This presentation explains meaning of happiness and how Islam guides us to achieve true happiness in our lives

2. • The phrase “Life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness,” used by Thomas Jefferson in the
Declaration of Independence,
• It was a twist on John Locke’s “life, liberty and
property.”
• In traditional Islamic thought the Huqûq al insan are
five: life, religion, intellect, lineage, and property.
• The first and last correspond to the first and last of
Locke’s trinity, but Locke has replaced religion,
intellect and lineage with “liberty.”

3. • The influence of Locke on Jefferson is well-established
• The influence of Islamic thought on Locke is debatable
• It is a fact that when in exile from England he was
sheltered by Quakers who had both the Qur’an and Sufi
writings in their libraries
• , G.A. Russell in his book The “Arabick” Interest of the
Natural Philosophers in Seventeenth Century England
has provided strong circumstantial evidence that Locke
abandoned his early pragmatic philosophical views for
a philosophy of natural rights endowed by God due to
his exposure to the ideas of Ibn Tufail, the mentor of
Ibn Rushd

4. • Locke professed that he changed his mind in 1671
after attending a party given by a professor whom
Russell identifies as Ewin Poecocke who in that
same year published the Philosophicus
Autodidactus, a translation of Ibn Tufail’s work
• Subsequently Locke makes his arguments in favor
of God-given laws that govern man in the state of
nature,
• It is, then, unsurprising that Locke would adopt the
notions of life and property as human rights.
Without the right to life, no other rights are
conceivable

5. • These ideas were spelled out in great detail over two
centuries before Locke by the Muslim historian Ibn
Khaldun in his famous introduction to history, the
Muqaddamah.
• We now understand why Jefferson dropped property,
which is not inalienable, but why did he add “the
pursuit of happiness?”
• The pursuit of happiness is a goal obviously
compatible with liberty, while a guarantee of
happiness is not.
• This is because liberty is about the right to make
choices while attaining happiness is about making the
correct choices.

6. • Happiness is a mental state of well-being characterized by
positive or pleasant emotions ranging from contentment to
intense joy.
• Happiness, according to the Oxford dictionary is 'feeling,
causing, or giving pleasure' and it is being 'satisfied'.
• Psychologists define happiness as a continuous feeling of
enjoyment, satisfaction, generosity and delight, arising from
contentment of one’s self, life and belief that they will have a
blissful destiny.
• Each and every human being instinctively is in pursuit of
happiness. Whether he/she is a child or an adult, a Muslim or
a non-Muslim, and this is the fact

7. Cycle of
misery
Substance
Abuse
Illusion of
happiness
Drug
dissipates
Withdrawal

8. • Happiness upon achieving material goals ,i.e.,
o Education
o Money
o Power
o Influence
• Great efforts are exerted in attaining a goal and
when finally achieved one wonders, what’s next?
• This happiness is a short-lived experience, which at
best makes one happy for a short period of time.

9. • View life as a means to satisfy their desires.
• If it was the key to happiness, affluent individuals,
such as Christina Onassis, wouldn’t have
committed suicide.
• When asked while she was in France, ‚Are you the
richest woman in the world?‛ She said, ‚Yes, I am
but I am also the unhappiest.‛
• Soul must be sufficed as should the body.
• If this is not completed, one will carry great
worries, feelings of discontentment and
unhappiness

10. • Soul is sufficed with the true belief in the Oneness
of God, and the belief that He will resurrect us and
hold us accountable for what we do.
• One must also excel in doing the good and avoid
the evil.
• This form of happiness will remain with an
individual under all circumstances; delight anguish
poverty prosperity, sickness health
• Whether one would attain wish of this world or not

11. 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. (Nahal, 16:97)
• Happiness is in the good life mentioned in this verse, that even the
rich disbelievers cannot find, despite the money they have
• We need to know what is the purpose of our life
• How to reach success in the hereafter
• To fulfill the requirements of reaching this success
• Having IMAN or belief in God
• Following the commands of God and His Messenger(SAW)

