Every human is in pursuit of happiness, whether it be a child, an adult, a Muslim or a non-Muslim, and this is a fact. To achieve this true happiness, one must comprehend what this emotion is. Happiness is ‘feeling, causing, or giving pleasure’ and it is being ‘satisfied’ according to the Oxford dictionary. It is essential to understand the psychology of happiness so we know how much of it we have control over. Allah says:
وَإِذَا ذُكِرَ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ اشْمَأَزَّتْ قُلُوبُ الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْآخِرَةِ وَإِذَا ذُكِرَ الَّذِينَ مِن دُونِهِ إِذَا هُمْ يَسْتَبْشِرُونَ
“And when Allah is mentioned Alone, shrink with aversion (the) hearts (of) those who (do) not believe in the Hereafter, and when are mentioned those besides Him, behold! They rejoice.” (Surah Az-Zumar 39:45)
The Islamic faith in itself is the best way of achieving happiness. In the form of Islam Allah has given the right frame of work which a Muslim has to follow to live life peacefully and happily. Muslims who learn Quran find meanings from it, and when they incorporate those meanings in their lives, they achieve happiness, regardless of whatever their idea of happiness is to them. Allah says:
مِنَ الَّذِينَ فَرَّقُوا دِينَهُمْ وَكَانُوا شِيَعًا كُلُّ حِزْبٍ بِمَا لَدَيْهِمْ فَرِحُونَ
Of those who divide their religion and become sects, each party in what they have rejoiced.” (Surah Ar-Rum 30:32)
The major problem behind stress and the barrier to happiness is that we as humans do a thing for pleasing others. All we ever want to do is to go for things that we think could please others and when they aren’t pleased as we expect them to be, it brings disappointment which then leads to stress and keeps the happiness away from us. Allah says:
وَقِيلَ لِلَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا مَاذَا أَنزَلَ رَبُّكُمْ قَالُوا خَيْرًا لِّلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا فِي هَٰذِهِ الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةٌ وَلَدَارُ الْآخِرَةِ خَيْرٌ وَلَنِعْمَ دَارُ الْمُتَّقِينَ
“And it will be said to those who consciously revere Allah, “What has your Lord sent down?” They will say, “Good.” For those who do good in this world (is) a good, and the home of the Hereafter (is) better. And surely excellent (is) the home (of) the righteous.” (Surah An-Nahl 16:30)
In Islam, everything revolves around the axis of God, including the goal in the mission of prophets and individuals’ goals of life. When we are not grateful for what we have then actually we are not appreciating what we have and if one cannot appreciate what he or she has then how possibly can they think of having more.
Islamic way of life, key principles of life according to Islam:
- Happiness helps us define our purpose and passions in life
- Happiness is an easy-going attitude and avoids anger
- Happiness is instrumental to get rid of the hardships
- Happiness endure all odds that hinder man’s way
- Happiness has more to do with the human heart
- Happiness brings your awareness and attention
- Happiness has more to do with the human mind
- Happiness fully engaged to live in the moment
- Happiness is a leading factor to direct the life
- Happiness comes from a genetic set point
- Happiness is to have self-confidence
- Happiness do what you love
- Happiness is to have a strong will
- Happiness celebrate little victories
- Happiness embrace the imperfection
- Happiness find your work-life balance
- Happiness focus on building a career
- Happiness engaging in creative activities
- Happiness looking for positives in your life
- Happiness is the dignity of all human being
- Happiness encourages people to be generous
- Happiness is a deeper appreciation for your life
- Happiness establish peace and justice in society
- Happiness enjoins upon its believers in purifying
- Happiness retrain your brain from a negative mindset
The approach of a Muslim should be that of pleasing Allah Almighty. The reason why one should strive to seek the pleasure of Allah is the fact that only He is the One who returns exponentially and any effort done in His way does not go unrewarded. Allah says:
وَمِن وَرَائِهِم بَرْزَخٌ إِلَى يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ
“(There) is a barrier before them till the Day they are raised (from their graves for judgment).” (Surah Al-Mu’minun, 23:100)
Allah is also perfectly wise. That is, He has endless wisdom. We understand this wisdom by seeing that everything in the universe is created by wisdom and purpose. It might be suggested that modern physics deals largely with unseen phenomena, but this would be to ignore their inherent qualities as discussed in Islamic thought: everything unseen is alive and aware.
