Lessons Learned in Achieving Happiness
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“Whoever does righteous deeds, whether male or female, while being a believer, We will surely grant them a good life, and We will surely recompense them with the best of what they used to do.” (Surah An-Nahl, 97).
A person finds joy when their heart is at peace and they reach a stage of complete contentment with the decree of Allah, the Exalted and Mighty. They also find joy when their record is free from encroaching on people’s rights or harming them in any way, and when they sleep with a tranquil mind, despite the severe difficulties and life challenges they may face during their day. Among the lessons learned in achieving happiness, particularly in this worldly life, we mention the following:
- Righteous deeds: These are every good action that a person performs with the aim of benefiting others, especially their Muslim brothers and sisters. Whoever dedicates the majority of their physical, intellectual, and psychological energies to serving people, advising them, enjoining good, and forbidding evil; whoever removes harm from the path, both literally and figuratively; and whoever begins their day with charity and ends it with kindness—by my life, such a person is truly a happy Muslim.
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- Making people happy: The wise person brings joy to other human beings by softening their speech and behavior towards them, by assuming the best of them, by treating them justly before treating themselves justly, and by wishing for them what they wish for themselves. This is especially true of that exceptional individual who finds joy in seeing smiles on people’s faces because of a kind word they said or an ethical action they performed towards them.
- Prayer is happiness: I am almost certain that whoever strives for humility and concentration in their prayer, especially one whose prayer leaves a positive effect on their soul and character, improving their morals after performing it, is truly a happy individual. Genuine prayer is a primary requirement for achieving happiness in this life and the Hereafter.
- Happiness in not interfering in others’ affairs: The wise person avoids matters that do not concern them, restrains their tongue from interfering in the private affairs of others, and finds joy specifically in respecting the personal, family, and social boundaries of others. How could one not be happy whose heart is free from the worry and sorrow of meddling in the affairs of people?
- Charity gladdens the heart: A person gives charity with their wealth, with their kind words, and with their advice, which is free from personal interest. Perhaps the best form of charity in today’s turbulent world is wishing well for all Muslims.
A Kuwaiti writer
