How to make Allah happy

 While the expected answer to the question, “How to make Allah happy?” might be something along the lines of the following:

Be a good person. Don’t lie, cheat or steal.

Obey Allah’s commandments. Read the Holy Qur’an.

Observe your prayers and the Pillars of Islam.

Give charity and help the needy.

Be an all around goody two shoes.

I would instead like to present an alternative approach to the question of what makes Allah Almighty happy, and provide what might be a surprising answer to the question, one that I believe will ultimately include all of the above and more.

Again, all of the above actions are undoubtedly “pleasing” to God, and lead to personal growth and spiritual development, yet the faster path to divine pleasure, the unexpected answer to the question, “How to make Allah happy in Islam?”, is a bit counterintuitive.

Here it is.

How to Make Allah Happy by Cultivating Personal Joy: 5 Simple Suggestions

1. Purify Your Paradigm

Accept and affirm the truth. Realize and remember that God wants your happiness, joy, success and prosperity. He wants your success.

2. Be Grateful

Consciously practice gratitude. As a simple suggestion, after offering each of your five daily prayers, as you begin to make dua, supplication, begin first with mentioning five things you are grateful for. You will be amazed at how much we take for granted.

3. Smile

It is said, “When you smile, the Universe will smile back at you.” This is the Way of the Prophet (SAWS), and by smiling, you re-affirm to yourself truth and goodness, true belief in God. The simple act of smiling also spreads joy, love and light to others, and attracts back to you these very things that you give to others.

4. Serve Others

Spread joy. Spread love. Spread goodness. It all comes back to you. But do not do to receive. Simply do for the sake of doing. Because it is the right thing to do.

“None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.”

— Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) [Bukhari]

Selflessness leads to happiness. Selfishness leads to suffering. And this is why modern materialistic individualism, despite greater abundance and prosperity than ever before, has led to the greatest epidemic of fear, unhappiness, depression, despondency and hopelessness the world has ever known.

Yet Islam and the Way of the Spiritual Warrior is to remain grounded, centered and rooted in Be-ing, in the Divine Presence, and thus in-dependent, independent of dunya embracing only what is necessary for this moment and thus living free and unencumbered.

5. Meditate Daily

Still the mind, and take back control of your self. Fulfill your divine purpose. Transcend the self, the ego-mind. Learn to fight the battle within. Overcome your one true enemy. Yourself. This the true and real jihad.

Recall the story of Ali (KW) at the Battle of Khandaq, when he disarmed his opponent, Amr Abdawud, who then instead of surrendering, instead spit into Ali’s noble face. Rather than slay his opponent, Ali (KW) instead sheathed his blade and stepped away.

After the battle, he was asked why he attempted to spare the life of Amr who had fought to kill him and the believers. Ali (KW) replied that initially he was fighting for the sake of Truth, but when Amr spit on him, he became angry, and could no longer fight for his heart had become tainted with anger, which then taints all action with impurity and wrong intention.

In truth, to overcome the self is the ultimate victory. And this is what is required for both your happiness and the pleasure of the Divine. To your divine success.

“Lo! Verily, We have given thee a supreme victory.”