What can make you happy? December 19, 2008

It was a peaceful night, and we were enjoying the calm sea breeze at one of the stalls at Medan Selera while waiting for our order to be prepared. Medan Selera is a famous food court in KK, located by the seaside of Teluk Likas. Once in a while we do go there to have the scrumptious roasted wing while enjoying the breathtaking scenery of sunset from the beach.

Suddenly, one of the akhawat (sisters) asked a question; a very simple one yet has very deep meaning (at least for me). She asked the sisters around the table: What can make you happy?

At first most of us thought it was a tricky question. But the ukht (sister – singular) said she was not trying to give any trick. She asked us to answer the question as it is. One said that babies never fail to please her. Another said good food. Then there were more interesting and laughter-exploding answers being thrown on the table and the session really helped us to kill the time while waiting for the food to arrive.

Alhamdulillah I was not the first person that needed to respond to the question. While waiting for my turn, I was rather struggling to find the answer. I was looking at the faces of my beloved akhawat, searching for a hint. What actually really makes me happy?

I was recalling a statement by Hassan Al Banna, a renowned Muslim Leader who founded the Muslim Brotherhood movement. He was once asked by his lecturer at the end of his study in Darul Ulum about what did he wish to do after his graduation. He indeed gave a very appealing and hearty response in which he wrote as an essay. Below is an excerpt of the article..

‘Saya berpendapat seorang yang baik akan mencari kebahagiaan dan panduan dengan berkhidmat kepada manusia. Dia merasa seronok apabila dia berupaya menghilangkan kesusahan orang dan membuat orang lain gembira. Dia sanggup berkorban untuk pembaharuan masyarakat sebagai keuntungan hakiki bagi dirinya. Dia berjihad bagi menghadapi kesukaran dan kesusahan dengan tabah dalam menegakkan kebenaran dan hidayat. Dia cuba menyelamatkan hati manusia dengan merasai penyakitnya. Dia mengkaji ciri-ciri yang mengakibatkan kemerosotan akhlak dan masyarakat. Dia berusaha untuk menegakkan peraturan masyarakat Islam yang lebih baik. Dia bersifat kasih sayang kepada manusia. Dia berusaha sebanyak mungkin untuk meringankan penderitaan manusia dan mencipta suasana yang boleh membantu mereka menjalani kehidupan yang bahagia. Dia juga berusaha memimpin mereka yang telah sesat ke jalan yang benar..’

“CL, it’s your turn now..”, one of the sisters reminded me.

I was smiling and looking at the beautiful faces around me once again before giving my answer…

“I am happy when I can make everyone around me happy..”