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_HAPPINESS COME FROM SINCERE WORSHIP_

In Part 1, we discussed the evolution of happiness in western thought, and its effect on western culture. In part 2, we re-examined the definitions of happiness and tried to understand the relationship between science and happiness. Now, in part 3, we will learn about happiness in the teachings of Islam.
Islam is the religion that is more than a religion; it is the religion that is a complete way of life. Nothing is too small or too big to be covered by the teachings of Islam.

Rejoice and be happy, remain positive and be at peace. This is what Islam teaches us, through the Quran and the authentic teachings of Prophet Muhammad , may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him . Every single one of God’s commandments aims to bring happiness to the individual. This applies in all aspects of life, worship, economics, and society.

“Whoever works righteousness – whether male or female – while he (or she) is a true believer verily, to him We will give a good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful provision), and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do (i.e. Paradise in the Hereafter).” (Quran 16:97)

As most of us have come to realise, happiness is that ethereal quality that encompasses contentment and peacefulness; it is the soft joy that causes our lips, faces and hearts to smile. It is determined by faith in God and obedience to Him. Thus happiness embodies the peace security and submission that is Islam.

The injunctions and regulations of Islam reinforce the happiness that comes from knowing God and they help to guarantee humankind’s happiness during life in this world. However, Islam also emphasizes that the life of this world is nothing more than a means of attaining the Hereafter. By following the guidelines of Islam it is possible to be happy while awaiting our eternal happiness.

Sometimes, in order to achieve happiness, people attempt to follow complicated paths; they fail to see the easier path that is Islam. Happiness can be found in the solace that comes from being upon the truth. It can be achieved by sincere worship, hastening to do virtuous, noble and beautiful deeds, and by performing acts of kindness or giving charity. These things all have the potential to make us happy, every day, under any circumstances.

Even giving the smallest charity, in order to please God, can bring a smile to your face and a feeling of joy to your heart.

“And the likeness of those who spend their wealth seeking God’s pleasure while they are sure and certain that God will reward them (for their spending in His Cause), is the likeness of a garden on a height; heavy rain falls on it and it doubles its yield of harvest. And if it does not receive heavy rain, light rain suffices it.” (Quran 2:265)

Prophet Muhammad said, “ Indeed amazing are the affairs of a believer! They are all for his benefit. If he is granted ease then he is thankful, and this is good for him. And if he is afflicted with a hardship, he perseveres, and this is good for him.”

The nature of the human condition means that amongst the happiness there may be great sorrow and within the pain and despair there may be great joy. A believer will accept God’s decree for him and lead a happy life free from total despair or unbearable pain.

Islam has the answer to all the problems that afflict humankind, and knowing this leads to happiness, because it allows us to look beyond the need for self-gratification, and the need to acquire possessions. Following the teaching of Islam and striving to please God is a constant reminder that this life is but a transient pause on the way to life everlasting.

“But whosoever turns away from My Reminder (i.e. neither believes in this Qur’an nor acts on its teachings) verily, for him is a life of hardship, and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Resurrection.” (Quran 20: 124)
God says in the Quran, “Verily! I am Allah! None has the right to be worshipped but I, so worship Me.” (20:14).

The key to happiness is knowing and worshipping God. When one worships and remembers the Creator as He should be worshipped and remembered, happiness can be observed all around us, at any given moment and even on the darkest night. It is there in the smile of a child, in the touch of a comforting hand, in the rain on parched earth, or in the smell of spring. These things can make our hearts truly happy because they are manifestations of God’s mercy and love. Happiness can be found in worship.

To find true happiness we must seek to know God, especially through His names and attributes. Seeking beneficial knowledge brings happiness. The angels flutter their wings and keep records of those who seek knowledge; the mere thought of this brings a smile of happiness to the face of a believer. Our righteous predecessors understood the inherent happiness and joy to be found in striving to be close to God.

Outstanding Islamic scholar Ibn Taymiyyah , may God have mercy on him, once said, “I once became ill and the physician told me that reading and giving talks on knowledge would only exacerbate my condition. I told him that I could not abandon these pursuits. I asked him whether the body becomes stronger and sickness is repelled if the soul feels happy and joyful. He replied in the affirmative, so I said my soul finds joy, comfort and strength inknowledge”.

Perfect happiness will only be available to us if we spend life everlasting in Paradise. It is only there that we will find total peace, tranquillity and security. It is only there that we will be free of the fear, anxiety and pain that are part of the human condition.

