Nettle (2005) believes that happiness includes three levels...

Nettle (2005) believes that happiness includes three levels; level one (momentary feelings: joy, pleasure, etc), level two (judgment about feelings (well- being, satisfaction, etc.), level three (quality of life: flourishing, fulfilling one's potential, etc.). Happiness is the overall satisfaction with quality of life (Veenhoven, 1996; cited from Hartog and Oosterbeek, 1996).

Happiness is being found in, and sometimes identified with, a life of fulfillment - and harmony within both the individual and in that individual's relations with others (Mackinnon; quoted from Macquarrie and Chidress, 2001). How is it possible for us to reach happiness? It is the most crucial and important question about happiness which has been put forward regarding happiness through history.

If we try to discover the viewpoints in religions and philosophy and psychology, we can achieve a true answer to this question. This causes a common understanding in different societies and among different people that would be much more effective than expressing the differences between different viewpoints. Researching on psychology of happiness, which reveals the similarities between religions, philosophy and psychology, is the other aim of this book.

This will probably lead us to this fact that there might be some absolute and true constant standards and criteria for happiness in all times and places, and this also will cause people not to search for happiness from false resources, since all of persons, religious or unreligious, and because of self-love, seek happiness.

Most recent researches concerning happiness and its correlatives have been reported in order that it might be made possible to compare the viewpoints of philosophers and religious Islamic texts with the psychological researches about happiness to reveal and show the similarities of philosophy, religion (Islam), and psychology. This will cause a general and acceptable framework to be prepared for all people.

Discovering and understanding of the factors that cause happiness can help people to live happier and therefore better, to be better individually and socially, and to reach nearer to God and to the aim for which they have been created. What is happiness really based on? The answer to this question will determine the correlatives of happiness or the effective factors which determine the individuals' happiness. This is all that is meant by the word "foundation" in this book.