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THE WAY
THE WAY TO
TO HAPPINESS
HAPPNESS

basedon
based "Happiness
on "Happiness betweenIllusion
between Illusion
and Reality"
and Reality " by
by Dr.
Dr. Nasser
NasserAI-Omar
Al-Omar
and "Causesof Happiness"
and"Causes Happiness" by
by Sheikh
Sheikh
Abdur-Rahman
Abdur-Rahman AI-Sa'adi.
Al-Sa'adi.

by
by

Ghalib
Ghalib Ahmad Masri

and
and

Nathif Jama
Jama Adam
Adam
o Cooperative Ollice
( c ) Cooperative
\,-,/
Office for
for Call a~d
Guidancein
Call andGuidance in al-Batha,1995
al-Batha,l99S

King Fahd
King Fahd Nationat
National Library
Library Cataloging'in
Cataloging-in Publication
Publication Data
Data
Masri, Ghalib
Masri, Ghalib Ahmad
Ahmad
The Way
The Way of
of happiness/Ghalib
happiness/Ghalib Ahmad
Ahmad Masri'
Masri, Nathif
Nathif Jama
lama
Adam.- Riyadh.
Adam.- Riyadh.
I112P.,12XJ7Cm
r 2 P . .l 2 X ! ? C m
ISBN: 9960-798-22-4
ISBN:
1- Faith (Islamic
l- Faith (Islamic creeds)
creeds)
2- Happiness
2- Happiness
I- Adm,
1-
Nathif Jama
Nathif (J.a.)
Jama(J.a.) ll- Title
II-
240dc
240dc 1619/16
1619i16

Legal Deposit
Legal Depositno. 1619/16
no. 1619/16
9960-798-22-a
ISBN: 9960-798-22-4
ISBN:
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
RCKNOTJLEDGEIlENT
The present
The present work
work hashas been
been written
written
jointly
jointly byby the
the two
two co-authors.
co-authors.Nathif
Nathif
Jama Adam
lama Adam hashas contributed
contributed the section
the section
on " Sources of Happiness."
on "Sources Happiness."Ghalib
Ghalib
Ahmad
Ahmad Masri has written the
Masri has written the other
other
sectionsof the
sections thebook.
book.
The authors
The authorsgratefully
gratefully acknowledge
acknowledgethethe
efforts that
efforts that contributed
contributedto the
the produciion
production of
this booklet
this booklet in its
its present form, especially
present form, especially
the
the valuable
valuable comments
comments of Dr. Dr. M6hamei
Mohamed
I.otfi Zlitni and
Lotfi and other
other helpful
helpful
- comments on
comments
the
the content
content of this
this work.
work.
3
CONTENTS
CONTENTS
Descriotion
Description
Acknowledgement
Acknowledgement 22
Contents
Contents 3aJ
lntroduction
Introduction 6
Definition of Happiness
Definition Happiness 22
22
Sourcesof Happiness
Sources Happiness 23
ZJ
1. Happiness
1. Happinessin Wealth
Wealth 23
23
-- Qarun
Qarun 25
25
-- Christina
ChristinaOnassis
Onassis 26
26
2. Happiness
2. Happinessin Rank Rank and Position
and Position 30
30
-- TheThe Shah
Shahof Iran 32
32
-- Ferdinand
FerdinandMarcos
Marcos 32
32
-- Jean
JeanBedel
BedelBokassa
Bokassa Aa
42
+.t
-- Nicolae
NicolaeCeausescu
Ceausescu 33
33
-- Rajiv
Rajiv Gandhi
Gandhi -a
33
JJ
.A
3. Educational
3. EducationalAchievements
Achievements 34
J+
4. Happiness
4. Happinessin Fame Farne 38
38
-- Sporting
Sporting 39
39
-- Acting
Acting 44
44
(Excerpts)
Articles (Excerpts)
Two Articles 49
49
Barriersto
Barriers to Real
RealHappiness
Happiness 56
56
1. Disbelief in Allah and
1. Disbelief Lack of True
and Lack True 56
56
Faith
Faith
2.
2. Sin and and Crime
Crime 51
57
3. Envy
3. andJealousy
Envy and jealousy 57
57
4. Ill-will
4. 57
57
4
5. Anger
5. Anger 58
58
6. lejustice
6. Injustice 58
58
7. Fearof Worldly
7. Fear Worldlv Power
Power 60
60
8.
8. Pessimism
Pessimism 61
61
9. Suspicion
9. Suspicion 61
61
10. Arrogance
10. Arrogance 62
62
11. Devotion
11. Devotionto to other
otherthan
thanAllah
Allah 62
62
12. Alcohol,
12. Alcohol, Drugs
Drugs and
andDrug
Drug Addiction
Addiction 63
63
Landmarks on
Landmarks on the
the Way to to Happy
Happy Life 64
64
(Factorsand
(Factors and Pre-requisites
Pre-requisites of Happiness)
Happiness)
1. Sound
1. SoundBelief
Belief 64
64
2. Worship
2. Worship and and Devotion
Devotionto to Allah 69
69
3. Remembranceof Allah
3. Remembrance 75
75
4. Goodness
4. Goodnessand Kindnessto
andKindness to Others
Others 77
77
5. Renunciationof Too-Long
5. Renunciation Too-Long TermTerm 79
79
Hopesand
Hopes Griefs of the
and Griefs Past
the Past
6. ForgettingAbout People
6. Forgetting Peoplewith 85
85
Higher Standard
Higher Standardof Living
7. Building of Better
7. Building BetterUnderstanding
Understanding 87
87
of Things
Things and
and Getting
Getting Rid
Rid of Misconc-
Misconc-
eptionsand
eptions and Superstitions
Superstitions
8. Achieving Harmony
8. Achieving Harmony within 87
87
Oneself
Oneselfand and with the
the Outward
OutwardWorld
9. Good
9. Health, Time,
Good Health, Time, Affluence
Affluence and
and 88
88
SoundReasoning
Sound Reasoning
1 0 . Social
10. SocialSolidarity
Solidarity 89
89
1 1 . Stability
11. Stabilityof the
the Human
Human Personality
Personality 91
9l
5)
12. The
12. The Feeling
Feelingof Peace
Peaceand
andSecurity
Security 94
94
13. Repentance
13. Repentance 96
96
14. Learning
14. teaming and Pursuitof Knowledge
andPursuit Knowledge 97
97
15. Selection
15. Selectionof Friends
Friends 99
99
16. Strong
16. StrongWill and
andSelf-Confidence
Self-Confidence 100
100
17. Being
17. Beingonon Good Termswith
GoodTerms with Family,
Family , 100
100
Friends andColleagues
Friends and Colleagues

CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION l0r
101
 6

In the nameof Allah,

thename Allah, Most
Most Gracious,
Gracious,Most
Most
Merciful.
Merciful.

INTRODUCTION

suqprise,he
To my surprise, he returned
returnedfrom
from the
the rich
rich dinner
dinner
very unhappy.
very unhappy.I wanted wantedto know the the reason.
reason. He He
explained to
explained to me: "If only you
me: "If you had
had seen
seenthe the
luxury they
luxury they areare living in - aa splendid
splendidvilla,
villa, rich
rich
food, luxurious
food, luxurious furniture,
fumiture, servants
servantsand fleet of
and aa fleet
cars! It makes
cars! makesme me feel
feel extremely miserable".
extremelymiserable".
"But,
"But, is is he
he enjoying
enjoying his life?" I asked,
his life?" asked,"Is "Is he
he
really happy?"
really happy?"
"As far
"As far as as I know",
know", he he replied,
replied, aa little
little
pacified," he
pacified," is not
he is not enjoying
enjoying the luxuries of his
the luxuries his
life. He
life. He wishes
wisheshe he could
could eat
eat ordinary food. even
ordinarvfood, even
bread,even
bread, thoughhe
eventhough he loses
losesall his
his
wealth."
wealth."
"So you
"So you areare much richerand
much richer and happier
happierthan
than he he
is", I said.
is", said."Your"Your health
health is greaterwealth
is aa greater wealththanthan
those luxurieswhich have
thoseluxuries havemade
madeyou you so
so depressed.
depressed.
Wealth alone
Wealth alonedoesdoesnot give happiness.
not give happiness.YouYou will
not sell
not sell one
one finger
finger or eye yours or your
eye of yours your appetite
appetite
for
for all his riches cars!"
his riches or cars!"
saw the
I saw the tears
tearsof satisfaction
satisfaction and
andgratefulness
sratefulness
7I
shine his eyes.
shinein his eyes.
"ThankAllah!
"Thank Allah! Thank
ThankAllah!",
Allah!", He
He said.
said.
Very often
Very often man
man meets
meets with incidents
incidentsand and situa-
situa-
tions his life that
tions in his make him unhappy.
that make unhappy.Later,
Later,
when.
when.he recovershis
he recovers his consciousness
consciousness and reflects
and reflects
on
on such incidentsand
such incidents and situations, he finds
situations,he finds that his
that his
unhappinesswas
unhappiness was simply reaction,and
simply aa reaction, and that man
that man
can reactdifferently,
can react differently, achieving
achievingthereby higher aa
therebyaa higher
degreeof stability
degree and tolerance
stability and toleranceifif he
he is
is able
able to
to
copewith the
cope the situation.
situation.

neighbourof the
A neighbour the well-known
well-known German Philoso-
GermanPhiloso-
pher Immanuel
pher Immanuel Kant (1724-1804)
Kant (1724-1804) had had aa cock
cock
whose crowing
whose crowing annoyed
annoyedhim and and distracted
distractedhim
from his
from his work.
work. When
When he got fed
he got fed up
up with the
the cock,
cock,
he sent
he his servant
senthis servantto to buy
buy it andand slaughter
slaughter it for
his meal.
his meal. HeHe invited
invited aa friend
friend of hishis to
to the meal
the meal
and them sat
both of them
and both waiting for luch.
sat waiting luch. HeHe talked
talked
to his
to his friend
friend about the cock
about the cock and the annoyance
and the annoyanceit
used
usedtoto cause
causeand
and described
describedthe peaceand
the peace and happi-
happi-
ness
nesshehe was
was enjoying
enjoying after
after hehe had got rid of the
had got the
cock's
cock'scrowing.
crowing. When
When thethe servant
servantbrought
broughtin thethe
food he
food he explained that their
explainedthat neighbourrefused
their neighbour refusedtoto
sell his cock
sell his cock and
and so
so he purchasedone
he purchased one from
from the
the
market.
market. KantKant became
becamesuddenly consciousof the
suddenlyconscious the
fact
fact the
the the
the cock
cockwas
was still
still crowing.
crowing.
Thinking of this
Thinking this well-known philospher,I
rvell-known philospher,
8
found that
found that hehe felt miserable
miserablebecause
becauseof the the cock's
cock's
cry, and
cry, andhe he also
alsofelt happyalthough
felt happy althoughthe the cock
cock was
was
still crowing.
still crowing. Nothing
Nothing had had changed;
changed;the the change
change
was inside
was inside himself.
himself. It waswas the
the inner
inner man,
man, notnot the
the
cock,that
cock, that made
madehim happy happyor unhappy!
unhappy!
sleepin my house,
I sleep house,notnot disturbed
disturbedby the the rol-
noise of cars
ling noise cars and
and their
their horns
horns in thethe street
streetnor
salesmen'sloud
by salesmen's loud voices.
voices. Yet,
Yet, thethe sound
soundof aa
footstepor aa whisper
footstep whisper inside
inside my bedroom
bedroomwould would
wake me.
wake me. If If I sleep
sleep in thethe train,
train, even
even the
the talk of
thosesitting
those sittingnext
next toto me
me will not
not disturb
disturbmy sleep.
sleep.
What makes
What makes me me endure
endure the
the rumbling
rumbling noisesnoisesof
carsand
cars and salesmen,
salesmen,or the the train,
train, though
though aa whisper
whisper
footstepwould
or footstep would rouse
rouseme from
me from my sleep?
sleep?
is because
It is becausesensation
sensationis is like
like aa light which,
which,
when on,
when on, makes
makesthings
things around
aroundyou you visible
visible whether
whether
they are
they pleasingor displeasing
arepleasing displeasingto you, and
to you, and when
when
it is you fail to
is off you to hear
hear the noises in the
the noises the street
street
thoughthey
though they areare louder.
louder. In fact,
fact, you
you heard
heardthethe low
whisper in your
whisper your bedroom
bedroombecause
becauseyou you directed
directed
your sensation
your sensationand and attention
attention to to it; while
while youyou
missedother
missed othersounds
soundsbecause
becauseyou you kept
kept them
them outout of
your perception
your perceptiondespite
despitetheir
their loudness,
loudness,so so they
they dis-
dis-
appearas
appear as do things in darkness.
do big things darkness.
Why not divert your
not divert attentionand
your attention and sensation
sensation
from all discomforts
from discomfortsof life?life? Not all discomforts
discomforts
penetrateinto
penetrate into your
your heart.
heart. Only
Only what what YOU allow allow
9
into your heart
into your heart willingly will enter, enter, like aa kingking
who allows
who allows the the enemy
enemyintointo his
his fortress
fortressby leaving
leaving
hole in its
aa hole its walls.
walls. SoSo why not not strengthen
strengthen and and
ourselves against
fortify ourselves against pains
pains and discomforts?
and discomforts?
Two menmen of equal physicalstrength
equalphysical strengthmaymay carry
cary
the
the same load: the
sameload: the first may
may complain
complain as as if if he he
carried double
carried weight; while
double weight; while the the
other may laugh
othermay laugh and
and sing
sing as if he
as if he carried nothing.
carriednothing.
Two menmen of similar
similar physique
physique may
may suffer from
suffer from
the same
the illness:one
sameillness: may react
one may pessimisticallyand
reactpessimistically and
alwaysimagine
always imaginedeath,
death, thereby increasingillness:
thereby increasing illness:
while the
while the other may endure
other may patiently, feel
endure patiently, feel
optimistic and
optimistic and expect
expect sooner recovery,thereby
soonerrecovery, thereby
expeditinggood
expediting goodhealth.
health.
Bismark,the
Bismark, the man
man of ironiron and
and blood, geniusof
blood,genius
war and
war peace,could
andpeace, couldnot give up
not give up smoking
smokingfor one one
moment;he
moment; he used
usedtoto light one
onecigarette
cigarettefrom
from anoth-
anoth-
the day.
er all the day. Without smoking,
smoking, he he was
was not
not ableable
to think,
to plan or take
think, plan appropriateaction.
take appropriate action. Once,Once,
while in war,
while war, he he found
found only one one cigarette
cigarettein
pocket, so
his pocket,
his so he put off smoking
he put smokingit to to the
the timetime
hardship. He
hardship. He waited
waited for aa full week week without
without
smoking,
smoking,entertaining
entertainingthe hopeof using
the hope usingthis
this cigar-
cigar-
ette in time.
ette time. He realizedthat
He realized that hehe was
was able
able to to dodo
without smoking
without smokingall all this
this time.
time. He He decided
decidedto to stop
stop
smoking
smokingfor good good because
becausehe he did not want
did not want his his
happinessto
happiness to be
be dependent
dependenton on aa single
singlecigarette.
cigarette.
 10
10
Imagineaa man
Imagine man whose
whosebody
body waswasexhausted
exhaustedwith
illness, and
illness, and that
that suddenly
suddenly he he noticed
noticed aa snake
snake
crawling.towards
crawling towardshimhim and
and at at once jumped out
oncejumped out of
his bed
his bedasasif hehe were health and
werefull of health andvigour...
vigour...oror
man who
aa man who returned
returnedhome
home exhausted hunger
exhaustedwith hunger
and looking only for aa chair
and chair to rest on
to rest on when
when he he
receivedaa call from aa dear
received personsaying
dearperson saying he
he was
was
coming, or an
coming, an urgent letter from the
urgent letter the Minister call-
ing him with the
ing the news promotion,he
newsof promotion, he would
would feel
feel
light-heartedand
light-hearted andfull up
up and
and would
would hurry
hurry up
up to
to the
the
stationin the
station the former
former or to the Minister's
to the Minister's office
office in
latter.
the latter.
the
Such powersare
Suchpowers arethe
the source
sourceof happiness!
happiness!

Dear readers! You are

Dear readers! are rich,
rich, but you do
but you not
do not
realize how wealthy
realize wealthy youyou are.
are. Some
Some maymay suffer
suffer
from headache,
from headache,toothache
toothacheor colic, which makes
colic. which makes
them feel that
them feel that life is
is dark.
dark. Why did they they not
not see
see
the bright side
the side of life when
when they
they were healthy? If
were healthy? If
someonegoes
someone goeson
on aa diet,
diet, he
he will long
long for aa mouth-
mouth-
bread or meat
ful of bread meat andand envy
envy those
thosewho
who enjoy
enjoy
various foods. Why did
variousfoods. he not
dicihe not value
valuethe pleasures
the pleasures
food before
of food before his
his illness?
iilness'i Why doesdoesman
man recog-
recog-
nize
nize the
the value
value of boons
boons and bounties
and bounties only when he
when he
loses them?
loses them? Why does does anan old manman lament the
lament the
passingof his
passing his youth,
youth, while the young
while the young man fails to
man fails to
smile his
at his vouth?
smile at youth?
1111
Why are
Why are we aware
aware of happiness only
of happiness when itit is
only when is
us?
far from us?
lamenting and
everybody is lamenting
Almost everybody and yearning
yearning
to past! Why not think
his past! about the
about the
present before
present becomes part
before it becomes part of the past?
of the past?

***
{< d< {<

We may ttrink richness can

think that richness can be be attained
attained
possession of money
by possession alone. What
money alone. What can can money
money
alone give to man?
alone give man? You may may have heard of the
have heard the
sick
sick king who was brought
was brought the
the most
most delicious
delicious
meals, but he
meals, he was unable to eat
was unable any of them.
eat any them.
Once,
Once, hehe was
was looking through aa window
looking through window of his his
palace,
palace, when
when his his eyes
eyes caught farmer
caught aa farmer eatingeating
brown
brown bread
bread with blackblack olives: pushing one
olives: pushing one
mouthful
mouthful into
into his
his mouth,
mouth, taking
taking a
a second
second in his
his
hand,
hand, and
and setting
settinghishis eyes
eyeson on aa third.
third. The king
The king
wished
wishedhe he had
had been
beenaa farmer
farmer and enjoyedsuch
and enjoyed suchanan
appetite.
appetite.
Why don't
don't you
you recognize
recognizethe the value health?
valueof health?
Is there
Is there no
no value
vaiue for health?
health? Who
Who would
would agree
agree to
to
give
give up
up his
his sight
sightfor
for aa hundred
hundredthousand dollars,
thousanddollars,
or part of his
or part his nose
noseforfor the
the riches millionaire?
richesof aa millionaire?
Gold
Gold and
andmoney
moneycannot
cannotgivegive life
life and happinessto
andhappiness to
every
everyman.
man.Rothschild
Rothschildentered
enterecl his largesafe,
his large and
safe,and
while
while he
he was
was inside,
inside, its
its door
door banged
banged and
and he
he died
died
in
in aa sea
seaof of gold.
gold. WhyWhy are we seeking
are we gold
seeking gold
 I2
12
anxiously thoughwe
anxiously though possess
we possess ample
amplegold?
gold? Isn'tIsn't
sight as
sight preciousas
as precious gold? And
as gold? And health.....and
health.....and
time...and
time... and thethe human
human mind, mind, too, ....all these
too,....all these
aretreasures.
are treasures. Why don't
Why don'twewe make
makethe bestof
the best of our
our
time?....
time? Why don't
... Why don'twewe recognize
recognizethe thevalue
valueof life?
of life?
Why don't
Why don'twewe make
makethethebest
bestuse useofof our
our minds?
minds?
Health,time
Health, time and
and mind
mind areare anan invaluable
invaluablewealth
wealth
that may lead man
that may lead man to to happiness
happinessif he he takes
takesthethe
right
right way.
,< :r ,<
***
But what
what is
is the
the right
right way
way to to that
rhat goal
goal which
which is is
pursued by
pursued by man
man everywhere
everywhereand and at
at all
all times
times
throughouthistory?
throughout history?
*There are
*There are several
several trends
trendsthat
that describe
describethe
the
reality
reality of happiness
happiness and
and the
the way
way leading
leadingto its
its
attainment
attainment by man.
man. TheThe major
major trends
trends can
can be
be
summed
summed upup as
as follows:
follows:

1.
1. Spiritualistic
Spiritualistic School,
School, in which
which philosophers
philosophers
and
and theosophists
theosophists believe
believe that
that real
real happiness
happiness
consists
consists essentially
essentially in spiritual
spiritual life.
2.
2. Materialistic
Materialistic School
School or theory,
theory, which
which upholds
upholds
that real
that real happiness
happiness lies
lies in materialism.
materialism.
3. Rationaiistic
Rationalistic School,
School, in which
which rationalists
rationalists
believe that
believe that happiness
happiness can can be
be attained
attained only
only by
by
reason
reason and
and logic.
logic.
133
1
4. Islamic
Islamic Trend,
Trend, which states
states that
that the three types
the three types
the spiritual,
of life: the spiritual, the
the material
material and
and thethe rational
rational
are
are together
together essential
essential elements
elements of happy
happy life ifif
they are
they are ruled
ruled by thethe Islamic belief, practice
Islamic belief, practice and
and
values. That
values. That isis because
because manman is combination of
is a combination
those very
those very three
three ingredients:
ingredients: the body, mind
the body, mind and
and
spirit: the body
spirit: the body is is nourished
nourished by food food and drink,
and drink,
the mind by knowledge
the knowledge and and experiments,
experiments,and and the
the
spirit
spirit by faith
faith and
and goodness....But
goodness....But it is
is sound faith
soundfaith
that
that builds
builds up
up aa healthy
healthy spirit
spirit and gives aa realistic
and gives realistic
and explanation of man's
and truthful explanation position in this
man'sposition this
universe,
universe,Divine
Divine Reality
Reality and
and the
the basic conceptof
basicconcept
the
the Oneness
Onenessand and Perfect
PerfectAttributes
Attributes of God, and
God, and
here
here wewe are going to
are going to use
use the name
the name "Allah" for
God
God as as it is
is not
not associated
associatedwithwith any
any distortions
distortions
added
addedby upholders
upholdersof idolatry, polytheism,trinity
idolatry,polytheism, trinity
and
andother
otherworshippers
worshippersof false gods.
falsegods.

Let
Let us
us consider
considerthethe crimes
crimesand evils of modem
and evils modern
societies:
societies:murders,
murders,suicides, rapes,drug
suicides,rapes, abuse,
drug abuse,
robberies,
robberies, thefts,
thefts,and
andsexual,
sexual,neurological,
neurological, psycho-
psycho-
logical, juvenileand
logical,juvenile andmany
manyother
otherabnonnalities
abnormalities and
and
disorders...
disorders...thethe void
void man
man suffers
suffersbecause
becauseof the the
absence
absence of true faith that springs
true faith that springs from
from human
human
nature
natureand
anddoes
doesnotnot conflict with logic,
conflictwith reasonand
logic,reason and
established
established facts
facts of science ....the
science....the lack
lack of aware-
aware-
nessof the
ness thereal
realaim
aim behind
behindman's
man'sexistence
existencein in this
this
 I4
14
universe,i.e.,
universe, i.e.,to
to build
build and andestablish
establishan an ideal
idealandand
soundsociety
sound societycontrolled
controlledby by the
the instructions
instructionsand and
injunctionsof his
injunctions his Merciful
Merciful and andWise
Wise Creator
Creatorso so as
as
to free
to free man
man from
from destructive
destructivedrives drives andand inclina-
inclina-
tions,and
tions, andthe
the world
world from from injustice
injusticeand
andtyranny....
tyranny....
In fact,
In fact,Islam, andonly
Islam, and only Islam,
Islam,isis the
thetrue
trueSaviour
Saviour
humanity and
of humanity and thethe answer
answerto all
to all problems
problems and
and
questions facedby
questions faced Ot man.
-ur;
* ** **
The happiness
The happinessIslam Islam achieves
achievesfor man man hashastwo
two
major domains:
major domains:
1. This wordly l v life,
l i fe , both
b o th on
o n the
th e individual
i n dividual
and collective
and collective levels.It
levels.Itseeks seeksto give man
to give man aa happy
happy
free of cares
life free cares and and evils, evils, characterized
characterizedby
sound faith.
sound faith. It is is aa life in which which every
every thing
rhing
shouldbe
should placedat
be placed at the
the service
serviceof man: man:
"And He
"And (Allah) has
He (Allah) hassubjected
subjectedto you, as
to you, asfrom
from
Him, all that that is is in thethe heavens
heavens and and on on earth:
earth:
behold,
behold, in that are Signs
that are indeed for those
Signs indeed those who who
reflect." (Qur'an 45:13)
reflect." (Qur'an 45:13)
Everything
Everything in nature
nature is is made
made available
available by Al-
lah
lah for the the use
use of manman through
through thethe genius
genius andand fa-
fa-
culties
culties Allah hashas given
given to to man.
man.
Yet, many people
Yet, many people behavebehave adversely
adversely as as if
if they
they
were
were created
created to seryeserve wealth wealth andand be be slaves
slaves to
the pleasures
the pleasures andand luxuries
luxuries of life, iosing losing thereby
thereby
their freedom
their freedom of of will
will and and becomine
becoming servants
servants of of
 15
15
transient
transient trivial
trivialities
ities instea
instead
d ofof being
being servan
servants
ts-the
of
of
their Benef
their Beneficent
icent Susta
Sustainer
iner and
and Cheri
Cf,erist
sher,
er, the
Eternal
Eterna andAlmig
l and Almighry Allah.
hty Allah.
As for
As for the
theCollec
Collective
tive aspect
aspect, Islamembra
, Islam embraces
ces all
all
rules and
rules and princi
principles
ples contri
contributing
buting to to aa happy
happy
society,
societ whether.
y, wheth er aa family
family,, aa nation
nationor on on larger
furg.,
scale,i.e.,
scale, i.e.,on
on the
theintem
international
ationa llevel
level. .