However the guidelines provided by Islam allow us, imperfect humans, to seek happiness in this world. The key to being happy in this world and the next is seeking the pleasure of God, and worshipping Him, without associating partners with Him.
And of them there are some who say: “Our Lord! Give us in this world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good, and save us from the torment of the Fire! ” (Quran 2:201).

_Ibn Islam. @Knowislam.com.ng__

In name of Allah, the most gracious, the most merciful.

Peace and blessings of Allah (Subhanahu wata’alaa) be upon our beloved prophet Muhammad, his family, his companions and his followers to the day of reckoning.

All praise due to Allah the Lord of the lords, the cherisher, sustainer, provider of one and all.

Today’s article is on the topic happiness in Islam based on Islamic perspective and understand, first of all, let’s look at the general concept of happiness.

_CONCEPT OF HAPPINESS_

Even though happiness is perhaps one of the most important things in life, science still can not explain much about it. Its concept itself is elusive. Is it an idea, emotion, virtue, philosophy, ideal, or is it just programmed in the genes?

There is no agreed upon definition for it, yet still everyone seems to be selling happiness these days – drug dealers, pharmaceutical companies, Hollywood, toy companies, self-help gurus, and, of course, Disney, creator of the Happiest Place on Earth. Can happiness really be purchased? Is happiness achieved by maximizing pleasure, earning fame and fortune, or living a life of unlimited leisure? The series of articles will briefly explore the evolution of happiness in Western thought, followed by the present cultural understanding in the West.

Finally, the meaning and a few means of attaining happiness in Islam will be discussed.

Evolution of Happiness in Western Thought
The Christian idea of happiness was based on a reported saying of Jesus,
“…now is your time of grief, I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy” (John 16:22)

The Christian idea of happiness was developed over the centuries and, in turn, rested on a theology of sin, which, as St. Augustine explained in The City of God, taught that because of Adam and Eve’s original transgression in the Garden of Eden, true happiness was “unattainable in our present life.”
In 1776, Thomas Jefferson, summarizing a good century of reflection on the subject in Europe and America, deemed the “pursuit of happiness” a “self-evident” truth.

By this time, the truth of happiness had been declared so often and so confidently that, for many, it scarcely needed evidence. It was, as Jefferson said, self-evident. To secure the “greatest happiness for the greatest number” had become the moral imperative of the century. But just how “self-evident” was the pursuit of happiness? Was it, in fact, so obvious that happiness was our naturally intended end? Christians confessed that human beings pursued happiness during their earthly pilgrimage, but remained skeptical about its attainment.

Elsewhere, Jefferson himself was pessimistic whether the chase would ever be brought to a satisfying conclusion. “Perfect happiness…was never intended by the Deity to be the lot of one of his creatures,” he specified in a letter of 1763, adding soberly that even “the most fortunate of us, in our journey through life, frequently meet with calamities and misfortunes which may greatly afflict us.” To “fortify our minds” against these attacks, he concluded, “should be one of the principal studies and endeavors of our lives.”

Whereas in the fifth century, Boethius could claim that “God is happiness itself,” by the middle of the 19th century, the formula was reversed to read “Happiness is God.” Earthly happiness emerged as the idol of idols, the locus of meaning in modern life, the source of human aspiration, the purpose of existence, the why and the wherefore. If happiness was not, as Freud said, ‘in the plan of Creation,’ there were those ready to alter the handiwork of the Maker to put it there by manufacturing, consuming, and exporting it as democracy and free-market economy (materialism). As the philosopher Pascal Bruckner observed, “Happiness is the sole horizon of our contemporary democracies.” As a surrogate religion, materialism relocated God to the shopping mall.
Happiness in Western Culture
In our culture, it is commonly believed that happiness is achieved when you become rich, powerful, or popular.

The young want to be that popular pop idol, the old dream of winning the jackpot. We often seek happiness by removing all stress, sadness, and irritations. For some, happiness lies in mood-altering therapies. Eva Moskowitz, a historian, gives some idea of the American obsession with the gospel of therapy: “Today, this obsession knows no bounds…there are more than 260 [different kinds of] 12-step programs in America.”

One reason we have so much trouble attaining happiness is that we have no idea about what it is. Consequently, we make poor judgments in life. An Islamic tale illustrates the relationship of judgment with happiness.

