03/28/08, Opinion-Editorial, printed in the Finger Lakes Times (NY)
Learn to find contentment in all situations
By Sardar Anees Ahmad
Waterloo, New York
To paraphrase Kin Hubbard, how can you obtain happiness when poverty and wealth have failed? Before explaining Islam’s approach, let’s examine some benefits of happiness. Studies show that laughter can improve breathing, exercise the heart, and strengthen the immune system. It further lowers blood pressure, stress hormones, blood sugar levels, and pain. Optimistic people are far more likely to outlive their pessimistic counterparts, generally have a stronger immune system, lower risk of heart disease, and eat and sleep well.
OK. We established the obvious – being happy is good for you! So what? How does this relate to Prophet Muhammad? I believe Muhammad’s life is a blueprint for living happily in any circumstance, personifying the Quranic directive: “Then those who believed and acted righteously will be honored and made happy in stately gardens” (30:16).
Of his cheerful nature, a companion once said, “I did not see anyone who smiled more than (Muhammad).” Another companion noted, “Whenever he saw me he laughed/smiled.” This practice was in accordance with Muhammad’s own belief, “And your smiling in the face of your brother is charity.”
Seemingly trivial, remember Muhammad’s life was EXTREMELY demanding. The most vehement anti-Islamic scholars readily admit Muhammad experienced an austere and rigorous life, still preferring simplicity to luxury. For such a man, whatever one may think of him, to remain content throughout his life is nothing short of remarkable.
Denied his father before birth, mother at 6, grandfather at 8, Muhammad remained cheerful throughout his life.
Once, a mother was weeping over the death of her child. Muhammad kindly admonished her to observe patience. She said, “If you had ever suffered the loss of a child as I have, you would have realized how difficult it is to be patient under such an affliction.” Muhammad replied, “I have suffered the loss not of one but of seven children,” and quietly passed on. In total, he suffered the loss of 10+ children. Zainab, a daughter of Muhammad, while pregnant, was riding a camel en route to meet her father. A hoodlum stabbed the camel, causing Zainab to fall and suffer a miscarriage. This incident would later result in the premature death of Zainab. Yet Muhammad forgave the man.
But Muhammad’s contentment was not confined to himself. Indeed, having others share in his happiness was Muhammad’s hallmark. Once his grandson Hassan wanted to ride a camel. Muhammad placed Hassan on his shoulders and posed to be his camel, making Hassan smile gleefully. On another occasion he challenged his wife Ayesha to a race, which she won. Some time later he challenged her again and won. He laughed, saying, “Ayesha, we have come out even.”
On another occasion, he was passing along and noticed a laborer sweating over his work. Muhammad approached him quietly from behind and covered his eyes with his hands as children do in sport. The man concluded that this affectionate gesture could come only from Muhammad and pressed his dust and sweat-covered back against Muhammad’s chest to prolong the moment. Muhammad began to laugh and removed his hands from the man’s eyes. No one was immune from Muhammad’s magnetic nature.
The day Muhammad peacefully conquered
Ultimately, Muhammad demonstrated that the end is obtainable only through the very same means: contentment.
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