One of the most indefinable objectives of every human being is "Happiness." The Quran reveals the secret of attaining perfect happiness in this life and forever. We learn from the Quran that happiness is an exclusive quality of the soul. Thus, a body that attains all the material successes it longs for - money, power, fame, etc. - often belongs to an unhappy person. Happiness depends totally on the degree of growth and development attained by the soul, the real person. The Quran provides a detailed map towards perfect happiness for both body and soul, both in this world and in the eternal Hereafter.
“In the numerous verses throughout this proven Testament, God personally guarantees the believers' happiness, now and forever” (10:62-64)
Then, one might question on how the seek the happiness in this life? As the believers in God alone, our priority in this life should be to fulfill God's expectation of us. We should live a life that will please God. What please God are not our utterances, but our actual intentions or actions to carry out His commandments. When pleasing God becomes the most important aspect of one's life, God will make every thing wonderful for him/her:
“God promises those among you who believe and lead righteous life, that He will make them sovereigns on earth, as He did for those before them, and will establish for them the religion He has chosen for them, and will substitute peace and security for them in place of fear. All this because they worship Me alone, without setting up any idols besides Me. Those who disbelieve after this are the truly wicked" (24:55).
So, the number one priority in everyone's life should be to please God. No one or nothing else should take priority before God. What is the number one priority in your life? Is it pleasing God, or your boss? Is it doing your five daily prayers to please God, or pleasing your friends who may not understand why you bow and prostrate?
“If you are sincere, God will perfect your relationship with Him, by putting you through tests, based on your weaknesses.” (3:14,8:28).
For example, if you hold anything to be more important than God, He might take it away from you, in order to test you. Therefore, one must ask himself, "What is the most important thing in my life?" If your job is the most important thing, it may be taken away. If your children are the most important aspect of your life, they may be taken away. However, if you put pleasing God ahead of pleasing other things, God will shower you with dignity and respect in front other people. He will make them, force them, to respect you, and even love you. God controls the minds and hearts of all the people. God is the one who makes them love you, or hate you, or respect you.
To a Muslim the whole purpose of life is "ibadah" or worship to the One True Almighty God on Terms and under His Conditions. The term "worship" to a Muslim includes any and all acts of obedience to Almight Allah. So his purpose of life is a standing purpose; Worshipping Allah by accepting Allah's Will over his own. The purpose of life as understood by the Believing Muslim can be simply stated in only two (2) words: Obey God. Our only purpose and salvation lie in these two words.
This act of ibadah [worshipping, thanking and extolling the Greatness Almighty Allah on His Terms and Conditions] is for the Muslim, throughout his whole life regardless of the stage. Whether he is a child, adolescent, adult or aged person, he is seeking after the Will of the Almighty in all these stages.
His life here on earth although short, is full of purpose and is totally meaningful within the complete framework of total submission [Islam].
This life is very meaningful and purposeful to the Believing Muslim, as he realizes that it will determine the outcome and permanent position in the Next Life.
It was the Muslim's permanent purpose is to Surrender, Submit, Obey, in Purity and Peace to Allah the Almighty, carrying out His Orders and staying in some form of worship to Him as much as possible everyday.
Tawheed is the single most important concept in Islam and the top priority is bearing the Message. Therefore, the first priority Muslims that must be preserve is Tawheed. Believing in the oneness of Allah and worshipping Him Alone is the reason behind creation. Tawheed makes a Muslim different from the disbelievers. Muslims who live in the West are different from the disbelievers because of their Islam. Iman (faith) is the way to success and the true Path of Allah. Whoever concentrates on this life and ignores the next life will be the one who loses both.
Once you make pleasing God (worship Him and follow all of His commandments) the most important thing in your life, you will possess the most valuable thing one can ask for - God's support. But, if you make anything more important than pleasing God, you will be tested over and over. If you do not realize that fact after all the tests, you will lose both in this world and in the Hereafter.