12. And whoever turns away from My remembrance –
indeed, he will have a depressed [i.e., difficult] life,
and We will gather [i.e., raise] him on the Day of
Resurrection blind. (20:124)
• And whoever is blinded from remembrance of the
Most Merciful – We appoint for him a devil, and he
is to him a companion.(43:36)

13. •
• Amazing indeed is the affair of the believer
• All his affairs are ultimately good for him and this is
only for a believer.
• When he is graced with a blessing, he would be
thankful and grateful to God and it would be good for
him
• When he is afflicted with a calamity, he would be
patient and it would be good for him.‛ (Muslim)

14. •
•
• Anas ibn Malik reported: The Prophet (SAW) said,
“None of you will find the sweetness of faith until he
loves a person only for the sake of Allah; and until
being in the fire is dearer to him than returning to
unbelief after Allah brought him out of it; and until
Allah and His messenger are more beloved to him than
anything else.” *Sahih Bukhari, Book 73, Number 67]

15. • After being tortured, banished and imprisoned said:
‘What can my enemies do to me?
• My paradise and orchard are in my heart and they
never part with me.
• If my captors imprison me it is most certainly a
religious retreat,
• If they kill me it is martyrdom
• If they banish me from my land it is like tourism.’

16. • He who knows himself is truly happy.”
• Self-knowledge consists in realizing that we
have a heart or spirit which is absolutely
perfect,
• It has been covered with dust by the
accumulation of passions derived from the
body and its animal nature.
• Our eyes have been so distracted by physical
pleasures
• The essence of oneself is likened to a perfect
mirror
• The aim of moral discipline is to purify the
heart from the rust of passion till, like a clear
mirror, it reflects the light of God

17. • Highest function of the soul is the perception of truth;
hence it is the greatest happiness one can obtain
• Unhappiness is created by enslavement to desire and
the belief that one should satisfy only one’s own
desires (as governed by base instincts and appetites)
• There are examples in history of truly happy people,
and they were “prophets”—people who have attained
a perfect closeness with the truth
• We are happy to the degree to which we can emulate
these prophets
• We are all born with a “knowing pain in the soul,”
which causes us to seek happiness, but most of us seek
substitute pleasures deriving from the body which
cannot resolve a pain that is essentially spiritual

18. • Happiness is comprised of three components:
1. About 50% of individual happiness comes from a
genetic set point
2. About 10% of our happiness is due to our
circumstances; demographic factors, age, gender,
ethnicity and geographic factors. It also includes
personal history and life status.
3- The remaining 40% of an individual's happiness is
derived from intentional activity, from discrete
actions or practices that we choose to do.

19. • As humans we have no control over our genetic set-
point, and hardly any control over our circumstances.
• This 50% of happiness in Islam is called 'ridha bi al-
qadha' (being content with our lot in life).
• This means that as believers if we truly love Allāh and
trust Him, we are satisfied with what He Has decreed
for us.
• The Messenger would supplicate with words that
would highlight the importance of satisfaction with
our fate; therefore we too should make the effort to
recite these supplications

20. • “I am pleased with Allah as my Lord, with Islam as
my religion, and with Muhammad as my Prophet
(peace and blessings be upon him).” *Abu Dawud]
• “O Allāh, make me content with what you have
provided me, send blessings for me therein, and
place for me every absent thing with something
better.” *Bukhāri]
• “O Allāh, I seek refuge with You from knowledge
which does not bring benefit and from a heart
which is not fearful and from a self which is not
content and from a supplication which is not
answered.” *Muslim+

21. 1-Seek
Pleasure of
Allah
2- Be
Thankful
3- Service
to suffering
humanity
4. Avoid
greed &
Worldly
Comparisons
5. Ask and
Expect Only
From Allāh
6. Build and
Maintain Family
Relations
7. Live a simple
life and
Organize Your
Life
8. Build a
Support
Group
9. Earn &
consume
Halal
10. Keep
Fit
11-Be
Patient
HAPPINESS

