Prophet Muhammad said, “Wealth is not the abundance of material possessions. Real wealth is the inner wealth.” Narrated by Imam Al Bukhari and Imam Muslim.
He also said, “Be in this world like a stranger or a wayfarer.” Narrated by Imam Al Bukhari.
Prophet Muhammad has stressed enough through different sayings that life in this world isn’t like the way our modern commercialist society portray the ideal life. A common stereotype we have on success is driving a Ferrari or being married or engaged to a supermodel while living in a multimillion dollar mansion. The commercialist society dictates us that we live in order to get rich or die trying.
THE MORAL INFLUENCE OF COMMERCIALISM
Our commercialist society has equated happiness with one’s ability to afford the latest gadgets, cars, fashion and everything that is shown on TV as necessities one shouldn’t live without. When in fact all they were are luxuries that we can easily do without. We are in an endless rat race. Like a hamster in a wheel cage living each day in order to afford things by often being in debt spending money that we do not have in order to afford things that we do not really need in order to impress people that we do not really like.
Life has become a chore of becoming always ahead of other people in material possessions. Although our conscience often whispers to us to reconsider our purchases of material goods in order to keep us on track and be away from being spendthrifts, our desires whisper back that we should give in and give ourselves a break by letting us believe that happiness depends upon it.
In a consumerist society, material possessions are the utmost priority at the expense of other important things in life such as relationships, spirituality, and even morality. We became slaves of the dollar so to speak. We are willing to steal, kill or be killed for top dollar and nothing else matters. This mentality leads us to numerous corruptions overshadowing our morals, values, and virtues as human beings.
Social media has amplified this phenomenon by letting us have a channel through which we could show off and compare ourselves to others. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and others have given us a platform or an arena in which to compete. Some of us even go to great lengths and effort to sport every material thing we could get our hands to through often senseless selfies and over engineered posts of our gadgets, travels, clothing, and others. Some would even post of things that is not theirs, just for fun.
Most of us have become mindless beings whose sole existence is to show off not only the things we have or we can afford but also the things we don’t have or cannot afford. Some of us are even willing to lie and deceive in order to get that most coveted likes, comments and shares in social media.
HAPPINESS IS OFTEN ILLUSIVE
We have been this way for quite some time now. The intrinsically rich, the well off, or even the poor among us compete in order to have a piece of this happiness that we have equated to material things such as possessions and popularity.
We’ve been vying until the recent news of celebrity suicides had us thinking. Why would someone successful, attractive, rich, and famous would ever wish to end all these? Weren’t they happy? We thought one would be happy because of these things, because these have become our goals in life.
Or maybe we were wrong.
Maybe happiness really wasn’t about all these. Maybe happiness is really in something that is within us all along waiting to be nourished but we have consciously abandoned because of materialism.
Happiness is but one word but the mere mention of it lights up the heart and tickles us to smile. Even the smallest suggestion for us to be happy in any other way will light up our hearts. It is the primary reason for our efforts. That is why if family makes you happy you’d dedicate all your effort to their comfort and well-being. And if material possession makes you happy then one would dedicate his effort to gain it.
ISLAM SIMPLIFIED HAPPINESS
Allah said in the Quran,
“We did not create the Jinn and Humans except to worship Me.” Quran 51:56.
In utmost simplicity, Allah has informed us of our primary goal in life which if realized will give us real sense of fulfillment and bring us the evasive happiness that we all wanted. In Islam, happiness is found in the worship of Allah and nowhere else. You may find this too limiting because people tend to misunderstand worship as things that are done only inside the church or things pertaining to prayer.
But worship in Islam isn’t. A Muslim worships Allah through his prayers but a Muslim also worships Allah by being good to his parents and family and the people in general whether Muslims or Non-Muslims. A Muslim worships Allah by doing good deeds that will benefit any creation of Allah whether they are humans, plants of animals. Any good deed done for the pleasure of Allah is a form or worship and he is rewarded for such. This knowledge and certainty that this good deed however small will be rewarded plentifully by Allah will give the Muslim a sense of achievement, a fulfilled purpose that will give him happiness.
You will find this as some sort of over simplification of Islam on the complex issue of happiness and how to gain it but this is something you will find in the testimonies of Muslims particularly reverts. You will find them testifying that the reason they embraced Islam is that they found happiness in Islam and in it they have found answers to everything that they have been contemplating upon all their lives. From the physical to the metaphysical. From the material to the spiritual.
Have you been seeking happiness? Send your questions, comments, and suggestions to mujahidnavarra@gmail.com.
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