To become acquainted with the road to true happiness, which is the road of belief in Allah Almighty, we should make clear certain landmarks that will aid us in being assured and perseverant during our progress on the road:
Allah says: {“And verily, this (i.e. Allâh’s Commandments mentioned in the above two Verses 151 and 152) is my Straight Path, so follow it, and follow not (other) paths, for they will separate you away from His Path. This He has ordained for you that you may become Al-Muttaqûn (the pious)”}(Al-An’âm:153)
Therefore, the road to happiness is the road of Allah and is filled with His commandments for His slaves, since He is the One Who knows more than anyone what is right for His slaves. There is no doubt in the fact that the wretched are those who leave the path of Allah, hoping to achieve happiness through other various roads. Indeed, there is no happiness in any other road but His. Allah says: {123…then whoever follows My Guidance shall neither go astray, nor fall into distress and misery. 124. “But whosoever turns away from My Reminder (i.e. neither believes in this Qur’ân nor acts on its orders, etc.) verily, for him is a life of hardship, and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Resurrection.”}(Tâ¬-Hâ:123-124)
Happiness, fulfillment and contentment are the ultimate prize of those who choose the correct way and follow Allah's guiding light. Dunk (difficulty and misery in this world as well as the Hereafter) is the recompense of those who turn away from the light and abandon the road, even if they are famous celebrities or stars, kings or queens.
It is a well-known fact that man is composed of a body and a soul, and that each derives its nourishment from a certain source. Some shallow schools and philosophies focus on the soul and deny the demands of the body, causing it a major setback. Modern materialism, on the contrary, obliterates the soul and allows the flesh all that it craves, thereby reducing a large segment of humanity to bestial pleasures and desires, or to robots. As for the road of Islam, it fuels the soul with light from the heavens and protects the body; it satisfies its needs and desires in entirely permissible ways: {But seek, with that (wealth) which Allâh has bestowed on you, the home of the Hereafter, and forget not your portion of legal enjoyment in this world, and do good as Allâh has been good to you, and seek not mischief in the land. Verily, Allâh likes not the Mufsidûn (those who commit great crimes and sins, oppressors, tyrants, mischief-makers, corrupts).}(Al-Qasas:77)
The Prophet (pbuh) agreed on what Salman Al-Faresi (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “Your Lord has a right over you, your self has a right over you, your family has a right over you, so give each his due right.”[Al-Bukhari]
Whoever tastes the sweetness of faith, he would never want to depart from it, even if there was a sword at his neck. Look at the story of Prophet Moses and Pharaoh’s magicians, when they believed without Pharaoh’s permission and stepped on the road to happiness. Thus, he threatened them by saying: {So I will surely cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides, and I will surely crucify you on the trunks of date-palms, and you shall surely know which of us [I (Fir’aun ¬ Pharaoh) or the Lord of Mûsa (Moses) (Allâh)] can give the severe and more lasting torment.”}(Tâ¬-Hâ:71)
Their firm response was: {They said: “We prefer you not over the clear signs that have come to us, and to Him (Allâh) Who created us. So decree whatever you desire to decree, for you can only decree (regarding) this life of the world.}(Tâ¬-Hâ:72)
They were firm in their decision just moments after they believed, because they had tasted the sweetness of faith. This light made them more assured and consistent in their views and their decisions, even when faced with the threats of a horrendous death.
There is no happiness without tranquility and contentment, and no tranquility and contentment without belief. Allah says: {He it is Who sent down As-Sakinah (calmness and tranquillity) into the hearts of the believers, that they may grow more in Faith along with their (present) Faith. And to Allâh belong the hosts of the heavens and the earth, and Allâh is Ever All-Knower, All-Wise.}(Al-Fath:4)
Belief grants happiness in two ways. First, it prevents one from slipping into the swamps of immorality and crime. These are the most serious causes of unhappiness and misery, for nothing ensures that one is not dragged by lusts and desires to vices if his heart is empty of belief in Allah. Second, it creates the most important conditions of happiness, which are tranquility and confidence, for in a sea of problems and crises, there is no life buoy except belief. Without belief, factors of fear and anxiety multiply. However, with faith, there is nothing that deserves to be feared except Allah Almighty.
The heart of a believer trivializes all difficulties, because he puts his trust in Allah Alone. A heart empty of belief, on the other hand, is similar to a leaf cut from its branch which is taken adrift by the wind. What do you think frightens a human being more than death and departing from this life?! Yet for a believer, death is not a cause of fear, rather, it is a cause of certitude. What is more beneficial than death to him who fills his heart with belief and piety!?!
