Holy Quran
2:57 We shaded you with clouds, and sent down to you manna and quails, "Eat from the goodness of the provisions We have provided you." They did not wrong Us, but they wronged themselves.
2:58 We said, "Enter this town, and eat from it as plentifully as you wish; and enter the gate humbly, and talk amicably, We will then forgive your mistakes, and We will increase for the good-doers."
2:59 But the wicked altered what was said to them into a different saying, thus We sent down upon the wicked an affliction from the sky because they had transgressed.
2:60 Moses was seeking water for his people, so We said, "Strike the rock with your staff." Thus, twelve springs burst out of it; each tribe then knew from where to drink. "Eat and drink from God's provisions, and do not roam the earth as corruptors."
2:61 You said, "O Moses, we will not be patient to one type of food, so call for us your Lord that He may bring forth what the earth grows of its beans, cucumbers, garlic, lentils, and onions." He said, "Would you trade what is lowly with what is good?" Descend to Egypt, there you will find what you want. They were thus stricken with humiliation and disgrace, and they remained under God's wrath for they were not appreciating God's signs, and killing the prophets with no justification. This is for what they have disobeyed and transgressed
Here, the Israelites do not like manna, an extraordinary food specially produced for them, and they want to turn to other foods of inferior quality.
At first glance this may seem to some to be "wanting variety and richness". But no, a hundred kinds of tents are not worth one luxury villa or castle. If you choose a hundred kinds of tents over a castle, you are choosing poverty and misery, not riches.
"Exchanging an inferior blessing for a superior one" is self-cruelty.
And choosing misery and oppression over happiness and pleasure is deviation.
So self-persecution is not virtue, it is cruelty.
So we have to choose the good, the beautiful and the happy for ourselves and for all humanity.
The way to go to heaven in the hereafter is to offer beauty to ourselves and humanity in this world.
In other words, avoiding suffering and evil.
The Qur'an "shows what are the 'true interests' of human beings" and "shows the means of achieving these interests, of attaining lasting salvation. "
Some of the commands and prohibitions that seem like sacrifices are actually desires that in the long run provide pleasure and benefit both in this world and in the hereafter.
Those who play chess know well that you can bait a queen and checkmate your opponent after a few moves. Taking that queen may seem like a win for the opponent at the time, but after a few moves it will turn into a great misery for him.
The Qur'an warns people against such traps, and shows them how to "checkmate", that is, how to win in the end and avoid suffering.
(My Turkish article translated with machine)
https://emre1974tr.blogspot.com/2011/07/izdrap-degil-mutluluk-secilmelidir.html?m=0Peace
