• The phrase “Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” used by Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence,

• It was a twist on John Locke’s “life, liberty and property.”

• In traditional Islamic thought the Huqûq al insan are five: life, religion, intellect, lineage, and property.

• The first and last correspond to the first and last of Locke’s trinity, but Locke has replaced religion, intellect and lineage with “liberty.”

• The influence of Locke on Jefferson is well-established

• The influence of Islamic thought on Locke is debatable

• It is a fact that when in exile from England he was sheltered by Quakers who had both the Qur’an and Sufi writings in their libraries

• , G.A. Russell in his book The “Arabick” Interest of the Natural Philosophers in Seventeenth Century England has provided strong circumstantial evidence that Locke abandoned his early pragmatic philosophical views for a philosophy of natural rights endowed by God due to his exposure to the ideas of Ibn Tufail, the mentor of Ibn Rushd

• Locke professed that he changed his mind in 1671 after attending a party given by a professor whom Russell identifies as Ewin Poecocke who in that same year published the PhilosophicusAutodidactus, a translation of Ibn Tufail’s work

• Subsequently Locke makes his arguments in favor of God-given laws that govern man in the state of nature,

• It is, then, unsurprising that Locke would adopt the notions of life and property as human rights. Without the right to life, no other rights are conceivable

• These ideas were spelled out in great detail over two centuries before Locke by the Muslim historian Ibn Khaldun in his famous introduction to history, the Muqaddamah.

• We now understand why Jefferson dropped property, which is not inalienable, but why did he add “the pursuit of happiness?”

• The pursuit of happiness is a goal obviously compatible with liberty, while a guarantee of happiness is not.

• This is because liberty is about the right to make choices while attaining happiness is about making the correct choices.

• Happiness is a mental state of well-being characterized by positive or pleasant emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy.

• Happiness, according to the Oxford dictionary is 'feeling, causing, or giving pleasure' and it is being 'satisfied'.

• Psychologists define happiness as a continuous feeling of

enjoyment, satisfaction, generosity and delight, arising from

contentment of one’s self, life and belief that they will have a

blissful destiny.

• Each and every human being instinctively is in pursuit of happiness. Whether he/she is a child or an adult, a Muslim or a non-Muslim, and this is the fact

Cycle of misery

Substance Abuse

Illusion of happiness

Drug dissipates

Withdrawal

• Happiness upon achieving material goals ,i.e.,

o Education

o Money

o Power

o Influence

• Great efforts are exerted in attaining a goal and when finally achieved one wonders, what’s next?

• This happiness is a short-lived experience, which at best makes one happy for a short period of time.

• View life as a means to satisfy their desires.

• If it was the key to happiness, affluent individuals, such as Christina Onassis, wouldn’t have committed suicide.

• When asked while she was in France, ‚Are you the richest woman in the world?‛ She said, ‚Yes, I am but I am also the unhappiest.‛

• Soul must be sufficed as should the body.

• If this is not completed, one will carry great worries, feelings of discontentment and unhappiness

• Soul is sufficed with the true belief in the Oneness of God, and the belief that He will resurrect us and hold us accountable for what we do.

• One must also excel in doing the good and avoid the evil.

• This form of happiness will remain with an individual under all circumstances; delight anguishpoverty prosperity, sickness health

• Whether one would attain wish of this world or not

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. (Nahal, 16:97)

• Happiness is in the good life mentioned in this verse, that even the rich disbelievers cannot find, despite the money they have

• We need to know what is the purpose of our life• How to reach success in the hereafter• To fulfill the requirements of reaching this success • Having IMAN or belief in God• Following the commands of God and His Messenger(SAW)

And whoever turns away from My remembrance –

indeed, he will have a depressed [i.e., difficult] life,

and We will gather [i.e., raise] him on the Day of

Resurrection blind. (20:124)

• And whoever is blinded from remembrance of the

Most Merciful – We appoint for him a devil, and he

is to him a companion.(43:36)

•

• Amazing indeed is the affair of the believer • All his affairs are ultimately good for him and this is

only for a believer. • When he is graced with a blessing, he would be

thankful and grateful to God and it would be good for him

• When he is afflicted with a calamity, he would be patient and it would be good for him.‛ (Muslim)

•

•

• Anas ibn Malik reported: The Prophet (SAW) said, “None of you will find the sweetness of faith until he loves a person only for the sake of Allah; and until being in the fire is dearer to him than returning to unbelief after Allah brought him out of it; and until Allah and His messenger are more beloved to him than anything else.” *Sahih Bukhari, Book 73, Number 67]

• After being tortured, banished and imprisoned said: ‘What can my enemies do to me?