22. Surely Allāh is All-Mighty, All-Wise. Allāh has promised the believers -men and women, –
Gardens under which rivers flow to dwell therein forever, and beautiful mansions in Gardens
of 'Adn (Eden Paradise). But the greatest bliss (happiness) is the Good Pleasure of Allāh. That
is the supreme success. [9:71, 72 Al-Tawbah]
The believers, men and women, are Auliyâ' (helpers, supporters, friends) of one another; they
enjoin (on people) Al-Ma'rûf (good), and forbid (people) from Al-Munkar (evil); they perform
As-Salât (prayer), and give the Zakât (charity), and obey Allāh and His Messenger. Allāh will
have His Mercy on them

23. Those who have believed and whose hearts are
content by the remembrance of Allah. Indeed by the
remembrance of Allah hearts are contented. (13:28)
And whoever turns away from My remembrance –
indeed, he will have a depressed [i.e., difficult] life,
and We will gather [i.e., raise] him on the Day of
Resurrection blind. (20:124)
And whoever is blinded from remembrance of the
Most Merciful – We appoint for him a devil, and he
is to him a companion.(43:36)

24. The Prophet (SAW) said: One will experience the
‘sweetness’ of faith when they acquire three traits:
1. That Allah and His Prophet are more beloved to
him than all of the creation
2. That one loves for the sake of Allah
3. That one hates to return to disbelief as one would
hate to be tossed into the blazing Fire.‛

25. • The more Thankful we are to Allāh, the more He will
shower His bounties upon us.
• Appreciation of what Allāh has blessed you with is
vital for this step to be achieved. This is indeed an
act of worship.
And (remember) when your Lord proclaimed: “If you give
thanks, I will give you more (of My Blessings), but if you are
thankless, verily! My Punishment is indeed severe.” *14:7
Ibrāhīm]

26. • Work on activities that result in internal happiness
that satisfy and bring a smile to the heart, not
merely a smile on the face by doing meaningful
work;
• Strive to partake in activities like feeding the poor,
assisting the distressed and helping others rather
than killing your resources like time and money.
• “True enrichment does not come through
possessing a lot of wealth, but true enrichment is
the enrichment of the soul.” *Bukhāri]

27. • Those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah and
then do not follow up what they have spent with
reminders [of it] or [other] injury will have their reward
with their Lord, and there will be no fear concerning
them, nor will they grieve. (2:262)
• The hand that gives out in charity is better than that
which takes it. Give charity to those whom you support
and the best form of charity is to give while you are
wealthy. Whoever abstains from taking charity, Allah
will bless him.‛ (Bukhari)

28. • And let not those who [greedily] withhold what Allah
has given them of His bounty ever think that it is better
for them. Rather, it is worse for them. Their necks will
be encircled by what they withheld on the Day of
Resurrection. And to Allah belongs the heritage of the
heavens and the earth. And Allah, with what you do, is
[fully] Acquainted. (3:180)
• “A generous person is beloved by Allah and beloved by
people and would be protected from the Hell-Fire. The
miser is not beloved by Allah and is far from the
Jannah, and disliked by people and close to the Hell-
Fire. An ignorant, generous person is more beloved to
Allah than a faithful miser.” (Tirmidhi

29. Do not look at the celebrities, rich or affluent people above you in
worldly matters. The lives of such individuals is not 'ideal' in the eyes of
Allah.
And do not extend your eyes toward that by which
We have given enjoyment to [some] categories of them, the
splendor of worldly life by which We test them. And the
provision of your Lord is better and more lasting. (20:131)

