True Happiness in Islam

adapted from the March 10, 2011 sermon

Allah, to Whom all praise and glory is due, says in Surah an Nahl, verse 97:

Whoever works right, (be they) man or woman, and has Faith (in Allah), surely, to them we will give a good life, and we will bless upon them their reward by the best of their deeds.

Salmah ibn Ubaid Ullah narrated that Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, "He who sleeps in the safety of his house, enjoys good health, and has provisions for the day, it is as if he has collected all the blessings of the world."

Our topic today, Allah willing, is the concept of true happiness in Islam. Undoubtedly, each one of us seeks happiness. So what is true happiness? And how do we find it? Is it found in wealth? Or in good health, being free from any sickness and hunger? Or is happiness found in safety from injury and being hurt by people? Or is it found in a lofty position, with employees in abundance? Or is it found in something else?

Today we will, Allah willing, answer the following questions:

1. What is the meaning of true happiness?
2.  What factors promote true happiness?
3. What factors prevent us from attaining true happiness?

Happiness means many different things to different people. Some people seek happiness in material possessions. Others relate it with what they are missing. For example, a sick person sees true happiness in a cure, and a poor person sees it in wealth.

Benjamin Franklin, however, is credited with saying that "happiness is attainment of good morals". And George Bernard Shaw said, "A person who is suffering from a toothache believes that people with healthy molars are basking in happiness, and a poor person has the same faulty thinking about the rich."

And the Muslim scholars have said that the meaning of bliss or true happiness is to be thankful for the blessings of Allah (to Whom all praise and glory is due), to be patient during times of trial, and to ask forgiveness of Allah after committing a sin.

Ibn Qayyim said that "true happiness of the servant of Allah stems from three things: When he is bestowed with blessings, he is thankful; when he is tested with a trial, he is patient; and when he commits a sin, he seeks forgiveness from Allah." And Ali ibn Abi Talib said that "a believer with understanding is the happiest of persons."

In Islam, true happiness is to enter paradise, to be saved from hellfire, and to enjoy being in the presence of Allah. Allah says, "some faces, that Day (the day of judgment) will glow; looking towards their Lord".

If we look into history and read the stories of our predecessors, we find them seeking happiness in two different ways. One group of people sought false happiness and that led to their destruction and condemnation by Allah. The other group sought happiness in the right way that led to their safety from ruin. They incurred the pleasure of Allah, and true happiness in both this world and the hereafter. There are several examples available to us for both groups. Here are a few:

The Pharaoh of Egypt sought happiness in power and authority and in doing so denied belief in Allah. He boasted to his people, as recorded by Allah in Surah az Zukhruf, verse 51:

O my people! Does not the Kingdom of Egypt belong to me, and these streams flow beneath my palace? Don't you then see?

But he forgot about the Creator who had granted him rule over Egypt; he arrogantly claimed divinity and said, according to Allah in Surah an Nazi'at, verse 24:

I am your lord, most high.

Thus, he assumed that happiness was in attaining the highest authority over land, but what was the result? Allah says, "But Allah punished him, and made him an example in the hereafter and in this life." This was his punishment in this world, and in the hereafter, he will enter hellfire. Allah said in Surah al Ghafir, verse 46:

The fire, they are brought in front of it, morning and evening: and on the Day that Judgment will be established (it will be ordered): throw the people of Pharaoh in the severest penalty.

So, dear brothers and sisters, we therefore know that happiness is not in authority, if that authority is bereft of faith.

Another people sought happiness in wealth; their epitome was Qaroon. Allah says in Surah al Qasas, verse 76:

The very keys of the treasures we had given to him were a burden to a group of strong men.

The scholars said about this verse that "the keys of his treasures were numerous; a group of seventy men (or forty mules) had difficulty carrying them." But Qaroon forgot Allah, who had blessed him with wealth, and said, according to verse 78 of the same Surah:

This wealth has been given to me only because of a certain knowledge I have.

He did not pay zakah (mandatory 2.5% of excess wealth given in charity) for his wealth. Rather, he boasted about his wealth in front of poor people, and assumed that happiness was in wealth, without faith in Allah. So what was the result? Allah says in verse 81:

So, then We made the earth to swallow him up and his house, and he had none to help him against Allah, and he could not protect himself.

So, dear brothers and sisters, true happiness is not in wealth when our hearts are missing the faith in Allah, to Whom all praise and glory is due.

Some other people assumed that happiness lies in children, without believe in Allah and in his messenger, Muhammad (pbuh). The example of that is Walid ibn Mughairah in Makkah, whom Allah had bestowed with ten sons. He was so proud of them that he would seat five of them on his right and five on his left. He refused to believe in Allah. He and his sons fought the Muslims, except two of them who later became Muslims: Khalid and Ammarah ibn Walid, may Allah be pleased with them. His remaining sons died as disbelievers. So Allah said about Walid ibn Mughairah in Surah al Muddathir, verses 26-30:

Soon will I throw him into the fire of hell. And what will explain to you what the fire of hell is? Neither will it be tolerable, nor would it leave alone, darkening and burning the man. Over it are nineteen angels.

