Happiness is found in Sincere Worship

Happiness is Found in Sincere Worship
By Aisha Stacey-
Wednesday, 17 September 2014 00:00
Part 1 - Part 2
Islam is more than a religion; it 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 (peace 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)} (16:
97 )
As most of us have come to realize, 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 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.} (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.” (Muslim, 2999 )
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 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.} (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, 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 in knowledge”.
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, tranquility 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!}
( 2: 201 )

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