The Key to Happiness with Qur'an

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Often people find happiness in the wrong places -- next purchase or acquisition, next paycheck, next relationship, next person to blame, next job, next escape (vacations, etc), next competition, next physical enhancements, etc.

We all know that Qur'an is the complete guidance, and with the Qur'an and Sunnah, Allah shows us how to live our life in this world and to give us a glimpse of what the Hereafter will be like. Pick up the Qur'an and start reading and understanding. And you are on the road of happiness inshaa Allah.

The concept of happiness in Islam is expressed in the Qur’an and Sunnah in a number of different ways. First, we find the Qur’an discussing the “good life”. Allah Almighty says,

مَنْ عَمِلَ صَـٰلِحًا مِّن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَىٰ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَلَنُحْيِيَنَّهُۥ حَيَو‌ٰةً طَيِّبَةً ۖ وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْرَهُم بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ ﴿٩٧

Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer - We will surely cause him to live a good life, and We will surely give them their reward [in the Hereafter] according to the best of what they used to do. (97)

[Qur'an, al-Nahl 16:97]

This “good life” is happiness itself. It is expressed through faith and good deeds and actions. This does not mean that we will not face difficulties in our ‘good life’. Our worldly lives even when they are boosted by faith and good works are never free from distress and anxiety, but then its something that perhaps we should expect as Allah Almighty tells us,

لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ فِى كَبَدٍ ﴿٤

Certainly We have created man to be in toil (hardship).

[Qur'an, al-Balad 90:19]

On the other hand, Allah has given us a huge opportunity to reflect on our lives and see how we can bring happiness into our daily lives.

The Qur’an uses the concept of “the openness of the heart” to express happiness. Allah Almighty says,

فَمَن يُرِدِ ٱللَّهُ أَن يَهْدِيَهُۥ يَشْرَحْ صَدْرَهُۥ لِلْإِسْلَـٰمِ ۖ وَمَن يُرِدْ أَن يُضِلَّهُۥ يَجْعَلْ صَدْرَهُۥ ضَيِّقًا حَرَجًا كَأَنَّمَا يَصَّعَّدُ فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ ۚ كَذَ‌ٰلِكَ يَجْعَلُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلرِّجْسَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿١٢٥

Those whom Allah wills to guide, He opens their breast to Islam; those whom He wills to leave straying, He makes their breast close and constricted, as if they had to climb up to the skies: thus does Allah (heap) the penalty on those who refuse to believe.

[Qur'an, al-An`am 6:125]

Allah also talks of contentment of the heart when He says,

ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ ٱلْقُلُوبُ ﴿٢٨

Those who believe, and whose hearts find contentment in the remembrance of Allah: for without doubt in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find contentment.”

[Qur'an, al-Ra`d 13:28]

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: “How amazing are the believer’s affairs; all his affairs are good for him. If good befalls him, he is grateful and that is good for him, and if he is afflicted by calamity he is patient and that is also good for him. This is only for the believer.” [Muslim].

Ibn Mas`ud said: “Allah has placed ease and happiness in certainty of faith and contentment. He has placed worry and misery in discontent and doubt.”

اللهم إني أسألك الهدى والتقى والعفاف والغنى

O Allah! I ask You for guidance, piety, chastity and self- sufficiency

May Allah grant us good in this life and good in the Hereafter and save us from the Hellfire. Ameen

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.

And Allah knows best and He alone grants success.

Wassalaam