obsessed with what the mirror shows can prevent people from living their actual lives, leaving them endlessly chasing something they can never truly possess.
Leave this world and you will find it
In line with the analogy from Harry Potter, it is clear that the only people worthy of possessing this world are those who have abandoned their desire for it. Harry’s ability to retrieve the Philosopher’s Stone where others failed highlights the moral that true contentment and worth are not found in the pursuit of selfish gains. Harry doesn’t covet the Stone for himself; rather, he wants to protect it to prevent harm; this is why he is able to possess the stone.
This reminds me of a key Islamic principle. The Promised Messiahas states:
“Once I saw Allah the Exalted in the form of a [human] manifestation in a vision. Putting His hand around my neck, He said:
جے توں ميرا ہو رہيں سب جگ تيرا ہو
“‘If you will be devoted to Me, the whole world will be yours.’
“This is the formula that has been tried by all Prophets, Auliya’ [Saints], and the Righteous. The ignorant abandon this formula and wander aimlessly in search for roots and shrubs. If they had exerted the same effort in the search of the Creator of these roots and shrubs, they would have achieved all their desired goals.” (Malfuzat [English], Vol. 9, pp. 236-237)
From this, it is clear that if we abandon our desire for this world and seek Allah wholeheartedly, this world and its many blessings will eventually become ours – but in this case, we will be worthy of their possession.
During Jamia Ahmadiyya International Ghana’s virtual meeting with Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih Vaa, Huzoor advised:
“Therefore, supplicate to Allah the Exalted in your sujood [prostrations] that He may grant you His nearness.
جو تم سے مانگتا ہوں وہ دولت تمہی تو ہو
“‘You are the very wealth that I seek and I implore from You alone.’”
Huzooraa further states:
“Pray to Allah and say, ‘You are the wealth which I seek; I do not need any money, nor do I need any worldly material. I only implore You of attaining Your nearness and when I will attain Your nearness, then worldly wealth and worldly luxuries will naturally become subservient to me and my spirituality will increase.’” (“What is the best way to attain the nearness of God?”, www.alhakam.org, 3 December 2021)
Allah’s warning to humanity
This is what Islam teaches us. Do not covet the world, Allah states. The Holy Quran repeatedly cautions believers to avoid being consumed by worldly gains. We read:
“Know that the life of this world is only a sport and a pastime, and an adornment, and [a source of] boasting among yourselves, and [of] rivalry in multiplying riches and children.” (Surah al-Hadid, Ch.57:V.20)
In the same verse, Allah describes the life of this world in this manner:
“[This life is] like the rain the vegetation produced whereby rejoices the tillers. Then it dries up and thou seest it turn yellow; then it becomes broken pieces [of straw]. And in the Hereafter there is severe punishment, and [also] forgiveness from Allah, and [His] pleasure. And the life of this world is nothing but [temporary] enjoyment of deceitful things.”
This emphasises that the glitter of worldly life is transient, like plants that flourish momentarily but soon wither away, serving as a reminder that material pursuits are temporary and ultimately unsatisfying.
Speaking of the people of the world, the Promised Messiahas states:
“No one should be misled by the fact that disbelievers possess wealth, riches and property as well, and live in pleasure, engrossed in their luxury and enjoyment. I tell you truthfully that these people appear happy only in the eyes of the world, rather, only in the eyes of despicable materialists and those taken by outward appearances. In actuality, these people are burning from within and are drowned in grief. You look at the faces of these people, but I see their hearts.” (Malfuzat [English], Vol. 2, pp. 134-135)
Warning of the perils of greed, the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa stated:
“If the son of Adam were given a valley full of gold, he would love to have a second one; and if he were given the second one, he would love to have a third, for nothing fills the belly of Adam’s son except dust.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab ar-riqaq, Bab ma uttaqa min fitnati al-maal, Hadith 6446)
From this narration, we realise that the glitter of this world is truly just dust in the wind. Describing what true richness meant, Prophet Muhammadsa said:
“Richness is not having many possessions, but richness is being content with oneself.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab ar-riqaq, Bab al-ghina ghina an-nafs, Hadith 6446)
True happiness is for true believers
The Holy Prophetsa also described believers in a rather interesting way once. He said:
“A disbeliever eats in seven intestines while a believer eats in one alone.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-at’imah, Bab al-mu’min ya’kulu fi mi`an wahidin, Hadith 5394)
By this, Huzoorsa meant that whereas a disbeliever is forever engrossed in the pleasures of this world, a true believer limits his physical needs only to the extent necessary for the sustenance of life, for he finds true delight in religion alone.
In this world, the thing everyone truly desires is peace and happiness. Those who ponder over this realise that their desire to seek riches or fame is ultimately driven by their deep need for a sense of peace. This reminds one of the verse in the Holy Quran which states:
“But for him who fears to stand before his Lord there are two Gardens.” (Surah ar-Rahman, Ch.55: V.47)
This means that it is only a God-fearing person who finds happiness in this world as well as the next. Explaining how the concept of righteousness and a relationship with Allah is tied to happiness in this world, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the Promised Messiahas states:
“True enjoyment from the pleasurable things of this world can only develop when there is true righteousness accompanying it.” (Malfuzat, 2016, Vol. 3, p. 131)
He further states:
“The truth is that the person who has a relationship with God, he is the one who, in every respect, enjoys a life in paradise [i.e., a life of true happiness]. This is because God is omnipotent and He has the power to keep away from a person all manner of difficulties as well as the power to protect him against suffering caused by financial problems. Should such problems ever arise, then God grants the capacity to face them with courage and strength.” (Ibid.)
Finally, explaining the ultimate objective of life on earth, Huzooras states:
“In short, life is nothing but to safeguard oneself against bad deeds and to trust in God because he who places his trust in God before a trouble confronts him, he it is who is helped by God in time of trouble. He who sleeps before trouble strikes him, is destroyed at the time of trouble. […]
In short, true joy is a provision from God which is not given to those who remain outside the pale of obedience to God.” (Malfuzat, 2016, Vol.3, pp. 131-135)
The mirror mentioned in Harry Potter can help us understand that we can never truly achieve happiness in this world without first letting go of all desire for this world. True righteousness alone can lead us to safely attaining the treasures of this world and the hereafter.