CONTENTMENT
Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘As reported that the Prophet of Islam said: “Successful is the one who submits to God, is given enough to meet his needs, and remains content with what God has given him.” (Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 1054)
Contentment does not mean giving up on effort. It is not the opposite of action—it is the opposite of greed. A person should lead a fully active and productive life, but at the same time, they should protect themselves from the endless desire for more. A greedy person can never be truly satisfied in this world. Contentment relates not to the act of working, but to the results of that work. A living person will inevitably act. But outcomes often depend on many external factors beyond one’s control. Therefore, a person should put in their full effort, without falling short, and remain satisfied with whatever result comes.
This world is designed in such a way that while effort is in our control, results are not. Thus, the only realistic and sustainable mindset in this world is what we call contentment. However, this means contentment with results, not with effort. Being content with outcomes is wise; being content with low effort is like surrendering to failure. There is a simple rule to balance this: continue working without disturbing your inner peace. Use your skills and opportunities to the fullest. Seek results only to the extent that your peace of mind remains intact. Once desire starts to disturb your calm, it is a sign that you have stepped out of contentment and into greed. And greed, no matter how it is justified, is something to be let go of.
For a content person, money is a necessity, not an obsession. Once their basic needs are met, they are satisfied. But a discontent person is never satisfied, because their desire has no limits. The hunger for wealth in such a person keeps growing, no matter how much they acquire.
Contentment is not limited to wealth and possessions; it applies to every area of life. A person may be serving others, another may hold a leadership position, and someone else may have reached a government post. In any field, there are always two choices: to be content with what one has or to chase after what one has not yet attained.
A content person accepts the level where circumstances have placed them and commits to fulfilling their duty. If further advancement comes through normal means, they welcome it. But if it does not, they accept their current position with peace of mind.
Thirst is a natural human need. However, there is a difference between healthy thirst and diseased thirst (a condition known as ‘ataash’ in Arabic, which modern medical science refers to as polydipsia). A healthy person drinks only as much water as the body requires and feels satisfied. In contrast, a person with diseased thirst continues to crave water, yet no amount can truly quench their thirst.
A content person in this world is like the healthy thirsty one. A greedy person is like the one suffering from diseased thirst.
