What are 5 everyday things that bring you happiness?
#1 Al-Barr (The Source of All Goodness)
Every night your body turns lifeless, and you experience a “little death” (mati kecil). With His permission, your soul returns in the morning and you get to experience another day that brings more gifts. That itself is something that brings happiness. I read this somewhere and it struck a chord – Allah’s goodness is always constant, even when your awareness isn’t.
Al-Barr appears only one time in the Qur’an, and He continues to nurture with both seen and unseen blessings. Every form of kindness and mercy in my life is a happy gift from Allah.1
#2 Having a friend in Ar-Rafeeq (The Gentle, Guiding Friend)
I can have conversations with Ar-Rafeeq anytime. Having someone who is constantly there for you in good and bad times. He somehow knows how to cheer you up, giving you whatever is best for you. That pretty much makes you content with life.
While Ar-Rafeeq knows me inside out, I love the feeling I get when I learn and know Him better too.
In an age of autonomy of the self, the very idea of submission and worship can be hard for some people to comprehend or even fully accept. When everything around you is pushing you towards a life lived for yourself and the realizations of your desires above all else, how can you fathom the idea of obedience and servitude?
As jurist, theologian and spiritual author Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya (d. 751/1350) explains, “Complete servitude (ʿubūdiyya) is a byproduct of complete love, and complete love is a byproduct of the Beloved’s perceived perfection.”
As Muslims, it is the basis of all that we do – knowing Allah and worshiping Him.
#3 Being able to rely on Al-Waliyy (The Protector) throughout the day
Life can be challenging. Everyone has different expectations. We get hurt by people sometimes. But you get through it with Al-Waliyy – He guides you and guards you at the same time. He will look out for your needs even when they conflict with your wants, which is what a responsible Wali is supposed to do2.
Which is why I think having Taqwa (God-consciousness or fear of Allah) goes hand-in-hand for a fully protected life. Taqwa is often described as a shield that protects a believer from sin and misguidance, and is emphasised throughout the Qur’an, especially in the 28th Juz (Surah al-Talaq)3. Being in a state of awareness of Allah’s Presence and Power, a fear of displeasing Him, and a desire to seek His pleasure ensures your protection in this life and the hereafter.
#4 Al-Jabbar (The Compeller) telling us that pain can be good for you
Pain itself is the purifier. It might sound unconventional, but this saying makes me love life even more.
And we have Al-Jabbār who mends what is broken and who consoles hearts.
The Arabic word for the splint that is used to set a broken bone is a jabīrah, from the same root word as jabbār. As such, for those of us who are broken and have been victims of injustice, this name carries a valuable meaning. However, it’s important to remember that our hearts are not always mended by being given what we want, and in many cases we are given something else entirely (which is something better).
Sometimes it can be through an uplifting word by a dear friend or being inspired to pray and weep to Allah. This name inspires awe at the majesty of Allah, makes one afraid of committing injustice, and still allows us to find comfort in the One who can mend all.
#5 Seeing the moon or stars
I have always loved looking at the moon and trying to spot the stars, catching sunrises and sunsets, especially when on holiday. There’s so much beauty in the sky, and it also demonstrates the expanse of the world. In surah al-Mulk (The Dominion), the juz begins with telling us to look at the sky and see how flawless it is and calling on us to ponder over what is beyond that4. Surah Fatir also reminds us that all the blessings in our life are from Allah.
I have always wondered how it feels like to witness miracles during the time of the Prophet pbuh. For example, surah Qamar reminds us that the Quraysh were shown a clear sign in the splitting of the moon.
If I had answered this prompt a year ago, I know the answers will be different. It will be on the worldly blessings linked to Him. But the main change is the switch in positions of that happiness core – Al-Hayiyy (The Modest) is the one who allows me to experience these worldly blessings.
What about the everyday things that brings you happiness?
I love that it is easy to find things that bring you happiness, and I hope you have yours too.