Role of Islam in promoting Happiness and decreasing Envy among social media users

Abstract

In Pakistan out of 220 million people, youth’soccupy 30 % of the population. A large segment of these youths use social media extensivelyto reach out to others to engage in both public and private communication.Since youths are at the critical age of seeking autonomy, attaining value, respect, freedom, recognition and fame in society.  They may use social media to compare themselves with others leading to either positive feeling of emotional contentment, happiness or negative emotions of unhappiness and discontentment.The negative intensive pain in the heart or Qalb in Muslim perspective can only be reduced  when it is filled with the Noor and the love of Almighty Allah. The present paper aims to understand the dynamic role of Islam in creating and flourishing the intense feeling of happiness and contentment in one’s life. This article alsodiscusses the current emotional state of youths who indulge in comparing themselves in the digital world leading to feeling of envy and unhappiness and thereforeprovides suggestions for reconnecting with true source of happiness meaning spreading love of Almighty Allah in our hearts and being grateful for HIS endless bounties in order to attain eternal happiness.

Key words:  Happiness, social comparison, envy, Qalb

References

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[ii]United Nations Development Programme.  (2017). National Human Development Report: Pakistan. New York.

[iii]Al -Qur’ān, 13: 28