Belief spreads a sense of security and tranquility in the human entity, for a believer walks on the path of Allah in peace and calmness. What is more, his belief always provides him with hope and anticipation of Allah’s help, care and protection at all times. He constantly feels that Allah Almighty is watching over him at every moment. Allah says : {and verily, Allâh is with the believers.}(Al-Anfâl:19)
Whatever problems a believer encounters and no matter how many tribulations he faces, the Book of Allah and its brilliant light of guidance is bound to remove whatever doubts he may have, as well as his aches and pains, thereby changing his fear to peace and security, and his misery to happiness and contentment. The Qur’an guides the believer to achieve psychological security and spiritual happiness that are not matched by any other form of happiness, even if he owns all the treasures of the world.
It is common knowledge that people’s lives are divided into three stages: the first is the worldly life, the second is the life in the grave after death, and the third is the Day of Resurrection. The road to happiness passes through all of these stages too. In relation to this worldly life, Allah says: {Whoever works righteousness, whether male or female, while he (or she) is a true believer (of Islâmic Monotheism) verily, to him We will give a good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful provision), and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do (i.e. Paradise in the Hereafter).}(An-Nahl:97)
This means: We (meaning Allah Almighty) shall make his worldly life a happy reassuring one, even if he had little money. This happens when Allah satisfies, pleases, comforts and reassures the soul, and when one finds tranquility and trust in Him. As for the happiness of a believer in his grave; we shall find that mentioned in what was narrated by Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) from the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). He said: “When a believer is in his grave, he is in a green garden. His grave is widened for him by seventy cubits, and lighted for him like a night with a full moon.” [hasan (a good chain of narration)(Al-Albani)
Pertaining to the believer’s happiness in the Hereafter. Allah says: {And those who are blessed, they will be in Paradise, abiding therein for all the time that the heavens and the earth endure, except as your Lord will, a gift without an end.}(Hûd:108)
They are the winners of happiness in this world, and of permanent bliss in the Hereafter.
Therefore, Islam comes with eternal happiness: happiness in the life we live in and happiness in the Hereafter, and what Allah has is better and more lasting. Moreover, Allah made the happiness in this world and the Hereafter interrelated, without any contradiction between the two of them or any conflict, since the life of this world is but a road leading to the Hereafter and to the greatest happiness on the Day of Resurrection.
The road of eternal happiness in this world and the Hereafter is but a single road. Allah says: {Whoever desires a reward in this life of the world, then with Allâh (Alone and none else) is the reward of this worldly life and of the Hereafter. And Allâh is Ever All-¬Hearer, All¬-Seer.}(An-Nisâ’:134)
To become acquainted with the road to true happiness, which is the road of belief in Allah Almighty, we should make clear certain landmarks that will aid us in being assured and perseverant during our progress on the road:
Allah says: {“And verily, this (i.e. Allâh’s Commandments mentioned in the above two Verses 151 and 152) is my Straight Path, so follow it, and follow not (other) paths, for they will separate you away from His Path. This He has ordained for you that you may become Al-Muttaqûn (the pious)”}(Al-An’âm:153)
Therefore, the road to happiness is the road of Allah and is filled with His commandments for His slaves, since He is the One Who knows more than anyone what is right for His slaves. There is no doubt in the fact that the wretched are those who leave the path of Allah, hoping to achieve happiness through other various roads. Indeed, there is no happiness in any other road but His. Allah says: {123…then whoever follows My Guidance shall neither go astray, nor fall into distress and misery. 124. “But whosoever turns away from My Reminder (i.e. neither believes in this Qur’ân nor acts on its orders, etc.) verily, for him is a life of hardship, and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Resurrection.”}(Tâ¬-Hâ:123-124)
Happiness, fulfillment and contentment are the ultimate prize of those who choose the correct way and follow Allah';s guiding light. Dunk (difficulty and misery in this world as well as the Hereafter) is the recompense of those who turn away from the light and abandon the road, even if they are famous celebrities or stars, kings or queens.
It is a well-known fact that man is composed of a body and a soul, and that each derives its nourishment from a certain source. Some shallow schools and philosophies focus on the soul and deny the demands of the body, causing it a major setback. Modern materialism, on the contrary, obliterates the soul and allows the flesh all that it craves, thereby reducing a large segment of humanity to bestial pleasures and desires, or to robots. As for the road of Islam, it fuels the soul with light from the heavens and protects the body; it satisfies its needs and desires in entirely permissible ways: {But seek, with that (wealth) which Allâh has bestowed on you, the home of the Hereafter, and forget not your portion of legal enjoyment in this world, and do good as Allâh has been good to you, and seek not mischief in the land. Verily, Allâh likes not the Mufsidûn (those who commit great crimes and sins, oppressors, tyrants, mischief-makers, corrupts).}(Al-Qasas:77)
The Prophet (pbuh) agreed on what Salman Al-Faresi (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “Your Lord has a right over you, your self has a right over you, your family has a right over you, so give each his due right.”[Al-Bukhari]
Whoever tastes the sweetness of faith, he would never want to depart from it, even if there was a sword at his neck. Look at the story of Prophet Moses and Pharaoh’s magicians, when they believed without Pharaoh’s permission and stepped on the road to happiness. Thus, he threatened them by saying: {So I will surely cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides, and I will surely crucify you on the trunks of date-palms, and you shall surely know which of us [I (Fir’aun ¬ Pharaoh) or the Lord of Mûsa (Moses) (Allâh)] can give the severe and more lasting torment.”}(Tâ¬-Hâ:71)
Their firm response was: {They said: “We prefer you not over the clear signs that have come to us, and to Him (Allâh) Who created us. So decree whatever you desire to decree, for you can only decree (regarding) this life of the world.}(Tâ¬-Hâ:72)
They were firm in their decision just moments after they believed, because they had tasted the sweetness of faith. This light made them more assured and consistent in their views and their decisions, even when faced with the threats of a horrendous death.
