Happiness in Islam : Concepts of Happiness 1
Description: The evolution of human thought in regards to the means in
which happiness may be attained.
Even though happiness is perhaps one of the most important things in life, =
science still can not explain much about it. Its concept itself is elusive=
. Is it an idea, emotion, virtue, philosophy, ideal, or is it just program=
med in the genes? There is no agreed upon definition for it, yet still ev=
eryone seems to be selling happiness these days - drug dealers, pharmaceuti=
cal companies, Hollywood, toy companies, self-help gurus, and, of course, D=
isney, creator of the Happiest Place on Earth. Can happiness really be pur=
chased? Is happiness achieved by maximizing pleasure, earning fame and for=
tune, or living a life of unlimited leisure? The series of articles will b=
riefly explore the evolution of happiness in Western thought, followed by t=
he present cultural understanding in the West. Finally, the meaning and a =
few means of attaining happiness in Islam will be discussed.
Evolution of Happiness in Western Thought
The Christian idea of happiness was based on a reported saying of Jesus,
"...now is your time of grief, I will see you again and you will rejoice, a=
nd no one will take away your joy" (John 16:22)
The Christian idea of happiness was developed over the centuries and, in tu=
rn, rested on a theology of sin, which, as St. Augustine explained in The C=
ity of God, taught that because of Adam and Eve's original transgression in=
the Garden of Eden, true happiness was "unattainable in our present life."=
[1]
In 1776, Thomas Jefferson, summarizing a good century of reflection on the =
subject in Europe and America, deemed the "pursuit of happiness" a "self-ev=
ident" truth. By this time, the truth of happiness had been declared so of=
ten and so confidently that, for many, it scarcely needed evidence. It was=
, as Jefferson said, self-evident. To secure the "greatest happiness for t=
he greatest number" had become the moral imperative of the century. But ju=
st how "self-evident" was the pursuit of happiness? Was it, in fact, so ob=
vious that happiness was our naturally intended end? Christians confessed =
that human beings pursued happiness during their earthly pilgrimage, but re=
mained skeptical about its attainment. Elsewhere, Jefferson himself was pe=
ssimistic whether the chase would ever be brought to a satisfying conclusio=
n. "Perfect happiness...was never intended by the Deity to be the lot of o=
ne of his creatures," he specified in a letter of 1763, adding soberly that=
even "the most fortunate of us, in our journey through life, frequently me=
et with calamities and misfortunes which may greatly afflict us."[2] To "f=
ortify our minds" against these attacks, he concluded, "should be one of th=
e principal studies and endeavors of our lives."
Whereas in the fifth century, Boethius could claim that "God is happiness i=
tself,"[3] by the middle of the 19th century, the formula was reversed to =
read "Happiness is God." Earthly happiness emerged as the idol of idols, t=
he locus of meaning in modern life, the source of human aspiration, the pur=
pose of existence, the why and the wherefore. If happiness was not, as Fr=
eud said, 'in the plan of Creation,'[4] there were those ready to alter th=
e handiwork of the Maker to put it there by manufacturing, consuming, and e=
xporting it as democracy and free-market economy (materialism). As the phi=
losopher Pascal Bruckner observed, "Happiness is the sole horizon of our co=
ntemporary democracies." As a surrogate religion, materialism relocated Go=
d to the shopping mall.
Happiness in Western Culture
In our culture, it is commonly believed that happiness is achieved when you=
become rich, powerful, or popular. The young want to be that popular pop =
idol, the old dream of winning the jackpot. We often seek happiness by rem=
oving all stress, sadness, and irritations. For some, happiness lies in mo=
od-altering therapies. Eva Moskowitz, a historian, gives some idea of the =
American obsession with the gospel of therapy: "Today, this obsession knows=
no bounds...there are more than 260 [different kinds of] 12-step programs =
in America."[5]
One reason we have so much trouble attaining happiness is that we have no i=
dea about what it is. Consequently, we make poor judgments in life. An Is=
lamic tale illustrates the relationship of judgment with happiness.
"Oh, great sage, Nasrudin," said
the eager student, "I must ask you a
very important question, the answer
to which we all seek: What is the
secret to attaining happiness?"
=20
Nasrudin thought for a time,
then responded. "The secret of
happiness is good judgment."
=20
"Ah," said the student. "But how
do we attain good judgment?
=20
"From experience," answered
Nasrudin.
=20
"Yes," said the student. "But how
do we attain experience?'
=20
"Bad judgment."
=20
An example of our good judgment is knowing that materialistic comforts by t=
hemselves do not lead to lasting happiness. Having reached that conclusion=
by our good judgment, we do not retreat into our comforts. We continue to=
crave a happiness that seems out of reach. We make more money thinking th=
at is the way to become happy, and in the process neglect our family. Most=
big events we dream of yield less sustained happiness than we hoped for. =
In addition to getting less happiness than we expected or hoped for, we fre=
quently do not know exactly what we want, what will make us happy or how to=
get it. We misjudge.
Enduring happiness does not come from 'making it.' Imagine someone could s=
nap their fingers and give you fame, fortune, and leisure. Would you be ha=
ppy? You would be euphoric, but in the short run. Gradually you would ada=
pt to your new circumstance and life would return to its normal mix of emot=
ions. Studies show that big lottery winners after a few months are no happ=
ier than the average person! To recover the joy, you would now need an eve=
n higher high.
Consider, too, how we have "made it." In 1957, our per-person income, expr=
essed in today's dollars, was less than $8,000. Today it is $16,000. With=
doubled incomes, we now have double the material goods that money can buy =
- including twice as many cars per person. We also have microwave ovens, c=
olor TVs, VCRs, answering machines, and $12 billion a year worth of brand-n=
ame athletic shoes.
So are we happier? No. In 1957, 35 percent of Americans told the National=
Opinion Research Center they were "very happy." In 1991, only 31 percent =
said the same.[6] Meanwhile, depression rates have soared.
God's Prophet of Mercy said:
"True enrichment does not come through possessing a lot of wealth, but true=
enrichment is the enrichment of the soul." (Saheeh Al-Bukhari)
Footnotes:
[1] City of God, (XIX.4-10). (http://www.humanities.mq.edu.au/Ockham/y6705.=
html).
[2] Notes for an Autobiography, 1821.
[3] De Consol. iii.
[4] Civilization and Its Discontents, (1930).
[5] In Therapy We Trust: America's Obsession With Self-Fulfillment.
[6] Center for a New American Dream, 2000 Annual Report. (http://www.newdre=
am.org/publications/2000annualreport.pdf)
http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/435/