Everyone wants to live a meaningful, long, and healthy life. Many people have tried such things to make their lives truly joyful and long lives with happiness. The Japanese concept of the Islamic view of happiness in life—both are helpful ways to think about this. According to Islamic philosophy, the true happiness and comfort of hearts come in the remembrance of Allah. As a verse, Allah mentioned in the holy Quran:
الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ ۗ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ
Those, who believe and whose heart finds comfort in the remembrance of Allah, do find comfort (Surah Ar-Ra’d: 28).
Islamic Sufi saint Imam Al-Ghazali elucidates in his visionary work “Ihya Ulum Al-deen” (the revival of the religious sciences) that the true happiness and comfort of hearts comes from purification of hearts through knowledge, self-discipline, and devotion, which guides us towards a deep connection with the divine and improves our self-morality. While Ikigai and Islamic thoughts come from different worlds, they both stress the value of balanced self-awareness living in fulfillment, and aligning one’s life with a higher truth. These philosophies offer a way to live a long and happy life, which brings personal benefits to that community.
Understanding Ikigai: A Reason for Existence
Ikigai is a Japanese concept that means “a reason for being.” It's about exploring the balance of four important things: what do you love? What are you good at? What the world needs? And what can you be rewarded for?
This concept helps individuals to understand their unique purpose in life, which is fulfillment and encourages them in their daily life activities. Ikigai is about finding happiness and satisfaction in life by aligning one’s skills and passions with the needs of society.
Historically, the concept is rooted deeply in Japanese culture, mainly in Okinawa, a place that is best known for having many people who have spent their lives more than 100 years. Ikigai is not just limited to personal purpose and happiness, but also it converges mental, physical, and spiritual aspects. This idea is to balance life and focus on growth, mindfulness, and self-improvement, teaching that truth comes from living in alignment with one’s greatest values and helping others in the community.
The spiritual journey of happiness in Islamic philosophy
According to Islamic philosophy, happiness is interconnected to the Quranic concept of Qalb-e Saleem, a pure heart. The pure heart where all purposes and actions are stressed only for the sake of Allah. As Allah says in the holy Quran:
يَوْمَ لَا يَنفَعُ مَالٌ وَلَا بَنُونَ ,إِلاَQ مَنْ أَتَى اللََمْ بِقَلْبٍ سَلِيم
The day will come when neither wealth nor children will be any benefit; only those who come before Allah with a pure heart will be saved (Surah Ash-Shu’ara: 88-89).
Achieving Qalb-e Saleem is a journey of long life, which needs continuous self-reflection. It is a thing where the pure heart is completely aligned with the will of Allah and leads to success in the afterlife.
An important aspect of spirituality in Islam is self-awareness. Someone says, "من عرف نفسه عرف ربه, which means, He who knows his self (Nafs) knows his lord (Rabb). It reflects that the person who knows their self can understand their relationship with the creator. So, if anyone knew themself, their good or bad deeds, and understood their real purpose in life, they would align their life with the divine, and that is the key to achieving long and true happiness in life. Imam Al-Ghazali claims that true happiness is gained by purifying the heart, self-discipline, and always living on the righteous path. In Islam, the primary and main purpose of life is to be closer to Allah; this way brings true happiness in life, which is lasting, and brings true peace in every moment of life. Islam also stresses balance and وسطية (wasatiyyah), moderation in all aspects of life.
Psychology of Ikigai: Peace and Mental well-being
Psychology means having an aspect or purpose in life. This is a Japanese concept that helps people to feel good satisfaction, mentally and emotionally, in life. Many researchers delve into the fact that having a purpose makes people happier and live longer lives.
Mainly, ikigai has four important aspects: passion, mission, vocation, and profession. When these four parts match exactly, all individuals can achieve a better life where their jobs and personal purposes align, which brings their dreams and happiness with less stress in life. This kind of balance is essential because it can help that work is not just about a source of earning money but also about feeling happy and living long and healthy.
Guidance of living with purpose: Ikigai and Islamic thought
The combination of Ikigai with the Islamic concept of happiness offers a holistic path to living a meaningful life that helps all individuals to cover the large community and spiritual realms. It helps the person to connect their actions, goals, and beliefs and feel peace with themselves, others, and the connection with Allah.
In the Islamic perspective, the first to achieve the real happiness of life is based on the concept of Khalifat al-Ardh—the idea that human beings are caretakers of the earth. Being a Khalifat al-Ardh is not only about using all types of sources but also about living a life with kindness, righteousness, and values of justice and doing righteous works because Islam teaches us that if every action with good thought and right intention, then the action can be included in acts of worship. So, finding the true purpose of life and obeying it in daily life can also be an important part of spiritual responsibilities.
According to both Ikigai and Islamic teachings that sell awareness and thinking about yourself. As someone says, من عرف نفسه عرف ربه, which means, whoever knows himself (Nafs) knows his lord (Rabb). " It deeply aligns with the idea of Ikigai; this idea discovers that self-awareness is the main thing in a peaceful life. Islam and Ikigai both teach that we should achieve a balance in our lives between action and faith, between acts that we do here and our spiritual purpose. Islam also teaches the concept of وسطية, which means moderation in all aspects of our lives. As Allah says in the holy Quran:
وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَاكُمْ أُمَّةً وَسَطًا لِّتَكُونُوا شُهَدَاءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ عَلَيْكُمْ شَهِيدًا
And so, we have made you believers and an upright community so that you may be witnesses over humanity and the Messenger may be a witness over you (Surah Baqarah: 143).
This type of balance helps us to do actions and daily responsibilities while maintaining our spiritual goals and faiths. Also, Allah says in the Holy Quran:
فَإِذَا قُضِيَتِ الصَّلَاةُ فَانتَشِرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَابْتَغُوا مِن فَضْلِ اللَّهِ وَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُون
Once the prayer is over, disperse throughout the land and seek the bounty of Allah. And remember Allah often so you may be successful. (Surah Al-Juma’h: 10)
Ikigai also says that we should do our work with a good purpose in life, not just for fun and earning money. A meaningful life also identifies that you should help others and always be a part of the community. Both Islam and Ikigai also teach that the true happiness of life does not come from being selfish and serving only yourself, but it comes from helping others and supporting the community. In the Islamic perspective, it is called “Khidmah,” which means service. Doing kind and righteous things in the true path will help you to grow your connection with Allah and gain rewards from him. Now, according to the Ikigai concept, people should achieve their purpose by helping others and the community through their good deeds, actions in the right way, and daily responsibilities. Khidmah, or serving, helps to make a better life for you and others also.
Eventually, when we look at the concept of Ikigai and the Islamic concept of happiness, we can learn that living a moderate and meaningful life in all aspects of life and also not thinking only about yourself but also helping others and the community. It will help us to grow our spiritual connection with Allah, faith, and earning money. It will also help us to develop our values in our daily lives and live with purpose. Finally, the true happiness of life comes from living life in a right way that aligns with our true beliefs and helping others, not from fun and just being selfish.