pp. 96, summarised) He صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم never desired delicious food. Heصَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would frequently consume thick barley bread as food. (Seerat e Mustafa, pp. 585-586, summarised)

Dear Islamic sisters! Our Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم spent a life of contentment despite being the owner of the treasures of both worlds. Therefore, we too should follow in the footsteps of our Beloved Prophetصَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, obey him and live a life of contentment. There are numerous worldly and hereafter benefits of contentment. Before listening to those benefits, let’s first listen to the definition of contentment.

Definition of contentment: contentment refers to being satisfied with the distribution made by Allah Almighty or to consider whatever is received, as sufficient. (Sparrow And Blind Snake, pp. 8 summarised)

Benefits of contentment and harms of following desires

1. Contentment finishes the love of the world from the heart whereas the one who follows desires continues to become trapped in the love of the world and considers the world to be everything which is a poison for religion.

2. The one who is content will rely more on the Creator of means rather than the means. Like this, she becomes free from depending on others. Whereas the Islamic sister who is not content relies heavily on the means and considers them to be everything, like this she places her hope in people and has expectations from them.

3. Contentment saves a person from being a follower of desires and by virtue of this, life passes in peace and satisfaction whereas stress and depression is caused by following desires.

4. The biggest benefit of being content is that the pleasure of Allah Almighty and His Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is attained. The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: Glad tidings are for the one who gains the guidance of Islam and his sustenance is according to his need and he is content upon it. (Tirmizi, vol. 4 pp. 156, Hadees 2355)

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب                                                                                         صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلٰى مُحَمَّد