Definition of contentment

What is contentment? Defining it, ‘Allamah ‘Abdul Mustafa A’zami رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has said: When a person, being content with whatever he receives from  Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ, lives his life and refrains from greed, is called contentment. The habit of contentment is a great blessing of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ for humans. A contented person is blessed with the wealth of peace, whereas a greedy person always feels worried. (Jannati Zaywar, pp. 136)

Dear Islamic brothers! Surely contentment is one of the best human attributes; a contented person is able to overcome his desires, whereas a discontented person becomes the slave of his Nafs and keeps on wandering here and there. A contented person is privileged to express thanks, whereas if a single desire of a discontented person remains un-fulfilled, he starts making complaints. A contented person remains patient instead of demanding or desiring for more. Contentment is the sign of human’s outstanding courage, great thought, piety, greatness and patience, whereas following desires, obedience to Nafs, greed, stinginess and hypocrisy distance him from ‘فِیْ سَبِیْلِ اللہ’ (the Divine path). The importance of contentment can be best judged by the fact that Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ only bestows this good habit upon His pious and chosen bondmen. The sacred lives of blessed Ambiya عَـلَـيْهِمُ السَّلَام, blessed companions رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُم and pious saints رَحِمَهُمُ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَالٰی are the best role models for us to get the Madani pearls of contentment.

Millions of Salam be upon the sacred contentment of                Mustafa Jan-e-Rahmat!

The entire life of our Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is full of forbearance and contentment. He صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم never desired for worldly rest,           luxury and comfort, nor did he صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم ever try to gain them. He            صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم used to get great treasures consisting of spoils of wars, but he صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would distribute all of them to Muslims. Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ has narrated that the blessed family members of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم never ate food with satiation for three days till the Beloved صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم (apparently) departed this life.

(Sahih Bukhari, vol. 3, pp. 520, Hadees 5374)