By Abu Muhammad Yusuf
We are all searching for happiness. In
achieving this happiness our attitude in life plays a crucial role.
After years of hard and dedicated service
to his Company, Ahmed was being appointed at an elegant reception as the
new Director. It was a small function where his wife Fatimah, a Home Executive,
and some of the wives of the other persons in top management were
also present.
In an adjacent room, Ann, the wife of the
CEO of the Company, asked Ahmed's wife a very odd and unusual question; "Does your husband make
you happy?"
The husband, Ahmed, who at that moment
was not at her side, but was sufficiently near to hear the question, paid
attention to the conversation, sitting up slightly, feeling secure, even
filling his chest lightly in pride and hope, knowing that his spouse was a role
model Muslimah and would definitely not publically lower or degrade her
husband, would answer affirmatively, since she had always been there for him
during their marriage and generally in life. Nevertheless, to both his and the
others' surprise, she replied simply;
"No, no he doesn't make me
happy…"
The room became uncomfortably silent, as
if everyone were listening to the spouse's response. There was a sudden
coldness in the air. The husband was petrified. A frown appeared on his face.
He couldn't believe what his wife was saying, especially at such an important
occasion for him. To the amazement of her husband and of everyone!
Fatimah sat up firmly, moved her elegant
black hijab in place, and explained in a modest but stern tone to the other
wives who were present;
"No, he doesn't make me happy… I AM HAPPY. The fact that I am
happy or not doesn't depend on him, but on me. Allah Ta'ala is Most Wise and
has granted each of us intellect and discretion to reason, interpret and
decide. Allah Ta'ala made me the person upon which my happiness depends. I make
the choice to be happy in each situation and in each moment of my life. If my
happiness were to depend on other people, on other things or circumstances on
the face of this earth, I would be in serious trouble! Over my life I have
learned a couple of things: I decide to be happy and the rest is a matter of
'experiences or circumstances;' like helping, and understanding, accepting,
listening, consoling; and with my spouse, I have lived and practiced this many
times. Honestly, true happiness lies in being content"
Relieved and reassured, a smile was
clearly noticed on Ahmed's face.
Moral: Happiness will always
be found in contentment, forgiveness and in loving yourself and others. To
truly love is difficult, it is to forgive unconditionally, to live, to take the
"experiences or circumstances" as they are, facing them together and
being happy with conviction. There are those who say I cannot be happy :
·
Because
I am sick.
·
Because
I have no money.
·
Because
it's too cold.
·
Because
they insulted me.
·
Because
someone stopped loving me.
·
Because
someone didn't appreciate me.
But what you don't know is that you can
be happy even though you are sick, whether it is too hot, whether you have
money or not, whether someone has insulted you, or someone didn't love you, or
hasn't valued you.
The Noble Messenger of Allah Ta'ala is
reported to have said: "The happiness of the son of Adam depends on his being
content with what Allah has decreed for him…the misery of the son of Adam
results from in his discontent with what Allah has decreed for him." (Hadith- Tarmidhi)
Being Happy is an attitude about life and
each one of us must decide!
Being Happy, depends on you!
