Are you happy? Are you truly contented? Or are there many things that you wish you could change? Do you wish you had a better job? A better wife or husband? A betterplace to live? A nicer car? Are there other changes you anticipate in your life which should give you happiness after having accomplished or achieved them? Lets face it, if you are still hoping for happiness, it means you dont have it! From the moment of our birth we all yearn for happiness and partake in endless race towards it, Happiness is considered as one of the greatest positive attributes.
All the actions of man are in one way or the other geared towards attaining happiness. Everyone wants to feel good and happy. When circumstances and events are to our liking we are happy, and when they are not, we feel miserable. But what is happiness, and why is this incessant race after it? What does it mean to be happy? What does it take to be and how do you know you are happy? Happiness is a feeling that is very difficult to define, and the best definition captures only a part of what happiness truly is. The feeling of happiness is often confused with the feeling of pleasure, meanwhile, both are quite different.
For instance, it is a very hot sunny day, and you feel very thirsty. A friend offers you a refreshing glass of cold water. How do yeu feel when you see the glass? How do you feel when you drink it? Will you describe your feeling as happiness or as pleasure? This is pleasure, no doubt. There is a connection between these two kinds of feelings, and sometime one evokes the other, but they are not the same thing. Many people derive pleasure from many things, from eating good food, watching a goodmovie, feeling the warm caressing rays of the sun on a cold harmattan day, making money etc. yet, they are not happy.
So, what is happiness and when do we experience this coveted state? According to Websters Third New International Dictionary, happiness is a state of well-being characterized by relative permanence, by dominantly agreeable emotion ranging in value from mere contentment to deep and intense joy in living, and by a natural desire for its continuation. Thus, a truly happy person must be in a state of well-being. The happiness should be permanent. His emotion should be balanced; he must have contentment; he must find joy in his life and the happiness must continue.
Where Do You Find Such Happiness?
Different individuals and groups of people have different ideas with regard to the best ways of achieving happiness.
Wealth? Wealth is, probably the element mostly associated, if not synonymous with happiness in the perception of many people. This understanding is so deep rooted that almost everybody is engrossed in the acquisition of wealth. Allaah says: "Beautified for men is the love of things they covet; women, children, much of gold and silver (wealth), branded beautiful horses, cattle and well-tilled land. This is the pleasure of the present worlds life." (Q3 [Aal-Imran]: 14).
How happy are those men and women who own business empires, wide expanses of land and estates, large bank deposits, etc? Many indeed are those who own millions or even billions but are suffering from an almost permanent lack of peace of mind as a result of the fear they have over their wealth and market movements.
And not only does such fear lead to sleepless nights for them but even tensions, mental anguish, heart attacks and deaths. Allaah says: "You shall certainly be tried and tested in your wealth and properties and in your personal selves." (Q3[Aal-imran]: 186) Essentially, the claim that wealth offers happiness is not supported by factual evidence. The richest country in the world is undoubtedly the United States but it is interesting to know that the World Happiness Survey placed the United States at 46th among the happiest countries in the. world! This is not so good. If wealth meant happiness why arent the people of America happier? Allaah says: "So let not their wealth or their children amaze you; in reality Allaah's Plan is to punish them with these things in the life of the this world, and that their souls shall depart (die) while they are disbelievers." (Q9[Tawbah]:55).
Ample instances abound in human history to prove that "wealth is not equal to happiness". Qaruns story in the Quran serves as a typical example of opulent people whose wealth infused them with pride and arrogance and made them forget the role of wealth in mans life. Allaah told his story: "Such were the treasure We had bestowed on him, that their very keys would have been a burden to a body of strong men. Behold. his people said to him: Exult not, for Allaah loves not those who exult (in riches). (Q28[Qasas]:76)
When he was in the heyday of his glory, worldly people envied him and thought how happy they would be if only they were in his place. Qaarun lived ostentatiously and appeared to many of his people "a lord of mighty good fortune." They admired his glorious appearance but forgot his reality. All this was illusory happinessor, at least, transient happiness, just like a dream or a movie. In the end, what was the end? What happened to all that pomp, wealth, pride and arrogance? "Then, We caused the earth to swallow up him and his house; and he had not (the least little) party to help him against Allah. nor could he defend himself.(Q28[Qasas]:81)
Rank and Position? Could real happiness be attained through the acquisition of high-rank or position in society? The confused jostling for political appointment and elective posts that characterises our polity would seem to indicate that the answer is in the affirmative. This is apparently due to lack of deep insight in the nature of rank or position and the responsibilities which they involve.
