The Pursuit of Happiness

By: Sheikh Omar Bakri Muhammad

Happiness is something we all strive for. Who doesn’t want to be happy and to have a good life? But the question is: what is a good life?

Some people hate their lives and they are always feeling sad and depressed. On the other hand, there are people who enjoy life and are always happy and smiling. Why is this? And what is the cause of happiness?

In the Hereafter the good life will be in Paradise. But what is it in this life? Let us see what Allah (SWT) says – the One who gave us life:

مَنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا مِنْ ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنْثَى وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَلَنُحْيِيَنَّهُ حَيَاةً طَيِّبَةً وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْرَهُمْ بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ
Whoever does the good deeds, 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). (16:97)

Everything you do in this life will either be recorded for or against you. Every single second, minute, hour, day, week and month which pass by could either make you closer to Allah or lead you to Hell and His anger.

Allah provides us with food, fresh fruits, meat, drink, water, sunlight and much more. When a person wakes up in the morning, who is it that gives back his sight, hearing, mind and soul? Who is it that makes you healthy while others are suffering? Allah provides us with so many ni’am (blessings) so that we love and thank Him.

Allah wants us to do what is obligatory and to keep away from what He has prohibited. Whoever thinks that by obeying Him or coming closer to him will lead to miserable life is wrong; in fact, they have bad thoughts about Allah. Allah (SWT) says:

مَا أَنْزَلْنَا عَلَيْكَ الْقُرْآنَ لِتَشْقَى
We have not sent down the Qur’an unto you to cause you distress. (20:2)

You will only be able to enjoy life if you fulfil your obligations. Nothing will purify your soul and make it tayyib (good) except obedience to Allah. A man may taste all enjoyments of this world, but there is nothing more enjoyable than obedience to Allah and keeping away from the prohibitions. You will enjoy life when you do what Allah has ordered you to do: da’wah, jihad, commanding good and forbidding evil, reciting Qur’an, performing salah, etc. You will enjoy being with companions who are upon the correct manhaj, studying Deen, teaching, even spending for Allah’s sake.

Before you say or do anything with your body, you need to ask, does the One who gave me this body and life allow me to do this? Do I have His permission?

Whatever you do should be to draw you closer to Allah, not the mayor, leader, president or king. Rather, everything you do should be for the pleasure of the King of all kings. If you do not obey Allah in all spheres of life you will never have a happy life. You will always be confused, worried and bored. You will spend your whole life in pursuit of happiness but instead you will have a miserable life. Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said:

قد أفلح من أسلم ورزق كفافا وقنعه الله بما آتاه
He who submits has succeeded, is given sufficient provisions and is content with Allah for what he is given. (Saheeh Muslim, Hadeeth 1054)

The closer you are to Him, the more you will enjoy life. If you pray one salah, fulfilling all its pillars and conditions, nothing can replace the contentment you feel. All the money in the world cannot buy happiness.

So ask yourself, are you doing what Allah has commanded you to do? Do you pray, eat halal, cover, engage in da’wah, work for the khilafah, support the Muslims everywhere (if you have no capability) against occupiers, obey your parents, and keep away from what Allah has forbidden? All do you pick and choose what you want to follow and avoid?

What are the obstacles in the way of getting closer to Allah?

1. Shaitan

Keep away from the shayateen of the jinn and ins (mankind). They will make you lose hope and prevent you from listening to the truth. The shayateen from the ins are the kuffar and what they broadcast on television, satellite and radio, as well as any bad friends. The bad friend reminds of fashion, celebrities, music (perhaps sending you links) and incites you to do haram. He doesn’t remind you about salah, going to a circle or doing da’wah. Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said: “A man is on the Deen of his friend.”

Those who encourage you to vote and give the right of Allah to man are from the shayateen of ins. Those who call you to join the police, secret services or army of the kuffar are from the shayateen of ins.

As for the shayateen of jinn, they are those who whisper and inspire you to do wrong. The shaitan will say, “Take it easy, you have plenty of time. Don’t waste your time doing da’wah or studying Deen. Is that going to feed you? Enjoy life. There’s so much for you to see and do. You have your whole life ahead of you.”

2. Shahawaat

Our desires cause us to neglect our responsibilities or justify leaving them.

الَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا دِينَهُمْ لَهْوًا وَلَعِبًا وَغَرَّتْهُمُ الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا فَالْيَوْمَ نَنْسَاهُمْ كَمَا نَسُوا لِقَاءَ يَوْمِهِمْ هَذَا وَمَا كَانُوا بِآيَاتِنَا يَجْحَدُونَ
Those who took their religion as an amusement and play, and the life of the world deceived them – so this Day We shall forget them as they forgot their meeting of this Day, and as they used to reject Our Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.). (7:51)

Allah provides you with a home, mattress, pillow and comfortable bed in this life, but when you die there will be no mattress or pillow, only questioning and punishment if you disobeyed Allah. Those who disobeyed will wish they could return to this world:

حَتَّى إِذَا جَاءَ أَحَدَهُمُ الْمَوْتُ قَالَ رَبِّ ارْجِعُونِ
لَعَلِّي أَعْمَلُ صَالِحًا فِيمَا تَرَكْتُ كَلا إِنَّهَا كَلِمَةٌ هُوَ قَائِلُهَا وَمِنْ وَرَائِهِمْ بَرْزَخٌ إِلَى يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ
Until, when death comes to one of them (those who join partners with Allah), he says: “My Lord! Send me back,
“So that I may do good in that which I have left behind!” No! It is but a word that he speaks, and behind them is Barzakh (a barrier) until the Day when they will be resurrected. (23:99—100)

3. Evil thoughts about Allah

Soo’ uz-Zan means having bad about Allah and doubting Him. When you call people to Islam, da’wah, salah and other good deeds, some people reply by saying, “Let me be. I don’t want my life to be difficult. I want to enjoy life.”

The one who doubts Allah does not appreciate what He done for them. And those who doubt Him will not enjoy life. Allah (SWT) says:

وَمَا قَدَرُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ
They made not a just estimate of Allah such as is due to Him. (39:67)

The disbelievers and those who think they will have a miserable life have the wrong view about Allah.

So to overcome these obstacles you need to do what is opposite. Keep away from Shaitain and come close to ar-Rahman, instead of following your desires follow Qur’an and Sunnah, and have good thoughts about Allah.

Instead of accompanying the shayateen of ins, be with the Muslims and Islamic jama’ah (groups). Be with Muslims who support the righteous ‘ulama and our needy Muslimeen. Don’t accompany people because they are famous or have money. Think back to whenever you made a mistake or committed a sin – it was almost always due to influence from shaitan, whether from jinn or ins.

If you want to think bad about anyone, think bad about the kuffar, mushrikeen or fasiqeen. Don’t think bad about Allah or the practising Muslims. Allah (SWT) says:

قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ لا تَقْنَطُوا مِنْ رَحْمَةِ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
Say, “O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah . Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.” (39:53)