How to live a Good Life as a Muslim

How to Live a Good Life
By C. Mofty
Muslim Writer
Monday, 18 May 2015 00:00
{Whoever does good, whether male or female, and is a
believer, We shall certainly make him live a good life, and
We shall certainly give them their reward for the best of
what they did} (Quran 16:97)
A good life is what most people want to live. It
is a life of happiness and fulfillment with little
suffering, pain, or sickness.
Aristotle wrote about it. Several novels and
plays have been written on it. Singers like Tony
Bennett have made it popular with their songs.
The American dream defined it to be richer,
better, and fuller for everyone in the form of
good education, a well-paying job, and a
comfortable life. The state of Nebraska even
chose ‘A Good Life’ to be it’s promotional
slogan.
God’s Word, on the other hand, sets a slightly
different standard for a good life. It bases a
‘good life’ on spiritual contentment. It does
not limit a good life tied to superior education,
material plenty, or the perfect body. It brings
happiness not from what lies outside, but from
within. More accurately, a ‘good life’ is God
centered.
God promises a ‘good life’ to whoever does good
deeds. What makes deeds ‘good’? It is not what
people define ‘good’ for themselves. Worst criminals
justify their crimes. Fighting parties do not think
of themselves as anything but ‘good.’ A ‘good deed’
is simply every good action that is listed in the
Book that God has revealed for humanity or it was
taught by the prophet that God send. Quran is the
Book revealed by God and Prophet Muhammad is the
last prophet He send.
How to Get There?
There are several points to be noted:
1. A ‘good life’ is promised by God to every child of
Adam, man or woman. It is an equal opportunity to
attain happiness for every human being. It does not
matter where or when they live.  The recipe of
success is the same for all. Male or female, all are
equal in the sight of how God rewards them in
terms of the effort they put in this life.
2. The only requirement for the person is to have
faith. Faith in God is the foundation on which life
must be based. This ‘good life’ is not tied to
wealth, family status, or membership of a privileged
class. They may be ingredients to happiness, but
without a connection with God they lose meaning.
The way to have a connection with God is to believe
in His prophet as well. Therefore, a person must
have faith in God and His prophet. Only a person
with faith will perform works that are commanded by
God and His prophet. Faith is the driving force of
any action acceptable to God.
3.   The ‘good life’ can be any form of comfort. It
can be earning a decent livelihood that does not
contradict God’s teachings. It can be the inner
feeling of contentment whether one is rich or poor.
Some state it is the pure joy of worship. Think
about it, someone who lives a ‘good life’ should love
someone or something. What greater joy can be
there than loving God and building a relationship
with Him based on worship!
4. This life is not the end of it. There is more
after death.  Living a ‘good life’ on this earth is
further rewarded by God in the eternal life to come
after death.  God promises to reward men and
women of faith with the best actions they did in
this life – and the reward is no less than eternal
Paradise.
5. Most people work all their lives to have the
perfect ‘good life.’ Whether it is finding ways to
make more money or going to college, yet not
everyone is able to live a life of happiness and
fulfillment. Why? Because a ‘good life’ is a gift of
God.  He gives it to whom He wills.
6. Many people put forth great services for fellow
human beings. They make discoveries, create
inventions, find cures, build free clinics and schools,
but they lack faith. God does not wrong them. God
pays them back in this world, but in the life to
come, they get nothing. God informs us in the
Quran,
{If anyone desires a harvest in the life to come, We shall
increase it for him; if anyone desires a harvest in this
world, We shall give him a share of it, but in the Hereafter
he will have no share} (Quran 42:20 )
Such people do not serve humanity to earn reward in
the life to come, they do it to earn fame or to get
rich.  They usually get what they worked for.  That
is their reward. God states,
{But the deeds of those who disbelieve are like a mirage
in a desert: the thirsty person thinks there will be water
but, when he gets there, he finds only God, who pays him
his account in full - God is swift in reckoning} (Quran
24:39 )

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