Happiness is a feeling that resides in the heart. It is characterized by peace of mind, tranquillity, a sense of well-being, and a relaxed disposition. It comes as a result of proper behaviour, both inward and outward, and is inspired by strong faith. Happiness is directly related to one’s perception of control, the ability to be in conscious control of one’s life. Allah says:

فَأَقِمْ وَجْهَكَ لِلدِّينِ حَنِيفًا ۚ فِطْرَتَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي فَطَرَ النَّاسَ عَلَيْهَا ۚ لَا تَبْدِيلَ لِخَلْقِ اللَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

“Direct your face toward the religion inclining to truth. Adhere to the nature of Allah upon which he has created all people. No change should there be in the creation of Allah. That is the correct religion, but most people do not know.” (Surah Al-Ruum 30:30)

Faith is not only a means to attain happiness; it is also a means to ward off the things that prevent happiness. This is because the believer knows that he is going to be tried and tested throughout his life and that these trials are opportunities for him to put his faith into practice. Allah says:

أَرَأَيْتَ مَنِ اتَّخَذَ إِلَٰهَهُ هَوَاهُ أَفَأَنتَ تَكُونُ عَلَيْهِ وَكِيلًا أَمْ تَحْسَبُ أَنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ يَسْمَعُونَ أَوْ يَعْقِلُونَ ۚ إِنْ هُمْ إِلَّا كَالْأَنْعَامِ ۖ بَلْ هُمْ أَضَلُّ سَبِيلًا

“Have you seen the one who takes his own desire as his god? Then would you be responsible for him? Or do you think that most of them hear or reason? They are not but like cattle. Rather, they are even further astray from the right path.” (Surah Al-Furqan 25:43-44)

A person’s satisfaction with another depends on the esteem that he has for him. Allah is the greatest source of peace for the heart and the one whose remembrance can bring joy to the soul. Remembrance of Allah is the pleasure and comfort of the believer while attaining what benefits him and avoiding what harms him. The way to change is through the power of positive action and positive psychology. Positive Psychology + Positive Action = Positive Results: 

Islam is for the attainment of happiness, joy, satisfaction and eternal bliss and serenity. Steps to Happiness in Islam:

1. Happiness is doing the best works for the sake of God
2. Happiness is instrumental to get rid of the hardships
3. Happiness in  living between patience and gratitude
4. Happiness is helping people make their life easier
5. Happiness is to rejoice every single day of our life
6. Happiness endure all odds that hinder man’s way
7. Happiness has more to do with the human mind 
8. Happiness has more to do with the human heart
9. Happiness is to personal history and life status
10. Happiness is derived from intentional activity
11. Happiness is a leading factor to direct the life
12. Happiness is due to our demographic factors
13. Happiness is practices that we choose to do
14. Happiness is the key to satisfying your soul 
15. Happiness comes from a genetic set point
16. Happier people tend to have good families
17. Happiness comes from a genetic set point
18. Happiness is to have a strong will
19. Helping a neighbour, volunteering
20. Happiness is from discrete actions
21. Happiness is to have self-confidence
22. Happiness is due to our circumstances
23. Islam forbids hateful words and actions
24. Islam has the dignity of all human being
25. Islam commands love, mercy, and peace
26. Islam encourages people to be generous
27. Islam establish peace and justice in society
28. Islam enjoins upon its believers in purifying 

Happiness in Islam is simply not possible in a primitive psychological state governed by the ego-mind, by selfishness, the nafs, in which fear, drama, and conflict are necessary. Such is, in fact, the very antithesis of Islam. The key to happiness in Islam and in life is in selflessness. In fact, unhappiness and selfishness are proportionally related. Allah says:

وَأَمَّا مَنْ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهِ وَنَهَى النَّفْسَ عَنِ الْهَوَىٰ فَإِنَّ الْجَنَّةَ هِيَ الْمَأْوَىٰ

“As for him who feared to stand before his Lord and he restrained himself from his desires, then Paradise will be his refuge.” (Surah An-Naziat 79:40)

Life is not always as easy and simple as we would wish it to be. Quite the contrary, it goes from being easy to being very difficult, just like a person goes from being healthy to being ill or from being poor to being rich and vice versa. Man must constantly deal with these trials throughout his life. Allah says:

الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ فِي السَّرَّاءِ وَالضَّرَّاءِ وَالْكَاظِمِينَ الْغَيْظَ وَالْعَافِينَ عَنِ النَّاسِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ

“They are those who spend in charity during ease and hardship and who restrain their anger and pardon the people, for Allah loves the doers of good.” (Surah Ali Imran 3:134)

In this way, he can realize the noblest qualities that these trials demand from him, like patience, willpower, determination, courage, reliance upon Allah, industry, and good morals. Faith gives a person an ideal to strive for. His life is invested with a higher meaning that inspires him to work and expend his efforts in order to realize it.

Allah Almighty says in The Holy Quran:

• “Whosoever does a righteous good deed it is for (the benefit of) his own self, and whosoever does evil, it is against his own self, and your Lord is not at all unjust to (His) slaves.” (Qur’an 41: 46)
• “And (remember) when God proclaimed: ‘If you are grateful I will give you more (of My Blessings); but if you are ungrateful verily, My punishment is indeed severe.” (Quran 14:7)
• “Therefore, remember Me (God) and I will remember you, and be grateful to Me (for My countless Favours on you) and never be ungrateful to Me.” (Quran 2:152)
• “And remember! Your Lord caused to be declared: If ye are grateful, I will add more unto you.” (Surah Ibrahim Qur’an 14:5-7)
• “It is only Satan that suggests to you the fear of his allies. So, do not fear them, and fear Me if you are believers.” (Quran, 3: 175)
• “(He is) Lord of the East and the West. There is no god but He. Take Him therefore as Disposer of your Affairs.” (Quran, 73: 9)

Our faith, our belief in Allah, is an amazing source of happiness and joy. To have and feel Allah in our life can erase the darkness from our hearts. Turning to Him, we can find peace and contentment. The gift of faith can bestow us with a great determination to help and contribute to the Muslim community. Allah says:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اجْتَنِبُوا كَثِيرًا مِّنَ الظَّنِّ إِنَّ بَعْضَ الظَّنِّ إِثْمٌ ۖ وَلَا تَجَسَّسُوا وَلَا يَغْتَب بَّعْضُكُم بَعْضًا

“O you who believe, avoid much suspicion. Verily, some suspicion is sin, and do not spy or backbite each other.” (Surah Al-Hujurat 49:12)

Allah is waiting for you to do so. He is the All-Hearing, the Best Listener we can have. We can tell Him everything without that uncomfortable feeling we sometimes have with people because we are worried to burden them. Let’s try and make an effort every day to add a little bit more joy and a drop more happiness to our life. Make a conscious choice for a joyful and happy life today. Allah says:

مَّن كَانَ يُرِيدُ الْعَاجِلَةَ عَجَّلْنَا لَهُ فِيهَا مَا نَشَاءُ لِمَن نُّرِيدُ ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَا لَهُ جَهَنَّمَ يَصْلَاهَا مَذْمُومًا مَّدْحُورًا

“Whoever should desire the immediate life, We will hasten for him from it what We will to whom We intend. Then, We have made for him Hell in which he will enter to burn, censured and banished.” (Surah Al-Isra 17:18)

See all the beautiful things around you and feel the great number of blessings Allah has bestowed on you. Allah only wants the best for His servants and He will also give you what is best for you. Just ask Him to turn you in the direction that is best for you. May all readers and all Muslims and all people find true joy and happiness in their life. Ameen.