Reconstructing Happiness in the Perspective of Neo Sufism Nurcholish Madjid
Abstract
This article explores the concept of happiness from the perspective of Nurcholish Madjid through a qualitative, descriptive, and explorative approach. Central to the analysis is the framework of neo Sufism, which is positioned as a response to the crisis of spirituality and mental health in contemporary life. The findings suggest that, for Madjid, authentic happiness is achieved through a balanced integration of material success and spiritual fulfillment. Individuals who transcend the pursuit of mere worldly pleasures by orienting their lives toward transcendental values (manifested through virtuous actions and devotion) are believed to attain holistic and profound happiness. The culmination of this state is rida (contentment), a disposition characterized by the conscious and willing acceptance of all divine decrees. The pursuit of happiness, in this view, involves detachment from material attachments and the establishment of an exclusive spiritual bond with God. Madjid’s formulation thus offers a reinterpretation of happiness as a form of spiritual and existential restoration in the face of the crises engendered by modernity.
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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21043/esoterik.v11i1.29347
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