2.
2. The Etern
Eternal
al Life
Life after Death
Death::
The Life after
The after death
deathis is aa demon
demonsrration
stration of
Divine
Divin Justice.
e Justic e. That
That dayday is is aa must
must for the the
achievement
achiev ement of retribu
retributive juiticee and
tive justic and settlem
settlement
ent
of- all
of all injust
injustices
ices andand outsta
outstanding
nding accouaccounts,nts, and
and
at the
at the same
sametimetime for the
the gener
generousous ieward
reward of good good
acts. Since
acts. Sincewe we believ
believe e that
that Allah
Allah is is the
the One and
One-and
Orly God
Only God withwith perfect
perfec t attribu
attributes,tes, it would
would be be
illogical
illogic to entert
al to entertain
ain the
the notion
notion that that He
He will leaveleave
justice
justic e unfulf
unfulfilled.
illed. This
This life
iife - so so full of wrong*.o"gr,s,
crimes,
crime inconveniences,
s, incon venien ces, good
good deedsdeedsunrewarrCed,
unrewarded,
and
and many
many human
huma n affairs unsettled _
affairs unsettled - is
is in fact
fact luii
just
an
an introdu
introductory
ctory chapter
chapter which
whichprepares
prepares for the the
book
book of eternal
eterna l life
life in which
which .lustice
justic e i, is ,.i,or.A
restored
and u
gd a person
person meers
meets with hishis (or her)her) just deserts.
deserts.
The
The rvrong-doers
wrong-doers who who have
have persisteii
persisted in their their sins
sins
and
and wrong-doing
wrong-doing and and failed
failed ioto repent
repent and
and give
give up
-punishmlnr up
sound
sound conducr
conduct wiil
will go
go to endless
endless punishment i; in
Hell.
Hell. While rhose those with good good records records and and
16
16
deedswill
ous deed,s
righteous
righte receive
will receiv generous
e genero reward
us rewar and
d and
real and
uttiin real
attain eternal
and eterna happiness
l happin ess in the
the Heaven
Heave n
Paradise
Allah, in Parad
of Allah, ise or the the Garde
Garden Eden'
n of Eden. That
That
is the
is abodeof perfec
the abode perfect t bliss,
bliss, which
which deserv
deserves es to
be sincer
be sincerely and indus
ely and trious ly sough
industriously sought t by man'
man.
There may
There may be some difficu
be some difficulties and handi
lties and handicapscaps on on
road to
the road
the this exalte
to this exalted goal
d goal of wise
wise and
and faithful
faithfu l
people,
peopl e, as stated by the
as stated the Proph
Prophet Muhammad
et Muha mmad
(Peace and and blessi
blessingj ngs be
be upon
upon him)
him) that
ttrat "Hell is
is
tp.i."
surrou
iunoundednded with whim whims and waton
s and desires,
watondesire s, while
while
the Garde
the n is surrou
Garden surrounded nded with hardsh ips." Such
hardships'" Such
hardsh
hardships ips will serve serve as as aa test
test of man's
man's goodly
goodl y
natureand
nature ind of his truthf truthful nce on
insistence
ul insiste on thethe attain-
attain-
ment of Allah
ment Allah's 's pleasure
pleasu re and
and reward'
rewar d. A trader trader
spend sleepl
may spend
may sleepless nights and
ess nights and put
put up with
up-with
arduo
ardlous us effort
efforts order to win aa gainfu
s in order gainful l deal.
deal'
Howe
However, the eterna
ver, the etemal l life in the
the abode
abode of happi ness
happiness
the bigge
is the
is biggest which man
dealwhich
st deal man has ever
hasever compe
competed ted
or strive
or striven attain. But
to attain.
n to But whatwhat is Paradise
is Parad like?
ise like?
The answe
The answer can only be
r can found
be found in the
the word
word of Al-
His Glorio
lah in His
lah Glorious Qur'an or in the
us Qur'an wordsof His
the words His
Graci
Gracious Prophet
ous Proph (Peace
et (Peac e and
and blessi
blessingsngs be upol
be upon
him), who
him), who is is ihe genuine
the genui ne Autho
Authorityrity on
on, the
the- af-
af-
fairs of the
fairs seen and
the seen ind unsee
unseen general
n in genera and the
l and the
Hereafter
Herea ular, as
particular,
fter in partic as he
he learnt
leamt about
about such
such re-
re-
alities through
alities throug ation receiv
Revelation
h Revel
-All-a*u.e, received from the
ed from the All-
Ail-
knowing,
knowi ng, All-aw are, Absol
Absoluteute Allah.
Allah' The
the
 n
17
righteous
righte soul of
ous soul of aa good
good believ
believer
er return
returnss to
to its
its

..L:.d-'we.ll pleased
Lord "well please andwell
d and well pleasi
pleasing,,:
ng":
"(To.the.righteous
"(To the righte ous soulsoulwill
will be
bLsaid:)
said:i
"O (thou)
"0 (thou)soul,
soul,in (complete)
in (comp lete) rest
restand
and
satisfaction!
satisfa ction!
"Come
"Com backthou
e back thou to
to thy
thy Lord,
Lord, well-p
well_pleased
leased
(thyself),
(thyse andwell-p
lf), and well-pleasing
leasin g unto
untoHim!
Him!
"Enter
"Ente thou,then,
r thou, then,amon
among g my
-y Devot
Devotees!
ees!
"Yea,enter
"Yea, enterthou
thouMy Heave
Heaven!"
n!"
(Qur'an,
(Qur'a n, 89:27 -i0)
Bg:Zl-30)

The above
The abovepassag
passage refersto
e refers to the
the state
stateof freedo
freedom m
and ease,
and ease,to to the
the final
final and
and everla
everlasting
sting stage
,rug. ofo1
human
huma bliss, when
n bliss, when thethe righte
righteous
ous soul
soul of the the
righteous
righte believer,
ous believ at peace
er, at peacJwith
with its
its Lord,
Lord, certain
certain
of its
its way
way andand fate,
fate, is is welcomed
welco med amon among g those
those
servants
servan ts of AIIah
Allah chose
chosen n ro
to enjoy
enjoy this
this bir,,ine
Divin e
graceand
grace and to
to receive
receive Allah's
Allah's me.cy
mercy and andprotection.
protection.
"Every
"Ever y soul
soul shall
shall have
have a taite
taste of^death:
of death: and
- and
only on-the
on the DayDay of Jud_gment
Judgm ent shall
shall you
you U.be puiJ
paid
your
your fullrecompense.
full recom pense . Only Only hehe whols
who is .uu.d^
saved fu.far
rrom
from thethe tstre
Fire and
and admitted
admit ted to thethe Garden
Garde n will
will have
have
succeeded:
succe eded: for the the life of this
this world
world isis but gooAi
goods
and
and chattels
chattels ofof deception."(Holy
deception. "(Holy eur'an,
Qur'an, f3:185
:tfS))
The
The blessings of paradise
blessi ngs of Paradise cannot
canno t be
be concei,ved
conceived
 188
1
life, and
*in this life, are not, therefore,
and are of this
things of
therefore, things
world:
world:

knows what
perso n knows
"Now no person delights of the
what delights the
eye are
eye hidde n (in reserve)
are kept hidden as a
them as
reserve) for them
their (good)
reward for their
reward Deeds."
(good) Deeds"'
n, 32:17
(Qur'an,32:t7)
(Qur'a )

given in the
this is given Prophet's
the Prophet's
^ ation of this
explan
An explanation
(p.uce
(Peace anO blessings be
and blessings be uponupon him) tradition
tradition
menti oned in Imam bukhari's
mentioned Bukhari's comp ilation
compilation of
Hadith
Hadith:
- :
i'Ailuh says: I have
"Allah says: prepared
have prepa ous
righteous
red for my righte
servan
servants which no
that which
ts that no eyeeye has ever
has ever seen'
seen, no
no
ear has
ear ever heard
has ever hsard, , and man'smind
no man's
and no mind has ever
has ever
conce ived. "
conceived."
We read the Glorio
read in the Glorious Qur'anabout
us Qur'an aboutthethe
Garde
Garden n or Garde ns of everla
Gardens everlasting passages
blisspassag
sting bliss es
the meani
the meaning runsas
which runs
ng of which as follows:
follow s:
"Aliah
"Allah hathhath promi sed
promisecl to
to llelievers'
Believ men and
ers, men and
wome
women, n, Garde
Gardens underwhich
ns under f1ow,to
riversf1ow,
which rivers dwell
to dwell
therei
therein, and beauti
n, and ful mansi
beautiful mansions Gardens
in Garde
ons in ns of
everla sting stay.
everlasting greatest
the greate
But the
stay. But blissis
st bliss Good
theGood
is the
Pleasu
Pleasure re of God:
God:
That is
That is thethe suprem
supremee felicit y." (Qur'a
feiicity." n, 9:72)
(Qur'an, 9:72)
"My devote
"My es! No
devotees! No fear
fear shall
shall be
be on
on you today
you today
shallye
nor shall
nor Yegrieve "
grieve"
 19
t9
"Those
"Thos e who
who have
have believ
believeded in ourour Signs
Siens andand
submi
submitted (to Us)."
tted (to Us)."
"Enter ye the
._ "Ente r ye the Garde
Garden, ye and
n, ye your wives
and your wives, , in
(beauty
(beaut y and)
and) rejoic
rejoicing.
ing.
"To them
"To them will be passedround
be passed round, , dishes
dishesandand
goblets
goble ts of gold:
gold: there
there will
wiil be be there
there all that
that
the
the souls
souls could
could desire
desire,
, all
all that
that the
the eyes
eyescould
could
deligh
delight t in:
in: and
and ye
ye shall
shall abide
abidetherei
rhereinn (for aye).
aye).
"Suchwill be
"Such be the
the Garde
Gardenn of which
which ye ye are
are'made
made
heirsfor
heirs for your
your (good
(good) ) deeds (in life).
deeds(in life).
"Ye shall
shall have
havetherei
thereinn abund
abundance
ance of fruit,
fruit. from
from
which
which ye ye shall
shalleat." (Qur'an,
eat." (Qur'a n, 43:68
43:6g-73)
-73)
What for sinner
What sinnerss and
and disobe
disobedient
dient crimin
criminals?
als?
"The Sinne
"The Sinners
rs will
will in the punishment
the Punishment of Hell,
Hell. to
to
dwell
dwell therei
therein
n (for aye):
aye):
"Nowise
"Now ise will
will the (punishment)
the (punis hment) be
be lighte
lightened
ned for
them,
them, andand in despa
despairir will they
they be
be there
there over-
over_
whelmed.
whelm ed.
"Nowise
"Now ise shall
shall We
We bebe unjust
unjustto
to them:
them: but
but it is
is
theywho
they who have
havebeen
beenunjust
unjustthems
themselves."
elves."
(Qur'an,
(Qur'a n, 43:74
43:74-76)
-76)

******
***** *
20
2A
The need
The need toto discuss
discuss this subject of
this subject of "happiness"
"happiness"
has arisen
has arisen as as a
a result
result of
of various
various reasons
reasons some
some
of which
of which may
may be summed as
be summed as follows
follows: :

People could
(l) People
(1) belong to
could belong different religious
to different religious
schools of
denominations, or schools
denominations, thought, could
of thought,
have different
have different feelings,
feelings, wishes
wishes and
and aspirations,
aspirations,
apparently in
are apparently
yet they are agreement about
in total agreement about
the puisuit
ihe pursuit of oneone goal their life
goal in their that is
life:: that
happiness.
happiness.
persons -- believers
true of all persons
This is true believers and
and
non-believers, rulers
non-believers, rulers and
and ruled,
ruled, rich
rich and
and poor,
poor,
they
they all toil to
to achieve happiness.
achievehappiness.

(2)
(2) Notwithstanding
Notwithstandingthe consensusof all
the consensus human
all human
beings
beings on on seeking happiness,it is
seeking happiness, however,
is however,
surprising
surylsing how different
different individuals
individuals and
and
different groups people have
different- groups of people have chosen and chosen and
defined
defined for foi themselves differing ways
themselves differing ways andand
avenues to
avenuesto achieveachieve this
this common
common go,al.
gO,al. And
And in
in so
so
doing
doing aa largelarge number
number of of them
themseem to
seem to havehave
missed
missed the the proper
proper avenues
avenues to goal and
this goal
to this and
have
have consequently
consequently failedfailed to achieveany
to achieve any
happiness throughout
happiness throughout their
their lives
lives but
but only
only
have
have succeeded
succeededin ln attaining
attainingwhat canbe
what can betermed
termed
as
as "illusory"
"illusory" and "transitory" happiness
and "transitory" happinessas as
21
21
oppos
opposed
ed to "real" and
to "real" "permanent"
and "penn anent" happin
happiness.
ess.
Hence,
Hence , the
the attem
attempt
pt in this
this book
book to re-dir
r-e_direct
ect
thesepeopl
these people e to
to the
the prope
properr course
courseof action
actionto
to be
be
ableto
able to achiev
achievee the
the sough
sought-after
t-after happin
happiness.
ess.
The above
_ The above,as
,as well asas many
many other
other reason
reasons,
s,
have led
have led to
to our
our discus
discussion
sion of this
this impor
importani
tant
subject
subjec t with aa sincer
sincere
e hope
hope that
that this
this treatis
ireatise
e
would prove
would prove of help
help to
to many
many who
who are
areearnes
earnestly
tly
search
searching
ing for real
real happi
happiness.
ness.
22
22

DEFINITION OF HAPPINESS
DEFINITION OF HAPPINESS
WHAT IS
WHAT IS HAPPINESS?
HAPPINESS?
According to 'Webster's
'Webster's Third New New International
International
Rccorditg
happiness is a state
Dictionary', happiness
Dictionary', state of well-being
of well-being
pennanence, by domi-
characterized by relative perrnanence,
characteri2edbyielative
nantly agreeable
nantly agreeable emotion value from
ranging in value
emotion ranging
contentment to deep
mere contentment
mere deep and intense joy
and intense joy in
living, and
and by a natural desire for its continuation.
natural desire continuation.
"In tle
the distinction between this term
distinction between this tenn and and its
its
synonyms
synonyms (i.e.,(i.e., felicity,
felicity, beatitude, blessedness
beatitude,blessedness,
bliss),
Uiiss),it defines
definesHAPPINESS"
HAPPINESS"', as as the general
the general
tenn
term denoting
denoting enjoyment
enjoyment of or pleasureable
or pleasureable
satisfaction
satisfaction in
in well-being,
well-being, security,
security, or fulfillment
or fulfillment
of wishes. FELICITY,
wishes.FELICITY, a a more
more bookish
bookish or
or elevated
elevated
word,
word, may
may denote
denote aa higher, lasting,or
more lasting,
higher, more or
more
more perfect
perfect happiness. BEATITUDE refers
happiness.BEATITUDE refersin in
this
this sense
sensetoto the
thehighest happiness,
hlghesthappiness, the felicity
the felicity of of
the
theblessed.
blessed.BLESSEDNESS
BLESSEDNESS suggests suggeststhe deep
the deep
joy of
joy pure
ofpure affection
affection or
or of
of acceptance
acceptance by
by
God.
God.
BLISS
BLISS may may apply
apply to to aa complete
completeand assured
andassured
felicity."
felicity."
Some
Somestudents
students of
of education
education and psychology
andpsychology define
define
HAPPINESS
HAPPINESSas the as the continued
continued feeling
feeling or
or state
state of
of
delight,
delight,contentment,
contentment, and joy
andjoy emanating from
emanatingfrom the the
 23
23
perrnanent
penna nent sense
senseof self-g
self-goodness,
oodness, goodn
goodness
ess of life
life
andgoodn
and goodness
ess of man's
man'sdestin
destiny.
y.

SOURCES
SOUR CES OFOF HAPP
HAPPINESS
INESS
Different
Differ individuals
ent indivi duals and
and group
groups people
s of peopl e may
may
have differ
have differenr ideas with
ent ideas wirh regard
.egaid to to the
the best
best
ways of achiev
ways achieving
ing happin
happiness.
ess. Howe
However,
ver, there
there are
are
several
severa theories
l theori and specu
es and speculations
lations which
which many
manv aa
people share
people share asas consti
constituting
tuting the
the main
main source
sourcess of
happiness.
happin Thesemay
ess. These may be
be classif
clasiified
ied as
asfollow
followss::
(1) Wealt
(1) Wealthh
(2) Rank
(2) Rankand position.
andpositi on.
(3) Educa
(3) Educational
tional achiev
achievements
ement s
(Academic
(Acad emic andandHono
Honorary
rary Degre
Degrees).
es).
(4) Fame
(4) Fame(i.e.,
(i.e.,in politic
politics,
s, arts,
aits,sports
sporrs,
,
science,
scienc e, etc.).
etc.).

(1) HAPP
(1) HAPPINESS
INESS IN WEA WEALTH
LTH
Wealth
Wealt h if, probably,
is, proba bly, the the eleme
elementnt mostly
mostly asso-
asso_
ciated,
ciated , if _notnot synon
synonymous,
ymou s, with
with happi
happiness
ness as
as
manypeople
many peopl e think.
think. This
This under
understand
stand ing
ing so
so deep-
deep_
rooted in the
rooted the hearts
hearts of soso many
many, , to
toihe
the extent
extent
that almos
almost.everywhere
t every where people
peopl e are
are engro
engrossed
ssed in
tut
the acquis
the acquisition
ition of wealth.
wealth. They
ih.y look towards
look towards
wealth.as
wealth as the
the primal
prima l consti
constituent
tuent of happiness
happiness toto
the
the point
point that
that for them
them the
the two
two are
are entwin
entwined.
ed.
24
24
How happy
How happy are those
are
^empires, men and
those men women who
and women who own
own
business
business empires, wide
wide expanses
expanses of
of land
land and
and
estates, large bank deposits,
estates,largebank dePosits, etc?
etc?
Many indeed
Many indeed are
are those people who
those people own millions
who own millions
or even billions but but are
are suffering from an
suffering from an almost
almost
"u"t
permanent lack of
pernanent of peace of mind as
peace of as a result of
of
the
tire fear they have
have over their wealth
wealth the
the fear
fear
of, say,
say, political
political turmoils, market movements,
turmoils, market movements,
wars, piund^ers,
wars, plunders, theft, etc. And not only does
theft, etc. does such
such
fear lead to sleepless
fear lead sleepless nights
nights for these
these people
people but
evep tensions,
eve1t tensions, mental anguish, heart
mental anguish, attacks
heart attacks and and
deaths.
deaths. Very often
often one
one comes
comes across
across reportsin the
reports the
media such as
media such as the the following :

* Fortunes
Fortuneslost
lost and
and lives financial
lives follow in financial
market
marketcrash..... !
crash.....!
* A Tokyo
Tokyo trader
tradershot himself after
shothimself rently
apparently
afterappa
losing
losingmoney
moneyin in the
the stock market--!
stockmarket..!
* Australia's
* Australia's richest
richestman wasrushed
manwas to
rushedto
hospital
hospitalinin serious
seriouscondition, Sunday'
condition,Sunday,
after
aftersuffering
sufferingaaheart
heartattack. ... !
attack....!

Understanding
Understandingand and accepting
acceptingthat happiness
thathappiness has
has
nothing
nothing to to do
do with amassmentof wealth isis
with amassment of wealth
perhaps
perhapsthethemost
mostliberating
liberatingrealization wecan
realizationwe ever
canever
come to.
cometo.
Ample
Amplematerial
materialisisreadily
readilyavailable from the
availablefrom lives
thelives
 25
25
many peopl
of many people
e to prove our
to prove our dictum "wealth
dictum"weal is
th is
not equal
equal to happin
happiness".
ess".

QAAR
OAARUN UN
Qarun
Qarun's (Kora)
's (Kora ) story serves
story serves as as aa typica
typical l
ex^-ample
ex-am ple of opule opulent people
nt peopl
- e whose
whose wialth
wealth
infused
infuse d them
them with pride pride and and arrogaarrogance
nce and
and
madethem
made them forgetforget the
the role of wealth
role wealthin inhan's
man's life.
life.
Wealth
Wealt shouldbe
h should be used
used for the the achiev
achievement
ement of
the welfa
the welfare re of man man and and his his societ
society y in accor-
accor_
dance with
dance with the the will and and comm
commandments
andme nts of Al-Al_
mighty
might y Allah,
Allah, Who Who has has grante
granred d man
man his
his exis-
exis_
tence,
tence, faculties,
facult ies, powers,
power s, susten
sustenance
ance and
and
resources.
resour ces.
His story
His storyis is told
told inin the
theHoly Qur'an
eur'an: :
""......Such
Such were were the the treasu
treasurere WeWe had
had bestow
bestoweded
on
on him,
him, thatthat their
their very
very keys
keys would
would have
havebeen
been
aa burde
burden n to to aa body
body of strong
strongmen.
men. Behol
Behold, his
d, his
people said
people saidto to him:
him: Exult
Exult not,
not, for Allah
Allah loveth
loveth
not those
not those who who exult (in riches
exult (in riches)." (eur'an,
)." (Qur'a n, 28:76
2g:76) )
Then,
Then,
"So he
"So he went
went forthforth amon
among g his
his people
people in the
the
(pride of his
(pride his wordl
wordly) glitter;.
y) glitter (eur'an,
". (Qur'a 2g:79)
n,28:7 9)
When he
When he was
was in the
rhe hey-d
hey-day
ay of his glory,
his glory,
worldly
world people
ly peopl e envied
enviedhim
him and
and thoug
thought now hap-
ht how nap_
py they
py they would
would bebe if
if only
only they
they were
werein
in his
his place.
place.
26
26
But wise
But wise people
people were
were not dazzled by
not dazzled by Qaarun's
Qaarun's
fabulous
fabulous wealth,
wealth, because
because they
they realized
realized the tran-
the tran-
sient nature of worldly
sient nature of worldly treasures
treasures and
and they
they were
were
certain that
certain that the
the true wealth is
true wealth reward of
the reward
is the of Al-
Al-
lah
lah (in
(in the
the Hereafter)
Hereafter) for
for those
those who
who be-
be-
and work
lieve and rightesousness. (Vide the Qur'an,
work rightesousness. Qur'an,
28:80)
28:80)

ostentatiously and
Qaarun lived ostentatiously
Qaarun appeared to
and appeared
many of his
*uny people "a lord of
his people mighty good
of mighty good
fortune." They
fortune." admired his
They admired glorious appearance
his glorious appearance
'illusory
but
but forgot
forgot his
his reality.
reality. All this was 'illusory
this was
happines'
happineJ'or,or, at
at least,
least,transient happiness,
transienthappiness, just like
just like
aa dream
dreamor aa movie.
movie.
What
What was was the
the end?
end? What happenedto
What happened that
to all that
pomp,
pomp,
^ wealth, pride
wealth, Pride and and arrogance?
arrogance?
"Then,
"T'hen.We
We caused
causedthe the earth to swallow
earth to swallow up up him
and
andhis
his house;
house;andandhe he had
hadnot (theleast
not (the leastlittle) par-
little) par-
ty
ty to helphim
to help him against
againstAllah,
Allah, nor could he defend
nor could he defend
himself."
himself."(Qur'an
(Qur'an28:81)
28:81)

