Factors of Happiness in Islam
In addition to the aforementioned elements, Islam has referred to other factors that bring about a more lasting and internal feeling of joyfulness such as:
1 - “Now surely the friends of Allah – they shall have no fear nor shall they grieve.” (10: 62).
2 – Vindication of right and removal of wrong. Imam Ali in one of his letters to Abdullah bin Abbas, writes: Hence the best of your goal in the world should not be achieving happiness or taking revenge, rather it should be vindication of right or extinguishing of wrong.
3 – Avoiding sins. Imam Sadiq (PBUH) says: “The day when one does not commit a sin, is a feast.”
4 – Making others happy. Imam Ali says: “O, Kumail, ask your family to spend their daytime on gaining magnanimity and their nighttimes on fulfilling the needs of those who are sleeping. Swear by God Who hears all voices, God will grant one who makes a heart happy a blessing out of that happiness which will shower on him/her like a clear rain at the time of calamity and will wash away the bitterness of that calamity as an alien camel is repelled from a pasture.” (Nahj al Balagha, saying 257).
5- Happiness at the time of worshipping God. Imam Ali: “A believer’s happiness is the time of worshipping his Lord and his sorrow is the time of committing a sin or disobedience to God.” (Ghoror al Hikam and Dorrarulkalam,Vol. 4, p. 139).
6-Solving others’ problems. Imam Kadim (PBUH), says: “Indeed, there is a shadow under God’s throne, and no one can take rest under it unless he/she has done something for his/her brother/sister in faith to solve their problems or make them happy.” (Behar al-Anwar, vol. 11, p. 569).
7 – Happiness during the days of waiting for the reappearance of the Infallible Imam and Islamic feasts. Imam Reza (PBUH), quoted by Bin Shabib, says: “if you like to achieve the higher statuses in the heaven with us, be sad with our sadness and be happy with our happiness.” (Behar al-Anwar, vol. 44, p. 286).
Moreover, Islam considers the following factors as causes of happiness: using perfume, wearing clean clothes, being clean and orderly, brushing the teeth, etc.
Translated by: Sadroddin Musawi
Other links:
Happiness from the Islamic point of view
Nature of joyfulness from the view of Islam and psychology
Joyfulness from the Islamic perspective
How to Gain the Love of Allah