A study on relationship between religion and happiness in the work of İmam Gazâlî's Ihyâ-u Ulûmi'd-Din

Religion and happiness are fact that intereact. While happiness appers thr ultimate goal to achieve throught person's life, religion aim both World and hereafter happiness for people. So it is possible to say that religionhas an important effecton the pursuit of happiness. In this study, İmam-ı Gazâlî's viewon relationship between religion and happiness were examined within the framework of religion psychology. First of all the concepts of religion and happiness and approaches to religion and happiness in the field of psychology are discussed. Then, the definition of happiness of İmam Gazâlî's the concepts the he associates with happiness and the elements he explained for eternal happiness are discussed. As a result of the research it has been determined that Gazâlî's view that real happiness will be in the hereafter overlaps with İslamic psychology. In addition, some basic similatiries have been identified between the humanistic approach and the positive psychology approach, which are among the approaches to happiness in Western Psychology. Key Words: Religion, happiness, İhyâ-u Ulûmi'd-Din, the happiness of the hereafter