 | |
 | |
| Ever heard of Vanuatu? Well, neither had I, until I read a study by the British think-tank New Economics Foundation that named it as the world's happiest country. This archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean topped a list of 178 countries ranked according to their people's wellbeing and its consequent environmental impact. Their secret? According to Marke Lowen of Vanuatu Online, "people are generally happy here because they are satisfied with very little". And I thought: wasn't that what Muslims are taught? The Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said, "Blessed is he who is guided to Islam and whose livelihood is daily bread and who is contented." (Tirmithi) It is as if these are the three principles of living a truly happy life. No frets about paying mortgage for that penthouse or wearing the latest designer clothing or dining at that posh restaurant. The real blessing lies in that you wake up today as a Muslim, have lunch in your refrigerator and not just that, but you are content with what you have. Because "self-sufficiency does not mean plenty of provisions", as the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, explained, but it implies "self-sufficiency of the spirit" (Bukhari and Muslim). If we remain displeased with what we have, we will always live a life of worries. I have witnessed my fair share of housewives whose husbands earn lots complaining of not having enough money and millionaires who rival Uncle Scrooge. Equally, nothing can make us relish in what we possess if we are never satisfied with it. We will not be grateful for the healthy body, if we always find fault with the crooked nose and chubby fingers. We will not thank Allah for landing that good job, because we will always wonder if, had we waited longer, we could have gotten one that paid more. Further, as the study showed, in our pursuit of happiness, we are not only slowly failing ourselves, but the earth on which we live. By seeking it through riches, we do not appreciate the beauty of Allah's creation and His blessings. We save to build a high-maintenance swimming pool; but what's that compared to Allah's vast oceans and long streams? We look to buy that full options SUV, but what is the world's best car compared to two functioning legs for a man? We wish we had lots of money to spend freely, but could a six-figure income bring back a loved one who passed away? Such greed for money has wrought us ruin from the beginning of time, but it remains a part of our nature, as the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said, "If the son of Man had two vast plains full of wealth, he would yet long for a third, and nothing fills the innermost part of the son of Man but dust", meaning death. (Bukhari and Muslim) Happiness does not have everything to do with wealth. Have we not seen the rich woman who committed suicide? Or the wealthy man who was murdered for his riches? Even on this list, from Italy (66) to Japan (95) to Britain (108) to the United States (150), most wealthy nations could not grace the ranks of the happier half. In this mindless race towards increase in wealth, we miss out on the great happiness that results from the smallest of things. The Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, accordingly advised: "The little that suffices is better than what is abundant and alluring." (Bukhari and Muslim) True happiness is to appreciate what you have. We Muslims know, though, that even contentment is not enough for a happy life. The key ingredient is belief in the One God and His Prophet. "Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer - We will surely cause him to live a good life. . ." (16:97) For the sake of a happier life and a blissful afterlife as well, the people of Vanuatu would be wise to give it a try. Al Jumuah Shawwal 1427H / October/November 2006 | |