• My paradise and orchard are in my heart and they never part with me.

• If my captors imprison me it is most certainly a religious retreat,

• If they kill me it is martyrdom

• If they banish me from my land it is like tourism.’

• He who knows himself is truly happy.”• Self-knowledge consists in realizing that we

have a heart or spirit which is absolutely perfect,

• It has been covered with dust by the accumulation of passions derived from the body and its animal nature.

• Our eyes have been so distracted by physical pleasures

• The essence of oneself is likened to a perfect mirror

• The aim of moral discipline is to purify the heart from the rust of passion till, like a clear mirror, it reflects the light of God

• Highest function of the soul is the perception of truth; hence it is the greatest happiness one can obtain

• Unhappiness is created by enslavement to desire and the belief that one should satisfy only one’s own desires (as governed by base instincts and appetites)

• There are examples in history of truly happy people, and they were “prophets”—people who have attained a perfect closeness with the truth

• We are happy to the degree to which we can emulate these prophets

• We are all born with a “knowing pain in the soul,” which causes us to seek happiness, but most of us seek substitute pleasures deriving from the body which cannot resolve a pain that is essentially spiritual

• Happiness is comprised of three components:

1. About 50% of individual happiness comes from a genetic set point

2. About 10% of our happiness is due to our circumstances; demographic factors, age, gender, ethnicity and geographic factors. It also includes personal history and life status.

3- The remaining 40% of an individual's happiness is derived from intentional activity, from discrete actions or practices that we choose to do.

• As humans we have no control over our genetic set-point, and hardly any control over our circumstances.

• This 50% of happiness in Islam is called 'ridha bi al-qadha' (being content with our lot in life).

• This means that as believers if we truly love Allāh and trust Him, we are satisfied with what He Has decreed for us.

• The Messenger would supplicate with words that would highlight the importance of satisfaction with our fate; therefore we too should make the effort to recite these supplications

• “I am pleased with Allah as my Lord, with Islam as my religion, and with Muhammad as my Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).” *Abu Dawud]

• “O Allāh, make me content with what you have provided me, send blessings for me therein, and place for me every absent thing with something better.” *Bukhāri]

• “O Allāh, I seek refuge with You from knowledge which does not bring benefit and from a heart which is not fearful and from a self which is not content and from a supplication which is not answered.” *Muslim+

1-Seek Pleasure of Allah

2- Be Thankful

3- Service to suffering humanity

4. Avoid greed & Worldly

Comparisons

5. Ask and Expect Only From Allāh

6. Build and Maintain Family

Relations

7. Live a simple life and

Organize Your Life

8. Build a Support Group

9. Earn & consume

Halal

10. Keep Fit

11-Be Patient

HAPPINESS

Surely Allāh is All-Mighty, All-Wise. Allāh has promised the believers -men and women, –Gardens under which rivers flow to dwell therein forever, and beautiful mansions in Gardens of 'Adn (Eden Paradise). But the greatest bliss (happiness) is the Good Pleasure of Allāh. That is the supreme success. [9:71, 72 Al-Tawbah]

The believers, men and women, are Auliyâ' (helpers, supporters, friends) of one another; they enjoin (on people) Al-Ma'rûf (good), and forbid (people) from Al-Munkar (evil); they perform As-Salât (prayer), and give the Zakât (charity), and obey Allāh and His Messenger. Allāh will have His Mercy on them

Those who have believed and whose hearts are content by the remembrance of Allah. Indeed by the remembrance of Allah hearts are contented. (13:28)

And whoever turns away from My remembrance –

indeed, he will have a depressed [i.e., difficult] life,

and We will gather [i.e., raise] him on the Day of

Resurrection blind. (20:124)

And whoever is blinded from remembrance of the

Most Merciful – We appoint for him a devil, and he

is to him a companion.(43:36)

The Prophet (SAW) said: One will experience the ‘sweetness’ of faith when they acquire three traits:

1. That Allah and His Prophet are more beloved to him than all of the creation

2. That one loves for the sake of Allah

3. That one hates to return to disbelief as one would hate to be tossed into the blazing Fire.‛

• The more Thankful we are to Allāh, the more He will shower His bounties upon us.

• Appreciation of what Allāh has blessed you with is vital for this step to be achieved. This is indeed an act of worship.

