Humans, today, look for happiness and satisfaction in material things. But a matter of fact is such happiness does not last long. If you buy a new house, for example, it will bring you happiness but after a while, even a thing on you which you spent a fortune and that has stayed so close to you, will lose its charm. We need something that will bring lasting peace to our hearts. Allah says:

الَّذِينَ يَجْتَنِبُونَ كَبَائِرَ الْإِثْمِ وَالْفَوَاحِشَ إِلَّا اللَّمَمَ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ وَاسِعُ الْمَغْفِرَةِ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِكُمْ إِذْ أَنشَأَكُم مِّنَ الْأَرْضِ وَإِذْ أَنتُمْ أَجِنَّةٌ فِي بُطُونِ أُمَّهَاتِكُمْ فَلَا تُزَكُّوا أَنفُسَكُمْ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنِ اتَّقَىٰ

“Those who avoid great sins and the immoralities except the small faults; indeed, your Lord (is) vast (in) forgiveness. He (is) most knowing about you when He produced you from the earth and when you (were) fetuses in (the) wombs (of) your mothers. So (do) not ascribe purity (to) yourselves. He knows best (he) who consciously reveres.” (Surah An-Najm 53:32)

The Quran is the source of glory and happiness for the Ummah, the basis of knowledge, action, and tranquillity, and the spring of steadfastness at the time of conflicting ideas and changing concepts. It is the fortified dam in facing temptations, allegations, and desires. Allah says:

وَنُنَزِّلُ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ مَا هُوَ شِفَاءٌ وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَلَا يَزِيدُ الظَّالِمِينَ إِلَّا خَسَارًا

“And We send down of the Qur’an that which is healing and mercy for the believers, but it does not increase the wrongdoers except in loss.” (Surah Al-Isra 17:82)

Allah has created humans and He knows the needs of our hearts well. It is in the words and remembrance of our Creator that we find satisfaction. Quran is a form of mercy and kindness from Allah Subhana Wa Ta’ala because it cures one of the discomforts of heat and emptiness. Allah says:

مَّا يَفْعَلُ اللَّهُ بِعَذَابِكُمْ إِن شَكَرْتُمْ وَآمَنتُمْ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ شَاكِرًا عَلِيمًا

“What would Allah do by punishing you if you are grateful and you believe? And Allah is All-Appreciative, All-Knowing.” (Surah An-Nisa` 4:147)

Here are some “scientifically” proven ways to increase happiness:

1. Happiness is to personal history and life status
2. Happiness is derived from intentional activity
3. Happiness is due to our demographic factors
4. Happiness is practices that we choose to do
5. Happiness is the key to satisfying your soul 
6. Happier people tend to have good families
7. Happiness comes from a genetic set point
8. Happiness is due to our circumstances
9. Happiness is from discrete actions
10. Islam has infinite value for all
11. Islam has the sanctity of human life
12. Islam considers all life forms as sacred
13.  Put money low on your list of priorities
14. Islam forbids hateful words and actions
15. Islam has the dignity of all human being
16. Islam commands love, mercy, and peace
17. Islam encourages people to be generous
18. Islam establish peace and justice in society
19. Islam enjoins upon its believers in purifying 
20. Islam has no schisms between human beings

Nothing can make us happier than seeking the pleasure of Allāh. Allāh tells us in Qurʾān about what is the greatest happiness, calling it a ‘supreme success’  and about the people who deserve this supreme success. The more Thankful we are to Allāh, the more He will shower His bounties upon us. Appreciation of what Allāh has blessed you with is vital for this step to be achieved. This is indeed an act of worship. Allah says:

إِنَّ مَثَلَ عِيسَىٰ عِندَ اللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ آدَمَ خَلَقَهُ مِن تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ كُن فَيَكُونُ

“Indeed, (the) likeness (of) Isa near Allah (is) like (the) likeness (of) Adam. He created him from dust then He said to him, “Be,” and he was.” (Surah Al-Imran 3:59 25:63)

Motivational Verses from the Quran

Despite technical advancement, the prosperity of industries and inventions and the new world order, the world today is failing with all its organizations, institutions and innovations to bring happiness to humankind or provide it with security and comfort. Allah says:

وَلَقَدْ يَسَّرْنَا الْقُرْآنَ لِلذِّكْرِ فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍ

“And certainly We have made easy the Quran for remembrance, so is (there) any who will receive admonition?” (Surah Al-Qamar 54:17)

Here are the ratios of the disease of the age; anxiety and depression, increasing day after day. Here are also the ratios of poverty, ignorance, hunger, killing, suicide as well as the collapse of values, principles, and morals multiplying year after year. Allah says:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِن تَتَّقُوا اللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّكُمْ فُرْقَانًا وَيُكَفِّرْ عَنكُمْ سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ وَاللَّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ

“O you who believe! If you consciously revere Allah, He will grant you a criterion and will remove from you your evil deeds and forgive you. And Allah (is) the Possessor of bounty, the Great.” (Surah Al-Anfal 8:29 )

At such a time, all of us need the Quran to strengthen our faith and certainty so that we keep steadfast before such desires and challenges. Each Muslim needs the Quran to reassure him when he feels alienated, soothe him when he is afflicted with a disaster, create hope in him. when he is distressed or suffers from the despair of the Mercy of Allah and warn and frighten him when he is overcome with fancies and lusts. Allah says:

وَمَا كُنتَ تَتْلُو مِن قَبْلِهِ مِن كِتَابٍ وَلَا تَخُطُّهُ بِيَمِينِكَ إِذًا لَّارْتَابَ الْمُبْطِلُونَ

“And not (did) you recite before it, any Book, and not (did) you write it with your right hand, in that case surely (would) have doubted the falsifiers.” (Surah Al-`Ankabut 29:48)

The Quran is the source of lighting the heart as well as life and remedy for souls. The Quran achieves happiness for the human, spreads security and tranquillity and provides glory, prosperity, and safety. Allah says:

الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ

“Those who believed and find satisfaction their hearts in the remembrance (of) Allah. No doubt, in the remembrance of Allah find satisfaction the hearts.” (Surah Ar-Ra’d 13:28)

We must recite Quran regularly and try to understand the messages it has by either learning Arabic or by reading translations; we will be bestowed with the best of this life and the hereafter, In Shaa Allah.

Allah Almighty says in The Holy Quran:

• “(Other) faces that Day will be joyful.” (Surah Al-Ghashiyya, 8)
• “And those who are blessed shall be in the Garden: They will dwell therein for all the time that the heavens and the earth endure, except as thy Lord willeth: a gift without break.” (Surah Hud, 108)
• “Say, (O Muhammad, to mankind): If ye love Allah, follow me; Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.” (Quran 3:31)
• “The day it arrives, no soul shall speak except by His leave: of those (gathered) some will be wretched and some will be blessed.” (Surah Hud, 105)
• “And We have not sent you (O Muhammad SAW) except as a giver of glad tidings and a warner to all mankind, but most of the men know not.” (Quran 34:28)
• “No disaster strikes except by permission of Allah. And whoever believes in Allah – He will guide his heart. And Allah is Knowing of all things.” (Quran 64:11)
• “And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient.” (Quran 2:155)

Work on activities that result in internal happiness that satisfy and bring a smile to the heart, not merely a smile on the face by doing meaningful work; strive to partake in activities like feeding the poor, assisting the distressed and helping others rather than killing your resources like time and money. Allah says:

وَيَزِيدُ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ اهْتَدَوْا هُدًى وَالْبَاقِيَاتُ الصَّالِحَاتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ مَّرَدًّا

“And Allah increases those who accept guidance, (in) guidance. And the everlasting good deeds (are) better near your Lord (for) reward and better (for) return.” (Surah Maryam 19:76)

Happiness is not only intense joy, but it also involves contentment.  In the next article, we will examine the role of happiness in Islam and discover that following the commandments of God is the path to righteousness, contentment, and happiness. Allah says:

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمُ اتَّبِعُوا مَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ قَالُوا بَلْ نَتَّبِعُ مَا أَلْفَيْنَا عَلَيْهِ آبَاءَنَا أَوَلَوْ كَانَ آبَاؤُهُمْ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَهْتَدُونَ

“And when it is said to them, “Follow what has revealed Allah,” they said, “Nay we follow what we found [on it] our forefathers (following)”. Even though [were] their forefathers (did) not understand anything and nor were they guided?” (Surah l-Baqarah 2:170)

Happy people…see possibilities, opportunities, and success.  When they think of the future, they are optimistic, and when they review the past, they tend to savour the high points. Remembrance of Allah SWT is indeed the best source of attaining happiness of heart and spirit as it draws one near to Him, increases faith, causes pardoning of sins and acceptance of prayers.