WHAT IS HAPPINESS?

"SAY: SHORT IS THE ENJOYMENT OF THIS WORLD." [The Qur'an, 4:77]

Not everyone is lucky enough to have all their dreams come true, only a few are delighted by such a blessing. A beautiful and elegant woman lived successfully throughout her life: she was one of those lucky ones who get all their wishes granted, sooner or later. She married into a wealthy family, so money was not the issue. She became a teacher, her childhood dream came true. She had an intelligent son and a lovely daughter just like her. Everyone respected her; she was living a luxurious life: the ultimate dream of every girl.

One day she visited her long-lost college friend: "Come on in, it's been a while!" welcomed her friend with a bright smile on her face.

"Not a while! It's been ages since we last saw each other," she entered her friend's humble abode, "your house looks so cozy, I like it." 

"It's small, but thank you anyway." her friend responded.

They sat in the TV lounge as they talked to catch up with each other.

Her friend was not as lucky as her, her husband didn't earn enough to raise their children, and she couldn't fulfill her dream of becoming a lawyer. But there was something unique about her, she was happy without any complaint or jealousy towards her wealthy and successful friend.

And on the other hand, even though the flourishing woman had everything she ever wanted, her eyes were filled with void.

"Is something wrong? You look pretty sad.." asked her unlucky friend.

"Huh? Me sad? Why would I be? There is no reason for me to be sad." she laughed.

"Oh, that's good then." responded her friend.

After some more talk, they parted their ways and she got in her car. As her driver was taking her back home, she couldn't help but wonder: "What is happiness?".

The joy she experienced was real, but it vanished into thin air as time passed by. Soon she ended up overthinking, which was tormenting her and she wouldn't share her thoughts with anyone. How could she complain about feeling a hole inside her heart when there was nothing in the world she didn't have? And then her friend's image would come across her mind, making her question her own success.

As the days went by, she tried to suppress the voices in her head, but with no luck. She sought answers everywhere as if just one last piece of the puzzle was missing, and without it, the whole existence appeared incomplete.

One day she invited her old friend at her place, hoping she could find some clue.

They sat in the garden chatting while having a cup of tea, when she finally denied her answer at their first meeting: "I shouldn't put it like this but it's true what you said last time, I'm distressed yet I can't admit that," she paused for a few seconds and sighed, "I know it might sound unreal to you, I know I'm blessed in every possible way and I'm grateful for that, but there is this empty spot in my heart I cannot just unsee. And I look at you, on a different situation than mine and wonder how it is that your eyes shine with pleasure despite what life gave you."

Her friend took the time to process the answer in her mind and responded with grace: "It's okay, sometimes we feel down, it's completely normal. Our only mistake is to what we crown the title of happiness... We usually label it with worldly pleasure, forgetting that just like our life everything in it is temporary. As a consequence, the joy we feel because of those brief thriving moments becomes nothing but a blowing wind that lets you breathe some fresh air but eventually it passes away, leaving you in the dry atmosphere. As I had to go through some calamities, I realized that happiness is not constant in this short-term life. It comes and goes. Just like the sadness is not forever nor is happiness."

"You're right, that's entirely the truth and I can't agree more. However, what I'm curious about is that, how are you gratifying towards your life?" she wanted to know the secret behind her friend's sparkling eyes.

"I think it depends on the intent we put on our achievement or failures. If the intent has expiration or if it is eternal. And the only everlasting existence is of Allah (SWT) alone. So if you want to be 'happy forever' then I suggest that you establish your intentions, for anything you do, in the Almighty God. That is what I have learnt so far. I try to find comfort in the fact that all of this is going to end, so what is the point in crying over something that is not going to last forever.

I define my happiness as Allah (SWT)." explained her modest friend.

Her words touched her heart and gave some sense to her surroundings. She felt as if a huge weight was lifted from her chest, and she could finally breathe. The puzzle was complete and the last piece consisted of none other than Allah the Almighty.

Suddenly, she opened her eyes, realizing that it was just a long dream. It seemed so real to her that it was hard to acknowledge it was not.

But this dream taught her so much as though it was an answer to her current state.

She went into the kitchen to cook breakfast for everyone. Her children came in running and upon seeing their mother, they asked: "Mom, did something good happen? You look so happy."

"Does something good have to happen, for us to be happy?" she thought.

"No," she responded instead.

"Then, what is it?" they asked with interest.

"I was thinking about the thing I'm blessed with, that's why." she replied with a smile.

"And what is that?" their curiosity increased even more. 

"Faith."