Effective Elements in Happiness based on Qur an and Psychology

This study aims to assess the Quranic viewpoints towards happiness and its effective elements, and also compare them with psychological viewpoints and findings. This research can provide us with a theoretical guideline for happiness from the perspective of Qur’an and determine the existing differences and similarities between Quranic and psychological viewpoints.Content analysis was employed in this study. All Qur’an’s verses were studied (translated by Safavi, 2006) and the verses which were consisting of happiness or related concepts were derived. The meaning of happiness and its derivatives were also looked up in different commentaries and exegeses. The achieved findings indicate that according to Qur’an, happiness results from the following factors: 1. God’s grace and mercy (whose instances can be named in the following manner: forgiveness of sins, closeness toGod, being hopeful about God’s answering the prayers, believingin God’s increasing of someone’s daily bread, being trustful of God’s blessings in paradise), 2. the aid of God and fulfillment of his promise, 3. receiving divine inspirations and Quranic verses,4. natural blessings. Although many of the elements associated with happiness are in common in psychology and Qur’an, some of the psychological viewpoints refer to just limited, restricted and inappropriate factors. However, Qur’an refers to the elements which provide human beings with their perfection, closeness to God, and eternal bliss. The association between effective elements in happiness mentioned in Qur’an and human beings’ happiness is confirmed in various studies. Based on the obtained findings of this study, it can be alleged that not only does not Qur’an proscribe happiness, but also it approves its effective elements. Considering human beings’ innate characteristics in this world and hereafter, Qur’an has a more comprehensive and precise viewpoint towards happiness.