And (remember) when your Lord proclaimed: “If you give thanks, I will give you more (of My Blessings), but if you are thankless, verily! My Punishment is indeed severe.” *14:7 Ibrāhīm]

• Work on activities that result in internal happiness that satisfy and bring a smile to the heart, not merely a smile on the face by doing meaningful work;

• Strive to partake in activities like feeding the poor, assisting the distressed and helping others rather than killing your resources like time and money.

• “True enrichment does not come through possessing a lot of wealth, but true enrichment is the enrichment of the soul.” *Bukhāri]

• Those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah and then do not follow up what they have spent with reminders [of it] or [other] injury will have their reward with their Lord, and there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve. (2:262)

• The hand that gives out in charity is better than thatwhich takes it. Give charity to those whom you supportand the best form of charity is to give while you arewealthy. Whoever abstains from taking charity, Allah will bless him.‛ (Bukhari)

• And let not those who [greedily] withhold what Allah has given them of His bounty ever think that it is better for them. Rather, it is worse for them. Their necks will be encircled by what they withheld on the Day of Resurrection. And to Allah belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth. And Allah, with what you do, is [fully] Acquainted. (3:180)

• “A generous person is beloved by Allah and beloved by people and would be protected from the Hell-Fire. The miser is not beloved by Allah and is far from the Jannah, and disliked by people and close to the Hell-Fire. An ignorant, generous person is more beloved to Allah than a faithful miser.” (Tirmidhi

Do not look at the celebrities, rich or affluent people above you in worldly matters. The lives of such individuals is not 'ideal' in the eyes of Allah.

And do not extend your eyes toward that by which

We have given enjoyment to [some] categories of them, the splendor of worldly life by which We test them. And the

provision of your Lord is better and more lasting. (20:131)

• The Prophet (SAW) said: He who submits to Allah will be successful and his provisions will suffice him, and Allah will make him content with it.‚ (Muslim)

• ‚Whoever wakes up safely in his home and is healthy in his body and has provisions for his day, would have acquired all the worldly possessions he is in need of.‚ (Tirmidthi)

• If the son of Adam had two valleys of wealth, he would wish for a third equal to it. Nothing suffices the son of Adam except soil and Allah will forgive those who seek forgiveness.‚ (Bukhari)

• Two hungry wolves, if let loose amongst a flock of sheep, cause less harm than a man's eagerness to increase his money and his prestige." Reported by al-Tirmidhi (# 2373), Ahmad

• I don't fear poverty for you, but rather I fear that you will compete with one another (to see who has more possessions)." Reported by al-Hakim (2/543) and others

• Beautified for people is the love of that which they

desire – of women and sons, heaped-up sums of gold

and silver, fine branded horses, and cattle and tilled

land. That is the enjoyment of worldly life, but

Allah has with Him the best return [i.e., Paradise] 3:14

• ‚Be in this life like a stranger or a wayfarer.‚ (Bukhari)

• My example in this world is surely that of a person riding on a sunny day and then taking shade under a tree for a period of time, then leaving and continuing on his journey.‛ (Ahmed)

• Look how We have favored [in provision] some of

you over others. But the Hereafter is greater in

degrees [of difference] and greater in distinction.

(17:21)

• And do not wish for that by which Allah has made

some of you exceed others. For men is a share of

what they have earned and for women is a share of

what they have earned and ask Allah of His bounty.

Indeed Allah is ever, of all things, Knowing. (4:32)

• Any sustenance, provision and reward we expect is from Allāh alone.

• And so many a moving (living) creature there is, that carries not its own provision! Allāh provides for it and for you. And He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower. [24;60 Al Ankabūt]

• “O Allāh, give me enough of what You have made lawful to suffice me from what You have made unlawful, and enrich me by Your bounty giving me independence from all other than You.” *al-Tirmidhi]

The Prophet () said:

‚No individual will depart from this world until he

• Completes the term (of life) assigned for him by Allah and

• Until he takes all his provisions that are assigned to him; therefore, ask Allah.

• When the response to your supplication is delayed, do not seek what you want from unlawful sources,

• One will only get the blessings of Allah when they obey Him.‚

• Would you then, if you were given the authority, do mischief in the land, and sever your ties of kinship? Such are they whom Allah has cursed, so that He has made them deaf and blinded their sight.}*" (Muhammad 47:22-23)

• “All created beings are the dependents of Allāh, and the most beloved of creation to Allah is the one who is good to His dependents” *Bayhaqi]

• "He who severs ties of kinship, will not enter Paradise." (Muslim)

• And those who break the covenant of Allah, after its ratification, and sever that which Allah has commanded to be joined (i.e. they sever the bond of kinship and are not good to their relatives) and work mischief in the land, on them is the curse, and for them is the unhappy home (i.e. Hell) (Ar-Ra`d13:25

• "There is no sin more deserving of having punishment meted out by Allah to its perpetrator in advance in this world along with what He stores up for him in the next world than oppression and severing ties of family." (At-Tirmidhi)

• Prophet(SAW) chose a simple life over a glamorous one, and he was always content.

