The holy Quran is the complete guidance that God has bestowed upon us. His words show us how to live our life in this world and give us hints of what the hereafter will be like. The holy Quran is not just the guidance for spiritual life but it is also the best self-help book in the world.
Concept of Happiness in Islam
Happiness in Islam is expressed in the Quran in different ways. First, we find that the Quran is discussing the “good life”. The Lord says: “Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer - We will surely cause him to live a good life, and We will surely give them their reward [in the Hereafter] according to the best of what they used to do.” (16: 97) This “good life” is happiness itself. It is expressed through faith and good deeds and actions. This does not mean that we will not face difficulties in our ‘good life’. Our worldly lives even when they are boosted by faith and good works are never free from distress and anxiety, but then as Muslims it is something that perhaps we should expect as The Lord tells us “We have certainly created man into hardship.” (90:4) On the other hand, God has given us a huge opportunity to reflect on our lives and see how we can bring happiness for us.
The Openness of the Heart
The Quran uses the concept of “the openness of the heart” to express happiness. God says: “So whoever Allah wants to guide - He expands his breast to [contain] Islam; and whoever He wants to misguide - He makes his breast tight and constricted as though he were climbing into the sky. Thus does Allah place defilement upon those who do not believe.” (6:125) He also talks of contentment of the heart when He says: “Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allah. Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured.” (13:28)
Happiness in Certainty of Faith
Prophet Mohammad (Blessings of God upon Him and His Progeny) said: “How amazing are the believer’s affairs; all his affairs are good for him. If good befalls him, he is grateful and that is good for him, and if he is afflicted by calamity he is patient and that is also good for him. This is only for the believer.”
Positive Psychology
Now wouldn’t it be amazing to know that you can increase contentment and reduce worry and doubt by undertaking a few interventions? Positive Psychology is the science of wellbeing and through a lot of research and reflection interventions have been developed that will help increase the wellbeing and happiness of people. An academic research showed that practicing Islam increases well-being by up to 15% when compared to the non-Muslim populations.
The Holy Quran is the main source of how we can improve our wellbeing by looking at its authentic methods.
