Comparing Islamic and Psychological Views on Happiness

Joy, happiness and pleasure are natural inclinations and traits in all human beings. On the other hand, the modern man is beleaguered with mental and psychological stress and tensions which deprive them of those happy and joyous states. The present study aims to compare happiness as viewed by Islam and modern psychology. This is a library research study which primarily attempts to explain the nature of happiness in psychology and then analyze and compare it with the conception of happiness in the Quran and Islamic teachings and traditions. Happiness is duly emphasized in Quran, but one that is divine and humane not vain and arbitrary. The word happiness and its variants are repeated 25 times in the Quran. The Quran verses pertaining to happiness are of two groups: those that endorse happiness for the believers and those that denounce it. In Islam, happiness is intrinsic while modern man seeks happiness in external and superficial ways. Religion defines happiness not as a goal but as an effective factor that drives humans to excel in their humanity..