“Oh, great sage, Nasrudin,” said
the eager student, “I must ask you a
very important question, the answer
to which we all seek: What is the
secret to attaining happiness?”
Nasrudin thought for a time,
then responded. “The secret of
happiness is good judgment.”
“Ah,” said the student. “But how
do we attain good judgment?
“From experience,” answered
Nasrudin.
“Yes,” said the student. “But how
do we attain experience?’
“Bad judgment.”
An example of our good judgment is knowing that materialistic comforts by themselves do not lead to lasting happiness. Having reached that conclusion by our good judgment, we do not retreat into our comforts. We continue to crave a happiness that seems out of reach.

We make more money thinking that is the way to become happy, and in the process neglect our family. Most big events we dream of yield less sustained happiness than we hoped for. In addition to getting less happiness than we expected or hoped for, we frequently do not know exactly what we want, what will make us happy or how to get it. We misjudge.

Enduring happiness does not come from ‘making it.’ Imagine someone could snap their fingers and give you fame, fortune, and leisure. Would you be happy? You would be euphoric, but in the short run. Gradually you would adapt to your new circumstance and life would return to its normal mix of emotions. Studies show that big lottery winners after a few months are no happier than the average person! To recover the joy, you would now need an even higher high.
Consider, too, how we have “made it.” In 1957, our per-person income, expressed in today’s dollars, was less than $8,000. Today it is $16,000. With doubled incomes, we now have double the material goods that money can buy – including twice as many cars per person. We also have microwave ovens, color TVs, VCRs, answering machines, and $12 billion a year worth of brand-name athletic shoes.
So are we happier? No. In 1957, 35 percent of Americans told the National Opinion Research Center they were “very happy.” In 1991, only 31 percent said the same. Meanwhile, depression rates have soared.

God’s Prophet of Mercy said:
“True enrichment does not come by through possessing a lot of wealth, but true enrichment is the enrichment of the soul.” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari).

Continue reading here

Does the Noble Qur’an Tell Muslims to Read the Gospels?

     Some Christians have said that the Qur’an commands Muslims to read and obey the 4 Gospels. First, one of the reasons Allah has sent Islam and the Noble Qur’an was because all the scriptures that came before it were either corrupted or lost. The Noble Qur’an says the following of the books that came before it:

“Know they not Allah Knoweth what they conceal and what they reveal? And there are among them illiterates, who know not the Book but (see therein their own) desires, and they do nothing but conjecture. Then woe to those who write the Book with their own hands, and then say: ‘This is from Allah,’ to traffic with it for a miserable price! Woe to them for what their hands do write, and for the gain they make thereby.” (The Noble Qur’an, 2:77-79)

The Book refers to the book of the People of the Book(aka Men of Faith), which section 9 in Chapter 2 talks about. The Noble Qur’an clearly says that the Book was corrupted by men, “those who write the Book with their own hands, and then say: ‘This is from Allah,”. It can’t get any clearer then that!

Now, as you can see from the above verses the Qur’an claims the Book of the People of the Book have corrupted their own books. With that in mind let’s move on;

When I asked the Christian how did he get to this conclusion, he gave the following verses:

(The Noble Qur’an, 2:97) “To thee (Muhammad) We sent the scripture(Qur’an) in truth confirming the scripture that came before it, and guarding it in safety. Say: Whoever is the enemy of Jibreel — for surely he revealed it to your heart by Allah’s command, verifying that which IS before it and guidance and good news for the believers.”

(The Noble Qur’an, 5:82) “Nearest among them in love to the believers will thou find those who say “We are Christians” because amongst these are men devoted to learning.”

(The Noble Qur’an, 42:15) “I believe in the Book (of the People of the Book) which God has sent down…”

(The Noble Qur’an, 5:46) “And in their footsteps we sent Jesus the son of Mary confirming the Law that had come before him. We sent him the Gospel: therein was guidance and light, and confirmation of the Law.”

(The Noble Qur’an, 5:47) “Let the People of the Gospel judge by what God has revealed therein”

(The Noble Qur’an, 5:48) “To thee (Muhammad) We sent the scripture (Qur’an) in truth confirming the scripture that came before it, and guarding it in safety.”

(The Noble Qur’an, 10:94) “If thou (Muhammad) are in doubt as to what We have revealed, then ask the People of the Book.”

Let us examine each one;

(The Noble Qur’an, 2:97) “To thee (Muhammad) We sent the scripture(Qur’an) in truth confirming the scripture that came before it, and guarding it in safety. Say: Whoever is the enemy of Jibreel — for surely he revealed it to your heart by Allah’s command, verifying that which IS before it and guidance and good news for the believers.”

