The Deeds of Happiness

Since happiness is a comprehensive view of life, we are all encouraged to practice our righteous beliefs in every aspect of our everyday life.  We should be proactive in doing good deeds, and as we do more good we’ll become happy ourselves; and eventually everyone around us too.

Islam encourages us to practice our faith, both in our relationship with God as we worship him, and in our relationship with each other as we communicate and interact.     

In Islam, the beliefs and actions are in agreement and they can never be separated … and this harmony makes our simple everyday practices a source of God’s blessing and reward; for no other religion considers a smile –for example- as a good deed a person is rewarded for.

The connection between our actions and happiness is very tight, and this section highlights some of the basic deeds that lead to happiness.  Although some of these deeds are pure Islamic practices –like worshiping God-, yet we believe that even non-Muslims can benefit from these deeds too since most of them are generic; and are from a religion that is sent to all mankind.

 

The deeds of Happiness include:

 

1. Believing in God, worshiping him, and practicing faith

 “And they have been commanded no more than this: to worship Allah, offering Him sincere devotion, being True (in faith); to establish regular Prayer; and to practise regular Charity; and that is the Religion right and Straight.” Quran: Al Bai’yenah [98:5]

“Truly those who believe (in God and this message sent to the Prophet Muhammad) and work righteous deeds of piety will have the Gardens of Paradise as their home. Wherein they shall eternally abide: They will not desire anything except what they have.” Qur'an: Al Kahff [18:107-108]

 

 

2. Praying for God, and asking him for his blessings and forgiveness

“This is the book (Quran); in it is guidance, sure, without doubt, to those who fear Allah; who believe in the Unseen, are steadfast in prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them;   And who believe in the Revelation sent to thee, and sent before thy time, and (in their hearts) have the assurance of the Hereafter.  They are on (true guidance), from their Lord, and it is these who will prosper” Quran: Al Baqarah [2:1]

 

"And hasten to the forgiveness of your Lord and a Paradise that has an expanse of the whole universe. This is prepared for the God-Conscious. (They are) those who give in charity in times of ease and hardship, those who control their anger and pardon other people (for their mistakes). And God loves the pious. They are those remember God when they do an immoral act or do wrong, then they ask his forgiveness for their sins. And who forgives sins other than God! Then they (sincerely intend) not to return to that sin thereafter. For those people is the forgiveness of their Lord and a Paradise with gardens with rivers flowing through them. They will abide therein eternally. Excellent is the reward of the workers (of righteousness)” Quran: Aal-Imran [3:133-136]

 

 

3.  Purifying the heart from bad and evil, and to love good for all

"Those who believe, and whose hearts find satisfaction in the remembrance of Allah: for without doubt in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find satisfaction.” Quran: Al Ra’dd [13:28]

“And those who came after them say: "Our Lord! Forgive us, and our brethren who came before us into the Faith, and leave not, in our hearts, rancour (or sense of injury) against those who have believed. Our Lord! Thou art indeed Full of Kindness, Most Merciful." Quran: Al Hashr [59:10]

 

 

4. Respects and care for all, especially parents

“Thy Lord hath decreed that ye worship none but Him, and that ye be kind to parents. Whether one or both of them attain old age in thy life, say not to them a word of contempt, nor repel them, but address them in terms of honour.” Quran: Al-Israa [17:23]

 

 

5. Doing good deeds and helping others

“Then those who have believed and worked righteous deeds, shall be made happy in a Mead of Delight.” Quran: Al Roum [30:15]

“Whoever works righteousness, man or woman, and has Faith, verily, to him will We give a new Life, a life that is good and pure, and We will bestow on such their reward according to the best of their actions.” Quran: Al Nah’l [16:97]

 

 

6. Living a good life of faith and God-consciousness, and preparing for the afterlife. 

“Nay, whoever submits his whole self to Allah and is a doer of good he will get his reward with his Lord; on such shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.” Quran: Al Baqara [2:112]

"Every soul will taste death: and only on the Day of Judgment will you be paid your full recompense. Only he who is saved from the Fire and admitted to Paradise will have the true attainment (of his desire). And what is the enjoyment of the worldly life except a delusion." Quran: Aal-Imran [3:185]