{"id":20481,"date":"2024-02-13T22:17:17","date_gmt":"2024-02-14T02:17:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/alrashedoon.com\/?p=20481"},"modified":"2024-02-13T22:17:17","modified_gmt":"2024-02-14T02:17:17","slug":"9-where-is-happiness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alrashedoon.com\/?p=20481","title":{"rendered":"(9) \u00a0Where is happiness?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; color: #ff0000;\"><strong>(9) \u00a0Where is happiness?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; color: #000000;\">There are four points to discuss in this regard:<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A- Is happiness in the material things?<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0B- Is Happiness in the children?<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 C- Does happiness mean being promoted to a higher position?<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 D- Where is happiness?<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; color: #000000;\"><strong>Happiness:<\/strong> is the dream land that everyone is looking for. The philosopher, the average worker, the king in his palace, to the poor man in his simple home, each one is looking for happiness.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; color: #000000;\">I do not think that someone is looking for unhappiness, or is going to settle down for less than happiness.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; color: #000000;\">Many people went looking for happiness in the wrong places, and they came back empty handed, exhausted, heartbroken and hopeless.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; color: #ff0000;\"><strong>A- Is happiness in the material things?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; color: #000000;\">\u00a0 Some people thought that happiness is in living an easy rich life. Man\u2019s needs changes according to his age, as put by Imam Abu Hamid Al Ghazali. For example, happiness for a child is in playing; for a young adult, it is in the natural desires; and as the person gets older, it is in gathering money and also in getting higher positions in life.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; color: #000000;\">But look now at the countries where all these material aspects of happiness were achieved. This material side is only an attractive cover for unhappiness and hard life.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; color: #000000;\">Sometimes money becomes a curse and not a blessing<strong>. As Allah says:<\/strong> \u201cSo let not their wealth or their children amaze you; in reality Allah&#8217;s Plan is to punish them with these things in the life of this world, and that their souls shall depart (die) while they are disbelievers.\u201d (At-Tawba, 55).<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; color: #000000;\">Also, <strong>the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH)) said<\/strong>, \u201cMan by nature always wants more, if you give him a valley of gold he will ask for a second one\u201d (Al-Bukhari, 1436).<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; color: #000000;\">The Prophet Jesus (AS) said about those who love this life, \u201cThe one who loves this life is like a drunken man; the more he drinks the more he becomes thirsty.\u201d The more a person wants of this life, the more they continue to want of this life.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; color: #ff0000;\"><strong>B- Happiness in the children?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; color: #000000;\">\u00a0<strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Allah (SWT) says<\/strong>: \u201cWealth and children are the adornment of the life of this world. But the good righteous deeds that last, are better with your Lord for rewards and better in respect of hope.\u201d (Al-Kahf, 46).<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; color: #000000;\">There are people who are happy even though they do not have kids and vice versa. As we know from the story of Musa and Khidr (AS), <strong>Allah (SWT) says:<\/strong> \u201cAnd as for the boy, his parents were believers, and we feared lest he should oppress them by rebellion and disbelief.\u201d (Al-Kahf, 80).<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; color: #000000;\">There are many cases where a person would kill his father to get money.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; color: #000000;\"><strong>C- Does happiness mean being promoted<\/strong> to a higher position, getting a job or obtaining higher degrees? This may help achieve a partial happiness, but look at how many ministers and people of power who are living a very sad life.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; color: #000000;\"><strong>D- So where is happiness?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; color: #000000;\">\u00a0In fact happiness is in the fear of Allah. I do not see happiness in accumulation of wealth but in the fear of Allah and follow His directions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; color: #000000;\">Happiness is the acknowledgment of Allah and submission to Him and to rely on Him and no one else.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; color: #000000;\"><strong>Imam Ibn Taymiya said<\/strong>, \u201cJannah is in my heart, and my heart is in Allah\u2019s hand, and Allah is my supporter and helper.\u201d Ibrahim ibn Adham said, \u201cWe are in a state of happiness. If the kings and their sons knew what it is, they would fight us for it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; color: #000000;\">Happiness is the peace of mind. <strong>As Allah (SWT) says:<\/strong> \u201cHe it is Who sent down As-Sakinah (calmness and tranquility) into the hearts of the believers, that they may grow more in Faith along with their (present) Faith. And to Allah belong the hosts of the heavens and the earth, and Allah is Ever All-Knower, All-Wise.\u201d (Al-Fath, 4).<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; color: #000000;\">And also, <strong>Allah (SWT) says<\/strong>: \u201cIndeed, Allah was pleased with the believers when they gave their Bai&#8217;a (pledge) to you (O Muhammad PBUH) under the tree, He knew what was in their hearts, and He sent down As-Sakinah (calmness and tranquility) upon them, and He rewarded them with a near victory.\u201d (Al-Fath, 18).<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; color: #000000;\">Happiness is not seen by the eyes. It cannot be measured. It can not be stored anywhere. And, it can not be bought.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; color: #000000;\">Happiness is when one devotes his life to defending a just cause.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; color: #000000;\">Happiness is when the heart is free of stress of this material life and attains the peace of mind.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; color: #000000;\"><strong>May Allah accept our deeds and give us happiness<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Written by: Dr. Ahmed A. S.\u00a0 Hammouda<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Professor in Al-Azhar University<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>And Islamic American University<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Translated by: Abdullah Zettili<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>(9) \u00a0Where is happiness? There are four points to discuss in this regard: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A- Is happiness in the material things? \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0B- Is Happiness in the children? \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 C- Does happiness mean being promoted to a higher position? \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 D- Where is happiness? Happiness: is the dream land that everyone is looking for. The<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":20461,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2683],"tags":[2696],"class_list":["post-20481","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-friday-sermons","tag-9-where-is-happiness"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alrashedoon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20481","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alrashedoon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alrashedoon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alrashedoon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alrashedoon.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=20481"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/alrashedoon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20481\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20482,"href":"https:\/\/alrashedoon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20481\/revisions\/20482"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alrashedoon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/20461"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alrashedoon.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=20481"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alrashedoon.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=20481"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alrashedoon.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=20481"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}