Following are the factors which you can consider as tips for a happy life:
- Remembering Allah
- Talk with Allah SWT
- Calmness of Heart
- Be Thankful
- Satisfy Your Soul
- Eat Halal
- Expect Only From Allah
- Avoid Worldly Comparisons
- Serve Others and Maintain Relations
- Get Adequate Rest and Organize Your Life
The human being is captioned to be power-hungry, selfish and illusionistic. We are driven by goals that have no sensibilities, overpowered by inane desires and attracted to what is terrible and doomed. Time and again, human beings have proven that their understanding of life is based on false pretences and unreasonable assumptions of happiness.
To die as a Muslim with faith, one must also practice virtues of Islam (good practice) such as the 5 pillars of Islam.
- Faith: (“Laa ilaha illallah Muhammad Rasulullah.”) “There is no God except Allah, Muhammad is the messenger of Allah”, it must be believed in the heart and said by the mouth repeatedly to become habitual and do not forget at the time of accident or sleep or distress or death. A Muslim will not bow his head to anything living or nonliving to worship except Allah.
- Pray five times a day: (dawn, afternoon, evening, sunset and night).
- Pay Zakat: (poor man’s money Alms)
- Fasting one month in Ramadan
- Hajj: (pilgrimage to Mecca) once in a lifetime.
Promote brotherhood/sisterhood – feeling a part of a larger group gives us a sense of security and a safety net to fall onto in occasions of happiness and hardships. The concept of brotherhood and sisterhood is one of the central themes of Islam.
Allah Almighty says in The Holy Quran:
- “And consult them in the matter.” (Quran 3:159)
- “Is the reward for excellence (Ihsan) [anything] but excellence (Ihsan).” (Quran 10:26)
- “Seek the life to come using what God has granted you, but do not neglect your rightful share in this world. Do good to others as God has done well to you.” (Quran 28:77)
- “[Believers], you are the best community singled out for people: you order what is right, forbid what is wrong, and believe in God.” (Quran 3:110)
- “But We shall be sure to guide to Our ways those who strive hard for Our cause: God is with those who do good.” (Quran 29:69)
- “Wherever you people may be, death will overtake you, even if you are in the well-built fortresses.” (Quran 4:78)
- “So peace is upon me the day I was born, the day I die, and the day I shall be raised to life (again).” (Quran, 19:33)
- “Therefore remember Me (by praying, glorifying, etc.). I will remember you,” (Quran, 2:152)
The most invisible dimension of the human being reflects the divine light directly, while the bodily or visible dimension reflects it only dimly or not at all. Between the divine Spirit and the body stand many degrees of relatively invisible existence where the divine attributes manifest themselves in all sorts of mixtures and permuta-dons. This whole intermediate domain of the human microcosm is often called the soul or imagination. Allah says
مَن كَفَرَ فَعَلَيْهِ كُفْرُهُ وَمَنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا فَلِأَنفُسِهِمْ يَمْهَدُونَ
“Whoever disbelieves, then against him (is) his disbelief. And whoever does righteousness, then for themselves they are preparing,” (Surah Ar-Rum 30:44)
No matter whatever your definition of happiness is, if you adopt the instructions of Islam by truly believing in them, then happiness is quite achievable and you as a Muslim will be able to live life happily. Real happiness comes from the soul, if you are satisfied within then you will be happy with the outside world as well. Allah says:
مَن جَاءَ بِالْحَسَنَةِ فَلَهُ خَيْرٌ مِّنْهَا وَهُم مِّن فَزَعٍ يَوْمَئِذٍ آمِنُونَ
“Whoever comes with the good, then for him (will be) better than it, and they, from (the) terror (of) that Day (will be) safe.” (Surah An-Naml, 27:89)
The invisible realm is not found in the outward world of quantity and dispersion, but the inward world of quality and unification. It lies in that dimension of reality that stands beyond the inanimate realm on a curve ascending from life, to consciousness, to enlightenment, and beyond. May Allah (SWT) shower upon us His infinite mercy and grant us paradise. Amin
