In Pursuit Of Happiness

Bismillah

Allah has made certain things halal for you and He knows that things that are halal for you are good for you, beneficial for you, and a blessing for you. And when you enjoy what Allah has made halal for you, actually that in of itself is an act of worship. 

So when you get a job that is permissible, going to work is worship, spending your paycheck in halal food and clothes is worship, etc. By doing all that, you are not just benefitting yourself in this life, but you are also benefitting youself in the next life. In other words, you are actually building your next life too because you are within the boundary of halal. Every act that you do will give you happiness in this life and at the same time building you akhirah account.

وَٱبْتَغِ فِيمَآ ءَاتَىٰكَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلدَّارَ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةَ ۖ وَلَا تَنسَ نَصِيبَكَ مِنَ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَأَحْسِن كَمَآ أَحْسَنَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَيْكَ ۖ وَلَا تَبْغِ ٱلْفَسَادَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُفْسِدِينَ ‎﴿٧٧﴾‏

But seek, through that which Allah has given you, the home of the Hereafter; and [yet], do not forget your share of the world. And do good as Allah has done good to you. And desire not corruption in the land. Indeed, Allah does not like corrupters." (Quran, Al Qasas 28:77)

What does syaitan want you to do? Same thing he wanted our father Adam and our mother Hawwa to do. There were so many trees that were halal, but shaytan said that one tree will make you have a real good life -- the one that will make you real happy is the one that is haram. 

What shaytan do to us is that he will make that one haram enticing eventhough all the halal is available in front of you.

Everything you need in this life, everything your body needs, there is a halal avenue for you. Spend your time, effort and money in a halal way and you will find happiness in this life and the next.

Allah made this world as a preview of paradise. There are trees, fruits, rivers, spouses, wine, servants, mansions, palm trees, good companions ... in paradise, though the paradise is beyond our imagination. But when the Quran talks about those things, we will have an idea because we have seen them or have some knowledge of them. 

When Allah puts something halal on this earth, He puts something for you to enjoy.

هُوَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ لَكُم مَّا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ ٱسْتَوَىٰٓ إِلَى ٱلسَّمَآءِ فَسَوَّىٰهُنَّ سَبْعَ سَمَٰوَٰتٍ ۚ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ ‎﴿٢٩﴾‏

It is He who created for you all of that which is on the earth. Then He directed Himself to the heaven, [His being above all creation], and made them seven heavens, and He is Knowing of all things. (Quran, Al Baqarah 2:29)

وَلَقَدْ مَكَّنَّٰكُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَجَعَلْنَا لَكُمْ فِيهَا مَعَٰيِشَ ۗ قَلِيلًا مَّا تَشْكُرُونَ ‎﴿١٠﴾‏

And We have certainly established you upon the earth and made for you therein ways of livelihood. Little are you grateful. (Quran, Al Araf 7:10)

What shaytan will tell you is "if you stay within the halal, you will miss out." Remember, Allah is not going to let us miss out for what we were created for. How could you be grateful if you are miserable? You are grateful when you enjoy a blessing. Allah wants you to be grateful with His blessings. So Allah makes halal enjoyable in this life and the next life.

Halal is described as good and pure (toyyiba). It is good for you and it keeps you away from becoming impure. 

If you want to be happy in this life and the next, stay withing the boundaries of halal.