Dont’ Worry be Happy!

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The Degree of Happiness

Allah created each person of mankind differently – culture, language, colour, race etc. But we agree on one single thing – HAPPINESS – where we disagree is how do we get this happiness?

Some say money, riches, fame, etc. Some people find happiness in salah, in dhikr (remembering Allah in all times), in charity; they find happiness when they are tested and going through trials. TRUE HAPPINESS IS IN THE NOURISHMENT OF THE SOUL: peace of heart and mind results. The Prophet sallahu alayhi wa-sallam and sahabas used to rest and peace in salah.

Allah says in the Qur'an:

"They rejoice in the Bounty provided by Allah: and with regard to those left behind, who have not yet joined them (in their bliss), the (martyrs) glory in the fact that on them is no fear, nor have they (cause to) grieve." (3:170)

Say: "In the Bounty of Allâh, and in His Mercy (i.e. Islâm and the Qur'ân); -therein let them rejoice." That is better than what (the wealth) they amass." (10: 58)

"Those who believe (in the Oneness of Allâh – Islâmic Monotheism), and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allâh, Verily, in the remembrance of Allâh do hearts find rest." (13:28)

True enrichment does not come through possessing a lot of wealth, but true enrichment is the enrichment of the soul. Remember the ones who cannot sleep despite having all the wealth in the world. Thank Allah for all the blessings He has bestowed upon us, Alhamdulillah.

Types of Happiness

1. Commendable: Happiness  in prayer, happiness in remembering Allah, happiness in good health, etc.
2. Blameworthy: Happiness through wealth  like Qarun  whom Allah destroyed  with his money:

   Allah says in the Qur'an:

   "Verily, Qârûn (Korah) was of Mûsa's (Moses) people, but he behaved arrogantly towards them. And We gave him of the treasures, that of which the keys would have been a burden to a body of strong men. When his people said to him: "Do not be glad (with ungratefulness to Allâh's Favours). Verily! Allâh likes not those who are glad (with ungratefulness to Allâh's Favours)." (28:76)

How to be Happy?

1. Think and thank Allah: Thank Allah for all the blessings he bestowed upon us. Think if we had to pay for the air we breathe?
2. Do no wait for anybody to praise us: Do everything for the sake of Allah. Do business with Allah and be happy. Do not wait for anyone to praise or thank us.
3. Do Ihsan to others: Be good to everyone. Help others and that will make us happy. Help others with perfection. Meet our brothers with a smile, that will suffice.

   Allah says in the Qur'an:

   "Whoever works righteousness, man or woman and has Faith, verily, to him will We give a life that is good and pure, and We will bestow on such their reward according to the best of their actions." (16:97)

4. Fill our time with things that are beneficial: Utilize the time and try to benefit from it. Benefit others with our time. Try to learn more knowledge and share it with others.
5. Belief in Divine Decree: Nothing will happen to us without the decree of Allah. When we face a calamity, say Alhamdulillah that Allah decreed it for us.
    
6. Ease comes after hardship:
   
   Allah says in the Qur'an:

   "Verily, along with every hardship is relief." (94:5)

7. Turn a loss into a gain: Never despair of Allah's Mercy. When life gives us lemons make lemonade: lemons are naturally sour but when we make lemonade we have made sweet out of sour. E.g. When Ibn Taymiyyah was jailed for years he wrote books on his fatawa, When Imam Ibn Ahmed was imprisoned he accessed many books of knowledge and became the Imam of Ahlus Sunnah, When Imam ibn al Jawzee was expelled from Baghdad became master of the 7 Qira'aat – turned loss into gain, The story of 2 men in a hospital ward: one was next to a window and the other behind a partition away from the window. The man behind the partition would ask the first man what he saw outside. The other man would tell him that it is a beautiful day, it is sunny and that he is facing a garden and he can see a family walking. He would describe the next day, saying he saw flowers and trees and birds. Months and years went by and this continued every day until that person died. The man behind the partition was moved next to the window and to his surprise he found a wall behind the window. He was informed that the man was blind and could not see anything. But the blind man saw what others would have never seen. He had a vision, etc.
8. The one who turns to the needy: Help those who are in need of emotional, financial help, etc.
9. Be content with what we have: Always be thankful to Allah for what He has bestowed upon us. Be content with what we have. Look at people below our status than looking at those who are higher. Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (SAW) as saying: "When one of you looks at one who stands at a higher level than you in ‎regard to wealth and physical structure he should also see one who ‎stands at a lower level than you in regard to these things (in which he ‎stands) at a his-her level (as compared to him)." (Muslim)
10. Whoever leaves something for the sake of Allah, Allah will replace it with something better:

    Allah says in the Qur'an:

    "And for those who fear Allah, He (ever) prepares a way out. And He provides for him from (sources) he never could imagine. And if anyone puts his trust in Allah, sufficient is (Allah) for him. For Allah will surely accomplish His purpose: verily, for all things has Allah appointed a due proportion." (65:2-3)

11. Do not envy anyone with what Allah has blessed them with: Never feel jealous of anyone if Allah has blessed him with children, abundant wealth, etc. Narrated Ibn Masud: I heard the Prophet saying, "There is no envy except in two: a person whom Allah has given wealth and he spends it in the right way, and a person whom Allah has given wisdom (i.e. religious knowledge) and he gives his decisions accordingly and teaches it to the others." (Bukhari)
12. Prayer, Prayer: Prophet (saw) even on his death bed, kept telling his ummah to pray. Only prayer can bring happiness in our life.
13. Put our trust in Allah: Delegate all our affairs to Allah. Do our hard work and then put our trust in Allah.
14. Do not carry the entire world on our shoulders: Do not talk about problems all the time. This will reduce our happiness. There will always be things that are out of our control about which we can do nothing except du’aa.
15. Please Allah before pleasing anybody else: Allah should always be a priority for us in pleasing.

Allah says in the Qur'an:

"Those whom Allah (in His Plan) willeth to guide,― He openeth their breast to Islam; those whom He willeth to leave straying― He maketh their breast close and constricted as if they had to climb up to the skies: thus doth Allah (heap) the penalty on those who refuse to believe." (6:125)

Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, "Riches does not mean, having a great amount of property, but riches is self-contentment." (Bukhari)

To be Happy:

1. Be happy with our self.
2. Make sure others are happy with us.
3. Help the Mankind.
4. Make sure Allah is Happy with us- Be skeptic.

" Allah (swt) has placed ease and happiness in certainity of faith and contentment. He has placed worry and misery in discontent and doubt." (Ibn Massod (RA)

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