adminUmari Stambuli Holy Qur’aan Speaks —
HAPPINESS is the universal goal of people from all walks of life, be they philosophers of a high intellectual calibre or unlettered labourers everyone strives in search of happiness and looks for ways to escape the worries of life.
However, most people achieve only partial or superficial happiness, which provides temporary relief from their problems. In order to search for everlasting happiness that will lead a person to true success, one must keep an open heart and mind, as the wise one is he who searches for the truth and adopts it immediately.
Sound belief and righteous deeds
The most important means of happiness and the foundation of all felicity is to have sound belief and perform righteous deeds.
Allah The Almighty declares in the Holy Qur’aan: “Whoever works righteousness (whether male or female) while he (or she) is a true believer (Monotheist) verily, to him (her), We will give a good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful provision), and We shall certainly grant them a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do (that is paradise in the Hereafter),” (Ch 16 : v 97).
The Almighty’s promise is for whoever possesses sound belief and performs righteous deeds that he will have a happy life and will also be rewarded in the eternal Hereafter.
The reason for this is obvious: those who have the correct belief which leads to righteous deeds, reformed hearts and refined manners have the basic foundation that they can refer to in any event – regardless of whether these are matters which cause joy and happiness or sorrow and dejection.
The Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him) described this quality of the true Believers when he said: “How wonderful is the affair of the believer! All of his affairs are good and this is the case for nobody except a believer. If he is blessed with prosperity he thanks The Almighty (Allah) and that is good for him; and if he is afflicted with adversity he perseveres and that is also good for him.”
Observing beneficial deeds and acquiring useful knowledge.
By keeping oneself busy with these two acts of goodness, one’s heart is diverted from whatever causes it grief and sorrow, to the extent that a person may completely forget his worries and unhappiness and become happy and energised.
This is something that is common to believers and others, but the believer is distinct due to his belief, sincerity, and his hope for reward while learning about or performing beneficial deeds. If this deed is an act of worship then he will receive the reward for it, and if it is a worldly task which is accompanied with a good intention, such as working for the sake of being able to worship The Almighty better, then this will have a strong effect in removing his anxiety and grief, etcetera.
Concentrating on the tasks at hand One should make every effort to concentrate on the tasks at hand and not be too anxious about the future or keep crying over the past.
This is indeed another way of attaining happiness. This is why the Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him) sought refuge with The Almighty from anxiety and sorrow. Usually, a person experiences sorrow due to what has passed and cannot be retrieved, whereas grief is due to anxiety for the future and the fear of what may happen.
A believing worshipper and slave of The Almighty should live by focusing on the current moment and exert the utmost effort to utilise his time to develop his relation and bond with his Creator in the best possible way. This will enable him to accomplish his tasks and forget his sorrow and grief. When the Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him) made a particular supplication and even guided his companions and followers to do so, he would also encourage them to exert every effort to obtain what they supplicated for and shun everything which might prevent the prayer from being answered.
As the Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him) said: “Be keen to do that which will benefit you, rely on Allah Almighty, and do not be lazy (by not exerting effort) and when a problem befalls you, do not say: ‘If only I would have done such and such, then the result would have been such and such’. Rather, one should say: ‘This was decreed by Allah Almighty and He does what He wills.’ Saying ‘if’ opens the door for Satan (to cause discontent).”
For further information on Islam or a free copy of the Holy Qur’aan, please contact:
Majlisul Ulama Zimbabwe, Council of Islamic Scholars
Publications Department
P.O. Box W93, Waterfalls, Harare
Tel: 04-614078 / 614004, Fax : 04-614003
e-mail: [email protected]
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