Qasim Choudhary, USA
Who doesn’t want to be happy? It’s perhaps one of the most common things across all people; whatever form it may take, everyone wants to find happiness. But in a world mired by tough times, whether it’s the cost-of-living crisis or the widespread turmoil in the world, that happiness can start seeming more and more elusive. Some turn to the booming billion-dollar happiness industry, from things like self-help books to self-actualisation retreats. People are ready to make the effort to find happiness, and those who can are even willing to put up the money.
Yet, despite our best efforts, true happiness seems to remain elusive.
Consider the United States, for example. According to the World Happiness Report, the U.S. has slipped in the global happiness rankings, falling out of the top 20 happiest countries. This decline highlights a troubling reality: our relentless quest for happiness is not yielding the results we expect.[1]
As Russ Harris, author of The Happiness Trap aptly puts it, ‘We work hard to find happiness—but all too often, we fail; and even when we succeed, it’s usually short-lived, leaving us dissatisfied and wanting more.’[2]
So where are we going wrong? According to Harris, many popular beliefs about happiness are inaccurate and ultimately lead us in the opposite direction. Let’s take a look and see if we can steer our happiness ship back on track.
Myth: Happiness Is Our Constant State
A commonly made mistake is that people begin to think that our constant, natural state should be happiness. When we aren’t feeling good or upbeat, we start to believe something is wrong with us – that we are weak or soft.
However, Harris reminds us that, ‘Our emotions, feelings, and sensations are like the weather: continually changing from moment to moment.’[3]
Though we would love sunny, pleasant weather year-round, the reality is that rain and snow also need to make an appearance, no matter how unwelcome they are. The same can be said of our emotions. It would be unrealistic to expect yourself to be joyful and exuberant all the time. As humans, we experience a range of emotions and moods: joy, grief, guilt, anger, fear. These are all part of what makes us normal human beings.
In short, the ‘not-so-happy’ moments are just part of the journey towards happiness. In fact, those moments can be used as stepping stones for achieving happiness.
It’s fascinating to learn, that the divine scripture of Muslims, the Holy Qur’an beautifully captures this natural ebb and flow of human emotions and circumstances by stating,
‘Surely there is ease after hardship. Aye, surely there is ease after hardship.’[4]
Commenting on the above verse, the Promised Messiah and founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) succinctly writes,
‘There are worldly troubles associated with human life. Even if a person desires it, it is not possible for their entire life to be spent in happiness. “Surely there is ease after hardship. Aye, surely there is ease after hardship.” This is the cycle of life; when there is hardship, it should be understood that ease will surely follow.’[5]
It’s remarkable that this divine text, revealed 1,400 years ago in the deserts of Arabia, offers such a hopeful and timeless message for humanity. It serves as a crucial reminder that true joy often follows hardship. The early Muslims and Companions of the Holy Prophet (sa) emulated these examples; they would find a unique sense of enjoyment even in the difficulties they faced, knowing that if they persevered and endured them with patience, not only would better times follow, but they would attain the pleasure of God – the ultimate happiness.
By understanding that happiness is not meant to be a constant state but is in fact a gradual process which itself can be valued, we can approach life with a more realistic and balanced mindset. When ultimate happiness does come, it will be more meaningful and deeply valued.
So, the next time you find yourself traversing the valley of hardship, wondering, ‘Why me?’ or ‘How much longer must I endure these difficulties?’ take a moment to reflect on these two verses of the Holy Qur’an where Allah offers hope by promising:
‘Surely there is ease after hardship. Aye, surely there is ease after hardship.’
The Qur’anic promise of ease following difficulty offers not just a spiritual lesson, but a practical framework for living a balanced, fulfilling life. The true joy we seek, after all, is often found not in its pursuit but in living life and all it brings with patience and steadfastness. What’s clear is that the ultimate happiness we all seek will certainly ebb and flow if its attainment remains attached to the highs and lows of this world. When the pursuit of happiness transcends the temporal and is rooted in faith, then the hardships can be endured and happiness can be found.
About the Author: Qasim Choudhary is a graduate of the Ahmadiyya Institute of Languages and Theology in Canada, and serves as an Imam of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in the United States of America.
ENDNOTES
[1] https://worldhappiness.report/news/world-happiness-report-2024-most-comprehensive-picture-yet-of-happiness-across-generations/#:~:text=Significantly%2C%20the%20United%20States%20of,for%20those%2060%20and%20older.
[2] Harris, Russ. The Happiness Trap: How to Stop Struggling and Start Living: A Guide to ACT. 2nd ed., Shambhala, 2022. P.8 (Online PDF)
[3] Harris, Russ. The Happiness Trap: How to Stop Struggling and Start Living: A Guide to ACT. 2nd ed., Shambhala, 2022. P.9 (Online PDF)
[4] The Holy Qur’an, 94:6-7
[5] Tafsir Hazrat Masih-e-Maud, Surah Inshirah Vol. 8, p.295
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