“Happiness Captures Love”

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

المُؤْمِنُ هَشٌ بَشٌ

'A Mumin is always cheerful and happy.'

(Amirul Mumineen AS)

This article was written by Shehzada Dr Aziz bhaisaheb Qutbuddin in 2016.

Rasulullah SA narrated the account of a day when Eisa Nabi AS met Yahya Nabi SA. Eisa Nabi SA smiled at Yahya Nabi SA, but Yahya Nabi SA frowned in response and said, “O Spirit of Allah, you laugh as though you have no fear of Allah’s punishment!” Eisa Nabi SA replied, “O Nabi of Allah, you frown as though you have no hope in Allah’s rehmat and mercy!” Allah Ta’ala then revealed to both Yahya Nabi SA and Eisa Nabi SA: “The one I love most is the one who smiles most” (ahabbukuma ilayya abashshukuma).

In this short anecdote is a great lesson and philosophy: be happy and hopeful in life. It is not the case that this world is free of sadness and grief – but our Hudaat encourage us to be happy and hopeful in keeping faith in Allah Ta’ala, His mercy and rehmat. Remembering and counting our blessings and ne’mat helps us to be happy and hopeful.

Even in times of grief Amirul Mumineen AS asserts that, “a mumin’s happiness can be seen on his face, his sadness is concealed in his heart” (al-muminu bishruhu fi wajhihi wa huznuhu fi qalbihi). To cope with the sadness and sorrow in our heart, we seek refuge in sabar and the remembrance of Imam Husain AS. Syedna Burhanuddin’s RA doa always echoes in our ears: “ay parwardigaar, tu mumin ne hamesha khush-u-khurram raakhje, ek Husain na gham siwa koi gham na dikhawje.”

These hadith and sayings encourage an overall positive and optimistic outlook in life. The smile on an individual’s face is an essential manifestation of that outlook. Rasulullah SA said: "When a mumin meets his brother mumin, he should call out the salaam greeting to him, grasp his hand, and look at him with a happy face. This applies to our interactions with fellow Mumineen but also applies to how we meet and greet people in all aspects of our life. To this effect, Amirul Mumineen SA has said, “be smiling and happy with everyone” (al-bishru bi jamee’-in-naas).

Cheerfulness and happiness have a great impact on ourselves and those around us. Amirul Mumineen SA said, “happiness captures love” (al-bashashatu hibaalatul mawaddah). When a Mumin is happy he draws others towards him. For some it is a natural trait, for others it requires conscious effort.

For many of us, remembering the smiling face of our loved ones brings immense joy. Remembering the smiling face of Syedna Burahnuddin RA even brings tears of joy. May Allah Ta’ala keep his successor, Syedna Khuzaima Qutbuddin TUS in happiness and health. May we always find peace and happiness by seeing his smiling face. May Allah Ta’ala always keep mumineen in happiness and joy and may they never feel grief except in the remembrance of Aqa Husain SA. May our happiness in this world continue with the eternal happiness of the Hereafter.