CHRISTINA
CHRISTINAONASSIS
ONASSIS
Here
H.t. lies
ti"J another eventful
another eventful story which
story which
proved
proved beyond
beyonddoubt
doubtthat
that wealth, whatever
wealth, whatever the the
amount
imountoneo.teholds,
holds,cannot
cannotbyby itself thebasis
bethe
itselfbe for
basisfor
the achievement of
the achievementof real real happiness!
happiness! Here
Here is
is the
the
story
story which
which for
for years
yearsdominated
<iominated the mindsof
the minds of
 21
27
writers, reporters
writers, reportersandand newsmen,
newsmen,as as well
well asas the
the
pages
pages of of newspapers,
newspapers,books books and and magazines!
magazines!
Thisisis the
This thestory
storyofof Christina Onassis-- daughter
Christina Onassis daughter
of the
of the famous
famous Greek
Greektycoon,
tycoon,Aristotle Onassis,
Aristotle Onassis,
who owned
who ownedfleets
fleets ofof shipsships and and aeroplanes,
aeroplanes,
lakes and
lakes andislands,
islands,real
realestates,
estates, huge
hugebank
bank depos-
depos-
its, etc.
its, etc. Following
Following the the death
death of her her father,
farher,
Christina was
Christina was the
the only
only oneone left
lefr behind
behind as as the
the
legal heiress
legal heiressto the vast
to the vast resources
resourcesof her father
her father
besidesher
besides her late
late father's
father'ssecond
secondwife wife Jacqueline
Jacqueline
Kennedy.The
Kennedy. The enormous
enornous liquid liquid inheritances
inheritances
were to the
were to the tunetune of billions of dollars
billions dollarsbesides
besidesthe the
immovable properties,
immovable properties,the the fleet
fleet of shipsships and and
aeroplanes,lakes
aeroplanes, lakesandand islands,
islands, real real estates,
estates,large
large
bank deposites,etc
bank deposites, etc What
What an an inheritance
inheritancethatthat
was! Certainly,
was! Certainly, to to thethe judgment,
judgment, reasoning,
reasoning,
feelings and
feelings and standards
standardsof most most people, someon~
people, someor\e
inheriting
inheriting suchsuch a huge fortune should
huge fortune should be be the
the
happiest
happiest person
person on earth -- but
on earth but was
was this
this true
true for
Christina?
Christina? The The answer
answer to this question
to this question can can only
only bebe
arrived
arrived at after going
at after going through
through the the following
following pages
pages
which
which briefly
briefly explain
explain thethe known
known course.of
course.of herher
life.
life.
Christina
Christina got got married
married to an an American
American during during her
her
father's
father's lifetime;
lifetime; but only only a lew few months
months
thereafter
thereafter thethe marriage
marriage brokebroke up and and ended
ended up in
divorce.
divorce. After the the death
death of of her
her father, she got
father, she got
28
28
married
married to a a Greek
Greek for the second time but
the second
their marriage lasted
their marriage lasted only a few months, ifif not
months,
weeks, before it was
weeks,before was all over!
over!
Christina stayed
Christinh stayedout out of marriage for quite
marriage quite some
some
time
time apparently'looking
apparently'lookingfor a happy happy life outside
outside
the
the marriage
marriagebond. However, that
bond. However, happiness did
that happiness
not
not materialize
materializeand,and, after
after aa few years
years had
had elapsed,
elapsed,
she
shefelt like trying to find a a life of happiness
happiness under
under
the marriage
the marriage bond bond once
once again.
again. This time
time her
choice
choice for aa husband
husband was was from aa completely
completely
different
differentcamp from communist
camp from Russia! To many
communistRussia! many
who
who knew
knew her free style
her free westem life, this
style western this step,
step,
indeed,
indeed,became
becamean interesting,if
an interesting, if not perturbing
perturbing or
excruciating experience.And when
excruciating experience. when once
once asked
asked
by pressman of this
by aa pressman this move,
move, she shehad ready
had aa ready
answer
answerwhich
which waswas simple, short,but frank:
simple, short, frank: "I amam
searching for
for happiness."
searching happiness."
Of course,
course, her her two previousmarriages
two previous marriageswere were
with men from
with men from the West; and
the West; and since they both
since they both
failed,
failed, sheshe thought
thought that she could
that she "discover"
could "discover"
some happinessin the
some happiness the East. But here
East.But here too
too she was
shewas
only trying
only trying out
out her luck
her luck with no guarantees.
no guarantees.
pressmeninterviewed
When pressmen
When interviewedher her for aa second
secondtime
time
her unchanged
her unchangedreply reply was:
was: "I am am searching
searchingfor for
·
hhappiness..!
appmess... ,
was she
But was
But she really happy about
reaily happy about her marriagein
her marriage
Never!
Russia?Never! She
Russia? She hardly remained with the
hardlv remained the
29
29
Russian for
Russian for more
more thanthan aa year beforesh~
yearbefore she
eventually divorced
eventually divorced him! him!
Apparently, that
Apparently, that was
wasnotnot the endof
the end of the
themarriage
marriage
"dilemma".Back
"dilemma". Back in in Europe
Europesheshedecided
decidedto to give
give itit
one more
one more final
final try
try thisthis time
time with
with aa French
French
industrialist, the
industrialist, the fourth
fourth husband
husbandfrom from aa fourth
fourth
different country
different country in in hardly
hardly aa period
period ofof two
two years!
years!
What aa miserable
What miserableand andunsecured
unsecuredlife it has hasbeen.
been.It
wasduring
was during oneone of thosethose occasions
occasions at at aa party
party
relating to
relating to this
this last
last marriage
marriage that
that aa pressman
pressman
askedher
asked her whether
whethershe she waswas thethe richest
richestwoman
woman
andher
and her frank
frank reply
reply went
went as as follows:
follows: "yes!
"Yes! I am
am
the richestwoman
the richest womanbut but the
the unhappiest..
unhappiest...." .."
The marriage
The marriagewith the the French
French industrialist
industrialistwent went
ahead as planned
ahead as planned but took only
but it took only aa few
few months
monthsto to
existbefore
exist wasall gone!
before it was gone!
Having
Having failed
failed to achieve
achieve happiness
happiness under
under marriage
marriage
life,
life, Christina
Christina vowed
vowed not not to marry
marry again
again andand
endeavoured
endeavoured to achieve happiness "on
achieve happiness "on herher
own".
own". However,
However, happiness
happiness was was impossible
impossible for
her even
even on her own and and she
she spent
spent the the rest
rest of
her life in a desperate
desperate manner
manner full
full of
of frustrations
frustrations
and
and dissappointments
dissappointments and and of of frenzy travels
frenzy travels
between
between thethe world's
world's major cities
cities until,
until, finally,
finally, she
she
was found
was found lying dead
dead inside
inside a hotel
hotel in Argentina.
Argentina.
Who
Who killed
killed her?
her? She
She committed
committed suicide!
suicide! Whar
What an an
unhappy
unhappy ending
ending 1br
for aa very,
very, very
very wealthy
wealthy lady!
lady!
30
30
Was her wealth
Was able to buy her happiness?
wealth able happiness?
NEVER,
NE VE R ,IINDEED!!!!!
N D E E D !!!!!

(2) HAPPINESS IN RANK

(2) HAPPINESS RANK ANpgOSITION
ANDPOSITION
Could real
Could happiness be attained
real happiness through the
attained through the
acquirement of high rank
acquirement rank or position
position in society?
society?
many the
To many answer is in the
the answer the affirmative.
affinnative.
This is apparently
This apparently due due to lack insight in
deep insight
lack of deep
the nature
the rank or position
nature of rank position andand the
the responsibili-
responsibili-
ties which
ties which they they involve. Islam, holding
involve. In Islam, holding anyany
rank or office is first and
position, rank
position, foremost
and foremost
regarded
regardedas as a
a trust
trust and,
and, therefore,
therefore, constitutes
constitutes an
an
obligation,
obligation,and and aa legal
legal as as well asas moral responsi-
moral responsi-
bility. Therefore,
Therefore,thosethoseto be entrusted
to be entrustedwith suchsuch
roles could only be citizens
rolescould only be citizens who
who are
are possessed
possessed of
unquestionable
unquestionablecompetence,
competence, integrity virtue.
and virtue.
integrityand
Only
Only aa righteous
righteousand and competent personcan
competentperson shoul-
can shoul-
der
derresponsibility
responsibilityandanduse usehis positionor
his position for
officefor
or office
public
public welfare.
welfare.
Such
Such a person
a personwould
would be be able
able toto dispense justice
dispensejustice
based
based on on moral
moral value
value and promote sound
and promote sound
administration.
administration. He
He would
would promote
promote and
and enhance
enhance
the
the well-being
well-beingof his people by
his people their
handling their
by handling
affairs
affairs in aa manner
manner that is in accordance
that is accordancewith
public
public interest.
interest. In In return,
return,he eam his
would earn
he would his
people's
people's obedience,
obedience,support,
support,loyalty coop-
and coop-
loyalty and
eration.
eration. Thus,
Thus, he he would
would love doing his
love doing job
his job
 3l
31
becauseultimately
because ultimatelyhe
hewould
would be be blessed
blessed with
with
joy, happiness,contentment
joy, happiness,contentment and
andsatisfaction.
satisfaction.

However,any
However, person who
any person who is is entrusted
entrustedwith
with au-
au-
thority over
thority overothers
othersand and doesnot conducthis affairs
does not conduct his affairs
on the
on thebasis
basisof justiceand
of justice moralstandards,
andmoral standards,would
would
definitelybe
definitely responsiblefor
be responsible for maladministration.
maladministration.
His positionwould
His position would only only be
be aa source
sourceof misery
miseryand
and
corruptionwith
corruption with issues
issuessuchsuchasasthe
thefollowing:
following:
*Lossof
*Loss public confidence.
of public confidence.
*Rift betweenthe
*Rift between the ruler
ruler and
andthethe ruled.
ruled.
*Tension,fear
*Tension, fear andand insecurity
insecurityof life andand
position
position onon the part
the part of thethe ruler.
ruler.
*The ruler's
*The ruler'sinternal
intemal restlessness
restlessness and
and
agoniesof conscience.
agonies conscience.
*Upsurgeof enemies
*Upsurge enemiesand andoppositions
oppositions
from amongst
from amongstthe the ruled.
ruled.
*Ruler going
*Ruler goingto greatlengths
to great lengthsto protect
protect
his position
his -
position - at at times
timesat at any
any cost,
cost, even
even
if that
if that may
may mean
mean the the shedding
shedding of blood.
blood.
*Public revolt.
*Public revolt.
*Coups
*Coups d'etat.
d'etat.
*Assassinations.
*Assassinations.

Hardly does
does a year
year pass
pass by around
around the
the world
without
without closing
closing with the
the news
news ofof miserable
miserable falls,
falls,
overthrows
overthrows and/or
and/or assassinations
assassinations of
of unwanted
unwanted
32
32
rulers, kings,
rulers, kings, emperors, premiers, presidents,
emperors, premiers, presidents, etc.
etc.
Recent cases include
Recent casesinclude the
the following:
following:

The Shah
Shah of
of Iran
The Shah
Shah ofof Iran who once
once organized an interna-
organized an interna-
tional ceremony
tional commemorate the
ceremony to commemorate the passing
passing ofof
2500
2500 years
years since
since the
the birth of
of the "Persian
"Persian state"!
state"!
when the
But when the end came it was
end came heavy. He was
was heavy. was
"chased"
"chased"outout of his country massive public
country by a massive public
revolt
revolt and
and spent the rest
spent the of his life "wandering"
rest of "wandering"
from
from one
one country another until he
country to another he eventually
eventually
died a miserable
died a miserable death
death in Egypt
Egypt as
as a result
result of a
chronic
chroniccancer.
cancer.

Ferdinand
FerdinandMarcos
Marcos
The
Theman
man who
who for
for 20 yearsliterally
20 years "owned" the
literally "owned" the
Philippines
Philippines and
and ruled
ruled it as "family
were aa "family
as if it were
enterprise",
enterprise", came
came toto aa terrible end. He
terrible end. was
He was
"thrown"
"thrown"out
out ofof his
his country
countryby massesand
themasses
by the and
spent several
spent several years
years thereafter
thereafter in
in exile
exile in various
various
"hide-orrts"under
"hide-outs" undertight securityfor
tight security fear of
for fear being
of being
murdered.
murdered.

Jean
Jean Bedel
Bedel Bokassa,
Bokassa, the self-proclaimed
the self-proclaimed
"Emperor"of
"Emperor" of the
theRepublic
Republicofof Central Atiica.
CentralAfrica.
Here
Herewas who spent
man who
was aa man spentfor his coronation
for his coronation
more
more than
than his
his country's total gross
country'stotal national
gross national
33
33
product. He was
product. He waslater
later toppled
toppledby his countrymen
by his countrymen
and at
and presenthe
at present he is
is serving
servingaa life-imprisonment
life-imprisonment
sentence.
sentence.

NicolaeCeausescu
Nicolae Ceausescu
The man dwelt
The man dweltin palacebuilt
in aa palace built in "puregold"
in "pure gold" for
for
period of more
aa period more than
than2020 years
yearsas
asthe "owner" of
the "owner"
Romania! To
Romania! To suppress
suppressaa public
public revolt
revolt he
he used
used
tanks and
tanks and artillery
artillery soso that
that by the end of the
the end the
revolution 64,000
revolution people were
64,000 people were reported
reportedto to have
have
beenkilled in the
been the cities.
cities.He
He was
was later
later caught
caughtwhile
while
trying to
trying to escape
escapeout out of his
his country
country and and was
was
"slaughtered"before
"slaughtered" beforethethe eyes
eyesof the public!
thepublic!

Rajiv Gandhi
Rajiv Gandhi
He was assassinated
He was assassinated public and
in public andclosed
closedthe
the chap-
chap-
ter an unpopular
ter of an dynasty.
unpopular dynasty.

The
The list is
is inexhaustive.
inexhaustive. It is
is a wonder.
wonder, however.
however,
how
how all evil men
men have
have much common - but
much in common but the
the
sure end of
sure end of all evil is
is evil!
34
5+
(3) EDUCATIONAL
EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS
AND HONORARY DEGREES)
(ACADEMIC AND DEGREES)

Then, where
Then, where is happiness? obtaining the
happiness? Is it in obtaining the
highest level
highest level of education and
of education earning doctorate
and in earning doctorate
degrees?
degrees?
true that
It is true that Islam encourages but also
Islam not only encourages also
requires man
requires man to seek knowledge and
seek knowledge and live in the the
learning. Islam
light of learning. Islam is way
is a way of life based on
based
knowledge and
knowledge and not on superstition.Prophets
on superstition. Prophets are are
the sources of
the sources divine divine knowledge,
knowledge, and
and the
the first
first di-
vine
vine revelation
revelationto to Prophet Muhammad(peace be
ProphetMuhammad (peace be
upon
uponhim)him) begins
beginswith with the word "IQRA" meaning
the word meaning
"READ". In that
"READ". that same
samerevelation, Allah,(Glorybe
revelation,Allah,(Glory be
to
to Him) tells
tells mankind
mankindthat that He (Allah) taught
He (Allah) taughtmanman
"with thethe pen"
pen" and and taught
taughtman "what he
man "what he did not
did not
know".
know".
Much
Much emphasis
emphasisis placed in
is placed in Islam
Islam on on the need
theneed
for excellent
for excellent learning, learning, that
that in
in the
the Holy
Holy
Qur'an,
Qur'an, Allah, Allah, GloryGlory be be toto Him, teaches
Him, teaches
mankind
mankindthe thefollowing
following supplications:
supplications:
".....andsay
".....and say0O my my Lord, advanceme
Lord, advance me inin knowl-
knowl-
edge".
e d g e ".(Qur'an,
( Q u r ' a n22:114)
2, 2:l l 4 )
In anotherverseof
In another verse of the holy Qur'an,
the holy Allah tells
Qur'an,Allah tells
mankind:
mankind:
".....those
".....thosetrulytruly fear
fearAllah
Allah among
amongHis servants
His servants
who
whohave
haveknowledge."
knowledge." (Qur'an, 35:28)
(Qur'an, 35:28)
35
35
Yet, in
Yet, in another
another verse
verseof of the
the Holy
Holy Qur'an,
Qur'an,Allah
Allah
questions mankind:
questions mankind:
".....arethey
".....are theyequal,
equal,those
thosewho
who know
know and
andthose
those
who do
who do not
not know? (Qur'an,39:9)
know?(Qur'an, 39:9)
ProphetMuhammad
Prophet Muhammad(peace(peacebebe upon
uponhim)
him) also
alsoleft
left
behind many
behind many authentic
authenticsayings
sayingsand
andteachings
teachingsinin
this regard emphasizingthe
this regard emphasizing importance and
the importance and
superiorityof knowledge.In
superiority knowledge.Inone oneof these
thesesayings,
sayings,
the Prophet
the (peacebe
Prophet(peace uponhim)
be upon him) said
saidthat
that seeking
seeking
knowledge
knowledge is is every
everyMuslim's
Muslim'sduty.
duty.

Suchis
Such is the
the concept
concept of Islam Islam with
with regard
regard
to learning
to leaming that that it leaves
leaves widewide openopenall
all fields
fields
thought before
of thought beforethe
the human
human intellect
intellectto penetrate
to penetrate
as far as
asfar as it could
could reach.
reach. It frees,
frees,andand lays
lays down
down nono
restrictionsagainst,
restrictions against,the
the free-thinker
free-thinkerwho who seeks
seeks
knowledgeto
knowledge to widen
widen his
his vision
vision and and broaden
broadenhis his
mind.
mind. However,
However, suchsuchintellectual
intellectual development
development is
is
not and could
not and could not be pursued
not be pursued as as anan absolute
absoluteobjec-
objec-
tive itself. It could
tive in itself. could not
not be be independent
independent but but
would
would remain
remain throughout
throughout on on thethe plane
plane of faith
faith
with the
the moral
moral values
values based
based on on the
the true
true religion
religion of
Allah,
Allah, that
that is
is Islam.
Islam.
It isis only
only by doing
doing so that a person's
so that person's intellect
intellect
gets complete "nourishment"
gets a compiete "nourishment" and and his
his intellectual
intellectual
life becomes
becomes enriched
enriched so so as as to bebe constructive
constructive
an<i useful. It
and useful. It is only by such such integration
integration of the
the
3366
intellectual and
intellectual and the values that
spiritual values
the spiritual that thethe
person's internal
person's internal nature sound, healthy
becomes sound,
nature becomes healthy
and happy.
and happy. However, knowledge and
However, ifif knowledge and scientific
scientific
research are
research are taken
taken as an end
as an themselves at the
end in themselves the
cost of faith,
cost faith, moral
moral and spiritual values,
and spiritual then even
values, then even
the most
the learned man
most learned man would would "unhappily"
"unhappily" be be
regressed to "the
regressed lowest of
"the lowest of the despite any
the low" despite any
qualifications, degrees,
qualifications, credentials and
degrees, credentials and. honours
honours
he may
lie possessed. While
have possessed.
may have advancement in
While advancement
knowledge and
knowledge and science science alone
alone may
may work well
when it comes
when comes to the treatment of matter,
the treatment matter,
yet,
yet, it could
could not not be takenas
be taken conclusive.
asconclusive.
Very
Very frequently
frequently one comes across
one comes across press press
reports
reportssuchsuchas as the following :
the following:
"A college
collegePROFESSOR
PROFESSORwas jailed after
was jailed after he he
was
was accused kidnappingaa woman
accusedof kidnapping and
womanand holding holding
her
her in aa closet
closet for two two weeksweeks for for his pleas-
his pleas-
ure .....the charge
ure.....thechargecarries carries a
a 10
10 to
to 99
99 year
year prison
prison
sentence
sentence......he he admitted
admittedto thecharge
to the charge...." "
"A Standard
StandardUniversity LECTURER fired
University LECTURER for
fired for
carrying
carryingdrugsdrugson on campus, yet
campus,yet he saidhe that
saidthat he he will
fight
fight hishis dismissal
dismissal but would not
but would not change
changehis his
ways. He
ways.He added;added; "that
"that is
is my
my right
right as
as long
long as
as I do
do
not
nothurt
hurt anybody
anybodyelse...."
else...."
"A male
"A male top WashingtonLAWYER
top Washington LAWYER and and
his
hisbusinessman
businessmanlover loverfiled land-mark
potentialland-mark
filed aa potential
lawsuit,
lawsuit, trying
trying to become
to become the first
the first
37
37
homosexualsto
homosexuals get married
to get marriedlegally
legally in
in the
the United
United
States...."
States...."
"StanfordMedical
"Stanford MedicalSchool
SchoolPresident
Presidenthas
hasbrought
brought
disciplinary chargesof sexual
disciplinary charges sexualhar-rassment
har-rassment and
and
professional
professional misconductagainst
misconduct againstaa male
malecardiology
cardiology
PROFESSOR.The
PROFESSOR. The charges
charges are
are based
based on on com-
com-
plaints
plaints of two femalemedical
two female medicalstudents
studentsthere...."
there...."

"Two DOCTORS
"Two DOCTORSwere werefined
fined and givenprison
and given prison
sentencesyesterday
sentences yesterdayfor performing
performingaa
sex-change operation
sex-change operation on patient.....He
on aa patient.. (the
...He (the
sex-change victim) filed
sex-change victim) filed aa complaint
complaint in 1984 1984
asserting that
asserting that the
the operation
operation had had notnot been
been
successfuland
successful and that
that he was in constant
he was pain. Four
constantpain. Four
yearslater
years laterhe
he committed
committedsuicide
suicide......"
"
A WOMAN DOCTOR DOCTOR cries cries out
out saying:
saying:
"Take away
"Take away my certificate
certificate and
and give
give me aa hus-
me hus-
band""Let
band". Let us
us read
readwhat
what that poor woman
that poor womandoctor
doctor
writes in her
writes her own
own words:
words: "Every morning
"Every morning at at
7:00 o'clock,
7:00 o'clock, I shed
shed tears
tears behind
behind the
the chauffeur
chauffeur
who
who drived
drived me me in my car to my medical
car to medical clinic
clinic
'prison "Every
cell' or
'prison cell' 'grave'."She goes
or'grave'."She goes onon saying:
saying: "Every
time I reached
time reached my destination,
destination, I found
found women
women
and
and children
children waiting
waiting for me.
me. They
They looked
looked atat me
me
with admiration
admiration andand regarded
regarded my white
white coat as if
coat as if
it were
were a luxurious
luxurious kind of clothes
clothes made
made of Persian
Persian
silk, yet
silk, yet it was was to to my viewview -- the'moumer's
the 'mourner's
388
3
clothes'.And every
clothes'. every time reached my clinic,
time I reached clinic, I
fixed the
fixed the stethoscope,
stethoscope, as as if were a hangman's
if it were hangman's
rope tied around
rope around my neck.neck.
Now, I am am in my thirties
thirties and
and I am very pessimistic
am very pessimistic
about the
about the future."
future." Then,
Then, sheshe cries out! "Take
cries out! "Take away
away
certificate,my coats
my certificate, coatsandandmy moneymoney and and let me
let me
hear the
hear the word MUM".
MUM". Then Then sheshewrites
writes a few lineslines
describing
describingher her inner
inner feelings: "People would
feelings: "People would callcall
me a doctor,
me what benefit
doctor, but what benefit do do I get
get from hear-
hear-
ing
ing it?
it? So,
So, tell those
those people
people who who considered
consideredme me
as
as aa good
good example,
example,that that now
now I am
am to
to be
be pitied.
pitied.
All
All I want
want and
and hope
hopefor is is to have
havemy own own child
child to
hug
hug andand caress.
caress. But, But, can
can I buybuy it with all ail my
Money?"
Money?"
Just
Just look
look at at what
what happens
happensto the woman
to the doctor.
womandoctor.
How she describes
How she describes her
her everyday
everyday agony
agony and
and
how
how she thinks of her
she thinks her medical
medicalas prisoncell
as aa prison cell
and
and aa grave.
grave. Inln short,
short,does
doesshe sheenjoy
enjoy her profes-
her profes-
sion?
sion? Does Does she
shegetget any level of satisfaction
any level satisfactionand and
contentment
contentmentin life? life? TheThe answer
answer is is left to the
left to the
reader.
reader... ..

(4) HAPPINESS
(4) HAPPINESSIN FAME
There
There are
are two
two activities
activitieswith
with which fameis
whichfame is
usually
usuallyassociated:
associated:
** Sporting
Sporting
** Acting
Actine
39
39
How much
How much happiness
happinessdodo the "famous"men
the "famous" men and
and
women in activities
women activitiesenjoy? Let us
enjoy? Let take aa brief
us take brief
look at
look at each
eachof these
thesetwo
two activities
activitiesin tum.
turn.

Sporting
Sporting
It isis gratifying
gratifying to note that
to note that most
mosr of thethe
Islamic forms of worship,
Islamic forms worship, e.g. prayers,fasting
e.g.prayers, fasting
and pilgrimage,display
andpilgrimage, displaysome
somesporting
sportingcharacteris-
characteris-
tics, although
tics, althoughthey
they are
arebasically
basicallybyby nature
nature meant
meant
for spiritual purposes.But
spiritual purposes. But who
who would
would deny
deny the
the
constantinteraction
constant interaction between
betweenthe physiqueand
the physique and
moraleof man?
morale man? Yet,
Yet, that is not
that is not all
all that
that Islam
Islam has
has
to say
to say onon the
the subject
subject of sports
sports and physical
and physical
exercises. Any sporting
exercises. sportingactivity
activity that promotes
that promotes
sound thinking
sound thinking or refreshes
refreshesthe mind and
the mind and revital-
revital-
izes the
izes the body
body to to keep
keep man
man in healthy
healthyshape
shapeisis
encouraged
encouraged Islam.The
by Islam. The general
general Islamicprecept
Islamic precept
this matter
in this matter isis the
the statement
statementin which
which the
the
Prophet
Prophet
(peacebe
(peace be upon
upon him) says:
him) says:

"The strong
"The believer is
strongbeliever is better
better than
than the
the weak
weak
one." (Reportedby Imam
one." (Reported Imam Ahmad,
Ahmad, Muslim
Muslim andand
Ibn Majah
Majah on the
the authority
authority of Abu Huraira)
Huraira)

Physicai
Physical exercises
exercises and
and sporting
sporting activities are valu-
activities are valu-
able
able things
things in themseh,es,
themselves, but
but they
they should
should
40
40
only be taken
only be taken for what
what they
they are worth,i.e., to pre-
are worth,i.e., pre-
pare
pare our minds and bodies
minds and bodies for the
the more
more serious
serious
matters of life. They
matters shouldnot be
They should be taken
taken as an
as an
end themselves or be
end in themselves allowed to deflect
be allowed away
deflect away
our minds or blur our visions
our minds visions to appreciatethe
to appreciate the
more
more serious requirementsof our
seriousrequirements inner lives.
our inner lives .

Sporting
Sportinghas
has almost
almostbecome
becomeaa sort "religion"
sort of aa "religion"
for
for sportsmen,
sportsmen, "it runs
runs in their
their blood"l
blood"!

Therefore, if
Therefore, if sports
spofrs areare carried to such
carried to such an ex-
an ex-
treme, one could
treme. one could not fail to realize the
to realize the kind of
"suffering" to
"suffering" to which such men and
such men and women lead
women lead
their
theirlives.
lives.Thus:
Thus:
*The internal
*The feelings and
internal feelings pressures to
and pressures to win
over,
over, say,
say,aa particular game- and
particulargame and atat times
times at any
at any
cost, even
cost,eventhatthat may
may mean
mean taking
taking prohibited
prohibited drugs.
drugs.
** The "big blow"
The "big blow" upon game;the
losing aa game;
upon losing the
despair,
despair, the the embarrassment,
embarrassment, the
the agony, the
agony, the
shame
shameandandthethe ridicule from the
ridiculefrom "fans".
the "fans".
** The
The loss quitting from
loss of job, quitting from the the team
team
after
after losing
losing a
a game
game or,
or, worse,
worse, being
being fired!
fired!

