Causes of happiness

Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "O you who have believed! Bow down, and prostrate yourselves, and worship your Lord and do good that you may be successful." [Surat Hajj: 77]. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "By Al-'Asr (the time). * Verily, man is in loss, * Except those who believe (in Islâmic Monotheism) and do righteous good deeds, and recommend one another to the truth [i.e. order one another to perform all kinds of good deeds (Al-Ma'ruf) which Allâh has ordained, and abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds (Al-Munkar) which Allâh has forbidden], and recommend one another to patience (for the sufferings, harms, and injuries which one may encounter in Allâh's Cause during preaching His religion of Islâmic Monotheism or Jihâd)." [Surat Al `Asr][1]

Allah (Exalted be He) says: "Whoever works righteousness (whether male or female) while he (or she) is a true believer (of Islâmic Monotheism) 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)." [Surat An-Nahl: 97]. Allah (Exalted be He) says: "And verily, I am indeed forgiving to him who repents, believes (in My Oneness, and associates none in worship with Me) and does righteous good deeds, and then remains constant in doing them, (till his death)." [Surat Taha: 82]. Allah (Exalted be He) says: "O you who believe [in Mûsâ (Moses) (i.e. Jews) and 'Isâ (Jesus) (i.e. Christians)]! Fear Allâh, and believe in His Messenger (Muhammad peace be upon him), He will give you a double portion of His Mercy, and He will give you a light by which you shall walk (straight). And He will forgive you. And Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." [Surat Al Hadid: 28]. "And whosoever fears Allâh and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). * And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine." [Surat At-Talaq: 2 - 3].

Allah (Exalted be He) says: "O you who believe! Keep your duty to Allâh and fear Him, and speak (always) the truth." He will direct you to do righteous good deeds and will forgive you your sins. And whosoever obeys Allâh and His Messenger (peace be upon him), he has indeed achieved a great achievement (i.e. he will be saved from the Hell-fire and will be admitted to Paradise)." [Surat Al Ahzab: 70 - 71]. Allah (Exalted be He) says: "Verily, those who have believed, and those who have emigrated (for Allâh's Religion) and have striven hard in the Way of Allâh, all these hope for Allâh's Mercy. And Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most-Merciful." [Surat Al Baqarah: 218]. Allah (Exalted be He) says: "Truly those who believe, and do deeds of righteousness, and perform As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât), and give Zakât, they will have their reward with their Lord. On them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve." [Surat Al Baqarah: 277]. Allah (Exalted be He) says: "And perform As-Salât (Iqamat-as-Salât), and give Zakât and obey the Messenger (Muhammad peace be upon him) that you may receive mercy (from Allâh)." [Surat An-Nur: 56]. And Ayahs in this regard are numerous.

Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) saying during the Farewell Hajj sermon: "Be mindful of your duty to Allah; perform your five daily Salat, observe Saum during the month (of Ramadan), pay the Zakat on your properties and obey your leaders; (if you do so) you will enter the Paradise of your Lord." [Reported by Muslim]. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "He who desires to be rescued from the fire of Hell and to enter Paradise, should die in a state of complete belief in Allah and the Last Day, and should do unto others what he wishes to be done unto him." [Reported by Muslim]. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "How wonderful is the case of a believer; there is good for him in everything and this applies only to a believer. If prosperity attends him, he expresses gratitude to Allah and that is good for him; and if adversity befalls him, he endures it patiently and that is better for him."[2].

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "O people, promote the greetings, feed (the poor and needy) and perform Salat when others are asleep so that you will enter Paradise safely."[3]. He also said: "A wise man is the one who calls himself to account (and refrains from doing evil deeds) and does noble deeds to benefit him after death; and the foolish person is the one who subdues himself to his temptations and desires and seeks from Allah the fulfillment of his vain desires."[4]. He also said: "Successful is the one who enters the fold of Islam and is provided with sustenance which is sufficient for his day's needs, and Allah makes him content with what He has bestowed upon him."[5]. He said: "Three things can save a person: Fear of Allah the Exalted in private and in public, fairness in happiness and in anger, and generosity in poverty and in richness.[6].

To sum up the causes for happiness are the following:

1- Sincere faith in Allah, His angels, scriptures, Messengers, the Last Day, and in fate whether good or bad.

2- Righteous deeds for the sake of Allah that is in harmony with the Sunnah, and at the top is fulfilling the five pillars of Islam.

3- Commending one another with holding firm with the truth which Allah ordained and His Messenger commanded.

4- Commending one with patience on obeying Allah, abstaining from His Disobedience, and patience on afflictions.

5- Fearing Allah (Glory be to Him), obeying Him, and avoiding His Prohibited matters.

6- Sincere repentance in all times of all sins and faults.

7- Obeying Muslim rulers as long as they do not command with a sin.

8- Treating people in the way you love for yourself.

9- Showing gratitude at blessings and observing patience at calamities.

10- Promoting greetings, establishing the ties of kinship, feeding the poor, and offering Salah at night while people are asleep.

11- Contentment with the sustenance of Allah which is an endless treasure.

12- Moderation in expenditures.

13- Continuation and firmness to piety until death. Allah (Glory be to Him) says: "And worship your Lord until there comes to you the certainty (i.e. death)." [Surat Al Hijr: 99]. Allah (Exalted be He) says: "Verily, those who say: Our Lord is Allâh (Alone), and then they stand firm, on them the angels will descend (at the time of their death) (saying): Fear not, nor grieve! But receive the glad tidings of Paradise which you have been promised! [Surat Fussilat: 30]. "Verily, those who say: Lord is (only) Allâh," and thereafter stand firm and straight on the Islâmic Faith of Monotheism, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. * Such shall be the dwellers of Paradise, abiding therein (forever) - a reward for what they used to do." [Surat Al Ahqaf: 13-14].

14- Jihad (struggle) in the way of Allah with money and souls, it also includes controlling one's desires, fighting Satan, fighting infidels, and fighting hypocrites.

15- Immigration from non-Muslim country to a Muslim country and abandoning what Allah and His Messenger forbade.

O Allah, end our actions happily and facilitate for us the causes of happiness, O Lord of all the Worlds. O Ever Living, O Self-Subsisting and Supporter of all, O Possessor of majesty and honor, O the Nearest and responding to invocations, send peace and blessing upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and all his Companions![7].