happiness...

Wa alaikum Salam wa rahmatullah wa barakatu

I kind of usually have a serious face but that's not because I'm not happy Alhamdulilah since Islam I have this contentment but because I'm usually deep in thought

I had a brother come up to me and was basically like why so serious but it wasnt that I was unhappy but I was thinking about something

When I interact with people I smile and laugh normally but when I'm by myself I'm sober and serious

Sorry for the essay but my point is dont judge a book by its cover. I may seem serious but inwardly Alhamdulilah I'm happy and I'd say the same goes for some others too

As for people not being happy due to envy malice spite etc how can you expect Allah to bless a people with happiness when they've turned their back on him in their ahqlaq

Look amongst those that truly implement Islam in their lives and inshaAllah you'll find happiness

format_quote Originally Posted by peacefulone

I have tried to see other muslims as happy but its very difficult. I see people with straight faces and frowns all the time. I hardly ever see smiling happy muslims around me.

Walaikum Asalam

It's not exactly easy to be cheerful and a practising Muslim at the same time in the 21st century for multiple reasons:

1. You realise that a lot of people don't like you and many want to harm you, including people you once thought of as friendly.
2. You realise that the majority of humanity, often including some of your loved ones, is completely doomed in the long run.
3. You realise that haram things are pretty much unavoidable in today's world and are a major part of just about every society.
4. You realise that you are a complete alien compared to most of humanity.
5. You see that your homeland is in complete and utter chaos or is close to reaching that point.
6. You learn that most of modern Muslim history is filled with humiliation after humiliation.
7. You see that many Muslims seek solace for their problems in things that will just drag us down even further, such as ethnic nationalism.
8. You know that suicide is haram, so you can't leave this train-wreck prematurely.
9. You see that the end of the Universe seems pretty close.

The only way to keep yourself sane is to have taqwa, and being mildly sociopathic might help too.

format_quote Originally Posted by peacefulone

Salaam alaykum.
How do you measure happiness as a muslim ?
I have tried to see other muslims as happy but its very difficult. I see people with straight faces and frowns all the time. I hardly ever see smiling happy muslims around me.
I do not know where to find happiness in Islam anymore. I appreciate everything I have and I like Islam. Its just I see hate, jealous, backstabbing, and meanness in general everywhere.
please tell me where is there a measure of happiness in Islam?

I find that living according to Islam is simpler. Focusing on the akhira makes me less attached to this dunya and the worldly things that used to matter, only matters as much as Islam is concerned.
I stress less and become more productive with my time e.g. exercise, creative DIY projects, meeting local muslimah friends and have fun together - where as before I hardly had time for anything other than earning income and was quite isolated. I was told, before accepting Islam, that I will find peace by submitting to Allah. I didn't know it's possible, but here I am experiencing it. I don't expect less hardship, less challenges in life by becoming a muslim. Hardships and sufferings are part of life, before Islam I already believed that this dunya is temporary. In times of hardships I remember these hadiths and it reminds me that I can't thank Allah enough for Islam :

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “This world is a prison for the believer and a paradise for the disbeliever.’” (Sunan Ibn Majah)
'A'isha reported: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: There is no trouble that comes to a believer except that it obliterates from his sins, even if it is the pricking of a thorn (Sahih Muslim)

format_quote Originally Posted by Nitro Zeus

What does that suppos to mean-"the worldly life is a prison for a believer, bur for disbeliever is a paradise"?

Believers submit to Allah, follow the Qur'an and Sunnah. A believer does not follow desires and do whatever he/she likes, instead he/she acts according to what Allah has deemed lawful and avoids what Allah has deemed unlawful.
It's like an imprisoned life, full of restrictions, rules and obligations. but a believer also knows that life in this dunya is a test and therefore keeps striving for the reward in the hereafter, Jannah.
Life in this dunya is paradise for disbelievers, because they do not submit to Allah, they do not obey His rules and restrictions. But in the hereafter, they will know the truth of what life in this dunya really is.

Surah Al Mulk 1-2 https://quran.com/67

Blessed is He in whose hand is dominion, and He is over all things competent . [He] who created death and life to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed - and He is the Exalted in Might, the Forgiving -


Surah At-Takathur https://quran.com/102

Competition in [worldly] increase diverts you. Until you visit the graveyards. But no, you soon shall know (the reality). Again, ye soon shall know!

Nay, were ye to know with certainty of mind. Ye shall certainly see Hell-Fire. Then you will surely see it with certainty of sight. Then, shall ye be questioned that Day about the joy (you indulged in).