Therefore,
Therefore, we
we need
need to to ask
ask the
the question
question
whetheror
whether not aa life
or not life exposed
exposed to physical
such physical
to such
danger,
danger,ordeal
ordeal and shortcomingsis
and shortcomings is aa happy
happy
one? The answer
one?TIle answer is
is left
left to
to you,the
vou.the reader....!
reader.. .. !
41
41
The sports
The sportsmedia
media is
is full of stories suchas
storiessuch as the
the fol-
lowing:
lowing:
"Sports activities
"Sports proved dangerous
activities proved dangerouswith
basketball injuries
basketball injuriesalone
aloneaccounting
accountingfor more more thanthan
640,000hospital visits last
640,000 hospital visits last year,
year, new U.S. safe-
new U.S. safe-
figuresshow...."
ty figures show...."
"Three football
"Three football playing
playing veterans
veterans died
died of heartheart
attacksduring
attacks during an an international goldenoldies...."
intemationalgolden oldies...."
"Liverpool'sMcmahon
"Liverpool's Mcmahonbrokebrokehis his leg
leg in aa tackle
tackle
duringthe
during the F.A.
F.A. cup clash
cup clash yesterday..."
yesterday..."
"Cubanrunning
"Cuban runningstar,
star,Ana
Ana Quirot,
Quirot,says
saysshe sheplans
plans
to quit from sports sports after
after the 1992Barcelona
the 1992 Barcelona
Olympics because
Olympics because she she wants
wants to to become
become aa
mother.....I've
mother. beenrunning
....I've been runningfor for 15 yearsand....
15 years and.....I .1
wantto
want to be mothernow
be aa mother now......""
"Canadian sprinter,
"Canadian sprinter,Ben
Ben Johnson,
Johnson,waswas stripped
stripped
the Olympic
of the Olympic 100-meter
1OO-meter title
title and
andworld
world record
record
in
in Seoul
Seoulafter
aftertesting positivefor Steroid
testingpositive Steroiddrugs .... "
drugs...."
"U.S. shot-putter,
"U.S. shot-putter,Jim Doehring,ranked
Jim Doehring, rankedthird third
in the
in world, has
the world, hasbeen
beensuspended
suspendedfor for two years
two years
from the
from field after
the field failing aa drug
afterfailing drugtest.. .... "
test......"

There are
There are other
other stories
storiessimilar
similar to
to these which we
thesewhich we
could reproducehere
could reproduce supportof our
herein support our argument,
argument,
but for the
but sakeof time
the sake time and
and space let us
spacelet have aa
us have
look at
look just
at just one
onemore
morecase withoutwhich
casewithout which I could
could
not have
not done justice
have done justice to discussing
subject discussing
to aa subject
42
42
men,sports,
men, fame and
sports,fame happiness.This
andhappiness. was the
This was the
story of Diego
story Diego Maradona! For aa time
Maradona! For his name
time his name
waseverywhere;
was everywhere;in allall media
media and literally on
and literally on all
all
com-mercial
com- productsand
mercialproducts andadvertisements.
advertisements.
Football earned
Football "wealth" and
eamed him "wealth" "pride".His
and "pride".His
luxury cars
luxury were estimated
carswere to the
estimatedto tune of $1
the tune $1 mil-
lion, includingaa Ferrari
lion, including Ferrari F-40 worth $323,000
F-40 wor.th $323,000
besides
besidesthethe Rolls Roycesand
Rolls Royces the BMW's.
andthe BMW's.

He was
He was in all
all that
thatand
andeven more! But hardly
evenmore! hardly did
did
he complete
he complete 4 years years in in that "fame","wealth"
that "fame" ,"wealth"
and "prominence"when
and "prominence" when the the world had to
world had readaa
to read
muchmore
much more different kind of story
differentkind storyabout
abouthim!
him! He He
used cocaine
used cocainefor an an Italian leaguematch!
Italian league match! What
What
were the
were the consequences?
consequences? He was wanted
He was wantedin Italian
Italian
courtsfor
courts for aa related "cocainepossession":
caseof "cocaine
relatedcase possession":
and aa few
and few weeks
weeks after
after returning
returning to to his
his native
native
homeland of Argentina,
homeland Argentina, he he waswas arrested
arrestedfor
another round of cocaine
another round possession
cocaine possession and for
and for
supplying the
supplying the drug
drug freefree to to others
others andand hishis
treasure, including the
treasure,including luxury cars,
the luxury cars, were put to
were put to
auction! What
auction! What else? Blame,ridicule,
else?Blame, ridicule,shame,
shame,dis-
dis-
appointrnentand
appointment and resentment
resentmentfrom people of all
from people all
walks, but largely,
walks, frorn his
largely, from "loyal fans"
his "loyal fans" and
and
particulariy so,
particularly so, those
thosein in Italy whoseanger
Italy whose angerandand
dismay was
dismay was loud
loud enough.
enough.In one one newspaper
newspaper
report which
report which according
accordingto public opinion
to aa public poll,
opinionpoll,
43
43
Maradonawas
Maradona was voted votedItaly's
Italy'smostmosthated
hatedmanman andand
similarly
similarly in another
anotl-lerreport,
report,aa banner headlinewent
bannerheadline went
as
as follows: "Italianshate
follows: "Italians hateMaradona"
Maradona"claiming claimingthat that
he sets
he setsaa bad
bad example
examplefor the young people.
the young people.Did
Diego Maradona
Diego Maradonaachieve achieveany
any realreal happiness
happinessfrom from
his foofa11
his "profession"?
foofall "profession"? The answer
The answer to to this ques-
this ques-
tion could,of course,
tion could, course.best
bestbe given by none
be given noneother
other
than himself and
than himself and he he did
did so. During his
so. During "career"
his "career"
days
days hehe frequently
frequentlyused used toto say "Socceris
say "Soccer is in my
blood
blood andand I want want kids
kids there (Argentina) to
there (Argentina) get
to get
Soccer
Soccerrunning
runningin their their blood". However,months
blood". However, months
after
after his
his debacle
debacle he he had
had some
some different
different confes-
confes-
sions
sions to to the worid which
the world which went
went as follows:
asfollows:
"I will not play soccer
not play professionallyagain.
soccerprofessionally again.It
is
is an irrevocabiedecision...the
an irrevocable decision...the Argentinenational
Argentine national
team
teamis is also
alsoaa closed
ciosed chapter
chapterfor me. me. I want
want to to
quit because
quit becauseI am am sick
sick of the pressureand
the pressure andthethe dis-
dis-
cipline...
cipline....I.! am
am not
not blaming
blaming soccer
soccerbut everything
but everything
that
that sorrounds
sorroundssoccer soccerand
and I am am scared having
scaredof having
to
to face situationof that
face aa situation that kind
kind....I
... .! am
am not hiding
not hiding
problems with drugs
my problems ....there is
drugs."..there is something
something
deeper
deeper here here than than simply
simply havinghaving taken taken co-co-
caine... .!
caine....I find
find I 'don't
don't ENJOY myself anymore...."
ENJOYrnyselfanymore...."
He
He made mention of jov,
mademention joy, but
but dodo these
theseconfessions
confessions
portray him
portray him as havingexperienced
as having experienced joy?
joy? If If so,
so,
then,
then,that
that isis the subjectof our
the subject discussionin
our discussion in this
this
treatise
treatiseand
andthat thatisis what
rvhatwe
we areArecalling "illusory",
calling "illusory",
44
44
"artificial" or "fake" joy as as opposed
opposed to any any
"abiding","real"
"abiding", "real" and "lasting" happiness
and "lasting" happiness which
which
could
could not be earned
be "devotion"to
eamedby "devotion" to soccer
soccer
or otherwise. Rather, it is
otherwise.Rather, is by thethe understanding
understanding
the purpose
of the purpose of life as as prescribed
prescribed by Allah for
us
us to
to make
make it the the ideal
ideal basis pursuitof our
basis in pursuit our
objectives
objectives thisin this world
world which
which is
is the inculcation
inculcation
and
and development
development of internal nourishment that
internal nourishment that
would
would embody
embody and and infuse
infuse together
togetherthe spiritual,
the spiritual,
moral
moral and and other
other virtues, required of man.
virtues.required man. Allah
(Glory be
(Glory be to
to Him) said:
said:
"Leave alone
"Leave thosewho
alonethose who take
take their way of life to
their way to
be
be mere play and
mere play and amusement
amusementand and areare deceived
deceivedby
the
the life of this this world. proclaim (to
world. But proclaim (to them)
them)
this
this (truth):
(truth): that
that every
every soul
soul delivers
delivers itself
itself to
to ruin
ruin
by its
its own
own acts: find for
acts: it will find for itself
itself no protector
no protector
or
or intercessor
intercessor except
exceptAllah." (Qur'an,6:70)
Allah." (Qur'an,6:70)

Acting
Acting
Here
Here we we specifically refer to
specifically refer to those persons
those persons
directly
directly engaged
engagedin the the field
field of entertainment
entefiainment
namely,
namely, film and and stage
stage actors,
actors,singers, danc-
singers,danc-
ers, etc. Is the
ers,etc. Is the world of entertainment
entertainment a
a source
source of
true
truehappiness?
happiness?
Far
Far from
from the
the common is surprising
man, it is
conunon man, how
surprisinghow
many peoplestill equate
many people fun. The
happinesswith fun.
equatehappiness The
truth of the
truth the matter, however.is
matter. however, is that fun and
that fun and
 45
45
happinesshave
happiness have little
little nothing in common.
or nothing common.
The correct
The correctand logical conclusion
and logical would be
conclusionwould be that
that
fun is
fun what we
is what we experience
experienceduring
during an an act, while
act, while
happinessis
happiness is what
what wewe experience
experienceafter
after an act. It
an act.
is
is aa deeper,
deeper,more
more enduring,
enduring,more
more meaningful
meaningful andand
more abiding
more abiding emotion.
emotion. Going
Going to
to anan amusement
amusement
park or to
park game,watching
to aa ball game, watchingaa movie
movie or televi-
televi-
sion
sionarearefun
fun activities
activities that "may" help
that "may" help someone
someoneto to
relax.
relax. One
One may may temporarily
temporarily forget his prob-
forget his prob-
lems
lems and and even
evenmay laugh. But these
may laugh. theseare
arethings
things
which do
which not and
do not andcould
could notnot definitely bring any
definitely bring any
real happiness
real happinessto to the person because
the person becausetheir posi-
their posi-
tive
tive effects
effects usually last only
usually last only as long as
as long as the fun
the fun
lasts.
lasts.

much deeper
A much deeper analysis into the
analysis into matter is
the matter is
achieved when we
achievedwhen we envisage
envisageand look into
and look fun and
into fun and
entertainment
entertainmentaround
around us.us. I could not help
could not help thethe
thought that
thought that if
if these
these movie,
movie, TV, music
music and
and thea-
thea-
tre "stars"had
tre "stars" had anything
anything to to demonstrate,
demonstrate, is that
it is that
happinesshas
happiness hasnothing
nothing to to do with fun.
do with fun. It isis aa fact
fact
that these individuals
that these individuals havehave constant
constantaccess
accessto to
abundant
abundantwealth, glamorousparties,
wealth, glamorous parties,fancy
fancy cars,
cars,
expensive
expensivehomes
homesand and everything
everything that "seemsto
that "seems to
spell
spell happiness".
happiness".However,
However,memoir
memoir after memoir
after memoir
with
with so
so much information is
much information is exposed
exposedabout
aboutthese
these
"celebrities"
"celebrities" unveiling
unveilingthe the sorrow hiddenbeneath
sorrowhidden beneath
46
46
all
all their fun e.g.,
their fun e.g., depression,
depression, alcoholism,
alcoholism,drug
drug
addiction,
addiction, children
children outout of wedlock,
wedlock, broken
broken
marriages, troubled
marriages, troubled children, relations,
children, illicit relations,
loneliness,mental
loneliness, mental anguish, ignominy,etc.
anguish,ignominy, etc. Could
Could
therebe
there way to deny
be aa way deny all these
thesefacts? Hardly does
facts?Hardly does
aa day passby without
day pass without coming
comingacross
acrosssome stories
somestories
in the media such
themedia suchasasthe
the following:
following:

"ElizabethTaylor,
"Elizabeth Taylor, who
who was
was once consideredto
onceconsidered to
be one of the
be one legendsof film makers
the legends makersand and film
viewers,
viewers,again
again atat the ageof 59
the age got married
59 got married for
the
the seventh
seventhtime Fortensky,39
time to Larry Fortensky, yearsold,
39 years old,
aa construction worker.She
constructionworker. Shesaid
said after
afterthe
the marriage
marriage
'I life'. Like most
ceremony
ceremony 'I hopehope this
this isis for life'. most
celebrities,
celebrities,she
she isis apparently
apparently still looking for
still looking
happinesswhich
happiness which herher fame
fame failed
failed to provide for
to provide
her during
her during the peak
the peak of herher career.
career. ButBut now
now she
she
wantsto
wants to evade
evadeher "fame" which
her "fame" which deprived
deprivedherher of
'I've
true happiness.She
true happiness. Sheadded: doneeverything
added:'I've done everythingI
can
canto giveme
to give me up'....
up'....

"A pathologist
pathologistwho
who helped perfomr the
helped perform the autopsy
autopsy
on 'n' roll
on Elvis
Elvis Presly
Preslysays
saysthe king of rock
the king rock 'n' roli died
died
of DR U G S and
o f DRUGS n o t heart
a n d not h e a rtdisease ....'it
d i se a se ....'was
vasaa
r it
deadlymix of drugs
deadly drugsthat killedhim...."
thatkilled him...."

"Twice-divorcedDyan
"Twice-divorced Dvan Cannon 'I'll keeoon
Cannonsays:
savs:'I'll keep on
47
47
tryingmarriage
trying marriageuntil
until II get
getitit right'.
right'.
The54-year-old
The 54-year-oldactress
actresssaid
saidinin the
theMarch
March1010issue
issue
of Parade
of Parade magazine
magazine thatthat her her first divorce
first divorce
from the
from late,Cary
thelate, CaryGrant,
Grant,waswasnot notamicable... "
amicable...,'

"Soul legend,James
_!oyt legend, JamesBrown,
Brown,was
was granted
grantedparole,
parole,
Wednesday,after
Wednesday, afterbeing
being imprisoned
imprisonedfor
for more
more
thantwo
than yearsfor
two years for assault
assaultand
anddrug use...."
drug use...."
"Screensiren,
"Screen siren,Kim Basinger,
Basinger,says
saysshe
shecan
canbe
be wild
wild
without drugs and alcohol.The
without drugs and alcohol. The 37 37 years
yearsold
old
actressadmits
actress admits in the
the February
February issue
issue of Cosmo-
Cosmo-
politan magazine
politan magazinein New Yark york that
that she's
she'sdone
done aa
lot of wild things,
things,including
including drugs
drugs and plenty of
and plenty
partying. 'When
carneto
partying. 'When I came to Los
Los Angeles,
Angeles, I said
said I
want
want to taketake every
every thing;
thing; I want
want to try it
all'...(Basinger)
all'...(Basinger) said
said she
she would
would like to marrymarry
again..
again.. She
She was
was married
married for eight
eight years
years to make-
make-
up artist Ron Briton.
artist Ron Briton. They
They were
were divorced
divorced in 1989."
1989."
"TV
"TV comedian,
comedian, Jamie
Jamie Lee
Lee Curtis,
Curtis, says
says she
she doesn't
doesn't
like the
the kind ofof personal
personal demand
demand placed
placed on
some
some women
women actresses
actresses in thethe acting
acting career.
career.
Many of
Many of them them have
have no
no children.
children. II wouldn't
wouldn't
want
want those
those kinds
kinds of
of demands
demands piaced
placed on
on my
my life...."
life...."
"Cheyenne
"Cheyenne Brando,
Brando, the
the 20-year
20-year old
old daughter
daughter of
of
48
48
actor Marlon
actor Marlon brando
brando arrived in Paris
arrived in on Tuesday
Paris on Tuesday
for mental treatment
for mental treatment following
following two
two suicide
suicide atte-
atte-
mpts last
mpts last year
year after
after the
the highly publicized killing of
highly publicized killing of
her father...."
father.. .."

"Actor-singer, Larry Kert,

"Actor-singer, Kert, died Wednesday night
died Wednesday night
of AIDS...."
AIDS...."

"Pop singer,
"Pop singer, Billy
Billy Preston, arrested at
was arrested
Preston, was at his
his
home Sunday
Malibu home Sunday after a 16-year
after 16-year old boy
complained
complained that
that hehe had been sexually
had been assaulted
sexuallyassaulted
by the singer...."
the singer...."
The
The list isis inexhaustible
inexhaustibleand
and that is the
that is ram-
the life ram-
pant
pant in the
the entertainment
entertainmentand industry. Do
fun industry.
and fun
these cases, therefore,
these cases,therefore, portray
portray the
the lives men
lives of men
and
andwomen
womenenjoying
enjoying any
any sort realhappiness?
sortof real happiness?
NEVER!
NEVER! INDEED.
INDEED.

Yet,
Yet, people
peoplecontinue
continueto to believe
believethat thenext,
thatthe more
next,more
glamorous
glamorous party,
party, more
more expensive
expensive car'
car, more
more
luxurious
luxurious vacation, fancier home
vacation, fancier would
home would do do
what
what all
all the
the other
other parties, vacationsand
cars, vacations
parties,cars, and
homes have not been
homeshave not been able able to
to do.The
do.The way
way people
people
are
areinclined
inclined to
to believe
believethat
that aa fun-filled, pain-free
fun-filled, pain-free
and care-free
and care-free life
life is
is equal
equal to
to happiness
happiness actually
actually di-
di-
minishes
minishestheir
their chances
chancesof ever attaining
of ever true
attaining true
happiness.
happiness.
 49
49
While discussing
While discussing fun fun andand entertainment,
entertainment, aa
subject matterwhich,
subject matter which,we we feel,
feel,must
mustnot not go
gounmen-
unmen-
tioned isis the
tioned productwhich
theproduct which these
thesemen
menandandwomen
women
of stage
of stageandand screen
screenhavehave for their
for their "fans"
"fans" and
and
"viewers"
"viewers" the the substance,
substance, the quality,the
the quality, the values
values
andthe
and the effects
effectson popularculture
on popular cultureandandstandards.
standards.
And in this regard,
And in this regard,wewe have
have reproduced,
reproduced,herebe-
herebe-
low, some
low, someexcerpts
excerptsfromfrom two
two thought-provoking
thought-provoking
articlesfrom
articles from some internationalU.S.
someinternational publicationi
U.S. Publications
discusssing differentaspects
discusssing different aspectsof the problem.
the problem.
The writers
The writers of the
the reports
reportswere,
were,of course,
course,discuss-
discuss-
ing the extent
ing the extent and and seriousness
seriousness of the
the matter
matterwith
with
referenceto and
reference and in the
the context
contextof the
the U.S.,
U.S.. but
but the
the
problemis
problem global and
is global and all over.
over.

ARTICLE ONE ONE -- BY: Michael

MichdelMedved
Medved
The value
The value of self-discipline
self-discipline so
so essential
essential to
to normal
normal
family
family life is
is portrayed
portrayed only rarely
rarely in the
the popular
popular
culture.
culture. Nearly
Nearly two-thirds American adults
two-thirds of all American adults
are
are married,
married, but movies
movies today
today focus
focus overwhelm-
overwhelm-
ingly on single
single people.
people. And ihose
those few films rhar that
do show
show a family most
most often
often depic
depic a marriage
marriage
that
that is radically dysfunctional (completely
radically dysfunctional (completely abnor-
abnor-
mal) with
with a husband
husband accused
accused ofof attempting
attempting to
murder
murder his wife (as (as in Reversal
Reversal of Fortune)
Fortune) or
aa wife
wife sleeping
sleeping with
with her
her husband's
husband's female
female friend
friend
(as
(as in
in Henry
Henry & & June)
June) or
or the
the married
married pair
pair killing
killing
50
50
other (as
each other
each (as in
in The War of
The War of the Roses). When
the Roses). When II
complained about
complained destructive product
about the destructive product of of thethe
entertainment
entertainment industry,
industry, colleagues
colleagues urged
urged me to
stop worrying;
stop worrying; it's simple matter
it's a simple matter to tune out.
tune out.
incident last
An incident last spring reminded me
spring reminded was not so
me it was so
easy to do that.
easy that. MyMy family and I went
and I went on an
an out-
ing to a public park on a mountain mountain lakelake near
near Santa
Santa
Barbara, California.
Barbara,California. Our daughters,
daughters, ages
ages one
one and
and
three, went
three, toddling off toward
went toddling toward the ducks. The
the ducks. The
one-year old
one-year old was
was saying, "Duckie! Duckie!"
saying, "Duckie! Duckie!" one one
of her first words
words and - and reaching
reaching out to the
the birds
birds
with her chubby
chubby arms. arrns. My wife and looked on
and I looked
with satisfaction.
with satisfaction.
But soon soon aa group group of teen-agers carryingaa
teen-agerscarrying
"boom
"boom box" box" arrived
arrived at the lake
at the shore.
lake shore.
Coming
Coming out out of their
their shiny
shiny chrome
chrome machine
machine was aa
was
rape
rape song four-letterwords
song full of four-letter words describing
describing
rape
rape and
and feces
feces and
and oral
oral volume.
volume. Our
Our girls had
girls had
never
neverheard
heardthose
thoseparticular words
particularwords before.before.
They
They were werefrightened
frightened by by the startedto
andstarted
noiseand
thenoise to
cry. I suppose we
cry. I supposewe could could have
have stayed
stayed and
and made
made aa
scene, but
scene, but II don't
don't carry
carry assault weaponsin
assaultweapons in my
my
trunk.
trunk. Instead
Instead we
we abandoned
abandoned the
the beautifui
beautiful scene
scene
to
to those
thosebrutish
brutishkids.
kids.
The point isis that
The point that youyoucan't just tune
can't just tune out out thethe
popular culture
popular cuiture today.The
today.The messages:
messages, the
the images,
images,
are
are everywhere.
everywhere.Is Is itit aa coincidence
coincidencethat that the the
 51
51
war
war on on standards
standardsin in art,art,music,
music,television
televisionandand
film
film corresponds
corresponds with
with increasingly
increasingly destructive
destructive
behaviouron
behaviour onthe
thepart
partof
of the
theyoung
youngpeople
peoplewho
whoare are
the most devoted consumeisof
the most devoted consumers these media?
of"these media?Is Is
thereno
there noconnection
connectionbetween
betweenthe themedia's
media'sobsession
obsession
with crime
with crime and
and violence
violenceand and the
the fact
fact that
that the
the
number
number of of kids
kids under
under19 19 who
who are
arearrested
arrestedhashas
increased
increased by 120
by 120 percent
percent since 1963? Is
sincel963? Is there
there
no conneetion betweenthe
no connection between the sex-crazed
sex-crazedpopular
popular
culture and
culture and the
the fact
fact that
that out-of-wedlock
out-of-wedloclibirths
births
haveincreased
have increased 350 percentsince
350percent since1960?
1960?

Ironically,media.moguls
Ironically,media moguls downplay
downplay thethe sig-sig_
nificance
nificance of their work, insisting'that
their work, insisting that sex
sex and
aid
violence on
violence on screen
screen do do not
not encourage
encouragesexsex and
and
violence
violence in real
real life.
life. But thethe same
same inJustry
industry then
then
turns around and
turns around and askesaskes advertisers
advertisers to
to pay
pay tens
tens of
thousands
thousands of dotlars
dollars for 30 seconds
seconds ofaii-time
of air-time in
the
the hope
hope that
that this
this fleeting
fleeting exposure
exposure would
would directly
directly
alter
alter the
the public's
public's buying
buying behaviour.
behaviour.
The
The warwar onon standards
standards in in the
the popular
popular culture
culture
would
would be be the
the issue
issue onon thethe 1990s.
1990s. Expanded
Expanded
censorships
censorships is
is not
not the
the way to win
way to win it.However,
it.However, atte-
atte-
mpts
mpts toto move
move in in that
that direction
direction would
would only
only prove
prove
t-o
to be
be counter-productive.
counter-productive. Boycotts
Boycotts ofof sponsors,
sponsors,
direct protests,
direct protests, letter-writting
letter-writting campaigns
campaigns and
and
52
52
forms of privat
other forms
other e-sect or pressu
private-sector res are
pressures far
are far
more effect
more effective than new
ive than nment regula
government
new gover tions.
regulations'

While we are are worki

working prevent
ng to preve the furthe
nt the furtherr
ion of our cultur
pollution
pollut should do
e,we should
culture,we more than
do more than
prot"rtt the
protes bad. We
the bad. should
shoul d also
also remember
remem ber to
good which is indub
the good itably
indubitably benef icial
beneficial
iro-ot.te the
promo
to us.
to us.

