Definition of contentment

Shaykh-ul-Hadees, ‘Allamah ‘Abdul Mustafa A’zami عَـلَيْهِ رَحْـمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ الۡـقَـوِی has said: When a person, being content with whatever he receives from Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ, lives his life and refrains from being greedy, is called contentment.

(Jannati Zaywar, pp. 136)

Whereas, while defining contentment, ‘Allamah Meer Sayyid Shareef Jurjaani Hanafi عَـلَيْهِ رَحْـمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ الۡـقَـوِی has said:

هِيَ السُّكُوۡنُ عِنۡدَ عَدَمِ الۡمَاۡلُوۡفَاتِ

To remain content even without having the things used in everyday life is contentment. (At-Ta’reefat lil-Jurjaani, pp. 126)

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب              صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

Dear Islamic brothers! Remember, real wealthiness does not mean that a person has plenty of wealth, but real wealthiness is that a person has less wealth but is content over it; because a rich person regardless of possessing abundance of wealth, wishes for more and his wealth also keeps on decreasing. Whereas, a content person is such rich that in spite of having a very little wealth, does not desire for more. Furthermore, the wealth of contentment does not decrease either. Anyway, contentment is an excellent habit and one who is blessed with it is successful in the world and in the Hereafter. Let’s listen to a few narrations in order to create the love of contentment in our hearts.

Who is wealthier?

Sayyiduna Musa Kaleemullah عَـلٰى نَبِـيِّنَا وَعَـلَيْهِ الصَّلٰوةُ وَالسَّلَام humbly asked in the court of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ: ‘O Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ)! Who is the wealthiest person among your bondmen?’ Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ said, ‘The one who is most contented with the blessings blessed to him by Me.’ (Ibn ‘Asakir, vol. 61, pp. 139, Raqm 7741)