• Umar(RA) saw the simple life of the Prophet and said:

O Messenger of God! While kings sleep in soft, feather beds, you are lying on a rough mat. You are the Messenger of God and thereby deserve more than any other people to live an easy life. The Prophet was reported to have replied: Do you not agree that the luxuries of the world should be theirs but those of the Hereafter ours? (Al-Bukhari & Muslim)

• A person who plans their day is much more productive than a person who does not.

• The Prophet used to carefully apportion his time according to the demands on him for: Worshiping Allah, Public affairs and Personal matters.

• On the authority of Ali, Tirmizi has recorded that the Prophet had carefully apportioned his time according to the demands on him for offering worship to Allah in and his personal matters..

[Sahih Muslim, Tirmizi]

• Feeling a part of a larger group gives one a sense of security and a safety net to fall into on occasions of happiness and hardships.

• The concept of brotherhood and sisterhood is one of the central themes of Islam.

• “The (example of) believers (in their mutual love, care and concern) is like a single person: if his eye complains of pain his whole body complains of pain, and if his head complains of pain his whole body complains of pain.” *Muslim+

• The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said:

‚The example of a good companion and an evil one is like that of a perfume salesman and a blacksmith.

1. A perfume salesman will either give you some perfume, sell it to you or at the very least you will smell a pleasant scent;

2. A blacksmith will burn your clothes and in the very least you will smell a very unpleasant odor from him.‛ (Bukhari)

• Consuming halal is an order of Allah and an essential part of the Islamic faith.

• Abu Huraira related,” Allah's Messenger PBUH said: Verily Allah is pure and He accepts only what is pure and indeed Allah has given those orders to the believers, which he has given to the Messengers. He has said, “O Messenger, eat from the pure foods and work righteous”.

• He -also- has said: “O you who have believed, eat from the pure things which we have provided you.” (Al-Baqarah 2:172

• Then he made mention of a man who undergoes a lengthy journey in a state that he is disheveled and dusty. He spreads his hands towards the sky (calling), “O my lord, O my lord”, however his food is haram, his drink is haram, his clothes are haram and he has been nourished with haram! So how will his call be answered?” *Muslim+

• The growing indifference with regards to halal foods is indeed disturbing and shocking

• Muhammad (SAW) said, "There will come a time upon my Ummah when people will not be concerned over what they take. It will not matter for them whether it is Haram or Halal". (Bukhari)

• "When this time comes, then none of their Duas will be accepted" (Razeen)

• "That flesh which has grown out of Haram food will not enter Jannah. Hell has more right to it" (Ahmad,Tirmithi).

• 'Abstention from doubtful things is the best of Deen" (Tabraani)

• Scientists claim that one of the benefits of exercise is that it makes us feel happy.

• Exercise is described by many doctors as an anti-depressant.

• The presence of certain chemicals like endorphins and phenyl acetic acid increases drastically after a good work out and it is this that contributes to that 'feel good' feeling afterwards

• “The strong believer is better and more beloved to Allāh than the weak believer, while there is good in both.” *Muslim+

• And we will surely test you with something of fear

and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits,

but give good tidings to the patient. (2:155)

• O you who have believed, persevere and endure and remain stationed and fear Allah that you may be successful.(3:200)

• For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease [i.e., relief].

Indeed, with hardship [will be] ease. (94:5-6)

• The Prophet (SAW) said: Know that victory is the outcome of patience and that relief is the outcome of anguish and agony and know that with hardship there is ease.‛ (Hakim)

• First type: Patience when doing acts of worship. Allah says: Peace [i.e., security] be upon you for what you patiently endured. And excellent is the final home. (13:24)

• Second type: Patience in relation to avoiding sinful acts. Allah says:

And keep yourself patient [by being] with those who call upon their Lord in the morning and the evening, seeking His countenance. And let not your eyes pass beyond them, desiring adornments of the worldly life, and do not obey one whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance and who follows his desire and whose affair is ever [in] neglect.(18:28)• Third type: Patience in relation to calamities Allah decreesupon man. Allah says: No disaster strikes except by permission of Allah. And whoever believes in Allah – He will guide his heart. And Allah is Knowing of all things. (64:11)