Even though happiness is perhaps one of the most important things in life, science still cannot explain much about it. Its concept itself is elusive.
Happiness is a positive emotional state that is subjectively defined by each person. The common Islamic concept of happiness is that it is a feeling that resides in the heart. It is characterized by peace of mind, tranquility, a sense of wellbeing, and a relaxed disposition. It comes as a result of proper behavior, both inward and outward and is inspired by strong faith. Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said, “True enrichment does not come through possessing a lot of wealth, but true enrichment is the enrichment of the soul.” (Saheeh Muslim). In the Holy Quran Allah says, “Whoever does right, whether male or female, and is a believer, We will make him live a good life, and We will award them their reward for the best of what they used to do.” (Quran, 16:97). Even though happiness is perhaps one of the most important things in life, science still cannot explain much about it. Its concept itself is elusive. To some people, happiness means wealth; to others, it means position, and still to others, it means power and control. Even though these factors are the means to happiness, they are not the ends. Islam teaches that human happiness does not originate from any of these above mentioned factors, and to a believer, a Muslim, happiness has a very different meaning.
“The Islamic approach seems to be around conforming to Islamic values and principals and their behavioral corollaries, meaning that the Islamic construct of wellbeing has stronger moral and theological components than the norm in Western conceptualization of wellbeing. With Islam and wellbeing we have a more complex phenomenon as Islam is a way of life, and is far more integral to a person’s existence and routines than with other religions.”
To better understand the meaning of happiness in Islam, Anas (RA) narrated the Prophet (SAW) as saying, “Whoever’s concern was the afterlife, Allah makes his richness between his eyes, gathers his inner self, and the worldly life will come to him with compliance. And whoever’s concern was for the worldly life, Allah will make his poverty between his eyes, disunite him and he will not get anything from this worldly life except what has been written for him.” (Tirmidi) “In the Quran happiness is termed by the word sa’adah”. Whenever the term sa’adah is mentioned in the Quran, it is always related to two conditions: the happiness in the hereafter and happiness in the present world. For a Muslim the ultimate happiness is the happiness in the hereafter as mentioned by the Almighty Allah in Surah Hud. The view of Islam of the wellbeing of man is to abstain from everything that Almighty Allah had forbidden and to do everything that Almighty Allah has commanded him to do. The Islamic approach seems to be around conforming to Islamic values and principals and their behavioral corollaries, meaning that the Islamic construct of wellbeing has stronger moral and theological components than the norm in Western conceptualization of wellbeing. With Islam and wellbeing we have a more complex phenomenon as Islam is a way of life, and is far more integral to a person’s existence and routines than with other religions.
