# Don’t Expect From Others:
Another factor that hurts the most, brings stress into life and breaks the relations that bring happiness is the expecting from others. We as humans tend to expect from other people and when we set high expectations from them, and when those are not fulfilled we feel depressed and dishearten. As humans we ought to depend on each other, however, the best one are those who set their expectations with Allah who would compared the means for those expectations to be fulfilled. Prophet (PBUH) said in a hadith:
“O Allah, 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.” (Tirmidhi
Thus, when a Muslim sets expectations with Allah, then He surely does fulfill those expectations. Therefore, instead of setting expectations with people, a Muslim must turn towards Allah, ask for every thing from Him, and depend on Him only. This way expectations will be fulfilled and stress will remain at bay.
# Work On Physical Fitness:
There is no denying the fact that methods like Quran recitation can bring peace and solace to a person, however, the peace of soul and heart needs to be complemented with a peaceful body as well. If the body is not healthy then it will fall prey to all sorts of illnesses and health issues, which boost the stress and keep a person from enjoying happiness. Therefore, a Muslim must try to work on physical fitness and keep the body healthy so that it resists stress better and is able to enjoy happiness in general and occasions of happiness in particular. As Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said in one of His hadiths:
“The strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than the weak believer, while there is good in both.” (Muslim)
# Listen & Recite Quran
Without any doubt, listening to Quran in heart touching recitation brings happiness and peace to both mind and soul. Also, reading the words of Allah reveals many secrets upon the recite. Therefore, if you are in quest for happiness, start listening and reading the Holy Quran. This will surely help you attain a level of satisfaction and happiness you desire.
# Remember Allah always:
Allah says in the holy Quran chapter 3 verses 191 and 195
191
Those who remember Allah while standing or sitting or [lying] on their sides and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth, [saying], “Our Lord, You did not create this aimlessly; exalted are You [above such a thing]; then protect us from the punishment of the Fire
195
And their Lord responded to them, “Never will I allow to be lost the work of [any] worker among you, whether male or female; you are of one another. So those who emigrated or were evicted from their homes or were harmed in My cause or fought or were killed – I will surely remove from them their misdeeds, and I will surely admit them to gardens beneath which rivers flow as reward from Allah, and Allah has with Him the best reward.”
“Remember your Lord morning and evening, deep in your heart with humility and with fear; and also in a low voice; do not be of those who are heedless.” –Holy Quran 7:205
Conclusion:
In short, a Muslim can easily fight and resist stress while at the same time be happy, if he or she starts acting upon the instructions of Quran and try making Islam a part of their daily lives. If this habit is developed then a Muslim will be more content and remain happy for whatever Allah has given him or her and this gratitude will lay the foundation for further happiness and joy.
May Allah Subhana Wa Ta’ala grant us goodness and happiness both in this world and the here after, Take our souls only when he’s pleased with us, and cause us to die as Muslims. Aamin. Rabanna aatina fid dunniya hasanata wa fil akhiratihi hasanat. Aamin.
Compiled by: Aaminah Qasim
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