ARTI
ARTICLE TWO:: - By:
CLE TWO Bob Grene
BY: Bob Grene .
Millions of famili
ffiiti6s es sat
sat down in their
down their living
rooms one
rooms one eveni
evening last Augu
ng last August st to watch aa live
to watch
Mado
Madona na conce
concert frbm Franc
rt from France,e, teleca sted on
telecasted on the
the
cablenetwo
cable network Home Box Office
rk Home Office (HBO)'
(HBO ).
Since
Since Mado
Madona na is
is such
such aa huge
huge ational star,
intemational
intern star'
and since
and teleca
the telecast
since the st was
was heavil
heavily y promoted
promo ted and
and
time on
prime time
aired in prime
aired weekend,
on aa weeke nd, millions
millio ns of
childr en certain
children certainlyly watch
watched parents'
their parent
ed with their s. - -
What happe
What ned on
happened those
on all those screen
screens s was
was that
that Ma-
Ma-
repeitedly
dona repeat
dona one obsce
the one
used the
edly used obscene word that
ne word that
beenroutin
hasbeen
has routinely barredfrom
ely barred public airway
the public
from the airways' s.
Later in the
Later show she
the show she writhe
writhed d on a
on a bedbed and
and simu-
simu-
mastu rbatio
latedmasturbation.
lated n. She
She also
also laughingly
laughi usedcom-
ngly used com-
terTnsfor male
streetterms
mon street
mon male genita ls.
genitals.

live in
We live
We an anythi
in an anything-goes-age' that shows
so that
ng-goes-age, so shows
witless,
witles and purpo
s, and sely vulga
purposely r
vulgar content
conten t was
was not
not
53
53
surprising. The
surprising. Thelanguage
language itself
itselfwas
wasnothing
nothing that
that
hasnot
has notbeen
beenheard
heardin in movies
moviesor or on
oncable-TV
cable-TVcom- com-
edyedyspecials.The
specials.The sulprisingthing
surprising thing was was that
thatsosofew
few
parents calledHBO
parents called HBO to to object.
object.A A spokesperson
spokesperson for
for
thenetwork
the network saidsaidthe
the complaints
complaints"were"werenot not by any
by any
stretchof
stretch of the
the imagination
imaginationoverwhelming"
overwhelming" and and
that the
that the Madona
Madonaconcert
concert was
was the the highest-rated
highest-rated
originalentertainment
original entertainmentprogram
program in in the
the network's
network's
history. Apparently, America's
history. Apparently, America's parentsparents havehave
totally given
totally given up up hope
hope that
that they
they could
could control
control
what their
what their children
childrenareareexposed
exposedto to on
on TV.
What is
What is most
most disturbing
disturbing is is that
rhat products
products
appearedin America's
appeared America'shomes
homes during
duringprime
prime time
time
on aa Sunday,
on Sunday, and and people
people seemed
seemedto to think
think it was
was
no big deal.
no deal.TheThe television,
television,in aa way way that
that now
now
seems quaint,
seems quaint, waswas once
once considered
considered almost almost
sacred ground
sacred ground when when it came
came to certain material -
certain material
precisely
precisely because
because children
children were
were watching.
watching. But the the
country has
country has been been so
so beaten
beaten down down by a
lessening
lessening of of public
public standards
standards that that obscenities
obscenities
could
could be be telecasted
telecasted to millions
millions ofof families
families without
without
causing
causing even even a ripple
ripple of of protest.
protest. WhatWhat of of the
the
argument
argument that that parents should just
parents should just tum off off the
the TV
TV
ifif they
they don't
don't like the programming?
like rhe programming?
It's
It's valid
valid but but there
there was
was no no waming
warning before
before
Madona
Madona launched
launched intointo her
her first
first rapid
rapid fire
fire round
round
of
of obscenities.
obscenities. Although
Although the the telecast
telecast was was
54
54
promoted as
promoted as being live, itit actually
being live, was taped
actually was taped
hours
hours before.
before. The
The network
network knew
knew what
what it
it was
was
sending out. Yet it did
sendingout. Yet it did so so without
without deletions
deletions or
or an
an
advisory notice
advisoiy notice at
at the beginning of
the beginning of the show. This
the show. This
was "a creative decision,"
was creativedecision," HBO
HBO says.
says.

HBO, as as a cable network, is not

cable network, bound by the
not bound the
same restrictions
samerestrictions placed
placed on the
the over
over the
the air net-
net-
works. But this
works. this nicety undoubtedly lost on
nicety is undoubtedly
children who have
children have grown cable TV in
grown up with cable
their homes.
their homes. To them, just another stop
them, HBO is just another stop
on
on the
the dial.
dial.

Those
Thosechildren
children would would hear hear worse their life-
worse in their
times
times they
they probably
probably already
alreadyhave. have.To telecastaa
To telecast
concert
concertlikelike Madona's
Madona's is no longer considered
is no longer considered
particularly
particularlycontroversial.But
controversial.But to publicly
wonder publicly
to wonder
about the wisdom
about the wisdom of of it
it to
to say
say that
that delivering
delivering
such
such aa performance
performanceto to the children is
nation'schildren
the nation's is
wrong
wrong that
thatis is considered controversial.
consideredcontroversial. To sayitit
To say
isis wrong is to seem
wrong is to seemout ofout of step
step with
with the
the rest
rest of
of the
the
world.
world.But wrong.It
But itit isis wrong. It isisdead wrong.
deadwrong.

The
Thecry loud-- but
cry isis loud butare listeners?
therelisteners?
arethere

** *** r*< *
So.the
So, the men
menand
andwomen
womenof funand
of fun entertainment
andentertainment
55
55
industrydo
industry do not
not enjoy
enjoy real
realhappiness,
happiness,nor nor dodo they
they
presentvaluable
present valuablethings
thingstoto the
the society,
society, butbut most
most
of what
of whatthey
theyproduce
producearearedestructive
destructivematerials.
materials.
As mentioned
As mentionedseveralseveral times
times during
duringthethediscus-
discus-
ti9l, happiness
sion, happinessisis an an inner
inner motive
motive and and a goal
a goal
which could
which could notnot be
be acquired
acquiredalonealonebyby the
themere
mere
fulfilment of
fulfilment of external
extemalor or material
materialneeds.
needs.
Enrichment and nourishmentof
Enrichment and nourishment of our
our inner
inner being
being
make an
make an essential
essentialrequirement
requirementto to aa morally
morally sound
sound
developmenfof ourselves.
development ourselves.
The foregoing sfories and
The foregoing stories andexamples
examplesproveprove oneone
thing in cornmon:
thing common: that that true
true happiness
happinessdoes does notnot
emanate from wealth,
emanate wealth, fame,
fame, academic degrees
academicdegrees
and titles,
and titles,high
high rank
rankor position
positionin society.
society.
What are
What are therefore,
therefore, those
those factors
factors that
that maycon-
maycon-
stitute sources
stitute sources of bothboth physical
physical andand spiritual
spiritual well-
well-
being
being for man?
man? Where
Where does
does happiness
happiness originate?
originate?
And what
what are the qualities
are the those who
qualities of those who aieare truly
truly
happy?
happy?
Before
Before answering these questions,
answering these questions, let usus first
first dis-
dis-
cuss
cuss in brief the barriers
the barriers to real
real happiness.
happiness.
*t<{<
***
56
56

BARRIERS TO REAL HAPPINESS

BARRIERS HAPPINESS
l.Disbelief Lack Of The True
I.Disbelief In Allah And LackOf True
Faith.
Faith.
Since the
Since heart with comfort,
the heart
the true faith fills the comfort,
reassurance and
security, reassurance
security, contentment, and
and contentment, and
makes
makesman man feel that
that he
he has
has strong
strong relationship
relationship
with Almighty Allah, Who alone the Creator
alone is the Creator
of man
man and everything visible
and everything visible and invisible and
and invisible and
knows
knows bestbest what achieves
achieves man's
man's well-being
well-being and
and
happiness.
happiness.
- Therefore,
Therefore, one of the
one biggest barriers
the biggest barriers
to real
to real happiness
happiness both
both in this
this world
world and
and the
the
Hereafter
Hereafter is is the Allah's true religion
rejectionof Allah's true religion
the rejection
(Le.,
(i.e.,Islam).
Islam).

Those
Those who who lacklack correct
correct belief and and stray from
stray from
Divine
Divine Guidance
Guidance revealed
revealed to mankind
to mankind
through
throughthe the Universal Last Messenger
andLast Messenger of
Universal and of Al-
lah,
lah, Muhammad,
Muhammad,will suffer suffer from void
spiritualvoid
from spiritual
and deprive
and deprive themselves
themselves from
from real
real salvation
salvation and
and
mercy:
mercy:
"Those
"Those whom
whomGod (in His
God (in His Plan) willethto
Plan)willeth guide,
to guide,
He openeth their breast
He openeththeir breast to
to Islam;
Islam; those
those whom
whom He
He
willeth
willeth to
to leave
leavestraying, -
straying,- He breast
theirbreast
makeththeir
He maketh
close and constricted,
closeand constricted, as
as if
if they
they had
had to
to climb
climb upto
up to
the
theskies:
skies:thusthus doth Allah lay
doth Allah abominationon
lay abomination on
 57
57
those
those whowho refuse
refuse toto follow
follow His
His code
codeof
of life,
life.
thatisisIslam...."
that (Qur'an,6:125)
Islam...."(Qur'an, 6:125)

2.Sin
2. Sinand
andCrime
Crime
Man has
Man has not
not realizedwell
realizedwell the the serious
seriousconse-
conse-
quences of
quences of sinsin as
astheir
their effects generallyhave
effectsgenerally havenono
cure.Sins
cure. Sins and
and crimes
crimesare are barriers
barriersto
to real
real happi-
happi-
ness.Therefore,
ness.Therefore, aa criminal
criminalis is always
alwaysmore
more unhap-
unhap-
py than his
py than his victim,
victim, for
for aa criminal
criminal who
who isis not
not pu-
pu-
nishedcould
nished couldbebe among
amongthethemost
mostmiserable
miserablepeople.
people.

3. Envy
3. Env),and
andJealousy
Jealousy
Envy and
Envy and jealousy
jealousy are are sources
sourcesof dissatis
dissatisfac-
fac-
tion and self-torture
tion and self-torturefor people.
people. Therefore,
Therefore,wewe are
are
advised in the
advised the Holy Qur'an
Qur'an to
to seek
seek refuge
refuge from
from
the
the serious
serious effects
effects of such such kinds
kinds of malignant
malignant
social
social evils.
evils. In chapter
chapter 113ll3 of the
the Holy euia'n,
Qura'n,
we
we are
are advised
advised to seek seek refuge
refuge in Allah "from
"from
the mischief
the mischief of of the
the envious
envious one one asas he
he practises
practises
envy...."Both
envy...."Both envy and jealousy,
envy and jealousy, when
when translated
translated
into
into action,
action, lead
lead to the
the destruction
destruction of happiness
happiness
and
and deprive
deprive people
people of of the
the good
good things
things rhey
they enjoy.
enjoy.
The best
best refuge
refuge from evil is is trust
trust in
in Allah alone
along
along
along with
with purity
purity of
of heart.
heart.

4.
4. IIll-will
ll-will
True
True believers
believers are
are described in
described the
In the Holy
Holy
5588
Qur'an, verse
Qur'an, verse 10 of of chapter
chapter 59,
59, as saying when
as saying when
they pray to Allah:
they Allah:
"..And leave not,
"..And leave not, in
in our
our hearts, rancour (or
hearts, rancour (or sense
sense
of injury)
injury) against
against those have believed...."
those who have believed...."
Ill-will and
Ill-will and rancour
rancour are barriers to
are barriers the happiness
to the happiness
of man.
man. In fact,
fact, ill-will contrary to happiness;
ill-will is contrary happiness;
belongs to a different domain
it belongs domain on human
human
feelings. It is like a virus that kills
feelings. kills the lofty
lofty
sentiments
sentimentsand and kind feelings
feelings of
of man.
man.

5.
5. Anger
Aneer
Anger
Anger connotes displeasure and
connotes displeasure and hostility.
hostility.
Therefore,
ThJrefore,it is one of the
is one the biggest threatsthat
biggestthreats spoil
that spoil
man's happiness. Prophet
man'shappiness.Prophet Muhammad
Muhammad (Peace
(Peace and
and
blessings
blessings bebe upon
upon him),
him), stressed
stressedthe importance
the importance
of self-restraint
of self-restraint when
when he
he advised
advised one
one of his com-
his com-
panions: "Do not
panions:"Do not be
be overpowered
overpowered by anger..."
by anger. .."

6.
6. Injustice
Injustice
Injustice,
Injustice,nono doubt
doubtwill
will bring
bring ruin to every-body
ruin to every-body
who
who practises
practises it.
it. This
This is
is proven
proven by many
by many
examples
examplesthat thatserved
servedas as warnings and lessons
warnings and lessons to to
humanity
humanity to to shun this dangerous
shunthis vice and
dangerousvice main-
and main-
tain
tain justice
justice and
and equality.
equality. Injustice
Injustice may
may signify
signify
the
thetrespassing
trespassing and goingbeyond
andgoing limits; itit may
beyond limits; may
also
alsosignify
signifythe misplacement
themisplacement of things
of thingsoror denial
denial
of
of truth.
truth.
59
59
this. context,
In this. context, incorrect
incorrectconcepts
conceptson on divinity,
divinity,
suchas
such polytheism,idolatry
aspolytheism, idolatryand
andfalse
falseworship,
worship,are
are
one of the
one forms of injustice
the forms s5 i5iI is
injusticsas is aa distortion
distortion
true religion
of true religion and
and trespassing
trespassingagainst
against divine
divine
commands. The
commands. The following
following verse
verse from the Holy
from the Holy
Qur'an illustratesthis
Qur'anillustrates point:
this point:

"Behold,Luqman
"Behold, Luqman said
said to his son
to his son by
by way
way of in-
in-
struction: '0'O my son! Join not in worship
struction: son! Join not worship
(others)with Allah:
(others) Allah: for false
falseworship
worship is
is indeed
indeedthe
the
highestwrong-doing'....
highest wrong-doing'...." (Qur'an,31:13)
" (Qur'an, 3 1:13)

Many aa nation
Many nation backed
backed up,
up, or refrained
refrainedfrom
from
resisting, unjust
resisting, unjust tyrants
tyrants and
and wrong-doers
wrong-doersand and
broughtthereby
brought therebyupon
upon themselves
themselvesdevastation
devastationand
and
perdition.
perdition.

The following
The quotationfrom
following quotation from the sayingsof the
the sayings the
Prophet (Peaceand
Prophet (Peace and blessings
blessings be
be upon
upon him)
him) testi-
testi-
fies to
fies this proven
to this fact very
proven fact very often
often noticed
noticed in
human
human life.
life. Abu Musa
Musa Al-Ash'ari,
AI-Ash'ari, a companion
companion
of Prophet
Prophet Muhammad (Peaceand
Muhammad (Peace blessings be
and blessings be
upon
upon him),
him), related
related that
that thethe Prophet
Prophet said (as
said (as
narrated
narrated by Imams
Imams Bukhari
Bukhari and
and Muslim):
Muslim):

"Allah may give

"Allah may give a wrong-doing
wrong-doing tyrant
tyrant respite,
respite,
and
and thereafter when He punishes
thereafter when punishes him, He
He never
never
60
60
lets him escape."
lets him Then, he
escape." Then, recited this
he recited this Qur'anic
Qur'anic
Verse:
Verse:

"Such
"Such is the chastisement of
the chdstisement when He
of thy Lord when
communities in the
chastises communities
chastises of their wrong:
the midst of wrong:
grievous, indeed,
grievous, indeed, and
and severe
severe is His chastisement."
chastisement."
(Qur'an,
(Q 11:102)
u r ' a n ,1 1:102)

In another
another verse
verse from the Qur'an, it is stated:
the Holy Qur'an, stated:

"And how many many populations

populations did give
did I give
respite,
respite, which
which were given to
were given to wrong-doing?
wrong-doing?In
the
the end
end I punished
punishedthem.
them.To Me isis the destination
the destination
(of all)."
all)." (Qur'an,
(Qur'an, 22:48)
22:48)

7. Fearof Wordly
7. Fear Wordly Power
Power
Fear of other
Fear other than
thanAllah is the
Allah is humility,
causeof humility,
thecause
insecurity
insecurityand
and unhappiness.
unhappiness. Whereas,fear
Whereas, A1-
fear of Al-
lah produces in man lofty
lah producesin man lofty ideals
ideals and
and drives
drives him
him
to
to develop
develop sound
sound conduct
conductand andexcellent moral
excellentmoral
behaviour.
behaviour. It
It frees
frees him
him from
from all
all fetters
fetters of
of human
human
bondage
bondageandand safeguards
safeguards his dignity
his dignity and free-
and free-
dom of
dom of will.
will. Allah
Allah says
saysinin the Holy Qur'an:
theHoly Qur'an:

"It
"It is
is only
only the
theSatan thatsuggests
Satanthat suggests to you the
to you fear
thefear
of his
of his votaries:
votaries: be
be you
you not
not afraid
afraid of
of them,
them, but
but fear
fear
me,if
me, youare
if you aretrue
truebelievers." (Qur'an,3:175)
believers."CQur'an, 3:175)
61
61
Pessimism
8. Pessimism
8.
Pessimism is
Pessimism is synonymous
synonymous withwith misery
misery and
and
trouble.It leads
trouble.It leads to
to aa stage
stage of inertia
inertia and
and de-
de-
pression. pessimisticperson
pression. A pessimistic personwould
would hold
hold back
back
from enjoying
from enjoying his
his normal
normal life or
or achieving
achievinghis
his
objectives.Therefore,
objectives. Therefore, the Gracious Prophet
the Gracious Prophet
(Peace and
(Peace and blessings
blessingsbebe upon
upon him)
him) promoted
promoted
and liked
and liked optimism
optimismbut
but discouraged
discouragedand
and disliked
disliked
pessimism. pessimist, due
pessimism. A pessimist, due to
to his
his defeatist
defeatist
tendencies,incurs
tendencies, incurs several
severaltroubles
troubles and
and difficul-
ties the
ties the effects
effects of which
which onon his
his nerves
nervesare
are far
far
heavierthan
heavier thandilemmas
dilemmasand
anddisasters.
disasters.

9. Suspicion
9. Suspicion
Allah (Glory be
Allah (Glory be to
to Him)
Him) states in the
staresIII rhe Holy
Qur'an:
Qur'an:
"O ye
"0 ye who
who believe!
believe! Shun
Shunsuspicion
suspicionas much (as
asmuch (as
possible): suspicionin some
possible): for suspicion cases is a sin...."
somecasesis sin...."
(Qur'an,49:12)
(Qur'an,49:12)

Prophet Muhammad (Peace

Prophet Muhammad (Peace and
and blessings
blessings be
be
upon
upon him) also
also says:
says:
"Shun
"Shun suspicion,
suspicion, because SuspIcIOn is the
because suspicion the big-
big-
gest lie." (Narrated
gest lie." (Narrated by Imams
Imams Bukhari
Bukhari and
and Mus-
Mus-
lim)
62
can a suspicious
How can suspicious person
person be happy?And how
be happy?And how
can a society
can society pervaded
pervaded by suspicion
suspicion and
and mistrust
mistrust
prosper or lead
prosper lead a collective
collective life of
of happiness.
happiness.

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

"Tum not
not thy cheek
cheekin scorn toward folk, nor
scom toward
walk with pertness
walk with pertness in the
the land.
land. La! loveth
Lo! Allah loveth
not
not each
eachbraggart
braggartboaster." (Qur'an,31:
boaster."(Qur'an, 31:18)
l8)

Prophet
ProphetMuhammad (Peaceand
Muhammad(Peace andblessings be upon
blessingsbe upon
him)
him) gave
gavehis
his advice
advicein this whenhe
regardwhen
this regard he said:
said:

"On the
"On Day of Judgment
the Day Allah will not
JudgmentAllah look
not look
towards
towards him
him who
who trails
trails his garment out
lower garment
his lower out
of
of pride" " (a
pride (a Hadith narratedby
Hadith narrated by Imams Bukhari
Imams Bukhari
and
andMuslim)
Muslim)

11.
11.Devotion
Devotionto to other thanAllah
otherthan Allah
partof
ItIt isis aapart man'scharacter
of man's characterto loveand
to love hate,but
and hate, but
 63
63
carrying
carrying the passions
thepassions of love
of loveand
andhate
hateto to extremes
extremes
is
It precarious.
precarious. Take
Take for
for example
example the
the story of
story of
Romeo and
Romeo and Juliet Julietin
in English
EnglishLiterature
Literatureor or Qays
eays
and Layla
and Layla inin Arabic
Arabic Literature.
Literature. Qays,
Qays,who who was was
known in
known in the
thestory
storyas Layla'smad
asLayla's madlover, had
lover, had suf- suf-
feredtremendously
fered tremendouslyfrom from this
this love
love until
until he he lost
lost
his senses
his sensesand and later
later died
died inin aa wretched
wretchedpiteouspiteous
state.
state.
When your
When your heart
heart is
is wholly
wholly devoted
devotedto to your
your
Creator (Allah), your
Creator(Allah), your love
love isis holy
holy and
and you
you thereby
thereby
enjoy an
enjoy an elevated
elevatedemotion
emotion which
which fills
fills your
your heart
heart
peaceand
with peace andhappiness.
happiness.
This kind of emotion
This emotion isis not
not in contradiction
contradictionwith
love_for parents,
love parents,wife or children.
children . In fact,fact, they
they
are harmonious
are harmoniousand and complementary.
complementary. But, But, ex- ex-
treme emotions,
treme emotions, when when not
not controlled
controlledby reason
reasonor
logic,
logic, are
are in fact
fact detrimental
detrimental to ourour life andand hap-
hap-
pine
piness.ss.

12.
12. Alcohol.
Alcohol. Drugs
Drugs and
and Drug
Drug Addiction
Addiction
Many people
people imagine
imagine that
that happiness
happiness cancan be be
attained
attained through
through alcohol
alcohol or drug drug addicrion.
addiction.
Therefore,
Therefore, they resort drugs escaping
resort to drugs escaping thereby
thereby
from the
the troubles
troubles and
and worries
worries ofof life. In fact,
fact, they
they
are
are like one
one who escapes
escapes from a smallsmall fire to aa
hell.
hell.
Drugs
Drugs maymay throw one, for
throw one, for aa short
short while,
while, into
into aa
 64
61
dreamy iilusive
dreamy world of
illusive world but in
happiness; but
of hapainess; in fact
fact
they lead
they lead both
both to disintegration and destruction.
disintegration and destruction.
We nowadays witness many
nowadays witness examples of
many examples of such
such
social disintegration
social disintegration and due to the
chaos due
and chaos 'world-
the world-
wide
rvide surge
surge of
of drug
drug addiction
addiction besides
besides other
other
.causes corruption and
related to corrdption
causesrelated absence of
the absence
and the
real religious
real religious sanctions
sanctions and sound creed.
and sound creed.

LAND MARKS ON THE WAY

LAND WAY TO HAPPY
HAPPY
LIFE
LIFE
(The Factors
(TI1e Factors&
& Pre-requisites
Pre-requisites Happiness)
of Happiness)

1.
1. Sound
SqundBelief
To build
build aa happy you have
life, you
happylife, haveto first lay
to first solid
lay aa solid
foundation
foundation for it, it, otherwise,
oiherwise, it will subside.
subside.
'TIlerefore,
Thereforc.we we should
shouldseek suchaa solid
seeksuch unshakea
solid unshakea-
ble
ble foundation
foundation on rvhich we
on \vhich could build
we could our
buiid our
wholesome
i.vholesonte life. Theremust
life. There must be alsoaa scheme
be also schemeby by
which
which the courseof
the course of our
our life is to
life is guidedand
be guided
to be and
controlled.
controlled-.

Man
Man possesses
posses$es impulses, drives,feelings,
impr:lses,drives, eiesire
feelings,desires
and
anC whims
whirnswhichwhich may
may influence his character
intluencehis and
characterand
way of
way of life.
lii"e.He
l{e isis endowed
endowedwithwith the ability to
the ability to
think,
think,reason
reason and perceiveso
attd perceive so that hecould
thathe couldbe ire
65
65
ableto
able to control
controlhis
his will
wili and
and emotions
emotions andand direct
direct
himself into
himself into the
the course
course ofof action
actionhehe believes
believestoto
be suitable.
be suitable.However,
However,man'sman'smind
mind and
andemotions
emotions
may lapse
may lapseand
andlead
leadhim
him away
awayfrom
from the right path.
the right path.
He may stray
He may stray unknowingly
unknowingly from from the
the way
way toto
successand
success and happiness
happinessand and take
take the
the course
courseto to
chaosand
chaos and misery,
misery, thereby
therebybringing
bringing suffering
suffering and
and
destructionupon
destruction uponhimself
himself and
andupon
uponothers.
others.

Hence the
Hence the necessity
necessity for man man to to achieve
achieveaa
profound understanding
profound understandingof the the Divine
Divine Guidance
Guidance
which leads
which leadshis
his way
way toto the plain truth
the plain truth about
aboilt his
his
existencein this
existence this world,
world, his
his relation
relationto the
the universe
universe
and to other
and other creatures,
creatures,the pulposeof his
the purpose his creation,
creation,
how he has come into
how he has come into existence,
existence,thethe Divine \Vill
Divine Will
that
that controls
controls him andand directs
directs his
his life, and
and the
the
conect
correct course
course and
and way
way thatthat leads
leads him to to
salvation and real
salvation and real happiness.
happiness.

