Surat Al Sajda

(إِنَّمَا يُؤۡمِنُ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُڪِّرُواْ بِہَا خَرُّواْ سُجَّدً۬ا وَسَبَّحُواْ بِحَمۡدِ رَبِّهِمۡ وَهُمۡ لَا يَسۡتَكۡبِرُونَ ۩ (١٥) تَتَجَافَىٰ جُنُوبُهُمۡ عَنِ ٱلۡمَضَاجِعِ يَدۡعُونَ رَبَّہُمۡ خَوۡفً۬ا وَطَمَعً۬ا وَمِمَّا رَزَقۡنَـٰهُمۡ يُنفِقُونَ (١٦) فَلَا تَعۡلَمُ نَفۡسٌ۬ مَّآ أُخۡفِىَ لَهُم مِّن قُرَّةِ أَعۡيُنٍ۬ جَزَآءَۢ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ (١٧)

15. Only those believe in Our Signs, who, when they are recited to them, fall down in adoration, and celebrate the praises of their Lord, nor are they (ever) puffed up with pride.

16. Their limbs do forsake their beds of sleep, the while they call on their Lord, in Fear and Hope: and they spend (in charity) out of the sustenance which We have bestowed on them.

17. Now no person knows what delights of the eye are kept hidden (in reserve) for them - as a reward for their (good) deeds.

Remember death, the destroyer of all earthly pleasures.

Journey to Happiness 2 (Introduction)

Salam Alekoum

Lecture given my Amr Khalid in Arabic, and translated to English by Dar al-Tarjama

In the name of Allah[1](SWT)[2], The All-Merciful, The Ever-Merciful, All Prayers and Blessings of Allah be upon our master, the most noble Prophet Muhammad.

Welcome to our program, a Journey to Happiness. We shall live together thirty days in Ramadan going on a journey to happiness.



Everyday, when the sun rises, people make billions of movements. Cars, trains, phones, schools people, all are in motion until the sun sets. All these activities are heading for one thing: searching for happiness, yet no one stops for a moment and asks the important question: “ Who grants happiness?” Allah (SWT) is He who created the sun, gave life, happiness etc. Allah (SWT) says what can be translated as," And that He, Ever He, makes to laugh, and He makes to weep", (TMQ[3], 53:43). Laughter and happiness are in Allah's hands. Happiness is Allah's gift, so ask Allah today to grant you happiness. These are not my words, the Prophet SAWS[4] taught us the morning dhikr (the remembrance of Allah) of everyday to supplicate Allah to grant us the lives of happy people, the death of martyrs, to accompany prophets, the right death, and shameless resurrection.



I have asked many young people if they were happy and many answered with a question about the meaning of happiness and how could they feel it, or seize it. Unfortunately many of them said that they were not happy and wished to be, but could not.



Young men wonder how they can be happy while they do not find anyone who understandsembraces and appreciates them, without calling them loose. They want someone to help, respect them and appreciate their ideas. Some girls say that they want their parents to embrace them, but they were divorced a long time ago while others want someone to hear and embrace them.



In this journey to happiness, I cannot solve concrete and difficult problems, but I can light up a torch to show you the right way. In this program, I will use lights of the Prophet (SAWS) that will show you how to be happy.



Years ago, I made the program "On the Path of the Beloved"now, narrating stories about the life of the Prophet (SAWS). This year, I will not narrate stories; in fact, I will guide you to the doors of happiness. I have brought with me a symbolic thing, a torch to light up your way. When you read the hadith[5] of the Prophet, do not read it as only a speech, but consider it as a light which shall illuminate your life. Whenever Allah (SWT) mentions the Prophet (SAWS) in the Qur'an, He describes him as a light. Allah says what can be translated as, "A light has already come up to you from Allah, and an evident Book." (TMQ, 5:15).



"So the ones who believe in him, and rally to him (in assistance) and vindicate him, and closely follow the light that has been sent down with him, those are they (who) are the prosperers.” (TMQ, 7:157).



