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The Meaning and Experience of Happiness in Islam
"Happiness according to the perspective of Islam is expressed by the term sa'adah, and it relates to two dimensions of to the hereafter (ukhrawiyyah) and to the present world (dunyawiyyah)." This short book discusses this idea.
24 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 1993
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 30, 2024
The Meaning and Experience of Happiness in Islam
Rate: 9.8/10
Penulis buku, Prof Syed Muhammad Naquib al- Atas. Baru tahu kenapa ramai orang suka baca buku Prof. Setiap satu ayat yang ditulis sgt mind blowing and nampak kecantikan pada setiap ayat yang dikarang. Setiap satu tu, pastinya ada unsur kejutan diakhrinya (for me lahh, sbb setiap kali baca mesti ending tu mcm dpt satu baru ilmu luar biasa). Kurang 0.2 dkt rate tu sbb i have language barrier, in which English yg digunakan agak tinggi but for me, cantik sgt setiap ayat. Buku ni best baca slow² sebab setiap satu ayat tu ada feel dia tersendiri tapi sgt terasa intellect laahh setiap point nya☝🏻. So here, a bit of sharing, let's think together, "how can one who forgets God find peace of heart and mind and calmness of soul when in reality forgetfulness of God involves also forgetfulness of the soul of itself?. Lastly, the end of happiness is the love of God.
Rate: 9.8/10
Penulis buku, Prof Syed Muhammad Naquib al- Atas. Baru tahu kenapa ramai orang suka baca buku Prof. Setiap satu ayat yang ditulis sgt mind blowing and nampak kecantikan pada setiap ayat yang dikarang. Setiap satu tu, pastinya ada unsur kejutan diakhrinya (for me lahh, sbb setiap kali baca mesti ending tu mcm dpt satu baru ilmu luar biasa). Kurang 0.2 dkt rate tu sbb i have language barrier, in which English yg digunakan agak tinggi but for me, cantik sgt setiap ayat. Buku ni best baca slow² sebab setiap satu ayat tu ada feel dia tersendiri tapi sgt terasa intellect laahh setiap point nya☝🏻. So here, a bit of sharing, let's think together, "how can one who forgets God find peace of heart and mind and calmness of soul when in reality forgetfulness of God involves also forgetfulness of the soul of itself?. Lastly, the end of happiness is the love of God.
May 31, 2026
Writing this as someone who doesn’t read a lot of philosophy books.
The beginning will intimidate you with the heaviness of technical definitions to Islam. But as you scheme through the pages, you will understand that they are important as context to what the author is trying to say.
I read this books after A Confession by Leo Tolstoy. They complement each other very well.
The book challenges the long-standing argument, embraced by many philosophers, that death is the key to happiness. Instead, it presents a fresh perspective on what happiness means and how it can be experienced. I find this interesting as it makes me feel like it’s all primitive, part of the human nature itself.
Tough read for a usually-comic-reader like me, but definitely worth it.
The beginning will intimidate you with the heaviness of technical definitions to Islam. But as you scheme through the pages, you will understand that they are important as context to what the author is trying to say.
I read this books after A Confession by Leo Tolstoy. They complement each other very well.
The book challenges the long-standing argument, embraced by many philosophers, that death is the key to happiness. Instead, it presents a fresh perspective on what happiness means and how it can be experienced. I find this interesting as it makes me feel like it’s all primitive, part of the human nature itself.
Tough read for a usually-comic-reader like me, but definitely worth it.
March 22, 2026
Some books speak about happiness in a simple way.
Others ask what happiness truly means.
In The Meaning and Experience of Happiness in Islam, Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas approaches the question with quiet clarity. He does not describe happiness as pleasure, emotion, or temporary satisfaction. Instead, he points toward something deeper, something rooted in certainty, knowledge, and the state of the soul.
What becomes clear is that happiness in Islam is not something external. It is not found in the body, nor in fleeting feelings, nor even in the mind alone. As reflected in the text, it is connected to a firm inner conviction of the Ultimate Reality, and to living in accordance with that truth.
There is a calm strength in the way this idea is presented. Happiness is not treated as a goal in itself, but as something that emerges when the self is properly aligned, with knowledge, with action, and ultimately with God.
At the same time, the book also reminds us of its opposite, states of anxiety, loss, and restlessness, which arise when this alignment is absent.
It is a short work, but not a light one. It asks the reader to rethink what is often taken for granted.
By the end, it leaves a quiet impression:
that true happiness is not something we chase, but something that settles within when the heart knows where it stands.
Others ask what happiness truly means.
In The Meaning and Experience of Happiness in Islam, Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas approaches the question with quiet clarity. He does not describe happiness as pleasure, emotion, or temporary satisfaction. Instead, he points toward something deeper, something rooted in certainty, knowledge, and the state of the soul.
What becomes clear is that happiness in Islam is not something external. It is not found in the body, nor in fleeting feelings, nor even in the mind alone. As reflected in the text, it is connected to a firm inner conviction of the Ultimate Reality, and to living in accordance with that truth.
There is a calm strength in the way this idea is presented. Happiness is not treated as a goal in itself, but as something that emerges when the self is properly aligned, with knowledge, with action, and ultimately with God.
At the same time, the book also reminds us of its opposite, states of anxiety, loss, and restlessness, which arise when this alignment is absent.
It is a short work, but not a light one. It asks the reader to rethink what is often taken for granted.
By the end, it leaves a quiet impression:
that true happiness is not something we chase, but something that settles within when the heart knows where it stands.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews