1a] Happiness?

1a]
life - attaining prestigious ranks/positions and achieving the highest
academic degrees.
4. Among the merits of Islam is that it is a comprehensive religion.
Every aspect of a person's life is managed by Islam. There is not a
problem except that a solution for it lies in Islam, which makes it
possible to embrace and practice in every time and place. How can this
not be the case in such a well organized religion that has guidelines
and positive instruction for every aspect of life including: conflict
resolution, buying and selling, social and marital relations,
greetings, public etiquettes, and even how a person eats, sleeps and
dresses. These practices have not been addressed generally, but rather
in precise detail, causing the mind to wonder in amazement. Know that
Islam even provides direction on how to wear and remove footwear. It
encourages people to use their right hand when eating, drinking,
shaking hands, and when giving and receiving items. As for disliked
affairs such as using the bathroom, the left hand is to be used.
Islam also has wonderful instructions regarding going to sleep and
wakingup. When two Muslims meet, Islam directs them on how they should
greet each other; a rider should initiate greeting the pedestrian, the
youth should initiate greeting the elderly, and a small group should
initiate greeting a larger group. These are but a few of Islam's many
comprehensive guidelines for all aspects of life.
5. Another of Islam's meritsis that it establishes good for mankind in
all its regulations and safeguardsthem from evil. It is man himself
who benefits from these regulations. Islam's prohibition of alcohol
and drugs for example is only because of the great harm they cause to
a person's physical and mental health. You can witness the state of a
drunken man, no longer human except in appearance. A lotof murders,
disputes, traffic accidents and rapes would not have taken place were
it not for consuming these mind-altering products.
Islam's prohibition of premarital sex relieves societies of
destructive diseases (such as AIDS and other STDs), immoral behavior,
and the existence of a generation of illegitimate children. This
generation is often deprived of a mother's love and a father's
upbringing which can lead them to become burdensome on society. Islam
prohibits women from displaying themselves publicly. This isbecause
Islam considers women to be valued, preserved pearls; not somecheap
merchandise to be displayed for all to see. It does so to protect them
from the wolves of mankind - those who are only concerned with
satisfying their lusts, even if it is at the cost of a woman's honor,
nobility, status, and purity.
On the other hand, Islam permits all harmless and beneficial drinks.
It also permits married couples toenjoy one another within a happy
home.
In summary, Islam has not eliminated freedoms and desires. Rather, it
regulatesthem for the benefit of mankind and the society at large.
6. A radiant aspect of Islamis that it pays a great deal of attention
to values, character, and praiseworthy manners, while prohibiting
mankindfrom oppression, transgression and bad character. Islam is a
religion of love, unity and mercy. It defines an individual's
relationship with his parents, relatives, neighbors, friends and all
people. Islam embeds the best of manners in those who embrace it and
prevents them from living selfishly. It encourages its followers to
help others and take others' feelings into consideration - especially
the poor, orphans, elderly and widows. They all have rights in Islam
that must not be taken lightly by Muslims. Muslims shouldn'tfeel like
they are bestowing favors upon others when giving them their due
rights, rather these rights are obligations upon Muslims. It is
considered to be a great sin in Islam for one to go to sleep with a
full stomach knowing that his neighbor is hungry.
Islam even prohibits two people from whispering toeach other in the
presence of a third, taking his feelings into consideration.Islam goes
even further than that, obligating kind treatment to animals and
prohibiting harming them.More specifically, Islam prohibits
slaughtering an animal while another watches, or sharpening a knife
while it is watching, so that it is not tormented along with being
slaughtered.
Truthfulness, trustworthiness, bravery, generosity, humility, abiding
by promises, visiting the sick, attending funerals, being dutiful to
parents, visiting relatives and neighbors, and striving to help others
are all etiquettes that are encouraged by Islam.
On the other hand, Islam strictly prohibits oppression, lying,
conceitedness, envy, and insulting or betraying others. It is
impermissible in Islam to speak ill of a person in his absence, even
if what is being said is true.
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