Quranic Verses on Contentment
The Quran contains numerous verses that emphasize the importance of contentment. Some of these are as follows:
- Allah, the Almighty, says: (Our Lord, grant us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the torment of the Fire).
- Allah, the Almighty, states: (Whoever does righteous deeds, whether male or female, while being a believer, We will surely grant them a good life and We will surely give them their reward according to the best of what they used to do).
- Allah, the Almighty, mentions: (If they are poor, Allah will enrich them from His bounty. And Allah is All-Encompassing and All-Knowing).
- Allah, the Almighty, instructs: (And feed the contented and the needy).
- Allah, the Almighty, asserts: (Indeed, the righteous will be in bliss).
Prophetic Traditions on Contentment
There are many prophetic traditions that discuss the concept of contentment. Below are a few notable examples:
- Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) was once speaking, and a man from the Bedouins said: (A man from Paradise sought permission from his Lord to cultivate, and He said: “Are you not satisfied with what I have given you?” The man replied: “Indeed, but I love to plant.” So he sowed the seeds, and they grew quickly, producing crops as large as mountains. Allah then said: “Take, O son of Adam, for nothing can satisfy you.” The Bedouin remarked: “By Allah, you will only find that with a Qurashi or an Ansari, for they are the ones who cultivate, while we do not farm.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) smiled).
- The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: (O Allah, grant the family of Muhammad sustenance).
- The Prophet (peace be upon him) stated: (Whoever wakes up in safety within his home, healthy in his body, and has the food for his day, it is as if the whole world has been gathered for him).
- He also said: (O people, fear Allah and be moderate in seeking your provisions. For no soul will die until it has received all of its sustenance, even if it is delayed. So fear Allah and be moderate in seeking, take what is lawful and leave what is unlawful).
Divine Blessings in the Quran and Sunnah
The Quran and prophetic traditions also highlight the significance of being content with what one has. Here are several verses and sayings related to this concept:
- Allah says: (So they returned with grace from Allah and bounty, and no harm touched them, and they followed the pleasure of Allah. And Allah is Possessor of great bounty).
- Allah states: (The Day when the truthfulness of the truthful will benefit them will be theirs Gardens beneath which rivers flow, abiding therein forever. Allah is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him. That is the great triumph).
- Allah mentions: (Had they been satisfied with what Allah and His Messenger had given them, and said: “Sufficient for us is Allah, He will give us from His bounty, and His Messenger. Indeed, to Allah, we are turning in hope.”).
- Allah poses a question: (Is one who has built his foundation on the fear of Allah and His pleasure better than one who has built his foundation on the brink of a crumbling precipice, that will collapse into the Fire of Hell? And Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people).
- Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: (Who will take these words from me and act upon them or teach them to someone who will act upon them? I said: “I will, O Messenger of Allah.” He counted off five: “Fear the prohibitions, and you will be the most devoted of people; be content with what Allah has allocated for you, and you will be the richest of people; be good to your neighbor, and you will be a believer; love for others what you love for yourself, and you will be a Muslim; and speak little, for excessive laughter deadens the heart.”).