Allah says:
مَنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا مِنْ ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنْثَى وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَلَنُحْيِيَنَّهُ حَيَاةً طَيِّبَةً
Whoever works righteousness, whether male or female, while he (or she) is a true believer (of Islamic Monotheism) verily, to him We will give a good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful provision)
[16:97]
Hafidh Ibn Kathir rahimahullah said:
الحياة الطيبة تشمل وجوه الراحة من أي جهة كانت
“The good life encompasses the feeling of comfort from any possible direction [i.e. in life]”
[Tafsir Ibn Kathir]
Imam Ibn Qayyim rahimahullah said:
التوحيد يفتح للعبد باب الخير والسرور واللذة، والفرح والابتهاج
“Tawheed opens the door of good,happiness,pleasure, joy, and cheerfulness for a servant”
[Zaad al-Ma’aad (4/202)]
Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah rahimahullah said:
السعادة في معاملة الخلق: أن تعاملهم لله فترجو الله فيهم ولا ترجوهم في الله، وتخافه فيهم ولا تخافهم في الله، وتحسن إليهم رجاء ثواب الله لا لمكافأتهم وتكف عن ظلمهم خوفاً من الله لا منهم
“Happiness in dealing with creation is to deal with them for the sake of Allah. You hope for Allah’s reward and not hope for their praise. You fear Allah among them and not to fear their criticism. It is for you to behave good to them hoping for Allah’s reward, not their compensation. For you to hold back from oppressing them out of fear of Allah and not them”
[Majmoo’ al-Fatawa (1/51)]
[Taken from: Khutawaat ila Sa’adah pg. 8-9]
Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah rahimahullah said:
كل شر في العالم مختص بالعبد، فسببه: مخالفة الرسول أو الجهل بما جاء به، وأن سعادة العباد في معاشهم ومعادهم باتباع الرسالة
“Every evil in the world specific to the servant is caused by opposing the Messenger (ﷺ) or ignorance of what he came with. The happiness of the servants in their living and their abode is by following the message”
[Majmoo’ al-Fatawa (19/93)]
Imam Ibn Qayyim rahimahullah said:
علامة السعادة أن تكون حسنات العبد خلف ظهره، وسيئاته نصب عينيه، وعلامة الشقاوة أن يجعل حسناته نصب عينيه، وسيئاته خلف ظهره
“The sign of happiness is that good deeds are behind his back and sins are between his eyes. The signs of misery are that his sins are between his eyes and his sins are between his back”
[Miftaah Dar as-Sa’adah (2/310)]
Imam Ibn Qayyim rahimahullah said:
إذا أُنعم عليه شكر، وإذا ابتُلي صبر، وإذا أذنب استغفر، فإن هذه الأمور الثلاثة عنوان سعادة العبد، وعلامة فلاحه في دنياه وأخراه، ولا ينفك عبد عنها أبداً
“If he is blessed he is grateful, if he is tested he is patient, and if he sins he seeks forgiveness. For verily these three are the signs of happiness for a servant. A sign of success in the worldly life and the hereafter. A servant will not be separated from them ever”
[Waabil as-Sayyib pg. 6]
[Taken from Khutawaat ila Sa’adah pg. 9-10]
Imam Ibn Qayyim rahimahullah said:
من علامات السعادة والفلاح أن العبد كلما زيد في علمه زيد في تواضعه ورحمته وكلما زيد في عمله زيد في خوفه وحذره. وكلما زيد في عمره نقص من حرصه. وكلما زيد في ماله زيد في سخائه وبذله. وكلما زيد في قدره وجاهه زيد في قربه من الناس وقضاء حوائجهم والتواضع لهم
“From the signs of happiness and success is that every time a servant increases in knowledge he increases in humility and mercy. Every time he increases in knowledge he increases in fear and caution. Every time he increases in age he decreases in his eagerness [for the worldly life]. Every time he increases in wealth he increases in generosity and spending. Every time he increases in ability and honor he increases in nearness to the people, fulfilling their needs and humility in dealing with them”
[Kitab al-Fawaaid pg. 155]
Translated by
Faisal Ibn Abdul Qaadir Ibn Hassan
Abu Sulaymaan
