In Pursuit of Happiness

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Is there happiness in this life?

Anything of this world that you derive pleasure from is not happiness. When the thing is gone, or you have become used to it, or something new replaces it, the pleasure for it is gone.

That's why you have to keep buying new toys for your kids to keep them "happy" because the old toys are not making them happy anymore. That's why some people change phones, even though the old phones work because it gives them a flickering taste of "happiness." That's why the hospitality industry is the world's fastest growing industry. Why? Because some people are easily bored and burned out being in the same place - they need a change - a change of scenery - a change of environment. It makes them "happy" to see new places, stay in 5-star hotels and eat out. That's why some people wish for a son or a daughter and it gives them moments of "happiness" at the news of their wish came true but some years later they would wish that the son/daughter had never been born. That's why some parents want their children to be doctors, lawyers or engineers, and have high degrees, "in pursuit of their happiness" but to find out later that their children are not happy in their jobs and marriages. That's why some people were so eager to get married in pursuit of happiness and before too long felt stuck with the wrong choice or ended up with a nasty divorce. These are some of the realities of life and there are many many more examples you can think of and reflect upon in which you may have derived pleasure in but lost it. So where is the happiness in all these things?

Remember, these things (wealth, money, children, status, power, fame, degrees, business, friends, food, etc.), including happiness are created things. These things cannot give you happiness. If you go after these things you are bound to be disappointed. Happiness in and of itself is a deceptive pleasure. It will lead you to utter loss and depression which will take you to a failed and bitter end.

اعْلَمُوا أَنَّمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا لَعِبٌ وَلَهْوٌ وَزِينَةٌ وَتَفَاخُرٌ بَيْنَكُمْ وَتَكَاثُرٌ فِي الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَوْلَادِ ۖ كَمَثَلِ غَيْثٍ أَعْجَبَ الْكُفَّارَ نَبَاتُهُ ثُمَّ يَهِيجُ فَتَرَاهُ مُصْفَرًّا ثُمَّ يَكُونُ حُطَامًا ۖ وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ مِّنَ اللَّـهِ وَرِضْوَانٌ ۚ وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا مَتَاعُ الْغُرُورِ ﴿٢٠

Know that the life of this world is but amusement and diversion and adornment and boasting to one another and competition in increase of wealth and children - like the example of a rain whose [resulting] plant growth pleases the tillers; then it dries and you see it turned yellow; then it becomes [scattered] debris. And in the Hereafter is severe punishment and forgiveness from Allah and approval. And what is the worldly life except the enjoyment of delusion. (20)

[Qur'an Al-Hadid 57:20]

الْمَالُ وَالْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَالْبَاقِيَاتُ الصَّالِحَاتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًا ﴿٤٦

Wealth and children are [but] adornment of the worldly life. But the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for [one's] hope. (46)

[Qur'an Al-Kahf 18:20]

Everything on this earth has its appointed time. Anything that has been created will come to an end, except for the One who created all of creation, Allah, Al-Baqi. The real pursuit is for the Creator – the Creator of happiness – and not the feeling of happiness itself, for finding the Creator of it all will provide happiness. So seek Allah, the Everlasting Sovereign, and you will gain the abundance of His creation. Seeking Allah, the Creator, will lead you to a never-ending felicity called happiness.

May Allah grant us closeness to Him and happiness in this life and the next. Ameen.

Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam