Are you happy? Are you always happy? What does it mean to be happy? To be happy means to be pleased with one’s life. To be satisfied and content. To enjoy life.

In my reality however, being happy is an emotional state of mind. I think, for most of us, being happy is at our core – we are mostly happy most of the time. Hence whether or not things are going 100 per cent our way, we still see life as fair, kind and enjoyable. We understand that our being happy comes and goes but despite this our soul is happy, like the words of a song “it is well with my soul”.

To be happy is to accept life with hope no matter what we may be going through at any given time. In all things and matters in our daily lives, whatever we are experiencing, be it a happy time or a sad time, we know “that this too shall pass”.

Be assured that no situation ever remains the same and being happy will return to us eventually, but we must work towards being happy as it does not come easily. Life can make us bitter and cynical. We must safeguard ourselves against becoming an unhappy soul.

My faith in Allah makes me happy. I truly believe that my faith has sustained me through all kinds of storms along life’s way, knowing that Allah is worthy of all my trust.

The Holy Koran teaches us how to be happy: “To God belongs the future of the heavens and the Earth, and all matters are controlled by Him. You shall worship Him and trust in Him. Your Lord is never unaware of anything you do.” (Koran, 11:123)

Being grateful is a key element to being happy. When we are grateful, we see the glass as half full rather than half empty.

“If you express gratitude, I shall certainly give you more, and if you are ungrateful, then My punishment is severe.” (Koran, 14:7)

The way we spend our valuable time in doing good deeds and worshipping God as He should be worshipped will bring us happiness. Serving God will undoubtedly bring us fulfilment and make us happy.

“By time, surely man is in loss, save those who believe and do good deeds, and enjoin on each other truth, and enjoin on each other patience.” (Koran, 103:1-3)

Being kind to others should also bring us joy, just as receiving kindness from others does. Sometimes my mind is blown away over the kindness shown to me; how can I not be happy.

“Indeed, Allah enjoins justice, and the doing of good to others, and giving like kindred, and forbids indecency, and manifest evil, and wrongful transgression. He admonished you that you may take heed.” (Koran, 16:91)

Being our best selves and living up to our full potential by utilising our God given gifts and talents should ultimately make us happy.

“Indeed, the worst of living creatures in the sight of Allah are the deaf and dumb who do not use reason.” (Koran, 8:22)

The Koran certainly does not mean in the literal sense those people who are physically deaf or non-verbal, but means those people who intentionally turn a blind eye or a deaf ear, say nothing or do nothing against injustice.

We must ensure that we do not remain with those who are wickedly ignorant to goodness and mercy. We do not want to be among those who show no compassion towards mankind. It is our duty to be against all that is harmful to our fellow men and then and only then will we be truly happy.

Being happy is when we are living a life worthy of being a true servant of Allah. Only by living a life truly devoted to Allah can we all find the happiness we desire and deserve.

The struggle for peace around the world continues. We must continue to stand up and speak out against what is going on in our world today. We must continue to pray for a ceasefire now wherever bombs are blasting. That will make us truly happy.

So there you have it, the recipe to be happy.

Bermuda, as salaam alaikum (peace be unto you).

• Linda Walia Ming is a member of the Bermuda Hijab Dawah team, a group of Muslim women who reside in Bermuda and have a goal of educating the community about the religion of Islam