Happiness and Faith (hell, prophet, blessing, God, Lord)

Cordoba · #1 12-23-2005, 06:34 AM

Salam and Greetings to All:

Real Happiness comes from within. It's a feeling of internal peace and contentment which comes from faith and the love of Allah.

"Where is Happiness?"

- Is it found in material pleasure?
- Is it found in having family, sons and daughters?
- Is it found in experimental science?

While material things do contribute to achieving happiness to a certain extent, real happiness is found from within, "something that man feels in the form of purity of the soul, tranquility of the heart and peace of mind. It is something which springs from within man and is not imported from outside."

A wise wife once told her husband:

"I find my happiness in my faith, and my faith is in my heart, and my heart is controlled by my Lord alone."

A famous saying by one of the early Muslims was:

"We enjoy such happiness that if kings knew about it they would fight us for it".

All the best.

Cordoba · #2 12-23-2005, 09:55 PM

Remembering the many bounties we have

One of the things which make some people discontent with themselves is not realizing the value of the many bounties they enjoy.

Always looking "the other side of the fence" and wanting to be like the Jones', i.e. wanting more wealth and material possessions, leads to an internal feeling of disatisfaction.

Most humans by nature are greedy, and as mentioned by the prophet:

"If the son of Adam were to have two valleys (full) of gold, he would seek a third one."

A believer on the other hand has a deep appreciation of the many bounties he or she has, even if money owned is not abundant. Good health, peace of mind and faith are much more important than money.

When wealthy, a believer is not attached to it, as the heart is attached to loving God not the material aspects of life.

Cordoba · #3 12-24-2005, 07:16 AM

Understanding Life is a Key to Finding Real Happiness

Anyone who has busied himself with acquiring more and more material things, will lose happiness in this world and the world to come. He will be miserable in this transitory life, his sickness will increase, and his pains and sorrows will continue and will never leave him.

People in this world are like people on board a ship traveling towards a destination. Then the captain pulls in temporarily to a harbor on the way, perhaps to take on water or stocks. The people disembark to stretch their legs. Some of them then come back on board and settle down again. They take the best places in the ship.

Others stay looking at the pretty things around the harbor, the meadows, parks and a great variety of pales, flowers and fruits. They listen to a beautiful bird singing, examining the color of the soil, and picking up pretty shells. When they come back to the ship they find places with plenty of room.

A third group picks up pretty stones and shells, fruits and flowers, and does not move far from the place where the ship harbored. They re-embark heavily laden. They are the slaves of stones, shells, faded flowers and rotten fruits, things that will soon be rubbish. They have to squeeze into the narrowest and the least comfortable places in the ship, and they are made even more uncomfortable by the bulk of things they carry. They are occupied with their burdens and worry about them.

Another group is so taken by the place where they disembark that they forget about the ship all together. The taste of the fruits and the beauty of the sights make them forget the home that the ship is taking them to. They have never been free of sorrow, misfortune and pain, and they found that the pretty place houses snakes, tigers and other dangerous things.

When the captain of the ship shouts before he sails away, some of them try to run back heavily laden with their collections of objects but do not manage to reach the ship in time. They are left behind. ..."

This image resemble our journey in this world towards the goal of absolute truth, and the different types of people on that journey.

Our life in this world is like that brief stop on the Island.

Those who think that the "island" is our final destination need to take a second thought and make sure they catch that ship before it's too late!

All the best.

Cordoba · #4 12-24-2005, 09:58 PM

Happiness and Belief in Measured Destiny (Qadar)

A strong faith in "Qadar", or "Measured Destiny", has a very important impact on happiness, contentment and internal peace.

QUOTE

What God chooses for His slave is better for him that what he chooses for himself.

God is more merciful towards His slaves than they themselves or their mothers are.

If something happens to them that they dislike, that is better for them than if it did not happen, so His decree is all kindness and mercy. If the slave submits to God and has certain faith that all dominion belongs to God and all things are under His command, and that He is more merciful to him than he is himself, then he will find peace of mind regardless of whether his need is met or not.

UNQUOTE

The above quote is from a famous book titled "Madaarij al-Saalikeen" by Imam Ibn Al-Qayyem - 2/215

Cordoba · #5 12-25-2005, 05:45 PM

The fruit of contentment is thankfulness

Contentment leads to thankfulness, which is among the highest levels of faith. In truth, it is the reality of faith.

The epitome of all the differing levels of righteousness is thankfulness of Allah. And the one who is not content with Allah's favors and rulings and with His giving and His taking away is not thankful to Him. Indeed, the thankful person is the most blessed and prosperous of people.

In a hadith, the prophet peace be upon him said:

"Whoever spends the night safely in his place of sleep, while he is physically healthy and has sufficient sustenance for his day, it is as if he achieved the world in its entirety."

(Hadith related by Al-Tirmidhi)

Source: Book titled "Don't be Sad", by Sheikh al-Qarni

Cordoba · #6 12-26-2005, 11:19 PM

A Definition of Happiness

"Happiness is the solace that is derived from being upon the truth, a peace of mind that is achieved by living according to sound principles, and calmness that is brought about by living a life of goodness.

We used to think that if we bought a bigger house, had more things, and purchased the latest appliances and machines that make life easier, we would be happy and joyful. And then it surprised us when we found that these very things were the cause of worry, anxiety and trouble in our lives."

(Source: Don't be Sad, by Sheikh al-Qarni)

Cordoba · #7 12-27-2005, 09:52 PM

Advice on the fundamentals of happiness:

1- Forget the past and all that it contained. Beeing absorbed in things that are gone is sheer lunacy.

2- Do not be preoccupied with the future, because the future is in the world of the unseen. Do not let it bother you untill it comes.

3- Faith in God and good deeds: these are the ingredients that make up a good and happy life.

4- Whoever desires peace, tranquility and comfort can find it all in the remembrance of Allah.

5- Do not expect gratitude from anyone.

6- Train yourself to be ready and prepared for the worst eventuality.

7- Perhaps what has happened is in your best interest, (though you may not comprehend how that is so).

8- Enumerate the blessings of Allah and be thankful for them.

9- You are better off than many others.

10- Indeed, with each difficulty there is relief.

11- Do not be angry ... Do not be angry ... Do not be angry (Hadith)

(Source: Don't be Sad, by Sheikh al-Qarni)

All the best.

Cordoba · #8 12-28-2005, 07:13 PM

Never lose hope of Allah's Mercy

"Do not grieve over the hurt that is inflicted upon you by others, and forgive those that have ill-treated you.

The price of jealousy and rancor is enormous; it is the price that the revengeful person pays in exchange for his malice towards others. He pays with his heart, flesh and blood. His peace, his relaxation, and his happiness - these he forsakes because he desires the sweetness of revenge and because he resents others.

Jealousy and rancors are illnesses for which Allah has given the cure and remedy:

"Those who repress anger, and who pardon men ..." (3:134)

"Show forgiveness, enjoin what is good, and turn away from the foolish (i.e. don't punish them)" (7:199)

Do not grieve over that which has passed you by in life, for indeed you have been blessed with much.

Contemplate the many favours and gifts that Allah has bestowed upon you and be thankful to Him for them. Remind yourself of Allah's many blessings, for He, the Almighty, said:

"And if you would count the graces of Allah, never could you be able to count them." (16:18)

(Source: Don't be Sad, by Sheikh al-Qarni)

All the best.