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The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) said: "من كان في حاجة أخيه كان الله في حاجته، ومن فرّج عن مسلمٍ كربةً فرّج الله عنه بها كربة من كرب يوم القيامة، ومن ستر مسلمًا ستره الله يوم القيامة." "Whoever attends to the need of his brother, Allah attends to his need; whoever relieves a Muslim of a hardship, Allah relieves him thereby of one of the hardships of the Day of Resurrection; and whoever covers [the faults of] a Muslim, Allah will cover him on the Day of Resurrection."
Bringing joy to the heart of the believer is among the greatest virtues urged in the narrations from the Ahl al-Bayt (the Household of the Prophet) (peace be upon them), so much so that ḥadīth (prophetic and imamic narrations) compilations such as al-Kāfī and Wasāʾil al-Shīʿa have devoted dedicated chapters to it. This deed is counted among the acts of worship most beloved to Allah the Exalted.
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بناء الذات: استكشاف الذات وبناؤها وفق رؤية الشيخ مصباح اليزدي
رحلة معرفيّة تستكشف فيها أعماق نفسك من منظور إسلامي عميق، وتتعلّم كيفية بنائها وتطويرها كي تبلغ ذروة السعادة، على ضوء كتاب نحو بناء الذات للشيخ مصباح اليزدي.
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) said:
**"إنّ أحبَّ الأعمال إلى الله عزَّ وجلَّ إدخالُ السرور على المؤمنين." "The most beloved of deeds to Allah, Mighty and Majestic, is bringing joy to the believers."
Ways of Bringing Joy to the Believer
There are many ways of bringing joy to the heart of the believer, among them:
Fulfilling His Needs
The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) said: "المُؤمِنونَ إخوَةٌ يَقضي بَعضُهُم حَوائِجَ بَعضٍ، فَبِقَضاءِ بَعضِهِم حَوائِجَ بَعضٍ يَقضِي اللهُ حَوائِجَهُم يَومَ القِيامَةِ." "The believers are brothers who fulfil one another's needs, and through their fulfilling one another's needs, Allah will fulfil their needs on the Day of Resurrection."
Relieving His Distress
From Imam al-Ṣādiq (peace be upon him): "مِن أحبِّ الأعمال إلى الله (عزَّ وجلَّ) إدخال السُّرور على المؤمن: إشباع جوعته، أو تنفيس كربته، أو قضاء دينه." "Among the deeds most beloved to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) is bringing joy to the believer: satisfying his hunger, relieving his distress, or paying off his debt."
Giving Gifts
The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) said: "تهادوا تحابوا، فإنّ الهدية تذهب بالضغائن." "Exchange gifts and you will love one another, for a gift removes rancour."
Smiling at Him
Imam al-Bāqir (peace be upon him) said: "تبسُّم الرَّجل في وجه أخيه حسنة." "A man's smiling in the face of his brother is a good deed."
Visiting Him and Checking on His Circumstances
The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) said: "من زار أخاه المؤمن إلى منزله لا لحاجة منه إليه، كُتِبَ من زوّار الله." "Whoever visits his believing brother at his home, not out of any need of him, is recorded among the visitors of Allah."
Jesting with Wisdom
Jesting and moderate light-heartedness are part of the good character that brings joy to the believer, as in the ḥadīth of Imam al-Ṣādiq (peace be upon him):
"فإنّ المداعبة من حُسن الخلق، وإنّك لتدخل بها السرور على أخيك." "For playful jesting is part of good character, and through it you bring joy to your brother."
Note:
Jesting must remain within the bounds of moderation. Excess in it can lead to a loss of dignity, as the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) said: "من كثر مزاحه استجهل." "Whoever jests excessively is deemed foolish."
Bringing Joy to the Deceased
Even believers who have departed this life can be brought joy through supplication, asking Allah's mercy for them, and dedicating to them the reward of righteous deeds.
Imam al-Ṣādiq (peace be upon him) said:
"إن الميت ليفرح بالدعاء له والاستغفار كما يفرح الحي بالهدية تهدى إليه." "The dead person truly rejoices at supplication and the seeking of forgiveness on his behalf, just as the living rejoices at a gift presented to him."
Conditions for Bringing Joy
The means used must be legitimate. It is not permissible to bring joy through lying, mocking others, or ridiculing what is sacred, for this contradicts the teachings of Islam.
Misunderstanding the texts can lead to conduct that is religiously unacceptable.
The Fruits of Bringing Joy to the Believer
Joy on the Day of Resurrection
Imam al-Ṣādiq (peace be upon him) said: "إذا بعث الله المؤمن من قبره خرج معه مثال... يقول: أنا السُّرور الذي كنتَ أدخلتَ على أخيك المؤمن في الدنيا." "When Allah raises the believer from his grave, a likeness comes out with him... It says: I am the joy that you brought to your believing brother in the world."
Being Covered on the Day of Resurrection
The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) said: "ومن ستر مسلمًا ستره الله يوم القيامة." "And whoever covers [the faults of] a Muslim, Allah will cover him on the Day of Resurrection."
Marriage to the Ḥūr al-ʿĪn and a Crown of Light
Imam al-Ṣādiq (peace be upon him) said: "مَنْ سَرَّهُ أَنْ يُزَوِّجَهُ اللَّهُ الْحُورَ الْعِينَ، وَيُتَوِّجَهُ بِالنُّورِ، فَلْيُدْخِلْ عَلَى أَخِيهِ الْمُؤْمِنِ السُّرُورَ." "Whoever would be pleased for Allah to wed him to the ḥūr al-ʿīn (the maidens of Paradise with wide, lustrous eyes) and crown him with light, let him bring joy to his believing brother."
Conclusion
Bringing joy to the believer is not merely a moral deed; it is a great act of worship with effects in this world and the Hereafter. Let us therefore always strive to bring a smile to the faces of others in keeping with the teachings of Islam, and in doing so call to mind His words, Exalted is He:
"وَافْعَلُوا الْخَيْرَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ." "And do good, that you may prosper."
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