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. Happiness is a mental state of well-being characterized by positive or pleasant emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy. Every human being instinctively is in pursuit of happiness. The pursuit of happiness aligns with what the Quran and Sunnah teach about being happy and having a meaningful life. Allah says:
كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَائِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ وَإِنَّمَا تُوَفَّوْنَ أُجُورَكُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَمَن زُحْزِحَ عَنِ النَّارِ وَأُدْخِلَ الْجَنَّةَ فَقَدْ فَازَ وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا مَتَاعُ الْغُرُورِ
“Every soul (will) taste [the] death, and only you will be paid in full of your reward (on the) Day (of) [the] Resurrection. Then whoever is drawn away from the Fire and admitted (to) Paradise surely he is successful. And not (is) the life (of) the world except enjoyment (of) delusion.” (Surah Al-Imran 3:185)
The contentment and openness of the heart are aspects of happiness that are achieved through keeping up the remembrance of Allah and through following the guidance of Islam. By appreciating the things that you already have, you’ll begin to feel happier in your life. Allah says:
وَاذْكُر رَّبَّكَ فِي نَفْسِكَ تَضَرُّعًا وَخِيفَةً وَدُونَ الْجَهْرِ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ بِالْغُدُوِّ وَالْآصَالِ وَلَا تَكُن مِّنَ الْغَافِلِينَ
“Remember your Lord in yourselves with humility and in private without announcing it in the mornings and evenings, and do not be among the heedless.” (Surah Al-A’raf 7:205)
Happiness is a habit. True happiness will never be achieved without enduring trials and tribulations. This is what Islam teaches us, through the Quran and the authentic teachings of Prophet Muhammad. Every single one of God’s commandments aims to bring happiness to the individual. This applies in all aspects of life, worship, economics, and society. 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)
Islam emphasizes that the life of this world is nothing more than a means of attaining the Hereafter. If you desire peace, tranquillity, and comfort, you can find it all in the remembrance of God. We look for happiness everywhere, and we miss the very blessings we have in life right now. If you don’t recognize the blessing you have already you can never be happy. But if you recognize it, you can become happy right now.
Here are the ways you can do every day to discover the secrets of being happier:
- Happiness is instrumental to get rid of the hardships
- Happiness in living between patience and gratitude
- Happiness is helping people make their life easier
- Happiness endure all odds that hinder man’s way
- Happiness has more to do with the human mind
- Happiness is derived from intentional activity
- Happiness comes from a genetic set point
- Happiness is due to our circumstances
- Happiness is from discrete actions
- Happiness is to control one’s life
- Happiness is inspired by strong faith
- Happiness embodies the peace security
- Happier people tend to have good families
- Happiness is the key to satisfying your soul
- Happiness is practices that we choose to do
- Happiness is due to our demographic factors
- Happiness is to personal history and life status
- Happiness has more to do with the human heart
- Happiness comes as a result of proper behaviour
- Happiness is to rejoice every single day of our life
Islam teaches us that Happiness comes first and there is no contradiction between your natural urge to make yourself happy and the way Allah created us. Allah does not want His believing servants to be unhappy. Happiness is the soft joy that causes our lips, faces, and hearts to smile. It is determined by faith in God and obedience to Him. Allah says:
مَنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا مِّن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَىٰ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَلَنُحْيِيَنَّهُ حَيَاةً طَيِّبَةً وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْرَهُم بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ
“Whoever does good whether male or female and he is a believer, We will most certainly make him live a happy life.” (Surah An-Nahl 16:97)
The injunctions and regulations of Islam reinforce the happiness that comes from knowing God and they help to guarantee humankind’s happiness during life in this world. However, Islam also emphasizes that the life of this world is nothing more than a means of attaining the Hereafter. Allah says:
وَالَّذِينَ اجْتَنَبُوا الطَّاغُوتَ أَن يَعْبُدُوهَا وَأَنَابُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ لَهُمُ الْبُشْرَىٰ فَبَشِّرْ عِبَادِ
“And those who avoid the false gods lest they worship them and turn to Allah, for them (are) glad tidings. So give glad tidings (to) My slaves.” (Surah Az-Zumar 39:17)
Our righteous predecessors understood the inherent happiness and joy to be found in striving to be close to God. If you desire peace, tranquillity, and comfort, you can find it all in the remembrance of God. Thus happiness embodies peace security and submission that is Islam. Allah says:
وَعِبَادُ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الَّذِينَ يَمْشُونَ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ هَوْنًا وَإِذَا خَاطَبَهُمُ الْجَاهِلُونَ قَالُوا سَلَامًا
“The servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth in humility, and when the ignorant address them, they say words of peace.” (Surah Al-Furqan 25:63)
Happiness is not only intense joy, but it also involves contentment. To find long-term happiness, you need to retrain your brain from a negative mindset to a positive mindset. Life is full of ups and downs, but in between, we have a lot of little victories that go unnoticed. Take a moment to celebrate these small wins.
Allah Almighty says in The Holy Quran:
- “Allah ever watches over you.” (Quran, 4:l)
- “Be not sad, Allah is with us.”(Quran, 9:40)
- “Verily with hardship, there is a relief.” (Quran, 94:6)
- “(Other) faces that Day will be joyful.” (Surah Al-Ghashiyya, 8)
- “Certainly We have created man to be in toil.” (Surah Al-Balad: 90)
- “Verily in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.” (Quran 13:28)
- “So hold that which I have given you and be of the grateful.” (Quran, 7:144)
- “Every soul shall have a taste of death: and We test you by evil and by good by way of trial, and to Us is your return.” (Surah Al-Anbiya21: 35)
- “And when your Lord made it known: If you are grateful, I would certainly give you more.” (Quran 14:7)
- “When Our punishment reached them, why did they not humble themselves?” (Surah Al-An’am 6:43)
Happiness is the soft joy that causes our lips, faces, and hearts to smile. It is determined by faith in God and obedience to Him. Thus happiness embodies peace security and submission that is Islam. Our righteous predecessors understood the inherent happiness and joy to be found in striving to be close to God. Allah says:
الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ طُوبَىٰ لَهُمْ وَحُسْنُ مَآبٍ
“Those who believed and did righteous deeds, blessedness (is) for them and a beautiful place of return.” (Surah Ar-Ra`d 13:29)
Make a conscious choice for a joyful and happy life today. Perfect happiness will only be available to us if we spend life everlasting in Paradise. We must recite the Quran regularly and try to understand the messages it has; we will be bestowed with the best of this life and the hereafter, in Shaa Allah. 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)
Islam has the answer to all the problems that afflict humankind and knowing this leads to happiness because it allows us to look beyond the need for self-gratification. Indeed, with each difficulty, there is a relief. Humans, today, look for happiness and satisfaction in material things. But a matter of fact is such happiness does not last long. May all readers and all Muslims and all people find true joy and happiness in their life. Ameen.