30. • The Prophet (SAW) said: He who submits to Allah
will be successful and his provisions will suffice him,
and Allah will make him content with it.‚ (Muslim)
• ‚Whoever wakes up safely in his home and is
healthy in his body and has provisions for his day,
would have acquired all the worldly possessions he
is in need of.‚ (Tirmidthi)

31. • If the son of Adam had two valleys of wealth, he
would wish for a third equal to it. Nothing suffices
the son of Adam except soil and Allah will forgive
those who seek forgiveness.‚ (Bukhari)
• Two hungry wolves, if let loose amongst a flock of
sheep, cause less harm than a man's eagerness to
increase his money and his prestige." Reported by
al-Tirmidhi (# 2373), Ahmad
• I don't fear poverty for you, but rather I fear that
you will compete with one another (to see who has
more possessions)." Reported by al-Hakim (2/543)
and others

32. • Beautified for people is the love of that which they
desire – of women and sons, heaped-up sums of gold
and silver, fine branded horses, and cattle and tilled
land. That is the enjoyment of worldly life, but
Allah has with Him the best return [i.e., Paradise] 3:14
• ‚Be in this life like a stranger or a wayfarer.‚
(Bukhari)
• My example in this world is surely that of a person
riding on a sunny day and then taking shade under
a tree for a period of time, then leaving and
continuing on his journey.‛ (Ahmed)

33. • Look how We have favored [in provision] some of
you over others. But the Hereafter is greater in
degrees [of difference] and greater in distinction.
(17:21)
• And do not wish for that by which Allah has made
some of you exceed others. For men is a share of
what they have earned and for women is a share of
what they have earned and ask Allah of His bounty.
Indeed Allah is ever, of all things, Knowing. (4:32)

34. • Any sustenance, provision and reward we expect is from
Allāh alone.
• And so many a moving (living) creature there is, that carries
not its own provision! Allāh provides for it and for you. And
He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower. [24;60 Al Ankabūt]
• “O Allāh, give me enough of what You have made lawful to
suffice me from what You have made unlawful, and enrich me
by Your bounty giving me independence from all other than
You.” *al-Tirmidhi]

35. The Prophet () said:
‚No individual will depart from this world until he
• Completes the term (of life) assigned for him by
Allah and
• Until he takes all his provisions that are assigned to
him; therefore, ask Allah.
• When the response to your supplication is delayed,
do not seek what you want from unlawful sources,
• One will only get the blessings of Allah when they
obey Him.‚

36. • Would you then, if you were given the authority, do
mischief in the land, and sever your ties of kinship?
Such are they whom Allah has cursed, so that He
has made them deaf and blinded their sight.}*"
(Muhammad 47:22-23)
• “All created beings are the dependents of Allāh, and
the most beloved of creation to Allah is the one
who is good to His dependents” *Bayhaqi]
• "He who severs ties of kinship, will not enter
Paradise." (Muslim)

37. • And those who break the covenant of Allah, after its
ratification, and sever that which Allah has
commanded to be joined (i.e. they sever the bond
of kinship and are not good to their relatives) and
work mischief in the land, on them is the curse, and
for them is the unhappy home (i.e. Hell) (Ar-Ra`d
13:25
• "There is no sin more deserving of having
punishment meted out by Allah to its perpetrator in
advance in this world along with what He stores up
for him in the next world than oppression and
severing ties of family." (At-Tirmidhi)

38. • Prophet(SAW) chose a simple life over a glamorous
one, and he was always content.
• Umar(RA) saw the simple life of the Prophet and
said:
O Messenger of God! While kings sleep in soft,
feather beds, you are lying on a rough mat. You are
the Messenger of God and thereby deserve more
than any other people to live an easy life. The Prophet
was reported to have replied: Do you not agree that
the luxuries of the world should be theirs but those of
the Hereafter ours? (Al-Bukhari & Muslim)