So, true happiness is not in abundance of children, with no faith in Allah.

Some people consider happiness in music and dance. Allah has held back true happiness from them, according to Surah at Taha, verses 124-126:

But whoever turns away from my reminder, surely for him is a life constricted, and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Judgment. He will say: "O my Lord! Why have you raised me up blind whereas I had sight before?' You acted like this when our signs came to you. You disregarded them, so will you, this day, be disregarded.

The second group of people sought true happiness, and found it in the right way. Among them is Jonas (pbuh), who sought happiness in righteous deeds, and called Allah from a great misery he was in, saying, according to Surah al Anbya, verse 87:

"There is no god except You, glory to You. Truly, I was one of the wrongdoers."

 So Allah answered him and delivered him from triple darkness: darkness of night, darkness of ocean, and darkness of the belly of the whale. Allah replied in the next verse:

So we listened to him, and delivered him from difficulty. And like this we rescue those who have faith.

So Jonas (pbuh) found happiness in the remembrance of Allah.

Similarly, Moses (pbuh) sought happiness, and found it as he was followed by Pharaoh's to the shore of the ocean. He said, according to Surah ash-Shu'ara, verse 62, "My Lord is with me. He will soon guide me." Allah confirms in verse 65:

We saved Moses and all who were with him.

And Muhammad (pbuh) sought happiness and found it in the cave of Thaur, when he was with Abu Bakr As Siddiq, and the disbelievers were surrounding the cave. Muhammad (pbuh) said to Abu Bakr, "Do not grieve, because Allah is with us." Allah answered him and said, in Surah at Tawbah, verse 40:

Then Allah sent down peace and calm upon him, and strengthened him with forces that you did not see, and made the word of the disbelievers (to take Muhammad's life) completely false. But Allah's word is glorified to the highest, and Allah is exalted in strength, all Wise.

And Joseph (pbuh) sought happiness, and found it in calling people to the path of Allah while in prison. Joseph (pbuh) was put in prison for seven years by no crime of his own, but still he kept calling people to the Oneness of Allah, saying:

O companions of the prison! Are multiple lords, who differ among themselves better, or is Allah, the one Supreme and Irresistible? (Surah Yusuf, verse 39)

So Joseph (pbuh) pronounced the Oneness of Allah to the people, and found happiness.

Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal also found true happiness in prison, where he was whipped so severely with a beating that, according to his torturers, would have killed a camel. He patiently adhered to the religion of Allah, and pronounced the Qur'an to be Allah's word, not his creation, and found true happiness in that.

Ibrahim ibn Adham found happiness as he slept in the streets of Baghdad. He could not find a single piece of bread to eat, but still he said, "By Allah, besides whom there is no partner, we are in true happiness. If the rulers would find out, they would fight with us over it with swords." He did not have any food to eat, but still possessed true happiness that is not accessible to kings in their palaces, surrounded by wealth, food, and drink. Why?

Because true happiness is in the company of Allah. It does not reach those who are away from Allah or shun Allah and His religion.

Dear brothers and sisters, this is the reality of true happiness, and this is the affair of those who attain it. It is not achieved, except with faith and pious deeds that Muhammad (pbuh) was sent with. Those who live in palaces, with no wealth of faith, Allah has written for them that "life will be constricted for them". So he who accumulates wealth without faith in Allah and without giving charity and paying zakah on it, Allah will seal his heart, so that his life is constricted. And the rulers of the world, and those who attain high positions, who lack faith in Allah, life will be constricted for them, and there are several examples of that in history.

To recap, let's look at the factors in life that do promote true happiness.

First is true belief in Allah. The one who is not a believer in Allah cannot attain true happiness, even though he may appear to be happy.

Next are virtuous deeds. Allah says, "Whoever works right, (be it) man or woman, and has faith, surely to him, We will give a good (and pure) life, and We will bless upon them their reward by the best of their deeds."

Another factor is keeping the five daily prayers and reading of the Qur'an, because Allah says, "Verily, in the remembrance of Allah, do hearts find true satisfaction."

Another factor is obedience to Allah and abstaining from all that is forbidden. Ibn Abbas said, "Virtues produce a glow on the face, a light in the heart, expansion of provisions, love of the people, and light in the grave. And sins produce darkness in the face, darkness in the grave, constriction in sustenance, and hatred in the hearts of people.

Yet another factor is the fear of Allah, in open and secret.

All of the factors that prevent the attainment of happiness are the ones opposite of those described above, such as sins, and being far away from Allah.

He who desires true happiness should seek it in the mosque, and in the Qur'an, and in the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), and in reciting the Qur'an, and in prayer, and in standing firm in the religion, and following in the example of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

And Allah knows best.