The question has been asked, what is happiness, this "state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy?" (wordnet). What does Islam have to say here? Is man supposed to be happy in the Islamic religion?
The answer is 'yes, of course.' Man's well-being, happiness, his contentment and joy are so central to the aspirations of human beings in general, that every way-of-life and especially every religion will present some solution. The question is only if they are capable of doing so, many are the false teachings or methods which are only concerned with a partial solution, focusing on the body and/or the mind as if they were isolated, independent entities.
Islam as an authentic tradition responds to the whole of the human condition: the spirit, the soul and the body. The spirit being of God, the soul and the body 'on loan'. This is from the unity of being, of existence, because everything is united in a transcendant (infinite and absolute) unity of the manifest and also the non-manifest.
How can an answer be found (to what is happiness) without taking into account the source of spirit, soul and body, which is the Divine? Are we here by mere accident? Did we create our bodies neatly by ourselves, or the souls from the ether? Then why can't we stop the body from changing? We almost don't know what the soul is, not to mention the spirit, so how can we presume to be able to treat them (for gaining a happy life) without knowing anything of the principle which lies beneath?
Not really! The growing unhealthy state of people in the modern world is proof enough that man alone is incapable of finding his way to a happy, worthy and meaningful life - just by himself, if he does not have a holistic or metaphysical perspective of existence.
This sounds a lot and difficult. But let's not forget, from the start we are a perfect creation. We were given reason and best of all: the intellect in varying degrees. By these we can in principle comprehend the signs in the cosmos as well as the 'signs' (ayāt = verses) in revelation. and we will see how foundational well-being and happiness are in the message of Islam. The Word of God - Allah, which is the Holy Quran, gives us some definite clues as to how we weak, insignificant human beings can find true contentment and joy in this life - and what is more - in the next, which is due soon.
We'll present here some verses from the Holy Quran ( I.) and ( III. ) and from the sayings ( II. ) (hadīth) of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ , so the reader can see for him (her-)self if anything can be of help on the way!
By God, increase us in knowledge (of everything in your message)!
1.) muflihūn, root flH. This word is used in -> I.
2.) surūr, root srr This word is used in -> II.
3.) niʿmah, root nʿm, bliss ( - )
4.) naʿīm: happiness, delight, pleasure, bliss -> III.
5.) fawz: victory, felicity, safety, salvation -> III.
6.) ridwān: grace, acceptance, favour, that wh is pleasing -> III.
7.) saʿādatu, root sʿd( - )
8.) tawfīq, root wfq ( - )
I.
The whole of the religion of Islam is meant to enable man to lead a happy life here and in the hereafter. The whole meaning of this religion or way-of-life is to lead him / her to success or salvation. Because of its importance Allah says right at the beginning of the Holy Quran:Those who follow the true guidance of God - Allah (because Allah speaks the truth - is the Truth, keeps His promise), by counting on the Divine power of the Unseen (Allah the Non-Manifest, God which we cannot see - but Who is never-the-less there), those who establish prayer (even if difficult at times), who spend from their own money in Allah's way (which includes well-defined objectives and conditions, and even if he/they would like to keep it for themselves,) who follow in their daily life the quranic revelation and the {gist of the} older revelations and who have the assurance of the Hereafter.
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As a prerequisite, those living a life 'in the dark shade of Allah', (ignoring His rights) must first understand the fault of their life and repent fully:
Because the Revelation is the truth in all ages and situations {it is either for you or against you!} and a light given to the Prophet ﷺ :
In all what one does one should do it for Allah's good pleasure, for His face, for we will one day stand before Him, answer for our deeds:
Here we see the fastest way to happiness and prosperity by gaining Allah's good pleasure (ridwān): giving to the needy, first of all those in your family. This for countering the innate tendency of the nafs (egotism), to keep the goods for oneself, or to hoard. Therefore Allah says:
Therefore it is important to strive (a) earnestly on the way, while obeying (b) the Messenger of Allah ﷺ :
→ a)By thus following the Islamic tradition, represented by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ , the believers will be enabled to do good (d) themselves [hastening to do good works(e)!] and also to enjoin good (c) and forbid evil (at the social level - not always and everywhere, but subject to specific conditions):
→ c)Then those are the ones finding good pleasure in Allah (ridwān), because God is well-pleased (rdw) with them, forgiving them their mistakes:
II.
1.) The hadith show that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was a very a kind, generous and happy man:
Narrated ʿAbdullah bin Ka'b:2.) The advice was to be happy in joyful contentment (surūr), while being aware of the snares of the dunya (wordly life)!
Narrated Al-Miswar bin Makhrama:------
III.
Some other quranic concepts are used to describe the very positive state in which the faithful Muslim will be in, inshah Allah:
naʿīm: happiness, delight, pleasureThe striving on the way is polishing the mirror of the heart: then it will reflect the Divine light and faces will lighten up:
This will happen in the next life, in paradise, but it will also already start to happen here, and this is a distinct difference to other religions, which await everything good after death. This striving is against the commands of the nafs (ego), which entangle us in this dunya. Instead we are summoned to {have} faith in God and his messenger ﷺ through right action (→ intention [1]):
Once he commits himself to Allah's directive, He - may His majesty be exalted - will help him to purify his actions (→ intentions [1]) {then he'll be among the Righteous and Pious (sālihūn) inshah Allah}.
{Because} the value of someone whose whole purpose is Allah's pleasure (ridwān), is Allah's pleasure on earth and in heaven:
Who would not be happy being accepted in the best way by God Himself - Allah - may His majesty be exalted. Ridwān is the greatest of Allah's doors, as the shuyūkh have said [2]:
“Whoever has been given ridwān has received the most generous welcome and is honoured by the highest nearness (qurb) {to Allah}. ʿAbd al-Wāhid b. Zayd said: 'ridwān is the greatest of Allah's doors, and the paradise of this world (dunya).'”
“and know that man cannot possibly be content, in peace or pleased (rdw) with God, before Allah is not well-pleased with him. For He - may His majesty be exalted - says:”
notes:
[1] On the hadith 'Actions are only according to intentions', seevs.3.1