The search for a happy life begins in the home

Rym Ghazal considers the true path to happiness in the UAE and throughout the region.

Mother of the Nation Festival in Abu Dhabi. Mona Al Marzooqi / The National

“Cheerfulness is a bounty …” – Prophet Mohammed.

In the formative years of the UAE, the late Sheikh Zayed, its founder, had many visions for his country.

One of them he shared in 1974 with Abdulrahman Makhlouf, who was the man behind the Abu Dhabi city master plan.

“Sheikh Zayed wanted people who live here to feel happy”, recalls the Egyptian urban planner, who also holds UAE citizenship.

“As Sheikh Zayed discussed this concept, I was reminded of what the Greek philosopher Plato said about the ideal city, that in addition to fulfilling its basic function of providing shelter and protection to its residents, it must be a source of happiness."

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This article is part of our supplement on happiness, which unites us all. For more happiness stories visit our dedicated page.

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This particular philosophical concept was embodied in the naming of one of Abu Dhabi’s first streets: “Al Saada” (happiness).

Some of the founding bricks with which the UAE was built were bricks of happiness, and this pursuit of happiness has long been at the core of human goals – across time, cultures and civilisations.

In Islam, Prophet Mohammed and his companions often discussed the ways of attaining happiness and of staying happy and content when facing problems and obstacles.

One of Prophet Mohammed’s companions said: “Since the day I accepted Islam, the Messenger of God would never meet me without a smiling face.” Given the positive effect a smile has on those you meet, Islam encourages its followers to smile as one form of charity.

In a Friday sermon, released by the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowment (Awqaf), last month, it stated the ways to attaining happiness as doing good, obeying Allah and embodying Islamic values like self-contentment, forgiveness and complete trust in Allah’s decree, where one should have faith and trust in the Almighty in both good times and bad.

The Quran says: “Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer, We will surely cause him to live a good life, and We will surely give them their reward [in the Hereafter] according to the best of what they used to do.” (An-Nahl: 97).

Ibn Abbas, one of the Prophet Mohammed’s companions, said: “Good life is happiness … and it covers all aspects of comfort.”

Another companion, Ibn Mas’ud, said: “Allah has placed ease and happiness in certainty of faith and contentment. He has placed worry and misery in discontent and doubt.”

In an age where we keep wanting more – more wealth, more status – it is important to remember the power of self-contentment and being satisfied with what one has. If someone is single, they want to get married, if someone is married, they want kids, and if they have kids, they want the best schools. The list of wants never end: we want to have the latest technology, the latest fashions and trends, more followers on social media, to be admired and famous, the best cars and best homes and so forth.

The Messenger of Allah said: “Be satisfied with what Allah has allotted for you and you shall be the richest of the people.” To show how important this concept was, he said it several times in different ways. In another saying attributed to him, he says: “Richness does not mean, having a great amount of property, but riches is self-contentment.”

Over and over again we hear poets, wise men and wise women of the past tell us something along the lines of how being satisfied with what you have been given will help you achieve true happiness.

An equally important means of achieving joy and delight is remembrance of Allah: “Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allah. Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah, hearts are assured.” (Ar-Raad: 28).

Besides one’s actions, like being thankful, kind, forgiving and giving, Islam stresses the importance of good relations with those closest to us.

It comes as no surprise that a happy home is also a key to a happy life. A supportive, loving family as well as good neighbours and friends are some of the ways of attaining happiness.

Prophet Mohammed said: “The four pillars of happiness are: a righteous wife, a spacious dwelling, righteous neighbours and a good steed.”

The path to happiness has been gently laid out for those who wish to follow its tenets, and if followed, it is possible to be blessed with happiness in both this life and the hereafter.

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