❞ كتاب Searching for Happiness ❝ ⏤ د.صالح بن عبدالعزيز بن عثمان سندي

Author’s Introduction......................................4
Why Islam.....................................................................7
Islam’s Fundamental Tenets............................14
Conclusion...................................................24
Permission to Publish.....................................27
Original Permission to Publish........................28

appiness is a common goal that
everyone strives to attain. Philosophers,
intellectuals, doctors, and artists alike
have all strived in search of the causes of
happiness and ways to escape anxiety.
The reality is, however, that the proposed solutions
achieve only partial or superficial happiness. They
are more or less like drugs which only provide
temporary relief; when their effect wears off,
anxieties return twofold.
The following words invite you to ultimate
happiness and will lead you to true success. But
before you begin reading, I hope that you take a
moment to try to open your heart and mind--as the
intelligent one is he who searches for the truth no
matter where it lies.
An undeniable reality is that permanent happiness
cannot be achieved except by believing in
Allah1(God)--The Creator—and following His
guidance. Since it is He who created mankind, He
1 The name Allah is the Arabic name for ‘the God’; the
God of the Universe, the God of Abraham, the God of
Moses, the God of Jesus, the God of all mankind. This
name is used by all Arabic speaking people, Jews,
Christians and Muslims worldwide.
H

is the one who knows what pleases and benefits
them, just as He knows what saddens and harms
them. A number of psychologists have affirmed
that only a religious person lives with true
contentment and serenity. So, if believing in Allah
(God) leads to ultimate happiness, then how can
this be achieved?
There are numerous religions and a variety of
creeds. However, their critical differences in core
issues make it impossible for all of them to be
correct. So which is the correct religion? What is the
correct creed that Allah (God) requires us to believe
in and, in the end, pleases Him? And which one of
these creeds guarantees us happiness in this life
and in the hereafter?
Before answering these questions, a criterion must
first be established to be used as a basis for
correctly determining the true religion. I firmly
believe that all sensible people will agree that a
religion is not deemed correct simply due to the
fact that one was raised in that religion, had
parents that adhered to it, or lived in a society that
practiced it. Rather, a religion’s accuracy and
authenticity are based upon substantial evidence
and firm intellectual proofs.
Intellect, which is the distinguishing factor between
mankind and animals, must be applied when
studying the issue of religion, which is undeniably
the most important and gravest of all matters.

A short journey into the world of religions and
sifting through various creeds could prove to be a
good method in arriving at the desired conclusion.
In order to save you the time and effort, I say with
full conviction and confidence that no matter how
much you investigate this issue, you will only
arrive at one reality: That the true and correct
religion is Islam and that true happiness and
contentment lies within it.
Before you hastily rebut this statement and stop
reading, please realize that completing the rest (of
this book) would not harm you at all; and it may in
fact benefit you. Also, remember that you have an
intellect by which you can distinguish things and
determine truth from falsehood.

WHY ISLAM?

This is an important question, indicating that the
questioner is mature and enlightened. In response,
I say:
Islam is a religion that includes a number of merits
and characteristics that are absent from other

religions. These characteristics alone, serve as
convincing evidence that Islam is the true religion
of Allah (God). You can determine the authenticity
of this statement by contemplating them.
Islam’s many merits and characteristics make it
impossible to elaborate on all of them. However,
some of the most important can be summarized as
follows:
 Amongst the greatest merits of Islam is that
it fulfills the spiritual aspects of the human
being and enables those who embrace it to
have an ongoing connection with Allah
(God). This makes it possible for them to be
at ease spiritually. It shields them from
chaos, being lost or feeling (spiritually)
empty, and protects from mental instability.
 Another of Islam’s merits is that it coincides
totally with common sense. All of the
Islamic legislation and its rulings are
acceptable intellectually and are never
contradictory. One man who embraced
Islam was asked why he did so and replied,
“Islam never ordered me to do anything
that I later wished wasn’t obligated, and it
never forbade me from anything that I later
wished wasn’t forbidden.”
Much of what is readily accepted in other
religions causes great confusion. This

confusion makes it difficult to believe many
of the fundamental tenets that these
religions are based upon.
On the other hand, we find that Islam
respects the intellect, prohibits ignorance,
and condemns blind following.
 Islam is an all-inclusive way of life
attending to both spiritual and physical
needs. Practicing Islam does not mean that
one has to be secluded or that he is
prohibited from the finer things in life.
Rather, according to Islam, a person can be
religious and still enjoy a normal life;
attaining prestigious positions and
achieving the highest academic degrees.
 Among the merits of Islam is that it is a
comprehensive religion. Every aspect of a
person’s life is managed by Islam. There is
not a problem except that a solution for it
lies in Islam, which makes it possible to
embrace and practice in every time and
place. How can this not be the case in such a
well-organized religion that has guidelines
and positive instruction for every aspect of
life including: conflict resolution, buying
and selling, social and marital relations,
greetings, public etiquette, and even how a
person eats, sleeps and dresses? These
practices have not been addressed
generally, but rather in precise detail,
causing the mind to wonder in amazement.

Know that Islam even provides direction on
how to wear and remove footwear. It
encourages people to use their right hand
when eating, drinking, shaking hands, and
when giving and receiving items. As for
disliked affairs, such as using the bathroom,
the left hand is to be used.
Islam also has wonderful instructions
regarding going to sleep and waking up.
When two Muslims meet, Islam directs
them on how they should greet each other:
A rider should initiate greeting the
pedestrian, the youth should initiate
greeting the elderly, and a small group
should initiate greeting a larger group.
These are but a few of Islam’s many
comprehensive guidelines for all aspects of
life.
 Another of Islam’s merits is that it
establishes good for mankind in all of its
regulations and safeguards them from evil.
It is man, himself, who benefits from these
regulations. Islam’s prohibition of alcohol
and drugs, for example, is only because of
the great harm they cause to a person’s
physical and mental health. You can
witness the state of a drunken man, no
longer human except in appearance. A lot of
murders, disputes, traffic accidents, and
rapes would not have taken place were it

not for consuming these mind-altering
products.
Islam’s prohibition of premarital sex
relieves societies of destructive diseases
(such as AIDS and other STDs), immoral
behavior, and the existence of a generation
of illegitimate children. This generation is
often deprived of a mother’s love and a
father’s upbringing which can lead them to
become burdensome on society.

 The truth is that does not deny any human being stripped of passions: that happiness can only be permanent faith in God who created mankind, and guided a gift because it is the people who created, which is the world, including happy Ishqém, and will benefit them and harm them.