Islam
Islam is the
the last
last and
and only universal
universal religion
religion and
and
system
system or code
code ofof life revealed
revealed to mankind
mankind
through
through the
the last Prophet
Prophet (Peace
(Peace and
and blessings
blessings be
upon
upon him)
him) and and the
the only faith with
with the
the Divine
Revelation
Revelation stiil
still kept
kept intact
intact in its orginal
orginal form,
form,
unlike
unlike the
the earlier
earlier revelations
revelations which
which were
were already
already
lost,
lost, adulterated,
adulterated, interpoiated,
interpolated, changed
changed andand
66
corrupted.
corrupted. Thus, the
Thus, Faith proves
Islamic Faith
the Islamic proves to
foundation for man's character
correct foundation
be the only correct man's character
and behaviour
and behaviour andand a mode
mode of necessary for
of life necessary
building a sound
building sound and society char-
progressive society
and progressive char-
acterized by justice
acterized justice and and peace which is in
peace which
harmony
ha'rmony with Allah's
Allah's will.
If we think of
If of the backwardness of Muslim
the backwardness
societies, we will
societies, will find that reason for such
the reason
that the such
condition is mainly due
condition due to the deviation
the deviation from this
this
divine life. The
way of life.
divine way calamitiesthat
The calamities caused
that caused
the downfull
the downfull of Muslim
Muslim societies areby no
societiesare no means
means
merely due
merely due to lack
lack of scientific knowledge but
scientific knowledge
rather
ratherto their
their deviation
deviationfrom Islam. In fact,
from Islam. when
fact, when
Europe was going
Europe was going through through the
the so-called
so-called Dark
Dark
Ages,
Ages, the
the Islamic
Islamic Nation,
Nation, covering
coveringhalf the
half of the
world,
world, was
was enjoying
enjoying the most splendid
the most and
splendidand
glorious
gloriouscivilization
civilizationthethe world hadever
world had known.
everknown.

So
So the
the Islamic
Islamicbelief,
belief,when
whenput put into
into practice, leads
practice,leads
man
man to to the
the right
right direc
direc tion and channels
tion and channelsall his
all his
energies
energiesand andefforts
effortsinto
into aa constructive schemeof
constructivescheme
life.
life. To
To begin
begin with,
with, faith is complementary
faith is complementaryto to
reason.
reason.Therefore, reason is
Therefore,reason is not
not the antithesis
the antithesis of
faith
faith as as is
is the
the case
case in
in some
some other
other human
human
beliefs
beliefsand andreligions. faith helps
Islamicfaith
religions.Islamic to devel-
helpsto devel-
op
op the
thehuman
humanmindmind and
anddoes imposeany
not impose
doesnot kind
anykind
of
of illogical
illogical concept
conceptoror undue restrictions on
unduerestrictions on it. it. ItIt
 67
67
leads manin
leads man inthe
thewaywayof of truth
truthsince
sinceheheisisguided
guidedby by
wordsand
words and commandments
commandments of his
of Creator,
his Creator,Who Who
knowswhat
knows whatisisbestbestfor
for him.
him.
AA basic
basicIslamic
Islamicprinciple
principleof of faith
faith isis related
relatedto to
harmony in this universe.
harmony in this universe. Many Manyscientists
scientistsand and
thinkers believe
thinkers believe that that there
there is is aa conflict
conflict
betweenman
between man and and nature
natureand and that
that man
man is strug-
is strus-
gling to overcome the
gling to overcome the powers
powersof of nature.
nature.Islam
Islari
corrects this
corrects this short-sighted
short-sighted notion.It
notion. It states
statesthat
that
everything in this
everything in this world world hashasbeen
beencreated
createdto to serve
serve
man, and
man, and manman has has been
been created
createdto to serve
serveAllah.
Allah.
Therefore,the
Therefore, the relationship
relationshipbetween
betweenman man and the
and the
universe is one
universe is one of harmonyharmonyand and friendliness.
friendliness.ThisThis
fact imbues
fact imbuesman man with peace peaceof mind,
mind, satisfaction
satisfaction
and happiness.
and happiness. alsofrees
It also freeshis
his mind
mind from worries,
from worries,
fears and feeling
fears and feeling of hostility. hostility. His
His life would
would
become
become inspired
inspired with love, love, hope,
hope, optimism,
optimism,
contentment
contentment and and happiness
happiness thatthat would
would enable
enable
him to face
face hardships
hardships with confidence
confidence and and rieht
right
discretion.
discretion.

Belief in Allah
Allah andand inin His perfecr
perfect arrribures
attributes
would deeply influence
would deeply influence the the Muslim's
Muslim's character
character
and
and his
his whole
whole outlook
outlook on
on life.
life. ItIt brings
brings him
him to
to
acquire good
a.cquire good qualities
qualities and
and aim
aim for
for human
human perfec-
perfec-
tion.
tion. This
This will
will undoubtedly
undoubtedly achieve,
achieve, for for bbth
both the
the
individual
individual and
and the
the society,
society, aa life
life of of ideal
ideal values
values
68
68
and collective
and collective happiness.
happiness.

Belief in the makes man

angels of Allah makes
the angels man feel
feel that
that
he is not aione
he alone in this universe and
this universe that it abounds
and that abounds
righteous friendly
with righteous friendly creatures. This rvould
creatures. This would
make life pleasant
make pleasant for him and enable him to
and enable
achieve
achievesuccess and happiness.
successand happiness.

the Day of Judgment

Belief in the drives man
Judgment drives man to con-
con-
trol his
his behaviour
behaviour and
and life according the Divine
accordingto the
Laws of justice
Laws justice and
and righteousness.
righteousness.
Without
Without belief in this
this Day on which everyone
on which wili
everyonewill
receive his
receivehis just deserts
deserts (when
(when the
the wrong-doers
wrong-doers are
are
justly punished
punished and
and the righteousare
the righteous are rewarded
rewarded
bountifully),
bountifully), man
man would
would lose
lose the impetus to
the impetus to
behave
behavefairly
fairiy towards
towards others
others and the oppressed
and the oppressed
would grow hopeless
would grow hopelessand
andmiserable.
miserable.

Belief in the Hereafteris

the Hereafter is an
an essential
essentialelement that
elementthat
helps
helpsto
to control
controlhuman
humandelinquency
cieiinquency and ostablish
and establish
collective
collectivehappiness
happinessand virtues in society.
andvirtues society.

Belief
Belief in Divine
Divine Destiny
Destinyisis aa major elementof aa
majorelement
stable
stable and
and composed personality.When
composecl personality. you
When you
submit
submityourself
yourselfto
to the Divine Decree
the Divine Decreeand and
andWill and
feel
f'eel positively
positively certain
certain that "What
that "What befalls you
befalls you
would
wouldnotnot have
havemissed you and
missedyou andwhat you
missesyou
what misses
69
69
would not have
wouid have befallen you", you
befallen you", you vroulci
would
certainly grow stronger
certainlygrow strongerin the face of calami-
the face calami-
ties, face
ties, them with patience
face them patience and courage and
and courage and
not
not succumb them or be
succumbto them para.lized
be paralized with shock
sirockor
despair.
despair.

Lack of suchsuchelement faitit creates

elementof faith createsaa vacuum
vacuurn
in man's heart and
man's heart that cannot
and life that cannot be up
be filled up
with
witir all the
tire riches
riches and pleasuresof the
and pleasures world. It
the world.
is
is this
this kind of emptiness
emptinessthat
that drives many, even
drives many, even
the wealthy
the rveaithy and
and the
the pleasure-seekers
pleasure-seekers of the
the worid
world
to
to collapse
collapseor even commicsuicide.
eve.ncommit suicide.

2.
2. Worship
Worship and Devotictlrto
and Devotion t-oAllah
Allal'i

(idle) sport
"Not for (idle) spart did We create
di<i \Ve createthethe heavens
heavens
and
and the
the earth
earth and
anc all
all that
that is
is between"(Qur'qn,
beiween"(Qur'an,
21
2 1:16)
:16)
So
So creation
ereationis
is not
nat for idle
iiile sport pla.v,Allah has
$por"ior play, has
aa serious purposebehind
senouspurpose Wiiat is
behinciit. \Vhat is it?
it? Allah
Ailah has
has
revealed
revealedto
to us
us His purposein
F{ispurpose in the
the Holy
Holy Qur'an:
Qur'an:

"1 have
"I irave only
oniy created
createdJinns (i.e., genies)
Jinns (i.e., genies) and
and
men, that they may serve Me!"
men.that they may seivelde!" (Qur'an,
(Qur'an, 51:56)
51:56)
Everything
Everything andand everyone
everyonein the Universeare
the Universe are
created
createdby
bv Ahnighty
Almishty Allah,
Ailah. and
and all submit to His
submi.tto FIis
70
70
Will. Have glanceat
Have aa glance physicalworld.
the physical
at the world. You
will find everything
everythingcontrolled
controlled and and directed
directedin
accordance
accordancewith DivineDivine Order
Order and
and Laws.
Laws. There
There
are laws that
are laws govern
that govern every
every area
area or domain
domain of
nature,such
nature, suchasasthe
the laws gravity, motion,
laws of gravity, motion, relativ-
relativ-
ity, etc. These prevailing
etc. These prevailing laws
laws testify
testify to
to the fact
the fact
that the
that the universe
universeis
is in total
total submission
submissionto its Crea-
to its Crea-
tor, Almighty
tor, Almighty Allah,
Allah, Who
Who hashasoriginated
originateditsits laws.
laws.
man has
But man hasbeen
beenendowed
endowedwith Free FreeWill, aa priv-
ilege not
ilege given to
not given to the lower forms
the lower forms of creation,
creation,soso
that his
that his obedience
obedienceto to the laws of his
the laws his Creator
Creator
should be
should more sensible
be more sensibleand
andnotnot aa kind
kind of blind
blind
obediencelike aa robot
obedience robot following
following the commandsof
the commands
the computer
the computeroperator.
operator.

Besides,he
Besides, he is
is also
also endowed
endowedwith the faculty of
the faculty
thinking and
thinking and reasoning
reasoningso so that
that he
he could
could be
be able
able to
to
decide and
decide and shoulder
shoulder responsibility.
responsibility.Therefore,
Therefore,
man will
man will be
be able
abletoto achieve harmony in his
achievefull harmony his
if the
life if intellectualand
the intellectual and spiritual
spiritualside
side of his
his
charactercomes
character comesto to coincide
coincidewith
with the physicalside
the physical side
which is
which is already
alreadyruled physicallaws
naturalor physical
ruledby natural laws
ordained and
ordained and fulfilled bybv Allah GloryGlorv bebe to
to
Him)!
Him)!

Thus, he
Thus, he would
would abide the Divine
abideby the Law, listen
Divine Law, listento
to
the commandments
the commandments of his Lord and
his Lord respond
and respond
7l
71
willingly, and worship
willingly, and worship in in all
all humility
humility andand
reverencethe
reverence theonly
only true
truedeity,
deity,Allah,
Allah, Who
Who alone
aloneis
is
worthy of worship.
worthy of worship.

Obedienceand
Obedience and worship
worship of Allah
Allah are
are aa major
major and
and
comprehensive source
comprehensive source of contentment
contentment and and
happiness
happiness for man.
for man. On
On the personallevel,
thepersonal level,it gives
gives
man the
man the feeling
feelingthat
thathe
he is
is close
closetoto Allah
Allah and
andsuch
such
nearnessto
nearness to his
his Lord,
Lord, consequently,
consequently, provideshim
provides him
with guidance,
with guidance,wisdom,
wisdom, strength,
strength, confidence,
confidence,
steadfastness,
steadfastness, security,joy and
security, and satisfaction.
satisfaction.Acts
Acts
worship have
of worship have many
many positive
positive aspects
aspectsin
humanlife.
human life. In prayer,
prayer, man
man communicates
communicateswith with
his Lord
his Lord directly
directlyand
and establishes
establishes the
the most
mostexalted
exalted
relationship that
relationship that infuses
infuses himhim with
with satisfaction
satisfaction
and peace
and peace of mind. mind. HeHe feels
feelsthat
that Allah
Allah is
is with
with
him: He
him: He hears
hearshim,
him, responds
respondsto to him,
him, accepts
acceptshis
his
prayers and good
prayers and deedsand
good deeds andforgiveshis sins.
forgives his sins.

This would
This elevate his
would elevate his spirit to perfection.
spirit to perfection. He
He
would
would contemplate
contemplate thethe verses
verses of thethe Glorious
Glorious
Qur'an that
Qur'an that are
are recited and realize
recited and realize their
their implica-
implica-
tions
tions as
as well as the general
as the general aims the prayer.
aims of the prayer. He
He
would
would bebe moved
moved to comply
comply with
with their
their injunctions
injunctions
and
and commandments.
commandments. He He would
would feel the power
feel the power of
Allah
Allah dominating
dominating him as as well as as the
the whole
whole
universe.
UnIverse.
72
This would make make him humble
humble and cause him to
and cause
abstain
abstain from wronging
wronging or trespassing
trespassing against
against
others. When
others. When he acquires
acquires such traits, he would
such traits, would
become the
become epitome of iove,
the epitome mercy, justice
love, rnercy, justice and
and
guidance. He
guidance. He would become a man
would become man of good
good
manners and
marulers and refinement, control of his
refinement, in full contro! his
desires and whims.
desiresand whims. Further,Further, he
he would
would be
be able
able to
channel all his
channel his feelings,
feelings, efforts
efforts and actions in rhe
and actions the
proper constructive
proper constructiveway. way.
Prayer purifies
Prayer purifies thethe soul
soul of error
error and the gloomi-
and the gloomi-
ness of sins
ness sins as water purifies
as water purifies and refreshes the
and reireshes the
body. It refines man's
body. refinesman'scharacter character and
and inculcates
inculcates in
him the
the excellent virtuesof truthfulness,
excellentvirtues truthfulness, honesty,
honesty,
modesty
modestyand humility. It keeps
and humility. keeps man man away frorn
away from
falsehood
talsehoodand and from
from all
all forbidden actions and evil
{brbiddenactions and
deeds.
deeds.
On
On the
the collective
colieciive level,
1e.,,e1,prayer achieves
prayer achievesfor the the
community
cornmunity aa high perfeclionand
Cegreeof perfection
high degree leads
andleads
it through
throughthethe way
way to
to collective happiness
collectivehappiness andsuc-
and suc-
cess,
cess,asas it has
hasrealized for the
realizedfor the individual a feeiing
individuaia feeling
of happiness
happinessas aswell
weli as
as consistency,
consistency, dignity and
dignity and
integrity.
integrity.
.Ilis act of worship
This t,orship contains many elements
containsmany eletnentsof
act
success and social welfare.
successand socialrvelfare. Congregationai
Congregational prayer
prayer
is,
is, in
in fact,
f-act,aa school
school for
for social
social upliftment, where
upliftment, where
man
mancan canexercise
exercise order
orcier and unity,and
andunity, andequality is
equalityis
 73
73
fully realizedwith
fully realized with no no traces
rracesof of discrimination
discrimination
whatsoever. Those
whatsoever. Those who perforrn prayer
who perform prayer in in the
the
right way
right way shall
shallfind find their
their wayway toto salvation,
salvation,
success
success andeternal
and eternalhappiness.
happiness.
Whatapplies
What appliesto prayeralso
to prayer alsoapplies
appliestoto other actsof
otheracts of
worship which, together,contribute
worship which, together, contiibuteto to the
thebuilding
building
spiritual, social,
of spiritual, social, political,
political,economic
econcmicwelfareweifare
andsolidarity.
and solidarity.
fact, that
In fact, that isis the
the secret
secret behind
behind the standardof
tirestandard
superiority achieved
superiority achieved by by the N{usiimsociety
the Muslim society at at
the Zenith
the Zenith of its development, power,
its development, power, and and
prosperity.
prosperity.
final word
A final word on on worship
worshipas as aa source
sourceof success
success
and happiness
and happinessis is that
that worship
worship in Islam Islamincludes
includes
every action
every action aa Muslim performsonly
Muslim performs only for the
the
sake of Allah (Glory
sake Allah (Glory be to Him) and
be to and in accordance
accordance
with His commandments.
with His commandments. This This notnot only
only covers
covers
ritual actslike
ritual acts like prayers
prayers performed
performed in the the Mosque,
Mosque,
fasting during
fasting during the the monthmonth of Ramadan
Ramadan or the the
performance
performance of Hujj; Hajj; it alsoalso includes
includes all humanhuman
activities,
activities, such
such as as learnirr*e.
learning, training,
training, eating,
eating, sleep-
sleep-
ing,
ing, working
working ro to earn
earn a living fcr for the
the sustenance
sustenance of
the
the family
family and and all otlierother constructive
constructive activiiies
activities
necessary
necessary for the the improvement
improvement of of human
human liib.
life. Ttris
This
provides
provides thethe Muslirn
Muslim with a treasuretreasure ofof good
good deeds
deeds
that
that contribute
contribute to the the realization
realization ofof an
an integral
integral and
and
righteous
righteous character
character and and enhances
enhances his chances
chances of of
74
t+
attaining an
attaining an everlasting blissful life in the
everlasting blissful the
Hereafter.The following verse
Hereafter.The verse from thethe Holy
Qur'an guides
Qur'an guides man the way of
man to the of prosperity
prosperity and
and
success:
success:
"O
"0 ye
ye who believe! Do your
who believe! duty to Allah,
your duty Allah, seek
seek
the means of approach
the meansof approachunto unto Him, and
and strive
strive (with
(with
might and main) in His cause:
and main) that ye
cause: that ye may
may
prosper,"
prosper." (Qur'an,
(Qur'an, 5:35)
5:35)
"Whoever works
"Whoever works righteousness, man
righteousness, man or
woman, and
woman, has Faith,
and has Faith, verily, to him will We
verily, to give
We give
a new
new life, a life that
that is good
is good and pure,
and pure, and We
and
will bestow
bestowon on such
such their rewardaccording
their reward accordingtoto the
the
best of their
best their actions,"
actions." (Qur'an,16:97)
(Qur'an, 16:97)

Faith,
Faith,if sincere,
sincere,means right conduct.
meansright conduct.When When these
these
two confirm
two confirm each
each other,
other, Allah's
Allah's grace
grace transforms
transforms
our
our life. Insteadof being
life. Instead troubledand
being troubled worried,
and worried,
we
we have
havepeace
peaceandand contentment; insteadof being
contentment;instead being
assailed
assailedat at every
every turn
tum by falsealarms
by false and
alarmsand the the
assaults
assaultsof evil,
evil, we
we enjoy
enjoy calm
calm and
and attain purity.
attainpurity,
The transformation
The transformation is
is visible
visible in this
this life itself,
itself, but
but
the "reward"in
the "reward" in terms
termsof the Hereafterwill be
the Hereafter be far
far
beyond
beyondour our deserts.
deserts.
The
The Prophet (Peaceand
Prophet(Peace andblessings
blessingsbe be upon
uponhim)him)
said:
said:
"Happiness,allhappiness,
"Happiness,all happiness, long life
is long
is (full) of
life (full)
obedience
obedience to to Allah." (Narratedby
Allah." (Narrated by Quda'i
Quda'iand and
75
75
Daylami on
Daylami on the
theauthority
authorityof Ibn
Ibn Umar)
Umar)

is worth
It is worth mentioning
mentioning that
that obedience
obediencemust
must bebe
basedon
based on sound
sound knowledge;
knowledge;forfor ignorance
ignorance maymay
distort the
distort the spirit godliness and
spirit of godliness and deprive
deprive
worshipof its
worship its meaning,
meaning,and
andrender
renderit fruitless
fruitlessand
and
almostfutile.
almost futile.
There is
There is aa common
commonsaying
sayingwhich
which runs
runsas
asfollows:
follows:
"I do not feel
do not feel that
that happiness
happinessconsists
consistsin the
the amass-
arnass-
ment of aa fortune;
ment fortune; it is
is the godly
the righteousand godly
righteous and
who are
who happyl"
arehappy!"

3. Closely
3. Closely akin
akin toto the
the above
above in spiritual
spiritualand
and
devotional aspect
devotional aspectis is the
the remembrance
remembranceof Allah
(Glory be
(Glory be to
to Him), Lord and Sustainer of the
and Sustainer the
Universe. Associated
Universe. Associatedwithwith it are
are supplications,
supplications,
prayers,celebration
prayers, celebrationof Allah's
Allah's praises
praisesand
and recita-
recita-
tion of the
tion the Glorious
Glorious Qur'an.
Qur'an.Having
Having seen
seenthe
the
influence of faith
influence faith and righteousness
and righteousness on
on man's
man's
characterand
character and life,
life, we find it relevant
we find relevant here
here to
to cite
cite
two Qur'anicverses
two Qur'anic verses which
which combine
combinein thethe same
same
contextthe
context elementsof faith
the elements faith and
and riqhteousness
righteousness
with that of remembrance
with that remembrance of Allah:
Allah:

"Those
"Those who
who believe,
believe, and
and whose
whose hearts
hearts find
find
satisfaction in the
satisfaction the remembrance
remembrance of Allah:
Allah: for
without
without doubt
doubt in the
the remembrance
remembrance of Allah dodo
1766
hearts find satisfaction.
hearts those who believe
satisfaction. For those believe and
and
(every) and a
blessedness and
righteousness, is (every) blessedness
work righteousness,
beautiful place
beautiful of (final) retu
place of m." (Qur'an,13:28-29)
return."(Qur'an,13:28-29)

When man
When man becomes conscious of
becomes conscious of the
the bounties
bounties
and
and favours
favours bestowed
bestowed by Allah upcn
upon him and
and feels
feels
that his
that his very existence,
existence, body, spirit, intellects
body, spirit, intellects andand
faculties are
faculties grantedto him out of generosity,
are granted generosity, he he
will naturally be moved
wili naturally be moved celebrate to celebrate his
his Creator's
Creator's
praises and
praises and be grateful to Him. He acquires
be grateful acquiresthisthis
satisfaction
satisfaction and
anci blessedness
blessedness and
and inward
inward joy
which
which is is difficult to describe describein words. words. ThisThis
blessedness
biessedness and satisfactionis
and satisfaction is also
alsofelt on reciting
on reciting
or listening
listening to the words of Allah (Glory
the words (Glory be be to
Him).
Him). Receiving
Receiving and reading aa letter
and reading from aa
letter from
person
personyou you love
love and respectwould
and respect would fill youryour heart
heart
with comfort
comfort and and happiness
happinesswhich could not
which could
compare
compareto to the level of comfort,
the level happinessand
comfort, happiness and
spiritual
spiritual bliss
bliss that
that one
one would
would feel
feel in the
the words
words
and nameof Allah (Glory
andname (Glory be be toto Him).
Him).
Shunning
Shunning the remembrance of Allah and
the remembrance His
and His
revealed message
revealedmessageto to humanity
humanity deprives
deprives man
man of
that
that transcendent
transcendentjoy and and satisfaction.
satisfaction.It causescauses
constriction
constriction in the
the chest,
chest, a
a feeling
feeling of spiritual
spiritual
void
void andanddepression,
depression,aa desolate
desolateand desperate
anddesperate life
full of worries,
full worries,and and ultimately
ultimatelywrathwrath and andeternal
eternal
punishment
punishmentin in the
the Hereafter.
Hereafter.
n-
77
"But whosoever
"But whosoeverturns
turnsaway
awayfrom
from My
My Message,
Message,
Verily for
Verily for him
him is
is aa life
life narrowed
narroweddown,
down, and
and\Ve
We
shall raisehim
shallraise him up
up blind
blind on
on the Day of Judgment."
the Day of Judgment."
(Qur'an,20:124)
(Qur'an, 2A:L24)

4. Goodness
4. Goodnesstnd
and Kindness to Others:
Kindnessto Others:
This emanates
This emanatesfrom
from the
the very
very essence
essenceof faith.
faith.
Prophet Muhammad (Peace
Prophet Muhammad (Peace and andblessings
blessingsbebe upon
upon
him) said:
him) said:
"All creatures
"All creaturesare
are dependants
de.pendantsof Allah,
Allah, and
and the
the
most favoured among them
most favoured among thenrby Allah is
by Allah is the
theone
one
who is
who is most
most helpful
helpful to
to His
His dependants."
dependants."
(Nanatedby Tabarani,
(Narrated Tabarani,Abu
Abu Naeem
Naeemandand Bayhaqi)
Bayhaqi)

Thus, active
Thus, active faith
faith turns
turns man
man intointo aa mercy
mercy toto
himself and to others.
himself and to others.
There are
There are many fonns and
many forms manifestations of
and manifestations
gcodness
goodness thar are based
that are based onon the
the Muslim's
Muslim's being
being a
mercy
mercy to humanity.
humanity. This
This is is represented
represented by his his
natural
natural inclination
inclination andand keennes-s
keenness to savesave other
other
people
people from
from error
error and
and lead
lead them
them toto salvation.
salvation.
However,
However, this
this can
can only bebe achieved
achieved if if he
he is
is a reai
real
embodiment
embodiment of his his faith.
faith. The
The tendency
tendency tor,vards
towards
kindness
kindness emanates
emanates from human human reciprocal
reciprocal
relations;
relations; for man's
man's delight
delight depends
depends on the the
delight of others
delight of others and and vice
vice versa,
versa, and
and this
this
reciprocity
reciprocity provides
provides happiness
happiness for both both the
the
 788
7
individual and
individual and the
the society as a whole.
society as whole.
A Muslim's
A goodness is not only limited to
Muslim's goodness
brothers in faith;
brothers faith; but,
but, it also
also extends cover eve-
extends to cover eve-
ry being, human or otherwise.
ry being,human otherwise.
Prophet Muhammad
Prophet (Peace and
Muhammad (Peace and blessings
blessings be
be
upon him) said:
upon said:

"Every Muslim should

"Every should dodo an act of charity."
an act charity."
"supposehe
"Suppose he couldn't
couldn'tafford
afford that? peoplesaid.
that? people said.
"Let him work with his his hands
handsand give out
and give out
charity,"
charity," he
he answered.
answered.
"supposehe
"Suppose he couldn't
couldn'tafford it? they
afford it? they said.
said.
"Let
"Lrt him help
help the grievedand
the grieved and needy,"
needy,"he he
answered.
answered.
"supposehe
"Suppose he couldn't
couldn'taffort
affort it,"
it," they
theysaid.
said.
"Let him do
"Let do good
goodand
andavoid
avoidevil, is an
evil, it is an act
act
of charity
charityfor him."
him."
(Narratedby Imam
(Narrated Imam Bukhari)
Bukhari)

But such
suchcharity
charitymust
must be
be based
basedon
on sincerity andbe
sincerityand be
' free
free from
from any
any kind of hyprocrisy,
hyprocrisy,bad intention
bad intention
or
or ulterior
ulterior motives:
motives:

"0
"O ye
ye who
who believe!
believe!Cancel
Cancel not your charity
not your charity
by reminders of your
by reminders generosityor
your generosity or by injury."
by injury."
(Qur'an,2:264)
(Qur'an, 2:264)
 79
79
5. Renunciation
5. Renunciation of Too
of Too Long-Term
Long-TermHopes Hopes
and Griefs
and Griefsof of the
thePast:
Past:
Many people
Many peoplespendspendmost mostofof their
theirtime
timeworrying
worrying
about their
about their future
future life
life and
and keep
keep regretting
regrettingpast past
mishaps.
mishaps. TheyThey live live in in continuous
continuous worryworf and and
misery.
mIsery.
goodsolution
A good solutionto to this
this source
sourceof worries
worriesis is to
to live
live
within the
within the limits
limits of today.
today.This
This does
doesnotnot mean
meanto to
neglect the future
neglect the future and and stop planning for
stop planning for it,
it, nor
nor
doesit involve
does involve failure
failure toto draw
draw lessons
lessonsfromfrom past
past
experiences.
experiences. aims at
It aims at ridding
ridding our
our life
life of obses-
obses-
sion
sion with futilefutile cares
caresthat
that lead
lead us
us only
onlv toto stress
stress
andfrustrations.
and frustrations.
According to one
According one thinker:
thinker:
"We shouldnot
"We should not look forward
forward to a goal
goal that
that looks
looks
faint in the
the distance;
distance; in fact,
fact, we have
have to com- com-
plete
plete the
the clear
clear works
works that
that we have
have in hand."
hand."
Another
Another says:
says:
"Life
"Life is short,
short, we mustmust not make
make it shorter
shorter bvby care
care
and
and troubles."
troubles."
Living within the the limits
limits ofof today
today is consistent
consistent with
the
the sayings
sayings of of Prophet Muhammad (Peace
Prophet Muhammad (Peace and and
blessings
blessings be be upon
upon him):
him):
"He who is safe safe (in hishis home), healthy (in his
home), healthy
body),
body), with
with enough
enough provisions
provisions for
for the
the day,
day, isis like
like
one who possesses
one who possesses everything
everything in in the
the world."
world."
80
80
You will
You will possess
possess the
the basic elements of
basic elements happy life
of happy life
in this world if you acquire
in this world if you acquire the
the requirements
requirements of
of
safe and
safe and happy
happy living such as:
living such as:

Physical (residential,
1. Physical
1. social, political
(residential, social, political
and
and military) security;
security;
Health security;
2. Health security; and
and
Food security.
3. Food security.

So why worry? If
So be haunted
yourself be
If you let yourself haunted
fears and
with fbars and worries about the
worries about future all the
the future the
time,
time, you
you will not be able
not be to enjoy the present.
able to enjoy the present.
Plan
Planfor the
the future,
future, no problem, and
no problem, anddraw lessons
draw lessons
from
from the
the past,
past,but never
neverbe too absorbed
be too worry-
absorbedin worry-
ing
ing about
about your future
future life or dwell too on
much on
too much
your past
your past glories
glories or shortcomings.
shortcomings.

Some
Somepeople
people understimate
understimatethe safety and
the safety peace
and peace
they enjoy. They may
they enjoy.They may even even scorn
scorn these
these gryat
great
favours
favbursandandexaggerate
exaggeratethe effectsof
theeffects of their misfor-
their misfor-
tunes. This
tunes. This contempt
contempt is
is aa denial
denial of
of reality
reality and aa
and
major
major factor
factor that
that spoils
spoilsthe life of
the life of the individual.
the individual.
Happiness
Happiness is
is relative
relative and
and is
is not
not dependent
dependent on the
on the
degree
degr-ee of
of wealth.
wealth.A A wealthy
wealthyman who is deprived
manwho is deprived
of
of contentment
contentment leads leadsaa life of misery,
life of while aa
misery, while
man of average
man of averageor or low
low means
means will
will lead
lead his life
hislife
 81
81
happily
happily ifif he he isis contented
contented and
and has
has aa realistic
realistic
view
view in in life.
life. What
What helpshelps man
man to to get rid of
get rid of
frets and
frets andworries
worriesisisaacomplete
completetrust in his Bounti-
trust in his Bounti-
ful, Almighty
ful, Almighty Lord.
Lord.

The Holy
The Holy Qur'an pointedout
Qur'anpointed out the
the benefits
benefitsof of faith
faith
and trustin
and trust in Allah (Glory
Allah (Glory be
beto
to him
him ).).
"And for
"And for him
him whowho fears
fearsAllah (andobserves
Allah (and observes
his-duty to Allah), He (ever) preparesaa way
his duty to Allah), He (ever) prepares way out,
our,
and He
and He provides
providesforfor him
him from (sources)he
from (sources) he never·
never
couldexpect.
could expect.And
And whoever
whoeverputs
putshis
his trust
trustin Allah,
Allah,
He
He will sufficehim.
suffice him. For
For Allah
Allah will surely
surelyaccom-
accom_
plish.His
plish purpose.Verily for all
His purpose. all things
thingshashas Allah
Allah
appointed a due proportion."
appointed a due proportion." (Qur'an
leur'an 65:02-3)
6S:OZ-I)

It is
is this
this kind of trust
trust that,
that, at
at once,
once, fills one
one with
peace
peace of mind
mind and
and contentment
contentment along
along with the
the
realization
realization that
that everything
everything is is within
within thJpower
the power of
Allah (the
(the Creator)
Creator) and
and drives
drives one
one to be
be more
more
optimistic
optimistic about
about life, active
active and
and hadrworkins
hadrworking ., not
idle or suffering
suffering from inertia.
inertia.

Speaking
Speaking of of short-term
short-term hopes
hopes and
and aspira-tions,
aspira-tions,
let's cite the following invaluable
let's cite the following invaluable woids of the
words of the
holy Prophet (Peace
holy Prophet (Peace and
and blessings
blessings be
be upon
upon him):
him):
"When
"When you
you pass
pass the
the day
day and
and arrive
arrive at
at the
the evening,
evening,
 82
82
do not
do not expect
expect that
that you will pass
you will pass night hope to
and hope
night and to
reach
reach morning,
moming, and
and when
when you
you arrive
arrive in
in the
the
morning do
morning do not
not look forward to
look forward the evening'
to the evening.
While in
While in health,
health, be
be ready for illness,
ready for and while
illness, and while
alive, prepare
alive,prepare for for death.'
death.' (
( Narrated
Narrated by
by Imam
Imam
Bukhari)
Bukhari)

the transience
On the transience of the Prophet
human life, the
of human Prophet
(Peace and
(Peace and blessing upon him) said:
blessing be upon said:
"I am this world like a rider
am in this halts in the
who halts
rider who the
shade tree for a short
shade of a tree time, and
short time, after taking
and after taking
some
some rest
rest resumes
resumes his
his joumey
journey and
and leaves the tree
leaves the tree
behind." (Narrated
behind." (NarratedbY by Tirmidhi)

You
You would
would appreciate
appreciatethe meaning of the
real meaning
the real the
above
abovewords
words if youyou meditate
meditateon reality
thereality
on the of life
life
and
and conceive
conceive of it as
as aa film that
that lasts
lasts for
for some
some
time
time presenting
presentingaa whole
whole life life or episodeof life.
or episode life'
.Ilne
The similitude is as
life is follows: Days
asfollows: Days
iimilituds of of human
humanlife
go by
go by like
like a
a film
film and
and when
when you
you grow old
grow old
and
Ind look
iook back
backon on your
your past life, you review itit
pastlife, you review
like
like watching
watchingan anexciting
excitingmoviemovie .. Yet,Yet , this does
thisdoes
not
not imply that man
impll' that man should
should be
be distracted
distracted from
from
leading
leading an an active
activelifelife oror entertaining
entertaining legitimate
legitimate
aspirations
aspiratlons of
of life
life for
for the future.ItIt simply
thefuture. mea-ns
simplymeans
that
thatyou
youcancanalways
alwayslive your life and plan
live your life and plan for the for the
future
futuie with
with confidence
confidenceand persistence,
and persistence, butlet
but let
 83
83
everything be
everything be in in your
your hand
handandanddodo not
not allow
allow
anything in theworld
anything in the world to possess
to possess your heart
your heartand
and
dominateyou
dominate you like
like aa slave.
slave.BeBe aa master
masterof of your-
your-
selfby
self by controlling
controlling your
your desires
desiresbut
but not
not the
theother
other
way round.
way round.
ProphetMuhammad
Prophet Muhammad(Peace (Peaceand
andblessing
blessingbe be upon
upon
him was qouted
him)) was qouted as assaying:
saying:
"May he
"May he perish
perishwhowho is
is the
the slave
slaveof dinar
dinar and
and
dirham* of black
dirham* black and
and striped
stripedsheets of cloth.
sheets cloth.** **
(Reported
(Reported by Imam Bukhari
by Imam Bukhari)
essential pre-reqUISite
An essential pre-requisiteof happiness
happinessis is the
the
understanding
understanding the role
of the role of man in this world
man in this world and and
his position
his positionand
and function
functionas as aa servant
servantof Allah
Allah onon
the one
the one hand,
hand,and
and aa trustee
trusteeof Allah
Allah onon earth
earthon on
the other
the other hand.
hand. Thus,
Thus, manman would
would be be ruled
ruled and
and
guided
guided by divine
divine light
light andand would
would behave
behave with
with
a
a sense
sense of responsibility.
responsibility. So
So a Muslim
Muslim strives
strives to
to
make the best
make the best of hishis time to produce
time to produce for himself
himself
and
and other
other people
people what
what is useful
useful for tl'rem
them ,and
,and to
prepare himself
prepare himself for the
the future
future both
both in this
this life
* Dinar and Dirham: currency
* Dinar and Dirham: currency used
used during
during the
the tirne
time of the prophet
of the Prophet
(Peacc
(Peace and
and blessing
blessing be
be upon
upon him),
him), which
which rcscmbles the 'dollar
resembles thc 'dollar and
and
cenls"
cenL," or
or thc'pounfl and pence.
the 'pound and pence.
**
** Black
Black and
and antl
and stripc.rt
striped shccrs
sheets of cloth: prccious
of cloth: precious cloth,
cloth, syrnbolizing
symbolizing
Iuxury
luxury ciothes
clothes and
and cos{.umcs.
costumes.
84
84
and in
and in the
the Hereafter. Listen to
Hereafter. Listen this golden
to this golden rule
rule of
of
happiness in the
happiness the words
words of Allah's Messenger
of Allah's Messenger
(Peace and
(Peace and blessing
blessing be upon him ):
be upon
"Take advantage
"Take advantage of before five: your youth
of five before youth
senility; your health
before your senility;
before before your
health before
sickness; your wealth
sickness; before your poverty;
wealth before poverty;
your leisure before your occupation;
your leisurebeforeyour occupation; and,
and, your
your life
before your death."
before death."
(Reported by Imams
(Reported Imams Ahmad, and Hakim
Baihaqi and
Ahmad, Baihaqi Hakim))

Youth,
Youth, which
which is the prime
is the man, should
prime of man, shouldbe be used
used
in fruitful and constructive
and constructive competition
competition strife;
strife;
health,
health,the
the golden
golden opportunity
opportunity in life, should should
used
used for the
the prevention
prevention of diseases;
diseases; wealth,
wealth, is
is
also
alsoanan opportunity
opportunitywhich
which mustmust be be used
used for pro-
pro-
tection
tection from
from poverty;
poverty; leisure, which is
leisure,which is aa major
major
problem of our
problem our contemporary
contemporaryworld, must be
world, must be
treated
treatedwith
with aa sense responsibilityand
senseof responsibility and must must
be
be used
used only
only for
for activities
activities which
which are
are constructive
constructive
and
andworthwhile;
worthwhile; and,and,finally,
finally, the whole life
the whole is the
life is the
greatest
greatestopportunity
opportunityfor man to
for man to make provision
make provision
for the final
for the final journey
journey into
into the
the future
future world,
world, in the
in the
Hereafter
Hereafterin in accordance
accordance with the
with theDivine Will.
DivineWill.

Preparation
Preparation forfor the Day of
the Day Judgmentand
of Judgment andthe
the
attainmentof
attainment of eternal
eternalhappiness
happinessdoes doesnot involve
not involve
the neglect of
the neglectof this
thisworldly
worldly life.
life. It
It requires
requires the
the full
full
85
85
exploitationand
exploitation improvementof
andimprovement of our
our society
societyas
as
well as the building
well as the building ofof aa lofty
lofty civilization
civilizarionbased
based
on the
on the Divine
Divine Guidance
Guidance as as revealed
revealedbyby Aliah
Allah
unto His
unto His Messenger,
Messenger,Muhammad
Muhammad (Peace (Peace and
and
blessingbe
blessing beupon
uponhim)
him ) ..

6. A major
6. major source
sourceof discontent
discontentand
andunhappiness
unhappiness
is the
is the feeling
feeling of inadequacy
inadequacyand and incapability,
incapability,
while opulent
while opulent people
people enjoy
enjoy the pleasures and
thepleasures and
luxury
luxury of life. The most effective
life. The most effective solution
solutionto to
such aa source
such sourceof uneasiness
uneasinessandand suffering
sufferingis is to
to
forgetabout
forget peoplewith
aboutpeople with higher
higherstandard
srandard of living;
living;
for if
for you compare
if you compareyourself
yourselfwith such
suchpeople
peopleyouyou
only incur
will only incur misery.
misery. You
You would
would find
find solace
solace
when you
when you dicover
dicoverthat you are
that you areendpwed
endgwedwith more more
blessings by Allah than
blessings than many
many others.
orhers.WeWe have
have
alreadybeen
already been guided
guided to this golden
to this golden rule
rule given
given by
Prophet
Prophet Muhammad (Peaceand
Muhammad (Peace blessings be
and blessings be upon
upon
him
him)) in the following words:
the following words:

"Look at
at those
those inferior to you,
inferior to you, and
and do
do not look
look at
at
those
those superior
superior to you.
you. Thereby,
Thereby, you
you would
would be
be able
able
to appreciate
appreciate better
better the
the benevolence
benevolence of
of Allah
bestowed
bestowed upon you." (Narrated
upon you." (Narrated by Imams
Imams Bukhari
Bukhari
and Muslim)
and Muslim)
On another
another occasion
occasion thethe Messenger
Messenger of Allah
(Peace
(Peace and
and blessing
blessing be
be upon
upon him
him)) said:
said:
86
86
"When any
"When of you
any of happens to see
you happens one on whom
see one whom
Allah has
has bestowed more riches
bestowed more riches and finer phy-
and a finer phy-
sique, he should
sique, should look at one inferior to him
one who is inferior
respect)." (Narrated
this respect)."
(in this Imam Bukhari)
(Narrated by Imam Bukhari)

A Muslim is generally
A satisfied with his
generally satisfied his lot from
regarding such
Allah regarding matters which fall outside
such matters outside
and beyond
and beyond his his means
means andand ability. This, however,
ability. This, however,
does not
does not indicate
indicate any
any defeatist attitude or fatalism
defeatist attitude fatalism
its passive
in its passive denotation; rather, a Muslim
denotation; rather, Muslim
exercises
exerciseshis free will actively
his free actively and enjoysa
and enjoys
dynamic personality. As
dynamic personality. As partpart of his faith, a
his faith,
Muslim
Muslim believes
believesin the Day of Judgment
the Dayof Judgmentand and in
the
the Divine
Divine Justice
Justicewhich giveshim
which gives relief in cases
him relief cases
wherehe
where he finds
finds no
no way
way to to the
the fulfilment justice.
fulfilment of justice.
After
After all,
all, everything
everythingin this world is
this world is ephemeral
ephemeral
and what
and what mattersmatters is
is not
not the
the worldly
worldly possessions
possessions
one
onemaymay hold
hold but
but the
the right preparationfor
right preparation the
for the
Hereafter,
Hereafter, in in which
which the faithful and
the faithful guided
and guided
believer
believerenters
entersinto
into the EternalAbode
the Eternal Abode of Bliss,Bliss,
where
wheretherethereshall
shallbebe nono bitterness
bittemessor misery.This
or misery. This
fact
fact gives
gives him
him a
a complete
complete consolation
consolation and
and
relieves
relieveshim him of hishis suffering
suffering.For.Forhehe isis conscious
conscious
of
of the
the fact
fact that
that on
on that
that day
day justice
justice will
will prevail
prevail
and
andeverybody
everybodywill will be
beable
abletoto receive his due,
receivehis due, and and
no
no oneonewill
will trespass
trespass on
on him, wronghim
him, wrong him oror boast
boast
over him. This awareness
overhim. This awareness helps
helps a
a lot
lot to
to protect
protect
87
87
man from much
man much anxiety and uneasiness.
anxiety and uneasiness.
In matters religion, piety
matters of religion, piety and acquisition of
and acquisition
knowledge, we
knowledge, we had
had better
better look at those superior
at those superior
to us
us in good
good deeds,
deeds, upright
upright behaviour and in the
behaviour and the
pursuit of useful
pursuit useful knowledge.
knowledge.

7. Building
7. better understanding
Building of better understanding of things things
and getting rid of misconceptions
and getting misconceptions and and supers-
supers-
titions deliver
titions deliver man
man from ignorance, illusions
from ignorance, and
illusions and
baseless worries
baseless worries that spoil his
that spoil his tranquility
tranquility andand
happiness. On the
happiness. the contrary, ignorance of realities
contrary,ignorance realities
entices
enticespeople
peopleto to take
take wrong
wrong avenues
avenuesand and draw
draw
them
them into
into troubles,
troubies,ridicules
ridiculesand
and undue sufferings.
unduesufferings.
Take,
Take, for instance,
instance,thethe case child who
case of aa child who
develops fear of certain
developsfear certaintame
tameanimals,
animals,or the the case
case
of some
some women
women who who getget scared harmless
scaredof harmless
creatures
creaturesor eveneven the
the case
caseof some
somemen men who are
who are
haunted
hauntedby fear fearof bad
bad omens
omensor by the
or by thebelief that
belief that
men
men are
are intrinsically
intrinsicallyevil.
evil. Such
Suchnotions would
notionswould
undoubtedly
undoubtedly causecause the the individual
individual to to behave
behave
erroneously
erroneouslyand and lead
lead aa very
very miserable
miserablelife which
life which
may have unwelcome
may have unwelcomeeffects effects on
on his
his character
character and
and
environment.
environment.They They may leadto
may lead the development
to the development
of such
suchabnormalities
abnormalitiesas asdepression,
depression, anxiety, hal-
anxiety,hal-
lucination,
lucination,schizophrenia,
schizophrenia, neurosis,
neurosis, psychosis, etc.
psychosis, etc.

8.
8. One
Oneimportant
importantstep
step on
on the way to
theway happiness
to happiness isis
88
88
to work
to work towards
towards halTI10ny
harmonywithin
within oneself
oneselfandandwith
with
the outward
the outward world:
world: in the
the family,
family, at
at school,
school, in
in the
the
office,in
office, in society
societyand
andmore generally,in
moregenerally, in humanity.
humanity.
The achievement
The achievementof such harmony requires
such halTI10ny requiresthethe
building
building upup of one's personality
one'spersonality so so as
as to
to become
become
stable,confident,consistent,flexible
stable, confident,consistent,flexible and
andadaptable.
adaptable.
Character building
Character building could
could be be achieved
achievedby
adopting the
adopting the Islamic
Islamic educational
educationalsystem
system which
which
helps man
helps man toto acquire
acquireaa balanced
balancedandand sound per-
soundper-
sonalityand
sonality andco-exist
co-exist and
and adapt
adapthimself
himself easily
easily
to other
to people and
other people and things
things around
aroundhim so so that
that he
he
could help
could help to
to create
createaa happy
happyenvironment.
environment.

9.Accessto
9.Access to happiness
happinesscan can alsoalso be
be obtained
obtained
through several
through several factors
factors necessary
necessaryfor aa suc-suc-
cessful and
cessful happy life,
and happy life, namely: good health,
namely: good health,
time, affluence
time, affluenceand
and sound (constructive)reasoning
sound(constructive) reasoning
provided, however,
provided, however, that
that these
these are
are supplemented
supplemented
with inner
inner wealth
wealth through spiritualguidance
through spiritual guidance with-
out which
out suchelements
which such elementswould
would be be only
only a source
source
and destruction.
of evil and destruction.Without
Without thethe inner
inner wealth
wealth
and contentment,
and contentment,all riches
riches and treasures of this
and treasures this
world would
would not suffice
suffice to make
make a manman happy.
happy.

Islam takes a positive

Islam takes positive view of life with virtue
virtue
lying not in shunning
shunning the
the bounties of Allah bur
bounties of but in
enjoying
enjoying them
them the framework
within the framework of of
89
89
"righteous living"
"righteous through which
living" through which Islam
Islam seeks
seeks
to
to promote
promote human welfare:
humanwelfare:

"O ye
"0 ye who
who believe!
believe! Make
Make not unlawful the
not unlawful the
good things
good which Allah hath
things which hath made
made lawful for
you,but commit
you,but commit nono excess:
excess:for Allah loveth not
loveth not
those givento
thosegiven to excess.
excess.
"Eat of the
"Eat the things
things which
which Allah
Allah hath provided
hath provided
you, lawful
for you, lawful and good;but
andgood; fear Allah,
but fear Whom
Allah, in Whom
you
you believe." (Qur'an,5:87-88)
believe."(Qur'an, 5:87-88)

Islam
Islam also lays aa lot of stress
also lays stressand
and emphasis
emphasisonon the
the
need
need for simultaneous both
enrichment of both
simultaneous enrichment
material
materialand
and spiritual
spiritual values
values to be
be deeply
deeply infused
infused
into
into the
the individual's life.
individual'slife.

10.
10. Social solidarityis
Social solidarity is based
basedon on cooperation
cooperationand and
the presence of altruism
the presence altruism and
and civil spirit.
spirit. Such
Such
elements
elementswere
were never
never deep-rooted
deep-rootedand force
and in full force
anywhere
anywherein the the world
world asas they were in the
they were the early
early
ideal
ideal Muslim
Muslim society. That civilized
society. That civilized and lofty
and lofty
society
society was
was aa living
living reflection
reflection of the
the active
active faith
faith
of Muslim
Muslim believers
believersand and of the commandments
the commandments
revealed
revealed by Allah
Allah and preached by His
and preached His last
last
Prophet
Prophet toto humanity,
humanity, Muhammad (Peace
Muhammad (Peace and and
blessings
blessingsbebe upon
upon him);
him); the result,of course,
the result, course,was was
collective prosperityand
collectiveprosperity happiness.
andhappiness.
90
90
Read
Read with
with me:
me:
"Help ye
"Help ye one one another
anotherin in righteousness
righteousness and
and
piety, but
piety, but help
help ye ye notnot oneone another
anotherin sinsin and
and
(Qur'an,5:3)
rancour."(Qur'an,5:3)
rancour."
"A believer
believer is is like
like aa brick for another
brick for another
believer,the
believer, the one
onesupporting
supportingthe the other."
other."
(Reportedby Imams
(Reported ImamsBukhari Bukhariand andMuslim)
Muslim)
"The similitude
"The similitudeof believers regarCto
believersin regard to mutual
mutual
love, affection,
love, affection,and feilow-feelingis
and fellow-feeling is that
that of one
one
body; when
body; when any any limb of it aches, aches,thethe whole
whole body
body
a c h e s ,because
aches, b e c a u s eof o f sleeplessness
sl e e p l e ssn e ssand
a n d fever."
fever ."
(Repcrtedby Imams
(Reported ImamsBukhari Bukhariand and Muslim)
Muslim)
"None of you
"None you is perfect believer
is aa perfect believeruntil
until he
he
desiresfor his
desires his brother
brotherbeliever
beiiever that which he
that which he de-
de-
sires (Reportedby Imams
himself." (Reported
siresfor himself." ImamsBukhari
Rukhari
and Muslim)
andMuslim)
Musiim owes
"A Muslim owessix six obligations
obligationstowards
towards
anotherMuslim,
another Muslirn,namely:namely:
1. When
1. Wlien youyou meet nleet him, greethim
him, greet him by
saying: Peace
saying: Peacebe be on you;
on you;
2. vVhen
2. When he he invites
invite-syou,
you, you
you should
should
ht i s invitation;
a c c e phis
accept i n vi ta ti o n :
3. Whenhe
3. When he solicits
solicitsyouryour advice,
advice,advise
advise
hiin
him sincerely;
sincerely;
4.
4. When
When he sneezes
he sneezes and praises
and praises Allah,
Allah,
respond
respond with supplication:
supplication:May May
Allah
Allah have
have mercymercy on on you;
you;
91
91
5. Whenhe
5. When he falls
falissick, you should
sick,you shouldvisit
visit
him; and,
him; and,
6. When
6. Whenhe dies,join his
he dies, his funeral."
funeral."
(Reportedby Imam
(Reported Imam Muslim)
Muslim)

"Onewho
"One who believes Allah and
believesin Allah the Day
and the Day of
Judgmentmust
Judgment must not
not cause hardshipand
causehardship and inconven-
inconven-
ience to
ience his neighbor;
to his neighbor;and he who
and he who believes
believes in
Allah and
Allah the Last
and the Last Day
Day must
rnusthonour
honourhis guest.
his guest,
and he who
and he who believes
believes in Allah and
and the Day of
the Day
Judgmentmust
Judgment mustspeak well or
speakwell keepquiet!"
or keep quiet!"
(Narratedby Imams
(Narrated imams Bukhari
Bukhariand
andMuslim)
Muslim)

Omar Al-Khattatr, the

Omar bin AI-Khattab, the second
secondCaliph
Caliph after
after
death of Prophet
the death
the Prophet Muhammad (Peaceand
Muharnmad (Peace and
blessingsbe
blessings be upon
uponhim),
him), refused
refusedto fat and
eatfat
to eat meat
andmeat
until all
until peopiehave
all people havehad
had enought
enoughttoto eat.
eat.

societywith
A society with such standards
suchstandards education
of education al-
andal-
and
truisticspirit,
truistic spirit,with
with such solidarity
suchsolidarity and
and harmonious
harmonious
relations,with
re-lations, with such
suchexcellent mannersand
excellentmanners and self-
self-
sacrifice,such
sacrifice, suchaa society is really
societyis reallyaa very
very happy
happyone.
one.

