Barriers To Real Happiness (2/2)

7. Fear of Wordly Power

Fear of other than Allah is the cause of humility, insecurity and unhappiness. Whereas, fear of Allah produces in man lofty ideals and drives him to develop sound conduct and excellent moral behaviour. It frees him from all fetters of human bondage and safeguards his dignity and freedom of will. Allah says in the Holy Qur'an:

"It is only the Satan that suggests to you the fear of his votaries: be you not afraid of them, but fear me, if you are true believers." [Qur'an, Surah Al-Imran, 3:175]

8. Pessimism

Pessimism is synonymous with misery and trouble. It leads to a stage of inertia and depression. A pessimistic person would hold back from enjoying his normal life or achieving his objectives. Therefore, the Gracious Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him) promoted and liked optimism but discouraged and disliked pessimism. A pessimist, due to his defeatist tendencies, incurs several troubles and difficulties the effects of which on his nerves are far heavier than dilemmas and disasters.

9. Suspicion

Allah (Glory be to Him) stares in the Holy Qur'an:

"O ye who believe! Shun suspicion as much (as possible): for suspicion in some cases is a sin...." [Qur'an, Surah Al-Hujurat, 49:12]

Prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessings be upon him) also says:

"Shun suspicion, because suspicion is the biggest lie." [Narrated by Imams Bukhari and Muslim]

How can a suspicious person be happy? And how can a society pervaded by suspicion and mistrust prosper or lead a collective life of happiness.

10. Arrogance

An arrogant person leads a life of misery even though he treats other people rudely and boastfully without due regard to established norms of moral conduct. He oppresses them or turns his cheek in scorn toward them but he is definitely haunted with guilty conscience which makes his life miserable.

"Turn not thy cheek in scorn toward folk, nor walk with pertness in the land. La! Allah loveth not each braggart boaster." [Qur'an, Surah Luqman, 31:18]

Prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessings be upon him) gave his advice in this regard when he said:

"On the Day of Judgment Allah will not look towards him who trails his lower garment out of pride" [a Hadith narrated by Imams Bukhari and Muslim]

11. Devotion to other than Allah

It is a part of man's character to love and hate, but trying the passions of love and hate to extremes is precarious. Take for example the story of Romeo and Juliet in English Literature or Qays and Layla in Arabic Literature. Qays, who was known in the story as Layla's mad lover, had suffered tremendously from this love until he lost his senses and later died in a wretched piteous state.

When your heart is wholly devoted to your Creator (Allah), your love is holy and you thereby enjoy an elevated emotion which fills your heart with peace and happiness.

This kind of emotion is not in contradiction with love for parents, wife or children. In fact, they are harmonious and complementary. But, extreme emotions, when not controlled by reason or logic, are in fact detrimental to our life and happiness.

12. Alcohol. Drugs and Drug Addiction

Many people imagine that happiness can be attained through alcohol or drug addiction. Therefore, they resort to drugs escaping thereby from the troubles and worries of life. In fact, they are like one who escapes from a small fire to a hell.

Drugs may throw one, for a short while, into a dreamy illusive world of happiness; but in fact they lead both to disintegration and destruction. We nowadays witness many examples of such social disintegration and chaos due to the 'world-wide surge of drug addiction besides other causes related to corruption and the absence of real religious sanctions and sound creed.