"O you who have believed, be pious to Allah, and believe in His Messenger, (and) He will bring you a twofold share of His Mercy, and He will make for you a light whereby you will walk …"(TMQ, 57:28).



I am here to show you the way through the light of the Prophet (SAWS). In return you are expected to try to follow the light on this journey that will last for thirty days, and you should promise to complete it until the end. If you do so, you will not regret it. On the contrary you will come out of Ramadan with a broad smile, strong and powerful. I say that because I have tried it with some people and with myself. I am sure of that because there is a secret in this program. Everyone thinks that happiness is found in one thing, but happiness is a mixture of seven groups and seven doors.



Your senses are five, if you miss one, it will be a problem, the same thing with happiness, it is a mixture of seven groups, if you miss one you will be miserable. We will symbolize each group with a color, as follows:

1- Orange: It is a color which represents sunrise, i.e. the beginning of everything. Therefore, it is to start on the right foot with Allah (SWT), with yourself, with your dream, and with your goal in life, in other words, draw your way to jannah (Paradise).

2- Green : Which represents good and giving, i.e. if you give happiness to others you will be happy.

3- Red: The color of danger. It refers to pure soul and the obstacles on the way of happiness such as pride, envy, hatred, etc.

4- Blue: The pure color of the sky, i.e. the big heart which accepts, forgives and pleases people.

5- Yellow: The color of Gold. It is the Will. If you have a strong will you will succeed in your life.

6- Warm family relations, your relation with your family, with your friends, etc.

7- A full relation with Allah.



You say that you know these groups but they are not organized, I will help you to arrange and organize them.



Today we will begin with the first group. Start in a correct way; it is very nice to start Ramadan with sunrise. In this program, I intend to bring a smile and peace into people's lives. The Prophet (SAWS) assures us that nothing can lead people to jannah (Paradise) as granting happiness to others.



Happiness is not a thing that you can seize, buy, take from others, or weigh. It is an immaterial thing that comes out of the heart, for this reason it was reported that the Prophet (SAWS) said that in the human body there is a part, if it is good then the whole body will be good, and if it is bad the whole body will be bad.



The source of happiness is one's self. Many people have material problems which I cannot solve. There are people who lack peace like the people in Gaza, other people live in slums, with no food, no drink and no shelter, hence, they are not happy. There are young men who suffer from unemployment. There are many problems which our program cannot solve, but we can light up the torches. I do not want to numb people’s minds and say emotional words so that they can accept their situations. On the contrary, I will depend on your spirit, faith and the Prophet's lights to make you stronger and able to solve your problems, and this is the idea of our program.



Let us begin with the first group: start on the right foot with Allah (SWT)’ with yourself, with your goal and dream in life, with faith and ambition. Its color is orange i.e., sunrise, and this will be the beginning of Ramadan.



Today’s episode is the intention to worship. Psychologists say that any habit needs 21 days to be changed, and in Ramadan every day we will change habits. It was reported that the Prophet (SAWS) said that when Ramadan comes, a caller asks those who seek goodness to come and asks those who seeks evil to go away.

In the Prophet (SAWS) said that when Ramadan, the doors of jannah are opened, while those of hell are closed, and devils are chained.



Start on the right foot today, if you worship Allah strongly intending to ask Him to make you happy and solve your problems, He will grant you what you want. What encouraged me to make this program is Allah's promise of happiness. Allah (SWT) says what can be translated as, "Ta-Ha[6]. In no way have We sent down the Qur’an upon you for you to be wretched;" (TMQ, 20: 1-2). "…then whoever closely follows My guidance, so he will not err away, nor will he be wretched;" (TMQ, 20:123).



"Whoever does righteousness, be it male or female, and he is a believer, then indeed We will definitely (give him to) live a goodly life;" (TMQ, 16: 97).



Therefore, we say that there is happiness in life.