Happiness is a habit. True happiness will never be achieved without enduring trials and tribulations. It is incumbent upon every Muslim to exercise it to compel himself into obedience to Allah. Gratitude is one virtue that can keep you happy. Be thankful to the universe for all that you have. The guidelines provided by Islam help us seek happiness in this world. Humanity is desperately looking for the solution to all the problems the world is facing today at every front. Allah says:
يُثَبِّتُ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِالْقَوْلِ الثَّابِتِ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ وَيُضِلُّ اللَّ
“Allah keeps firm those who believe with the firm word in the life (of) the world and in the Hereafter. And Allah lets go astray the wrongdoers. And Allah does what He wills.” (Surah Ibrahim 14:27)
Happiness is most commonly defined as the continued feeling or state of delight, contentment, enjoyment, satisfaction, generosity, arising from the contentment of one’s self, life, and belief that one will have a blissful destiny. It is very imperative to emphasize the necessity of adopting contentment as a way of living because it is expressive of richness, happiness, tranquillity, and satisfaction. Allah says:
لَهُمُ الْبُشْرَىٰ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ لَا تَبْدِيلَ لِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ
“For them (are) the glad tidings in the life (of) the world and in the Hereafter. (There can be) no change in the Words of Allah. That is the success the great.” (Surah Yunus 10:64)
Happiness is the only goal on earth that all people without exception are seeking to attain. Believers and unbelievers alike seek to be happy. Truly you can get through anything in life if you cling to this Book. If you keep remembering the promises of Allah and the truth of His being. All other matters, they might prick, astonish, astound, but for no longer than a lingering moment, like a hot breeze passing by. Allah says:
مَنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا مِّن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَىٰ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَلَنُحْيِيَنَّهُ حَيَاةً طَيِّبَةً وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْرَهُم بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ
“Whoever does righteous deeds whether male or female while he (is) a believer, then surely We will give him l a life good, and We will pay them their reward to (the) best of what they used (to) do.” (Surah An-Nahl 16:97)
The key to happiness is acknowledging the power of Allah, accepting His Divine Decree. A seeker of true happiness always depends on his Creator, Almighty God, needing Him for everything: His guidance, sustenance, provisions, and countless physical, spiritual blessings.
KEY TO HAPPINESS IN ISLAM – THE SECRET TO A HAPPY LIFE:
- 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 fully engaged to live in the moment
- Happiness is a leading factor to direct the life
- Happiness comes from a genetic set point
- Happiness focus on building a career
- Happiness is to have self-confidence
- Happiness celebrate little victories
- Happiness do what you love
- Happiness is to have a strong will
- Happiness embrace the imperfection
- Happiness find your work-life balance
- 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 has more to do with the human mind
- Happiness establish peace and justice in society
- Happiness enjoins upon its believers in purifying
- Happiness retrain your brain from a negative mindset
Many people attempt to follow complex paths to achieve happiness. However, they fail to see the easier path that is Islam. Happiness can be achieved by sincere worship, competing to do righteous good deeds, and by performing acts of kindness or giving charity, bringing a smile to the face of a child. These things have the potential to make our hearts truly happy. Allah says:
اللَّهُ يَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَاءُ وَيَقْدِرُ وَفَرِحُوا بِالْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا فِي الْآخِرَةِ إِلَّا مَتَاعٌ
“Allah extends the provision for whom He wills and restricts. And they rejoice in the life (of) the world and nothing (is) the life of the world in (comparison to) the Hereafter, except an enjoyment.” (Surah Ar-Rad 13:26)
There are immense joy and power in giving. It immediately brings you happiness. Give your time, your knowledge, your love, your appreciation, encouragement, your material possessions. The more you give you receive a thousand times more. Nothing to beat the joy of giving and helping others. The positive vibrations of the receiver will enrich you, bless you. Blessings can reach where even money and power can’t. 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-Rad 13:28 )
Have faith in yourself more than anything else. Strongly believe that you are the best. Have faith that your future will be very bright. You are the Messiah. You have the power to heal. You can change the world and you surely will become that. In both times of hardship and ease, one should turn to supplication and prayer, either patiently contented or thankful. 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 Al Imran 3:134)
A content believer accepts God’s decree for him and leads a happy life free from total despair or unbearable pain. He feels the pains and trials of this life but does not complain about them. For those seeking happiness, it is essential to strive to protect the heart and be watchful of how they spend their day and night asking themselves if they are pleased with what Allah has ordained.
Allah Almighty says in The Holy Quran:
- ”Allah ever watches over you.” (Quran, 4:l)
- “And whosoever puts his trust in Allah, then He will suffice him.” (Al-Talaq 65:3)
- “And in the heaven is your providence and that which you are promised.” (Quran 51:22)
- “Believers are those who, when God is mentioned, feel a tremor in their heart, and whenever His Messages are conveyed to them their faith is strengthened.” (Al-Anfal 8: 2)
- “Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allah. Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah’s hearts are assured.” (Quran 13:28)
- “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)
The teachings of Islam potentially move a believer from the sphere of discontentment to one of contentment. A believer becomes mindful of the fact that Islam does not order its followers to become monks or to distance themselves from worldly pleasures; on the contrary, it obliges a believer to exploit whatever worldly possessions they have legitimately to obtain true happiness. Allah says:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُلُوا مِن طَيِّبَاتِ مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ وَاشْكُرُوا لِلَّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ
“O you who believe, eat from the wholesome things which We have provided for you and be grateful to Allah if it is Him that you worship.” (Surat al-Baqarah 2:172)
Islam emphasizes acquiring the knowledge of Almighty and His attributes for, a believer obtains real pleasure according to the degree of knowledge, love and good behaviour he acquires. Accordingly, the pain and regret will be according to the degree to which he misses these great targets. Allah says:
لَهُمُ الْبُشْرَىٰ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ لَا تَبْدِيلَ لِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ
“For them (are) the glad tidings in the life (of) the world and in the Hereafter. (There can be) no change in the Words of Allah. That is the success the great.” (Surah Yunus 10:64)
A knowledgeable person fears Allah more. Therefore, whenever the servant’s knowledge increases, he becomes more humble and more merciful. Almighty tests the people with knowledge, and it is a true believer who bears it as a test and strives to succeed in it and become happy, whereas a non-believer fails in the test and becomes miserable. Allah says:
تِلْكَ الدَّارُ الْآخِرَةُ نَجْعَلُهَا لِلَّذِينَ لَا يُرِيدُونَ عُلُوًّا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا فَسَادًا وَالْعَاقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ
“That the Home (of) the Hereafter We assign it to those who (do) not desire exaltedness in the earth and not corruption. And the good end (is) for the righteous.” (Surah Al-Qasas 28:83)
True happiness is not about acquiring wealth, fame, prestige, status, and satisfying one’s desires. Rather, it is achieved by accumulating the pleasures of the body, heart, and soul. Islam is the only religion that stresses the need for the enrichment of both material and spiritual values simultaneously. Every commandment of Almighty in all aspects of life, worship, economics, and society aims to bring happiness to the individual.