11. Stability
11. Stabilityof the
the human persr:nalityis
humanpersonality is one
one of
theessential
the essential elementsof happiness
elements happiness bothon
both in-
thein-
on the
and the
dividualand
dividual the collective levels.How
coliectivelevels. How could
could wewe
attain
attain aa stable,
stable, well-balanced personality?Let's
well-balancedpersonality? Let's
92
92
referto
refer the words
to the wordsof Allah in the
Allah in the Glorious
GloriousQur'an
Qur'an
and trace
and tracesome
someof the importantconstituents
the important of
constituents
suchcharacter:
such character:

** Seeking
Seekingguidance
guidancefrom
from the
the Holy
Holy Qur'an:
Qur'an:
"Verily this
"Verily this Qur'an
Qur'andoth guideto
doth guide to that
that which
which is
is
mostright
most (or stable)....
right(or stable)...."(Qura'n
"(Qura'n,, 17:9)
ll:9)

** Forbearance
Forbearanceand
and deliberation: Haste
deliberation: Haste is is aa
dangerto
danger to the
the stability
stabilityof human
humancharacter.
character.ManMan irt
irt
his haste
his hastemay
may unwittingly
unwittinglymistake
mistakeevil for good.
evil for good.
Hasteand
Haste andimpatience,
impatience,duedueto failureto
to failure to attain
attainone's
one's
ambitionsor
ambitions or desires,
desires,may
may move
move oneone to pray for
to pray for
evil instead good
evil instead of good or be be contented
contentedwithwith the
the
immediatelittle
immediate little gain
gainand give up
and give up the greaterfuture
the greater future
g a rn .
gain.

** A child
child is born with
is born an intact
with an intact nature that grows
nature that grows
in aa stable
stableupright
upright manner
manner until
until he/she
he/she reaches
reaches
maturity.
maturity. Deviation
Deviation of the
the character takes place
character takes place as
as
aa result extemalfactors.
result of external factors.Therefore,
Therefore, the
the Qur'an
Qur'an
provides
provides remedial dosesfor the
remedial doses the achievement
achievementof
character
character stability
stability and
and virtuousness,
virtuousness, and
and the
the
treatment
treatment of evilsevils of deviation
deviation and
and corruption
corruption
before
before theythey become
become out
out of control.
control. It has
has made
made
clear
clear the straight path
the straight path of righteousness and wamed
righteousness and warned
93
93
against the
against waysof error.
the ways error. Moreover,
Moreover,it has hasalso
also
pointedout
pointed out that man is
that man is endowed
endowedwith with the
the faculty
faculty
distinguishing
of distinguishing right from
right from wrong.
wrong.
"By the the soul,
soul, and
and the proportionand
the proportion andorder
order
givento
given to iU"
it;"
"And its its enlightenment
enlightenmentas as to
to its
its wrong
wrong and and its
its
right;"
right;"
"Truly he
"Truly he succeeds
succeeds that purifiesit,"
thatpurifies it,"
"And he
"And he fails
fails that
thatcorrupts
comrptsit! "(Qur'an 91:7-10)
it!"(Qur'an 91:7-10)

The above
The passagedraws
abovepassage drawsthe
the attention
attentionof man
man toto
the role
the role of self-purification
self-purificationand
and stabilization
stabilizationin
the achievement
the achievemen[of success
successandand happiness.
happiness.Man Man
should leam and
shouldlearn andunderstand
understand thathis
that his success,
success, pros-
pros-
perity and
perity and salvation
salvationdepend
dependon on himself,
himself, on
on his
his
keepinghis
keeping his soul
soulas pure as
as pure as Allah
Allah has
hasmade
madeit;it; on
on
the other
the otherhand,his failure,decline
hand,hisfailure, decline and perdition
and perdition
dependon
depend his soiling
on his soilinghis
his soul
soulby choosing
choosingevil.
evil.

** An outstanding
outstandingfeature
feature of a well-balanced
well-balanced
personality
personality is
is moderation
moderation in all fields of life in
all fields
general and in the
general and financialfield
the financial field in particular.
particular.

"And
"And render
render to the kindred
to the kindred their
their due
due rights,
rights, as
as
(also) to those
(also) to those in want,
want, and
and to the
the wayfarer:
wayfarer: but
but
squander not
squander not (your
(your wealth)
wealth) in the
the manner
manner of a
spendthrift." (Qur'an,
spendthrift." (Qur'an, 17:26)
17:26)
94
94
"Make not
"Make not thy
thy hand
hand tied (like aa niggard's)
tied (like niggard's)to
to thy
thy
neck, nor stretch
neck, stretch it i:tlrth to its
!-rrth to its utmost reach,so
utmost reach, so
that
that thou
thou become
become blameworthy
blameworthy and and destitute."
destitute."
(Ibid, 17:29)
(Ibid, 17:29)

We are
We not to
are not to be
be so lavish as
so lavish as to
to make
make ourselves
ourselves
destitute
destituteandand incur the just censure
incur the wise men,
censureof wise men,
nor is
nor is it becoming
becomingtoto keep
keep back
back our
our resources
resources from
from
the
the just needsof those
needs who have
those who have aa right
right to our
to our
help.
help.

** A stable
stablecharacter keepsman
characterkeeps man away from degra-
away from degra-
dation
dation and crimes, such
and crimes, such as as lying, murder,
lying, murder,
suicide, adultery, drug
suicide, adultery, drug addiction, fraud, rape,
addiction,fraud, rape,
robbery,
robbery,theft, usury and
theft, usury other sins
and other sins which
which are
are in
contradiction with aa stable
contradiction personality and
stable personality and
ideprivethe
Ideprive its stability
societyof its
the society stabilityand peace.
andpeace.

12.The
12. T\e feeling peaceand
feelingof peace andsecurity
securityor
freedom from fear
freedomfrom andanxiety.
fearand anxietlz.

Happines
Happinessprings from inside
springsfrom insidethe humanmind
the human mind and
and
heart.
heart.Therefore, peaceof the
Therefore,peace the mind
mind and psycho-
and psycho-
logical play a major
securityplaya
iogicalsecurity role in the
major role the attainment
attainment
of happiness.
happiness. Many
Many wealthy peoplecould
wealthypeople could not find
not find
the
the way
way to happiness
to happiness despite
despite the
the luxury
luxury they
they
'lhat
enjoy.
enjoy.That is is due
due to
to their iack of the
their lack aforesaid
the aforesaid
 95
95
factor.At
factor. At the
the same
sametime,
time,many
manypeople
peoplewho
who lack
lack
the luxury.of life enjoysuch
the luxury of life enjoy suchinner
inner security
securityand
and
throughthis
through this they
they experience
experienceaa great
great deal
aeal ofof
happiness.
happiness.

Peaceof
Peace of mind
mind and andthe
the feeling
feelingofof security
securitycould
could
be achieved by getting
be - achieved by getting rid rid of
of fear
fear and
and anxiety,
inxiety,
andobservance
and observance by peopleof
by people of their
their duties
dutiestoto their
theii
Almighty Lord,
Almighty Lord, moved
movedsimultaneously
simultaneously by fear
by fearof
Allah and love
Allah and love forfor Him.
Him. This
This would
would make
mike them
them
keepaway
keep awayfrom
from all
all forms
forms of agression
agression and
andharm,
harm,
thus causing
thus causing peace
peace andand security
security toto prevail
prevail in
society.The
society. The feeling
feeling of security
securityisis boosted
boostedby the the
awareness
awareness that Allah
that Allah continuously
continuouslywatches over
watchesover
everyhuman
every humanact
act and
andbehaviour.
behaviour.

"Allah ever
"Allah ever watches
watches over
over you."(eur'an,
you."(Qur'an, 4:l)
4:1)

Security
Security may
may also
also bebe stablished
stablished andand stre-
stre-
ngthened
ngthened by mutual
mutual mercy
mercy andand sympathy
sympathy and and
caring
caring for sectors
sectors of
of society
society badly
badly in neeO
need of of
protection
protection and
and patronage
patronage suchsuch as as orphans.
orphans.
Organization
Organization of of family
family affairs
affairs helps
helps aiso
also to
to
remove
remove the
the causes
causes of
of anxiety.
anxiety. Read
Read the
the following
following
verse
verse from
from the
the holy
holy Qur'an
Qur'an onon the
the wife-husbani
wife-husband
relationship:
relationship:
"...and
"...and among His (Allah's)
among His (Allah's) signs
signs is
is this,
this, that
that He
He
96
96
created for
created for you mates from
you mates among yourselves,-
from among yourselves,
that ye
that ye miy dwell in
may dwell tranquility with
in tranquility them, and
with them, and
He has
He has put
put love
love and
and mercy
mercy between
between your
your (hearts):
(hearts):
veril y in
verily in that
that are
are Signs for those
Signs for who reflect.''
those who reflect."
(Qur'an,
(Q u r' a n30:21)
,30:21)

It this mutual
It is this relationship of
mutual relationship of iove, mercy and
love, mercy and
affection that
affection that gives
gives the
the sense
sense of security
security to the
the
whole family,
whole family, including
including children
children who enjoy this
enjoy this
sense under
senseunder the
the protection
protection of their
their parents'
parents. This
This
relationship ·is well-organized
relationship'iswell-organized in Islamic
Islamic society,
society,
including
includingthe prescription of rights
the prescription obligations_
andobligations
rightsand
for every member
every member of the
the family
family so
so that
that stability
stability
may
may prevail
prevailin their lives.
their lives.

On
On aa larger
larger scope,
scope,Islam
Islam laid down the
laid down foun-
the foun-
dations
dations bf of security
security and peace in
and peace in society
society byby
establishing
establishing comprehensive
comprehensive-andand fair and
rules and
fair rules
regulations for all human affairs:
regulations for all human affairs: moral,
moral, social,
social,
political,
po-litical,military,
military, economic and other
economicand otherfields of
fields of
human endeavour.
humanendeavour.

13.
13.Repentance
Repentance purifies
purifiesthe souland
thesoul and relieves the
relievesthe
human
humanmindmind of
of the
the burden of sin and guilt.
burdenof sin and guilt. The The
aim of
aim of penitence
penitenceisis twofold:
twofold:
Peace of mind and
Peaceof mind and carefree
carefree life in this
life in worldand
thisworld and
everlasting
everlastingbliss
bliss in
in the
theHerreafter. Repentance'
Herreafter.Repentance,
 97
97
in its
its Islam
Islamicic impor
import,t, does
does not
not involv
involve,e, as
as in
Christ
Christianity,
ianity , any
any kind of confe
confession
ssion of sins
sins to
to aa
pnest or to
priest to any
any man.
man. Islam
Islam teache
teaches
s that
that there
there are
are
no
no media
mediators
tors or interc
intercessors
essors in the
the relatio
relationship
nship
betwe
betweenen Allah and
and His
His servan
servants.
ts. In fact,
fact, anyon
unyon'.
- e
could alway
could always s turn
turn_direct
directly
ly to
to Allah for help
help and
and
forgiveness,
forgiv eness, for HeHe is
is too
too Gener
Generous
ous and
and Kind
Klnd toto
turn you
turn you down.
down. TheThe Holy Qur'a
eur'ann explai
explains ns to
to us
us
how Merci
how Merciful
ful is
is Allah to us:
us:
"Y!.n n IVIy
"Whe My servan
servants
ts ask
ask thee
theeconce
conceming
rning Me,
Me, I
am
am indeed
indeedclose (to them)
close(to them): : I listen
listen to the
ro the praye
frayeir of
every supp.l
every suppliant
iant when
when hehe callet
calleth h on
on Me:
Me: Let
Lef them
tt em
also,with
also, with aa will, listen
listen to
to My call,
call, and
and believ
believe
e in
Me: that theythey may
may walk in the
the right
right way."
way." (Qur'a
(eur'an,
n,
Y-.a llut
2:186
2 : 1 8 )6 )
. --..,, ye Believ
"..., 0O ye Believers!
ers! Turn
Tum ye ye all
all togeth
togetherer towar
towardd
Allah,
Allah, that
thatye
ye may
may attain
attainBliss."
Bliss."(Qur'a
(eurbn, n, 24:31
24:31))
14.Learn
14. Leaming
ing and pursuit
andPursu it of Know
Knowledge
ledge openopen
for man
man,the
the gatew
gateway
ay to
to succe
success
ss and
and happi
haippiness.
ness.
Haveaa look
Have look at
at human
human civiliz
civilization
ation throug
throughout
hout
histor
historyy and
and see
seehow
how know
knowledge
ledge impro
improved
ved man's
rian's
life and
and introd
introduced
uced many
many innov
innovations
ations and
and facili-
facili_
ties for the
ties the servic
servicee of man.
man. But know
knowledse
ledge and
and
science
scienc e are
are two-e
two-edged
dged weapo
weapon:n: they
they could
couli raise
raise
lofty tower
lofty towerss but
but could
could also
also destro
destroy.
y. So So
 98
98
knowledge must
knowledge must be be channelled into the
channelled into right way
the right way
that leads
that leadi to
to the
the happiness
happiness and
and welfare
welfare of
of man-
man-
kind. Despite
kind. Despite of of the
the tremendous advancement in
tremendous advancement in
human knowledge,
human particularly in
knowledge, particularly in science and
science and
technology, it
technology,it iJ sadis sad that
that their
their full
full utilization
utilization is
is
generally geared
generally towards oppression,
geared towards trespassing
oppression, trespassing
on human
6n human resources,
resources, violation and suppression
and suppression
of basic
basic human
human rights, international terrorism
rights, international terrorism
and blackmail,and
and blackmail,and the the like.

Constructive knowledge
Constructive and the
general, and
knowledge in general, the
knowledge
knowledge of Divine
Divine Guidance
Guidance and
and Law in
particular, pave the
particulai, pave the way
way for human
human betterment
betterment
and
andhappiness.
happiness.

Guidedby
Guided by such
such kind
kind of knowledge, Muslims
knowledge,Muslims
over
over manymany centuries,
centuries, were able to
were able build aa
to build
civilization
civilization that
that covered
coveredevery aspectof
every aspect human
of human
advancement
advancement(both (both material and spiritual)
materialand rarely
spiritual)rarely
attained
attained by by any
any other
other civilization
civilization in history'
in history.
Nowadays,
Nowadays,the ihe Muslim is badly in need
nationis badly in need of
Muslim nation of
aa revival
revivai in in order
ordertoto lead humanif" again
leadhumanit" to aa
aga.into
civilization
civilization of of justice,
justice, peace,
peace, prosperlty
prosperity ano
and
happiness
happinessbasedbasedon on constructive
constructive knowledgeand
knowledge and
Divine
Divinb Guidance.
Guidance. On On the pursuitof
thepursuit knowledge
of knowledge
and learning we read
andlearningwe readin the in the Holy
Holy Qur'an:
Qur'an:
"" ...but Jay,aO my
...but say, my Lord! advance me
Lord! advance me in in
 99
99
knowledge!
knowledge! "" (Qur'an,
(Qur'an, 2A lt14)
20:114)
Proptret Muhammad(Peace
Prophet Muhammad (peaceand
andblessing
blessing be
beupon
upon
-pursuii
him ) stressed
him) stressedthe
the importance
importanceof the
of the pursuit of
of
knowledge
knowledge as asaaway
waytotoeternal
eternalhappiness:
happiness:
"If personfollows
follows aa path
pain for
. "If a person for acquiring
acquiring
knowledge, Allah will
knowledge, Allah will make make easy
easythe puriug.
rhepassage to
t5
^tvtusilm)
paradisefor
paradise for him." (Narrateclby
him." (Narrated by Imam
Imam Muslim)

Pursuitof
Pursuit of knowledge
knowledgeprovides
providesman
manwith
with aa feeling
feelins
of-.enjoyment
of enjoyment and pleasure.If man
andpleasure. manenjoys having
enjoyshavin!
deliciousmeals
delicious mealsfor
for ]ris body,he
his body, he would
w.ouldalso
alsoenjoy
enjo!
moredelicious
more deliciousmeals
meals(of knowledge)
knowledge)for
for his
his mind
mlni
andsoul.
and soul.

15. "Teli me
15. "Tell me who
who your
your friends
friendsand
andcompanions
companions
are,
are, then
then I can tell you
can tell you who
who you
you are."
are."

To
To draw
draw thethe above
above saying
saying closer
closer to our
our subject
subject
matter,
matter, we may say:
may say:
"Keep
"Keep a happy
happy ntanman company,
company, andand you
you will
.
become
become happy."
happy."
It
It seems
seems like
like contagious
contagious happiness
happiness that infects
that
-influences infects
the
the environmenf
environment of of man
man andand influences otherother
This is true because
This is true because aa happy
happy man
man is
is an
an optimistic
optimistic
and
and confident
confident person
person who who enjoys
enjoys peace
peace ancl
and
assurance
assurance,, and
and tries
tries to
to transmit
transmit his
his optimism
optimism and
and
cheerfulness
cheerfulness wherever
wherever he he goes,
goes, thereby
thereby
100
100
spread
spreading an impre
ing an ssion of deligh
impression delight t and happiness.
and happiness'
Moreo you have
when you
ver, when
Moreover, righteous friends
have righteous you
friends you
will acquir
acquire goodqualit
e good ies from
qualities and
them and
from them becom
become e
equall
equallyy righte ous . Right
righGous eousness, you
Righteousness, know , is
you know
Enity Visa for the
un Entry
an the abode
abode of happi ness
happiness and
and
Allah'
Allah'ss bount y.
bounty.

Strong will and

16. Strong
16. self- confid
and self- ence are
confidence decisive
are decisive
factor
factorss for thethe attain ment of happiness'
attainment These
happi ness. These
factors
factor could develo
s could develop and direct
p and direct the
the life of the
the
indivi dual towar
individual towardd succes
success They are
hapiness. They
and hapiness'
s and are
also essen
also to overc
tial to
essential ome the
overcome hardsh ips of life
the hardships
withstand
and withs
and that obstru
odds that
tand all odds obstruct man's way
ct man's way
towar
towardsds the achievement
the achiev goalsin life'
his goals
ement of his life,.

To form
17.To
17. life, you
sociallife,
happysocial
form aa hapvy shouldbe
you should be on
on
goodand
good intimate-terms
and intima your family
te terms with your friends
family,, friends
colleagues.
Ind collea
and ng of ta
building
The buildi
gues. The happy
happy house
house
depends
depen ds on choice
right choic
the right
ott the of your
e of spous e,
your spouse,
*uint"nunce
maint intimite
enance of intima and
te and good
good nship
relationship
relatio and
and
familiarity
famili with the
arity with best ways
the bes bringing up
ways of bringing
children.
the childr
the Friends
en. Friend shouldbe
s should selected
be select carefully
ed carefully
as menti
as earlier.
oned earlier
mentioned your
As for your
. As gues,
colleagues,
collea you
you
should
shoul d treat them with tolera
treat them ion and
affection
nce, affect
tolerance, and
mutual
mutua l respec t.
respect.

"Whoever
"Who any act
works any
ever works righteousness
act of righte and has
ousness and has
 101
101
faith -- his
faith his endea
endeavour
vour will not
not be
be rejecte
rejected d and
andWe
We
shall
shallrecord
recordit in
in his
his favou
favour." (eur'an,
r." (Qur'a n, 21 :94).
21:94).
CONCLUSION
CONC LUSI ON

A timely
timely remin reminder
der toto every
everyone one appea
appearedred in aa
recent issue
recent issue of the the Reade
Reader'i r's Diges
Digest t -_ sorrow
sorrowfulful-
wordsas
words asthose
thoseof aa certai
certainn top
top memb
membe. er of the
the U.S.
U.S.
Republican
Repub lican Natio
National
nal Comm
Commiitee.ittee. He
He isis now
now dead,
dead,
and in
and in his
his prime
prime, , he
he was
was blesse
blessed d with
with mater
materiaiial
wealth,
wealth power
, powe and presti
r and prestige
ge butbut not
not with spiritu
spiritualal
wealth.
wealth . Unfor
Unfortunately,
tunate ly, our
our messa
message ge is
is late
late for
ior him
him
but for
but for the the many
many stillsrill alive
aliie who who may mav be be
undergoing
under going simila
similar r condi
conditions,
tions, thethe words
words of the the
honourable
honou gentleman
rable gentle man of thethe U.S.
U.S.would
wouldundou
undoubt_ bt-
edly be an
edly an eye
eye opener
opene r (warning)
(warn ing) for thosewho
those who
.be
arestill
are still in
in aa quand
quandaryary.. Those
Thoselast lasi and
and sorrow
sorrowful ful
words reveal
words reveal his his true
true inner
inner feelin
feelings,gs, that
that
despite
despit e hishis mater
material
ial succe
success, i.e., power
ss, i.e., power, , wealth
wealth
and presti
and prestige, thereseems
ge, there seemsto to be
be absolu
absolutete EMPT
EMPTI_ I-
NESS
NESS in in hishis whole
whole being
being which
which could
could onlyonly bebe
experienced
exper ienced throug
through the know
h the knowlegelege of spiritual
spiritual
reality.
reality . In his
his quest
questfor mater
material ial things,
things, hehe forgot
forgot
t: devel
to dev.elop his_spiritual
op his spiritual nouris
nourishm"nt.
hment . He He foigot
forgot
that all
that all worldly
world ly things
things are
are but
but ephemeral
ephem eral ind
and
.
transitory
transi tory in naturenature andancl what what matters
matters is is our
our
inner wealth
inner wealth whichwhich is
is more
more meaningful,
meaningful, abiding
abiding
r02
102
and lasting
and lasting. His last
. His are hereb
words are
last words elow full of
herebelow
frustra
frustration anduncert
tion and ainty.
uncertaintY.

know I acquir
" I know acquired more than
ed more most.But you
than most. you can can
acquir
acquire e all you want and
you want and still feelfeel empty
empty' . What
Whlt
would
po*"t wouldn't
power n't I trade
trade more time
for aa little more time with
my family
my family? ? WhatWhat price
price would
wouldn't n't I pay
pay for anan
eveni
evening ng with friend
friends? took aa deadly
s? It took illness to
deadly illness
put me eyeeye to eye with that
to eye truth, but
that truth, but it is truth
is a truth
^ttr.me
put
the count
country can learn
ry can leam on on my my dime.
dime"" ... I was
was
neveraa religio
never religious man. All you
us man. you havehave is your time
is your-time
this earth,
on this
on used to
eaft[, I used say.
to say. Confr
Confrontedonted with the the
prospect
prosp ect of my own end,I re-eva
own end, luated. I did
re-evaluated' did not
buen know
even know whatwhat I believ ed.
believed. I welco
welcome me anyonanyone e
couldtell
who could
who abouthis
me about
tell me ....
faith.-'.!"
his faith !"
His
His last
last words
words were
were very
very revealing
reveal but it was
ing but was
letely aa disma
completely
comp dismal ......fu
failure......full
l failure ll of emptiness
empti ness
without
witho traceof hope
ut aa trace spiritual
hope of spiritu fulfilment. It
al fulfilment'
indeed,
tragic indeed
was tragic
was without
, witho trace of hope
ut aa trace hope -- ull all
were spent
timeswere
his times
his solely for
spentsolely material
for mater ial wealth
wealth
leaving
andleavin
and g not
not an
an iota
iota of spiritual
spiritu al nouris hment.
nourishment'
ISLAM
Try ISLA
Try -
M - the only
the only recourse
recour se of humanity
human ity
"real"happi
for aa "real"
for ness.
hapPiness.

*******
***{<{<*r<
 Welcometo
Welcome to your own
own religion!
religion!
TheProphet
The ProphetMuhammad
Muhammad(peace (peacEbe
be
upon niq)giA:
him) said:
l;,ponclhilllldl -
"JEvery
"Every enundis
'lls[arn', horn m
ls lborn ln a s~~e
s&ate
of 'ITsll.mm' ~ ~!hlell1l~
ttxen,lhuis panents
hnslPsurell1l~s
1T1IMlllke ru.m a lfew
malke lumra "new, ~ a Clhunis~i.ffill1l
aChmstlam
on a Magil.mIm."
or Nrflagian."
REMINDER:
REMINDER: THOSEWHO
ALL THOSE WHOEMBRACE
EMBRACE
ISLAM
ISLAM ACTUALLY
'' REVERT"" TO
ACTUALLY" REVERT TO THEIR
THEIR
ORTGTNAL
ORIGINAL RELTGTON
RELIGION ( rSLAM
ISLAM ).
).
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