I’ve bolded the points Christians use to show their point. Without knowing that the Noble Qur’an claims that the scriptures before it were corrupted by men(2:77-79), you can easily come to the conclusion that the Noble Qur’an confirms the Bible.

However, the Qur’an talks about the True scriptures He has sent to the prophets before Muhammad(pbuh), not the corrupted Bible.

Let’s move on;

(The Noble Qur’an, 5:82) “Nearest among them in love to the believers will thou find those who say “We are Christians” because amongst these are men devoted to learning.”

Let’s look at the whole context;

(The Noble Qur’an, 5:82) Strongest among men in enmity to the believers wilt thou find the Jews and Pagans; and nearest among them in love to the believers wilt thou find those who say, “We are Christians”: because amongst these are men devoted to learning and men who have renounced the world, and they are not arrogant.

(The Noble Qur’an, 5:83) And when they listen to the revelation received by the Messenger, thou wilt see their eyes overflowing with tears, for they recognise the truth: they pray: “Our Lord! We believe; write us down among the witnesses.

The first verse says that the you will find Jews and Pagans hate the believers(Muslims) the most. Next it says Christians are devoted to learning and they are not arrogant. The next verse says the Christians listen to the revelation(Qur’an) received by the Messenger(Prophet Mohammed(pbuh)) and “thou wilt see their eyes overflowing with tears, for they recognize the truth: they pray: “Our Lord! We believe; write us down among the witnesses. “

To sum those verses up, some of the Jews and Pagans are arrogant and harder to show the Truth and only some care to learn about the Truth, but among Christians there are defiantly those who want to learn the Truth.

Anyways, I can’t make any contacts between the Bible and us having to read it in these verses. So let’s move on;

(The Noble Qur’an, 42:15) “I believe in the Book (of the People of the Book) which God has sent down…”

Again, Qur’an makes it clear that it is talking about what Allah has sent down, and not the corrupted Bible. Let me bold the part;

(The Noble Qur’an, 42:15) “I believe in the Book (of the People of the Book) which God has sent down…”

Let’s move on;

(The Noble Qur’an, 5:46) “And in their footsteps we sent Jesus the son of Mary confirming the Law that had come before him. We sent him the Gospel: therein wasguidance and light, and confirmation of the Law.”

I think we are repeating a cycle. It is obvious the Gospel is not the 4 Gospels. Let me bold the important points;

(The Noble Qur’an, 5:46) “And in their footsteps we sent Jesus the son of Mary confirming the Law that had come before him. We sent him the Gospel: therein was guidance and light, and confirmation of the Law.”

Answer these questions to your self. Are any of the Gospels told or narrated or written by Jesus(pbuh) him self? How many Gospels are there in the NT.

The current Gospels are supposed to be “inspired” by Jesus(pbuh) and God. In a sense, they claim to have written about the Gospel of Jesus(pbuh). Considering what the Noble Qur’an says(The Noble Qur’an, 2:77-79), I don’t think it needs further explanation.

We can also check what Prophet Muhammad(pbuh) said:

Narrated Ubaidullah:  “Ibn ‘Abbassaid, ‘Why do you ask  the people of the scripture about anything while your Book (Quran) which has been revealed to Allah’s Apostle(Prophet Muhammad) is newer and the latest? You read it pure, undistorted and unchanged, and Allah has told you that the people of the scripture (Jews and Christians) changed their scripture and distorted it, and wrote the scripture with their own hands and said, ‘It is from Allah,’ to sell it for a little gain. Does not the knowledge which has come to you prevent you from asking them about anything? No, by Allah, we have never seen any man from them asking you regarding what has been revealed to you!”(Translation of SahihBukhari, Holding Fast to the Qur’an and Sunnah, Volume 9, Book 92, Number 461)

Conclusion

The Noble Qur’an and Prophet Muhammad(pbuh) clearly refute this claim.

Narrated Abu Huraira: “The people of the Book used to read the Torah in Hebrew and then explain it in Arabic to the Muslims. Allah’s Apostle said (to the Muslims). ‘Do not believe the people of the Book, nor disbelieve them, but say, ‘We believe in Allah and whatever is revealed to us, and whatever is revealed to you.”(Translation of SahihBukhari, Holding Fast to the Qur’an and Sunnah, Volume 9, Book 92, Number 460)

Feminism….