39. • A person who plans their day is much more
productive than a person who does not.
• The Prophet used to carefully apportion his time
according to the demands on him for: Worshiping
Allah, Public affairs and Personal matters.
• On the authority of Ali, Tirmizi has recorded that
the Prophet had carefully apportioned his time
according to the demands on him for offering
worship to Allah in and his personal matters..
[Sahih Muslim, Tirmizi]

40. • Feeling a part of a larger group gives one a sense of
security and a safety net to fall into on occasions of
happiness and hardships.
• The concept of brotherhood and sisterhood is one
of the central themes of Islam.
• “The (example of) believers (in their mutual love,
care and concern) is like a single person: if his eye
complains of pain his whole body complains of pain,
and if his head complains of pain his whole body
complains of pain.” *Muslim+

41. • The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said:
‚The example of a good companion and an evil one is
like that of a perfume salesman and a blacksmith.
1. A perfume salesman will either give you some
perfume, sell it to you or at the very least you will
smell a pleasant scent;
2. A blacksmith will burn your clothes and in the very
least you will smell a very unpleasant odor from
him.‛ (Bukhari)

42. • Consuming halal is an order of Allah and an essential part of the
Islamic faith.
• Abu Huraira related,” Allah's Messenger PBUH said: Verily Allah is
pure and He accepts only what is pure and indeed Allah has given
those orders to the believers, which he has given to the
Messengers. He has said, “O Messenger, eat from the pure foods
and work righteous”.
• He -also- has said: “O you who have believed, eat from the pure
things which we have provided you.” (Al-Baqarah 2:172
• Then he made mention of a man who undergoes a lengthy journey
in a state that he is disheveled and dusty. He spreads his hands
towards the sky (calling), “O my lord, O my lord”, however his food
is haram, his drink is haram, his clothes are haram and he has been
nourished with haram! So how will his call be answered?” *Muslim+

43. • The growing indifference with regards to halal foods is
indeed disturbing and shocking
• Muhammad (SAW) said, "There will come a time upon
my Ummah when people will not be concerned over
what they take. It will not matter for them whether it is
Haram or Halal". (Bukhari)
• "When this time comes, then none of their Duas will
be accepted" (Razeen)
• "That flesh which has grown out of Haram food will not
enter Jannah. Hell has more right to it"
(Ahmad,Tirmithi).
• 'Abstention from doubtful things is the best of Deen"
(Tabraani)

44. • Scientists claim that one of the benefits of exercise is
that it makes us feel happy.
• Exercise is described by many doctors as an anti-
depressant.
• The presence of certain chemicals like endorphins and
phenyl acetic acid increases drastically after a good
work out and it is this that contributes to that 'feel
good' feeling afterwards
• “The strong believer is better and more beloved to
Allāh than the weak believer, while there is good in
both.” *Muslim+

45. • And we will surely test you with something of fear
and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits,
but give good tidings to the patient. (2:155)
• O you who have believed, persevere and endure and
remain stationed and fear Allah that you may be
successful.(3:200)
• For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease [i.e., relief].
Indeed, with hardship [will be] ease. (94:5-6)
• The Prophet (SAW) said: Know that victory is the
outcome of patience and that relief is the outcome of
anguish and agony and know that with hardship there
is ease.‛ (Hakim)

46. • First type: Patience when doing acts of worship. Allah says:
Peace [i.e., security] be upon you for what you patiently
endured. And excellent is the final home. (13:24)
• Second type: Patience in relation to avoiding sinful acts. Allah
says:
And keep yourself patient [by being] with those who call upon
their Lord in the morning and the evening, seeking His
countenance. And let not your eyes pass beyond them, desiring
adornments of the worldly life, and do not obey one whose
heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance and who
follows his desire and whose affair is ever [in] neglect.(18:28)
• Third type: Patience in relation to calamities Allah decrees
upon man. Allah says: No disaster strikes except by permission
of Allah. And whoever believes in Allah – He will guide his heart.
And Allah is Knowing of all things. (64:11)