There is no happiness without tranquility and contentment, and no tranquility and contentment without belief. Allah says: {He it is Who sent down As-Sakinah (calmness and tranquillity) into the hearts of the believers, that they may grow more in Faith along with their (present) Faith. And to Allâh belong the hosts of the heavens and the earth, and Allâh is Ever All-Knower, All-Wise.}(Al-Fath:4)
Belief grants happiness in two ways. First, it prevents one from slipping into the swamps of immorality and crime. These are the most serious causes of unhappiness and misery, for nothing ensures that one is not dragged by lusts and desires to vices if his heart is empty of belief in Allah. Second, it creates the most important conditions of happiness, which are tranquility and confidence, for in a sea of problems and crises, there is no life buoy except belief. Without belief, factors of fear and anxiety multiply. However, with faith, there is nothing that deserves to be feared except Allah Almighty.
The heart of a believer trivializes all difficulties, because he puts his trust in Allah Alone. A heart empty of belief, on the other hand, is similar to a leaf cut from its branch which is taken adrift by the wind. What do you think frightens a human being more than death and departing from this life?! Yet for a believer, death is not a cause of fear, rather, it is a cause of certitude. What is more beneficial than death to him who fills his heart with belief and piety!?!
Belief spreads a sense of security and tranquility in the human entity, for a believer walks on the path of Allah in peace and calmness. What is more, his belief always provides him with hope and anticipation of Allah’s help, care and protection at all times. He constantly feels that Allah Almighty is watching over him at every moment. Allah says : {and verily, Allâh is with the believers.}(Al-Anfâl:19)
Whatever problems a believer encounters and no matter how many tribulations he faces, the Book of Allah and its brilliant light of guidance is bound to remove whatever doubts he may have, as well as his aches and pains, thereby changing his fear to peace and security, and his misery to happiness and contentment. The Qur’an guides the believer to achieve psychological security and spiritual happiness that are not matched by any other form of happiness, even if he owns all the treasures of the world.
It is common knowledge that people’s lives are divided into three stages: the first is the worldly life, the second is the life in the grave after death, and the third is the Day of Resurrection. The road to happiness passes through all of these stages too. In relation to this worldly life, Allah says: {Whoever works righteousness, whether male or female, while he (or she) is a true believer (of Islâmic Monotheism) verily, to him We will give a good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful provision), and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do (i.e. Paradise in the Hereafter).}(An-Nahl:97)
This means: We (meaning Allah Almighty) shall make his worldly life a happy reassuring one, even if he had little money. This happens when Allah satisfies, pleases, comforts and reassures the soul, and when one finds tranquility and trust in Him. As for the happiness of a believer in his grave; we shall find that mentioned in what was narrated by Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) from the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). He said: “When a believer is in his grave, he is in a green garden. His grave is widened for him by seventy cubits, and lighted for him like a night with a full moon.” [hasan (a good chain of narration)(Al-Albani)
Pertaining to the believer’s happiness in the Hereafter. Allah says: {And those who are blessed, they will be in Paradise, abiding therein for all the time that the heavens and the earth endure, except as your Lord will, a gift without an end.}(Hûd:108)
They are the winners of happiness in this world, and of permanent bliss in the Hereafter.
Therefore, Islam comes with eternal happiness: happiness in the life we live in and happiness in the Hereafter, and what Allah has is better and more lasting. Moreover, Allah made the happiness in this world and the Hereafter interrelated, without any contradiction between the two of them or any conflict, since the life of this world is but a road leading to the Hereafter and to the greatest happiness on the Day of Resurrection.
The road of eternal happiness in this world and the Hereafter is but a single road. Allah says: {Whoever desires a reward in this life of the world, then with Allâh (Alone and none else) is the reward of this worldly life and of the Hereafter. And Allâh is Ever All-¬Hearer, All¬-Seer.}(An-Nisâ’:134)