Since we live in an age where everyone is free to subjectively define whatever concept they want to talk about , I will simply define feminism as an altruistic fight for the rights of females, if my definition stands then Islam itself is feminist , since the Quran campaigned for the right to life of the girl-child (Q16:58-59; Q81:8-9) and abolished the treatment of women as mere property to be inherited (Q4:19)
(So all those arab feminists need to show more appreciation to the Prophet , they wont even be alive by now if the Quran hadnt abolished killing females )
Secondly , we wont necessarily throw the entire concept into the dustbin since what we will only need to attack is extremist – feminism which is in itself ranges from women who want to make themselves equal to men, or women who deem even a Prophet irresponsible for following Allah’s instruction ( Amina Wadud ) and a particularly nasty review i read way back where the author of the initial paper was arguing that pronouns for God be feminized!

Fortunately ,in my part of the world ,these sort of extreme feminism is absent, at least for now ! You know crazy things in the west always find a way to reach Africa!
However we still have to deal with some form of hardline feminism.

My definition was deliberately chosen so as to let sisters know of our support and commitment to the rights of women ,perhaps more so than some of them.

Why wouldnt one sympathise with advocating for womens right when you see the appalling way in which some men treat women ? When it comes to sexual exploitation and molestation, brothers easily start questioning her being alone with her would be or eventual rapists, (absurdities like : why was she even doing classes with him in the first place ? ), criminals are left off the hook and the victim is the one who gets blamed for not following islamic etiquettes ! Am i missing something ?
Majority of the victims wont even come out because they wont be believed ,especially if the perpetrator is a close relative or publically revered, and this is repeated in diverse environments and different cultures …always.
Why wont one sympathise with advocating for womens right with the appalling record of domestic abuse women are subjected to ? You would sit at arbitrations or reconciliations and feel utter revulsion at the ‘brother’ sitting in front of you , people who have molested ,oppressed , abused their wives in ways unimaginable, so much so you look at your own imperfect relationship with your wife and say , ‘ man, what a great husband i am’, individuals who ,save that their biology indicates otherwise, ought not to be referred to as men, literally or figuratively.

Strangely enough a lot of sisters would still want to cope with men who have crossed all decent lines of moral behaviour , with arguments like : ‘its for the kids’ , she actually knows its a lie , but its a lie she must tell herself, No, force herself to believe, because she believes she has no where to go , society , african society frowns at once-married-daughters coming back home….
she is young , and her sexual hormones are still firing , she cant sleep around , her faith, her culture , her society doesnt support a sleep around mom, even with unspoken words she is condemned . So she’d continue coping with the sperm donor even if he commits major shirk.
Stranger still are those who are so broken that theyll even continue with one who will not carry out even the sexual duties, and she continues praying for a solution that Allah has kept right there in her grasp !

So I agree with training and teaching sisters when to quit inasmuch as its within the limits laid down by the sharia, I agree with any advocacy that intends the liberation of women from physically ,spiritually and emotionally killing relationships.

Perhaps we understand this more than some of our sisters who are cheerleaders of the so called women rights, infact i do believe some of these feminist cheerleading are shambolic and hypocritical…
When sisters advice and support their fellow sisters to leave such relationship ,they stop at that, what happens after the divorce ? None of the business of the cheerleaders!

More often than not, it is the students of knowlegde who face the post divorce blues … Woe betide that divorced sister if she so much makes repeated tasleem to the husband of the same sisters who were her divorce-right-activists , Wallahi , its so bad that a fellow sister told a recently widowed sister to steer clear of her husband because she wasnt the one who made her husband die ! Feminism ?! An altruistic advocacy for your fellow sisters right ? God!

Sisters symphatize , emphatize ,infact they suffer with the females in oppressive relationships , they pray and do tahajjud that their fellow sisters be saved by a good brother , a good brother that will save their fellow sister from this oppression and humiliation by marrying her, any good brother would do, any good brother… except their own husbands ! Our sister’s feminism obviously has limits.

How come we have so much formal and informal groups of sisters teaching sisters how to repel a mans oppression and we dont have groups advocating for plygyny for our husbands ? Dont you think the fact that you have a successful marriage should be an impetus for you to advise your suffering brethren to partake of your largesse ? Or our feminism isnt that altruistic ?

How many gruops do we have teaching pregnant women the rudiments of safe delivery? In Nigeria where the motarlity rate from childbirth is appalling ?!
What about sex education, breast and cervical cancer enlightment ? Do these not fall under the category of rights a woman needs to have ?

Perhaps we need to redefine our feminism, perhaps when next you pray, sister, against the oppression of them dictator brothers , please add a solemn prayer against the oppression of blind feminism. Amin..

-Kabir Al-Asfar