Towards Ultimate Wellbeing: A Definition and Model from an Islamic Perspective

Research on wellbeing has never attracted as much interest as in recent decades. There is general agreement with the World Health Organization’s description that wellbeing includes one’s ability to realize one’s potential, manage normal stresses in life, strive for productivity, and contribute to the community. To date, there is no consensus on one definition of wellbeing. Given the Muslim population worldwide, a definition of wellbeing and an easily accessible model rooted in the Islamic Tradition within the discourse of positive psychology and education is timely. This chapter has three sections. Section one presents a number of definitions of wellbeing from different perspectives. This is followed by a definition of wellbeing from an Islamic Perspective, as was proposed in the author’s self-published work (Mah, Watering the Roots: a 1-2-3 Parent Wellbeing Guide (a Muslim Perspective), 2021). The author defines wellbeing as a state of serenity attained through a conscious alignment of one’s fluctuating heart with divine guidance. In the second section, the author presents her 1-2-3 wellbeing model as a guide with three key components in simple-to-remember terms. This model applies not only to parents but to any individual, including students, who chooses to lead a productive, goal-oriented life to attain wellbeing in this life and the hereafter. The third section is a step-by-step process of the model, followed by three case studies to demonstrate how the model can be applied.