happiness

There are those who search for happiness in various ways, yet never find it.

They give everything they have—body, soul, and all that is dear—only to find it still eludes them.

And so, one continues throughout life chasing this phantom called happiness—or joy—only to realize in the end that it was never truly found.

Is happiness a ghost or a foggy entity that slips through our fingers? Or is it rather a deeply unstable and ever-changing psychological feeling?

What is this elusive happiness that everyone seems to be running after, yet no one truly attains?

People have crossed oceans and risked death in boats heading for wealthier nations, only to drown in the vast seas.

Ask those who survived, or those who reached their destinations legally, and they’ll say: We were searching for joy and happiness.

Some sacrifice their time, money, and even morals just to stay in a political position—deep down, seeking recognition and power.

At the core, that politician is simply longing to feel happiness and joy.

No one can deny that material things can bring comfort—they allow the body to meet its needs, calming the mind from constant worry.

One who lacks a home cannot be at peace; one who cannot feed his children cannot rest easy.

Yet, these things alone do not bring true happiness or lasting joy.

How many among us possess everything, yet still feel empty and unsatisfied?

And I say this openly:

The happiest moments in my life were when I owned nothing—when I was poor.

This is not just about me.

You, dear reader, have surely experienced the same: the most joyful moments were likely the ones free of material distractions, when you owned no money, no wealth, no possessions.

A happy moment that has passed cannot be revived in the present, because it had its own unique conditions.

The joy you felt talking to an old friend years ago, the thrill of those simple trips—those feelings rarely return in the same way today.

A happy moment is rare in one’s lifetime, and no two moments are ever alike.

That’s why it’s so hard to relive them, even if we recreate every condition.

Can you relive the love you felt for your spouse the very first time?

Can you recreate your first job success or that thrill of your first financial gain?

Can you truly re-experience the excitement of that trip with your friend to the countryside?

Can the first “I love you” you heard ever be heard again with the same magic?

Joy is a deeply internal feeling—it begins in the soul, is shaped by the mind, and is purely psychological.

Even if you owned all the gold, silver, and billions in the world, but your soul was not ready for happiness,

you would not feel joy—because the barrier lies within.

Conversely, even if you lacked many things, but knew how to view and value what you had,

you could achieve a happiness that kings in their palaces can only dream of.

It all depends on how we evaluate and perceive things.

Sadly, many of us now await approval from others—when buying a luxury car, or gaining a high position—

as if to say, "I am nothing without this car or this title."

But when that job is lost, or the car is gone, that person falls into deep depression—because they tied their happiness to the opinions of others, not to their self-worth.

Happiness tied to material things will always be held hostage to them.

The truth is, it’s not things that make you happy or worthy in the eyes of others—

it’s your mind and how you think that bring you joy and grant you true value.

There are two kinds of people:

Those who seek happiness through the validation of others based on what they own or do.

And those who find happiness in how they value themselves and how they think.

Happiness, before anything else, requires a specific psychological and mental environment.

You could own the entire world, but if your mind is not wired for joy, you will never feel it.

True joy is internal, just like contentment is.

A greedy person could have pockets full of money and still feel poor.

Likewise, someone unprepared for joy will not be satisfied even if the world is laid before them.

So what is the link between joy and active will?

Undoubtedly, joy is what pushes a person toward positive action.

Sadness, on the other hand, causes retreat and self-isolation.

Joy energizes the will, activates it, and spreads it out into the world.

Joy opens you up to life. Sadness makes you curl inward.

The more joyful you are, the more optimistic, energetic, and engaging you become.

Meanwhile, the sad person becomes a burden to themselves and to others, draining the spirit of those around them.

The human body also responds to joy—releasing “happiness hormones” that fuel activity and motion.

Sadness, however, drags the body down, making it sluggish and heavy.

A believer must actively seek true joy, and in the Qur’an, we find repeated commands to avoid sadness,

because of its negative effect on willpower and motivation.

Willpower feeds on joy and is destroyed by sorrow.

They are like two rivers, each of a different color:

one nourishes the tree of will, the other causes it to wither and die.