Happiness

Happiness Why? Why has suicide increased worldwide by 65% in the past 45 years, according to the WHO (World Health Organization)? In the year 2000, about one million people died from suicide: that's one death every 40 seconds. Estimates made by WHO in 2002 showed that 154 million people suffer from depression. Why? Why is crime increasing? Why, why, why? And the answer, at the root, is because people are searching for happiness… and they aren't finding it. What will make you happy? Money, fame, or power… More money, fame, or power… Another car? Another house? People often look for happiness in all the wrong places. Yes, you will get a temporary high. That feeling fades in no time at all. So the questions is: "Is there any real happiness out there?" Muslims say "yes". They believe in striking a balance between their physical, spiritual, and mental needs. This leads to a sense of well-being and a sense of peace. It is a formula, but not pulled from the air or picked from the brain of another human being. It is a system of living that addresses all of these human needs, and it was revealed by the One who created us. Allaah, (God Almighty), revealed a system for living – Islam … we find this system in the Qur'aan (which is His final revelation, spoken by Allaah Himself) and its example in the life of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) Islam recognizes and regulates the physical needs of a person, like eating, drinking, and the need for physical intimacy. Islam shows us the best way to attain our needs without causing any harm to ourselves or others. Just as you need to feed your body, you also need to feed your soul. Islam covers a person's spiritual needs. The human being is not just flesh. There is a spirit in you that Allaah created: your soul. It calls on you to satisfy its desires. So Allaah, in His Wisdom, has shown us how to satisfy the needs of our soul without destroying ourselves. This includes maintaining our relationship with our Creator, worshipping Him the way He has asked us to. How about our mental and social needs. Islam satisfies these as well. There is the need for companionship. Islam sets guidelines for friendships and marriage. Islam offers a solution by regulating the way the sexes interact with each other. What about the need for security and peace of mind? How many people suffer from depression and are dying for a cure? And yet Islam shows us how to achieve peace of mind, opening our hearts and lifting the burden of anxiety from our shoulders. Even during a crisis, the Muslim knows that something good will blossom out of the situation. If he bears the test with patience, he knows there is a reward for him in that. And, as Allah says in the Qur'aan, what means: "Verily (truly), with difficulty there is ease (relief)." The Muslim does what he has to do, puts in the effort, and then leaves the results up to Allaah. It's no wonder that Muslims can live without worrying excessively about the future. Thus, Muslims have sense of reality that keeps everything in perspective. So the Muslim knows that this life is a journey. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said it beautifully .. He (peace be upon him) said: “What do I have to do with this world? My relationship with this world is like that of a traveler on a hot summer’s day, who seeks shade under a tree for an hour, then moves on.” Keeping this mind, the Muslim takes advantage of this opportunity to do good. And when something he wants passes him by, he is not concerned over it. He takes what he needs for his journey and moves on. This attitude helps keep the believer's eyes on the prize. Yes, the journey can be fun, and he can enjoy the provisions. If he is touched with hardship he knows it won’t last. And he knows, most importantly, that this world is not his final destination. "Happiness" is often a vague dream for people, and they waste their lives chasing temporary fixes. Islam defines happiness in real terms – freedom from worries and distress. And it also illuminates the path to achieve that freedom. Peace of mind is a lasting cure to the anxieties that plague so many people in this world. Islam meets our human needs, and offers peace of mind to those who searching for it. This is just a part of the beauty of Islam. Now, discover it for yourself.