In Islam, holding any position, rank or office is first and foremost regarded as a trust and, therefore, constitutes an obligation, and a legal as well as moral responsibility. The consequences of maladministration is sufficient to wipe a.ut the thought of any privileges that is associated with it. The Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: "He who has been a ruler over ten people will be brought shackled on the Day of Resurrection till justice loosens his chains or tyranny brings him to destruction." (Tirmidhi) Part of the trials associated withrank and position are tension, fear, insecurity of life and/or position, internal restlessness, public revolt, coups detat, assassinations.
Many people would go to great lengths to protect their positions at any cost, even if that may mean the shedding of blood. Hardly does a year pass by around the world without closing with the news of miserable falls, overthrows and/or assassinations of rulers. Abreast with the latest Fad? Some other people believe happiness is achieved by following the latest fads, such as keeping ones clothes in fashion, cruising around in latestcars, buying consumer products seen as trendy or cool, or changing a hair style so that it is current. Educational Achievement? Then, where is happiness? Is it in obtaining the highest level of education and in earning doctorate degrees?
It is true that Islam encourages and also requires man to seek knowledge and live in the light of learning. Islam is a way of life based on knowledge. Prophets are the sources of divine knowledge, and the first divine revelation to Prophet Muhammad (salallahualayhi wa sallam) begins with the word "Iqra" meaning "read". Much emphasis is placed in Islam on the need for excellent learning, that in the Quran, Allaah teaches mankind the following supplications: "And say O my Lord, advance me in knowledge," (Q22 [Hajj]: 114).
However, if knowledge is taken as an end in itself at the cost of faith, moral and spiritual values. Then even the most learned man would unhappily "be regressed to" the lowest of the low despite any qualifications of degrees, credentials and honours he may have possessed: Happiness in Fame? How much happiness do the "famous" men and women in activities enjoy? Fame is usually associated with certain human endeavour in which a person has excelled.
The most common source of fame in the world is sports. It is true that sportsmen find pleasure in what they do but can they really be described with happiness? It is gratifying to note that most of the Islamic forms of worship, e.g. prayers, fasting and pilgrimage, display some physical characteristics, although they are basically by nature meant for spiritual purposes. They also indicate that Islam emphasises both spiritual and physical well-being. The Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa salaam) said: "The strong believer is better than the weak one." (Muslim)
The joy that famous people find in fame is "illusory", "artificial" or "fakejoy as opposed to any "abiding", "real" and "lasting" happiness which could not be earned except through the understanding of the purpose of life as prescribed by Allaah for us. Allaah says: "Whosoever desires honour, power and glory then to Allaah belong all honour, power and glory [and one can get honour, power and glory only by obeying and worshiping Allaah (Alone)]. To Him ascend (all) the goodly words, and the righteous deeds exalt it (the goodly words i.e. the goodly words are not accepted byAllah unless and until they are followed by good deeds)." (Q35[Fatirj: 10)
The foregoing suggests that real happiness is not found in the acquisition of temporary possessions. Naturally, there can be a thrill to achieve somethingsignificant in life, whether it be a better occupation, passing a tough exam, or taking yourself physically to the limit and winning in some competition after months or years of trials. These can all be sources of personal pride and happiness. But these all come and go. Allaah says: Say: "In the Bounty of Allaah (i.e Islam), and in His Mercy (i.e Qur'an), therein let them rejoice. That is better than what they amass." (Q10[Yunus]:58). So where do one find real happiness that does not fade? Happiness in Islaam In Islaam true happiness lies in two domains: worldly "happiness and the happiness of the Hereafter. Most people are concerned only with the happiness they can get in this world. However, such happiness is short-lived, temporary, limited and mixed. Allaah says: "Nay, you prefer the life of this world although the Hereafter is better and more lasting. (Q87[Al-Aala]:16-17).
He says: "The life of this world is only the enjoyment of deception (a deceiving thing)." (Q3 [Aal-Imran]:185.) He also says: "Short is the enjoyment of this world. TheHereafter is (for) better for him who fears Allaah." (Q4[Nisaa]:77). Thus the true happiness in this world is that which terminates into that of the Hereafter. There is no joy for one who finds some pleasures in this world and live an eternal life of torment, sadness and regrets in the Hereafter.
Narrated one of the Companions of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) When we were sitting together. Allaahs Messenger appeared with a trace of water on his head, and when we told him that he appeared to us to be in a happy frame of mind, he agreed. The people then began to discuss wealth and Allaahs Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, "There is no harm in wealth for him who fears Allaah, Who is Great and Glorious, but for him who fears Allaah health is better than wealth, and a happy frame of mind is one of Allaahs favours. "(Tirmidhi)
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited