WHEN CAN YOU BE HAPPY IN THIS LIFE???

CutesyMoNaLiSa (Original Message) Sent: 6/27/2005 7:05 AM
Hi
This subject is open to everybody in this group.
We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have a baby, then another.
Then we are frustrated that the kids aren't old enough and we'll be more content when they are.
After that, we're frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with. We will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage.
We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, when we are able to go on a nice vacation or when we retire.
The truth is there's no better time to be happy than right now. If not now, when? Your life will always be filled with challenges.
It's best to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway. Happiness is the way.
So, treasure every moment that you have and treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time with ... and remember that time waits for no one.

So, stop waiting ...
Until your car or home is paid off.
Until you get a new car or home.
Until your kids leave the house.
Until you go back to school.
Until you finish school.
Until you lose 10 lbs.
Until you gain 10 lbs.
Until you get married.
Until you get a divorce.
Until you have kids.
Until you retire.
Until summer..
Until spring.
Until winter.
Until fall.
Until you die.

There is no better time than right now to be happy. Happiness is a journey, not a destination.




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From: EvaPetra Sent: 6/29/2005 8:06 AM
Hi,
it is right what do you say. But sometimes we need one person to be happy, and we are alone. So people want to be happy, but they can`t. It s difficult.
Please excuse my bad english, i m from germany. I want to be happy....now in this moment....i don`t want to wait for to be happy, it s heavy.
by, by
petra



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From: Al3ab9ari1 Sent: 6/29/2005 9:57 AM
Brothers and Sisters, Salamun Alaykum.

I hope you do not mind, but I decided to reply to you publicly. I am sure that there are others who feel the way most of us do, and who may benefit from this reply insha'a Allah.

It is the nature of every person to seek happiness. Some people strive to seek material happiness in this world away from religion, thinking that this is the true happiness. But this kind of happiness will be succeeded by pain and sorrow at the Day of Judgment, and its people will know that their striving led them only to misery and not happiness.

While others know that the true way to happiness is to obey Allah and follow His religion. For them the pleasures and riches of the world are of little consequence. When this happiness penetrates and fills the heart of the believer he does in fact live in this world as if he were in Paradise. Those are the people who find true happiness in this world.

What kind of happiness could be greater than that of someone who humbles himself to Allah, worships Him, strives for His pleasure, and strives to enter Paradise and have salvation from Hellfire?

The believer lives with such a sweetness in his heart that if the masters of the earth knew of it, they would fight him to death to take it from him. Allah has said:

Whoever does right, whether male or female, and is a believer, We will make him live a good life, and We will award them their reward for the best of what they used to do. (Quran, 16:97)

مَنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا مِنْ ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنْثَى وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَلَنُحْيِيَنَّهُ حَيَاةً طَيِّبَةً وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْرَهُمْ بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ

Happiness is in the good life mentioned in this verse, that even the rich disbelievers cannot find, despite the money they have. That is why we are not surprise when we know that many among them committed suicide.

To reach true happiness, we need to know what is the purpose of our life, how to reach success in the hereafter, and to fulfill the requirements of reaching this success by following the commands of Allah and His true religion.

We know much about Mars, Earth, moon, stars, and galaxies, thanks to the century of knowledge. But how much we know about our eternal life after death and how to reach success in the hereafter?

People need to eat every day to supply their bodies with energy and to keep themselves healthy. If they stop eating for a period of time, diseases will sneak up upon them and overtake them, and perhaps even kill them. Similarly, people also need food of another kind, food for the spirit and heart. It is unfortunate that while people are careful never to forget to feed their bodies, they do not show the same concern for the health of their souls and hearts. The heart needs food as the body does. The diseases of the body and the debilitating effects they have are not more dangerous than the diseases of the heart and soul.




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From: Aminah Sent: 7/1/2005 12:47 PM
السلام عليكم ورحمة اللة وبركاتة

Happiness is a journey, not a destination?

As we make our journey through life, we have so many things to savor and experience. There is no such thing as instant happiness or happiness that can be found somewhere. Live your life each day, the same way you would climb a mountain. An occasional glance towards the summit keeps the goal in mind, but many beautiful scenes are to be observed from each new vantage point.

ومعلمنا محمد ( صلي الله عليه وسلم ) يقول فيما معناه

إعمل لدنياك كأنك تعيش ابدا .. واعمل لأخرتك كأنك تموت غدا

Allah Subhannahu wa ta'aalaa our Mawlaa, and our Naseer described the True believers in Sura 8 verses 2-4, why not apply these in our life ?.

إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ اللَّهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ آَيَاتُهُ زَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَعَلَى رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ (2) الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنْفِقُونَ (3) أُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ حَقًّا لَهُمْ دَرَجَاتٌ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ وَرِزْقٌ كَرِيمٌ

But then again, why not read the entire sura of al-Mu'minuun (sura 23) and see for yourself how Allah (swt) describes the Believers.

قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ (1) الَّذِينَ هُمْ فِي صَلَاتِهِمْ خَاشِعُونَ (2) وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ عَنِ اللَّغْوِ مُعْرِضُونَ (3) وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِلزَّكَاةِ فَاعِلُونَ (4) وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِفُرُوجِهِمْ حَافِظُونَ (5) إِلَّا عَلَى أَزْوَاجِهِمْ أوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ غَيْرُ مَلُومِينَ (6) فَمَنِ ابْتَغَى وَرَاءَ ذَلِكَ فَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْعَادُونَ (7) وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِأَمَانَاتِهِمْ وَعَهْدِهِمْ رَاعُونَ (8) وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَى صَلَوَاتِهِمْ يُحَافِظُونَ (9) أُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْوَارِثُونَ (10) الَّذِينَ يَرِثُونَ الْفِرْدَوْسَ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ

He describes them as successful. In or at what, we may ask. Is it business or financial success? That can be part of it, but it certainly goes way beyond that. The believers achieve spiritual richness and success that lead to happininess in this life as well as in the Hereafter. In order to achieve this success , Allah tells us in sura 23 that the believers are those who:

1. Revere in their salat prayers.

2. Avoid vain talk

3. Give zakat (those with income).

4. Maintain their chastity.

5. Trustworthy and honor their agreements.

6. Regularly observe their salat.

After that, Allah (swt) describes them as the inheritors of paradise. What more can someone ask?

Now when it comes to salat, many people do it mechanically like robots. They do not feel the closeness to Allah (swt) during their salat. This is why Allah stressed two points:

A. Observing it regularly.

B. Reverence while observing it.

Salat and du'aa-supplication is the key by which our direct communication with Allah (swt) opens. When we stand before The Almighty Creator of all things, and when we recite His ayaats, while focusing on the state of closeness with Him, our spirit is overcome with joy and fulfillment. When we do that five times a day, and meditate or supplicate during the night or at dawn, how can we feel alone? How can we feel lost? Allah is the best company for a believer.

We all go through phases of laziness in ibaada-worship.These are usually caused by Satan, whose role in this world is to make us deviate by making our basic worship practices such as salat seem so difficult and inconvenient. Living in a Western country sometimes makes matters even more difficult unless we are surrounded by believers who encourage us to observe our duties towards Allah.

Compare the observance of the month of Ramadan in the US with back home, and you would know what I am talking about as far as the surrounding environment and its effects on you emotionally and spiritually. I am not saying that Islam cannot be practiced to its full in the west, but the key is to keep good company. Good company is those described in sura 23.

It is true that this life is a part of our journey back to Allah (swt).

It is not just a stop, but also the actual journey itself. The destination is Allah and the Hereafter. Our life here on earth, and what we do with it, will determine our place when we meet Our Creator. On that Day, those of us who have fulfilled the commitment to Allah, to worship Him and avoid any form of idolatry, will have no fear, and they will not grieve. What about this life? Do we neglect it because it is temporary? Do we renounce it, as you mentioned the case of the Hindus? No, the answer to that is given to us by Allah:

"Seek with what Allah has bestowed upon you the Hereafter,

and DO NOT FORGET YOUR SHARE of this life. Be charitable

as Allah has been to you. Do not seek mischief-corruption on

earth. Allah does not love the corruptors." 28:77

وَابْتَغِ فِيمَا آَتَاكَ اللَّهُ الدَّارَ الْآَخِرَةَ وَلَا تَنْسَ نَصِيبَكَ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا وَأَحْسِنْ كَمَا أَحْسَنَ اللَّهُ إِلَيْكَ وَلَا تَبْغِ الْفَسَادَ فِي الْأَرْضِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُفْسِدِينَ

Enjoying your life in a righteous manner is something that Allah enjoins us to do. He never told us to renounce, nor neglect our life on earth. Those who refuse the good things that life has to offer are not conforming to the advice of Allah. The good things in life do not involve drinking, drugs, adultry, etc.

I personally prefer a comfortable life, and being surrounded by family and friends, and engaging in common activities such as watching sports, listening to music, appreciating nature, reading, learning all about life and science, and doing anything you like that does not violate Allah's commandments. Doing so, when combined with your awareness of Allah, and appreciating His blessings, and meeting the description given in suras 8 and 23 all leads to happiness in this world.

What is more? It also leads to happiness in the Hereafter because you have fulfilled your commitment to Allah, and focused on His greatness, and commemorated Him every chance you got.

To be close to Allah is not difficult at all. It will take an initiative on our part, and sincerity. The rest will be done by Allah. Put your trust in Him, and He will not let you down.

Allah blesses us, and may He show us the way.

اللهم إني أسألك عيشة هنية و ميتة سوية و مردا غير مخزي و لا فاضح

ربنا آتنا في الدنيا حسنة و في الآخرة حسنة و قنا عذاب النار و صلى الله

على نبينا محمد و على آله و أصحابه الأخيار و سلم تسليما كثيرا







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From: algeria_8 Sent: 7/3/2005 2:46 PM
ٍSalam ,

I will share with you a story which shows the clever decision of a youth on how to live this life. This story is only an example.

There was a country long time ago where the people would change a king every year. The person who would become the king had to agree to a contract that he will be sent to an island after his one year of being a king. So, one king finished his term and it was time for him to go to the island and live there. The people dressed him up in expensive clothes and put him on an elephant and took him around the cities to say goodbye to all the people. This was the moment of sadness for all the kings who ruled for one year. After saying goodbye, the people took the king with a boat to the remote island and left him there. On their way back, they discovered a ship that had sunk just recently. They saw a young man who survived by holding on to a floating piece of wood. As they needed a new king, they picked up the young man and took him to their country. They requested him to be a king for a year. First he refused but later he agreed to be a king. People told him about all the rules and regulations and that how he will be sent to an island after one year.

After three days of being a king, he asked the ministers if they could show him the island where all the other kings were sent. They agreed and took him to the island. The island was covered with thick jungles and sound of vicious animals were heard coming out of them. The king went little bit inside to see how it was and discovered the dead bodies of all the past kings. He understood that as soon as they were left in the island, the animals came and killed them. The king then went back to the country and requested the people to provide him with 100 strong workers. He was provided with 100 workers and he took them to the island and told them to remove all the deadly animals and to cut down all the trees. He would visit the island every month to see how the work is progressing. In the first month, all the animals were removed and many trees were cut down. In the second month, the whole island was cleaned out. The king then told the workers to plant gardens in various parts of the island. He also took with himself useful animals like chickens, ducks, birds, goats, cows etc. In the third month, he ordered the workers to build big houses and docking stations for ships. Over the months, the island turned into a beautiful place. The young king would wear simple clothes and spend very little from his earnings. He sent all the earnings to the island for storage. Nine months have passed like this. The king called the people and told them that "I know that I have to go the island after one year, but I would like to go there right now." But the people didn't agree to this and said that he have to wait for another 3 months to complete the year.

3 months passed and now it was a full year. The people dressed up the young king and put him on an elephant to take him around the country to say goodbye to others. However, this king is unusually happy to leave the kingdom. People asked him, "All the other kings would cry at this moment and why are you laughing?" He replied, "Don't you know what the wise people say? They say that when you came to this world as a baby, you were crying and everyone was smiling. Live such a life that when you are dieing, you will be smiling and everyone around you will be crying. I have lived that life. While all the other kings were lost into the luxuries of the kingdom, I always thought about the future and planned for it. I turned the deadly island into a beautiful abode for me where I can stay peacefully."

We should take a lesson from this story about how we should also live our life. The life of this world is to prepare for the life hereafter. In this life, we shouldn't get lost into the beautiful things of this world and forget about what is to come in the afterlife. Rather, even if we are kings, we should live a simple life like our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and save all our enjoyments for the hereafter. May Allah make it easy for us all.