Life is not about what pleases you, thus your happiness in this life should not be your goal:
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْاِنْسَ اِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوْنِ ﴿٥٦﴾
And I did not create the Jinn and mankind except to worship Me ﴾56﴿.
📓 Sūrah Adh-Dhāriyāt [51]: 56
The word 'worship' is generally used to express the Arabic term ''Ibādah' in the English language; however it is insufficient in itself to convey the intended meaning of this comprehensive, Islamic concept. Sheikh-ul-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allāh have mercy on him, provided a simple, yet profound, definition of this term, saying:
العبادة: اسم جامع لكل ما يحبه الله ويرضاه من الأقوال والأعمال الباطنة والظاهرة
"Al-Ibādah is a collective noun that comprises all that Allāh loves and is pleased with, of internal and external speech and actions." [1]
📋 And with this definition the true purpose of our existence is further clarified: the attainment of Allāh's Love and Pleasure.
... Understanding the purpose behind our creation, and accepting this reality, is essential for our psychological and emotional well-being.
Being happy in this life is not a 'bad' thing, nor is it Harām in itself, however it becomes an issue when one expects or is expected to be happy. That's to say, when people set happiness as their goal in life, or feel pressured by others/society to be happy, they become more susceptible to various psychological illnesses, which in turn leads them down a path of self destruction.
Such people generally interpret the negative emotions and experiences that befall them in life as signals of failure. This often causes them to fall into a state of rumination over what has befallen them, and then being unable to free themselves from a series of negative thoughts, feelings, or actions that feed into themselves causing their emotional state to become progressively worse.
📌 There are a number of things to bear in mind in order to avoid falling into such a state:
1. You are not created for the purpose of seeking happiness in this world,
2. Allāh's Pleasure is all that matters,
3. Allāh doesn't place a burden upon any soul that it cannot bear,
4. The standard of correctness and success is nothing but the divine Sharī'ah,
5. Life is filled with 'ups and downs,' and you will only receive what has been decreed for or against you:
مَآ اَصَابَ مِنْ مُّصِيْبَةٍ فِى الْاَرْضِ وَلَا فِيْٓ اَنْفُسِكُمْ اِلَّا فِيْ كِتٰبٍ مِّنْ قَبْلِ اَنْ نَّبْرَاَهَا ۗ اِنَّ ذٰلِكَ عَلَى اللّٰهِ يَسِيْرٌۖ ، لِّكَيْلَا تَأْسَوْا عَلٰى مَا فَاتَكُمْ وَلَا تَفْرَحُوْا بِمَآ اٰتٰىكُمْ ۗ وَاللّٰهُ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخْتَالٍ فَخُوْرٍۙ ﴿٢٣﴾
No calamity occurs in the earth nor in yourselves but it is inscribed in the Book of Decrees before We bring it into existence. Verily, that is easy for Allāh. In order that you may not grieve over the things that you fail to get, nor rejoice over that which has been given to you. And Allāh likes not prideful boasters ﴾23﴿.
📓 Sūrah al-Hadīd [57]
📍Remember: happiness in this world is not a goal to be striven for, it is merely a consequence of one's thoughts, attitude, expectations, speech, or actions, and is granted by Allāh Alone.
... And Allāh knows best.
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This text is one of the many fatwa (answers to questions based on authentic Islamic provisions) that are made available by a WhatsApp group, HIKIMOMIN MALAMAN SUNNAH (THE PHILOSOPHIES OF SUNNI SCHOLARS).
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