Have you ever felt that you are so happy and then, suddenly, got so depressed and isolated? Actually this happens in many occasions and on a daily basis. For example, each one of us can buy a new house and once you buy it, you feel glorious, as if you are on top of the world in the first week or the first month, then the house becomes so normal. You buy an expensive car, and you are on cloud nine after you get it, you almost can’t sleep for the first couple of weeks, then it becomes very conventional.
In this article we will try find some answers for three basic questions, which are:
– Why are people suffering from depression and disturbance although there are many pleasures around them?
– What is the difference between happiness and peace? Or are they the same?
– How to reach ultimate happiness and state of inner peace?
Each and everybody is searching for happiness, tranquility and peace of mind, but it is hard to find them. Nowadays, depression became the disease of our time. Many people are suffering from depression, agony, sadness, nightmares and disturbance in their lives. people try to overcome such horrible feelings by every possible way. Some think that money will grant them happiness, certain position can make them happy, certain houses, certain car, certain girl can make them happy. they keep telling themselves, if I get that job, I will be happy, If I move to this house, I will be happy, if I marry that girl, I will be happy. But they are kidding themselves that they are happy, they may become excited and happy for a while, but then they get back to the original state of frustration. Let me ask you a question, how can that kind of pleasure last?
Pursue happiness (not pleasure)!
Now we have to know the difference between sensuous pleasures and material things, and the real state of happiness or as it is mentioned in the Quran “tranquility”. Sensuous pleasure, for example, is to enjoy eating delicious food, to visit a wonderful place or to see a beautiful face of a child. It needs something material that is outside you not inside. If you are over concerned with these objects, you will feel a certain kind of pleasure that comes from outside you, but the most dangerous feature of this sensuous pleasure is that it is decreasing and temporal. On the other hand, real happiness doesn’t need any material things as it is inside the person and originates from the connection to God the creator of all pleasures and the source of pure happiness and tranquility.
Prophet Ibrahim “Abraham” -peace be upon him- felt tranquility when he was thrown into the fire by disbelievers. At that time, Angel Jibreel came to him and said:
– O Ibrahim! Is there anything you wish for?”
– Ibrahim could have asked to be saved from the fire, to be taken away, but no, he said: “I only wish that Allah be pleased with me.”
The catapult was released, and Ibrahim was thrown in the middle of the fire. But Allah would not allow His Prophet to be killed, He ordered the fire:
O fire! Be coolness and safety for Ibrahim!”
Prophet Yunus also felt tranquility despite being in the darkness of the sea in the belly of the fish, He -peace be upon him- realized his mistake and called out to Allah:
… he cried through the depths of darkness (saying): There is no God but You, Glorified be You! Truly, I have been of the wrongdoers.” (21:87)
To conclude, here are some ways that grant you happiness, tranquility and peace to your mind, body and soul:
Spend sometime every day to think of God Almighty:
Thinking of money, power, sex and all kinds of sensuous pleasures will only give you temporal pleasure. But seeking knowledge of God and thinking about Him shall grant you happiness.
The more you have faith in God, the more you have Peace:
Of course there is no tranquility, inner peace or happiness without faith. Allah mentioned in the Qur’an that:
He who sent down tranquility into the hearts of the believers that they would increase in faith along with their [present] faith. And to Allah belong the soldiers of the heavens and the earth, and ever is Allah Knowing and Wise.” (48:4)
When so depressed or so happy, remember God and praise Him:
Remembering God in good and bad times will give you the power and the strength to face anything, and will grant you inner peace. God Almighty said:
Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allah. Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured.” (13:28)
Take satisfaction in doing right and good deeds:
Being a person who has values and morals, you take a decision to be righteous by doing good deeds to yourself and others and avoiding bad deeds, you choose this to be your way to find happiness and real meaning of life.Indeed, those who have said, “Our Lord is Allah” and then remained on a right course – there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.” (46:13)
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