Contentment: To attain inner peace and real happiness, one has to remain content with what one has been able to earn independently and lawfully. The Prophet says in this respect: "Indeed he has attained eternal success and prosperity who accepted Islam, and God has filled his heart with contentment towards whatever he was given". He also said: "A little that suffices is much better than a surfeit that causes disturbance" (Al-Bayhaqi).
Surah Aal-Imran and Surah al-Baqarah tell us that God created Adam and settled him and his wife in Paradise. God told them that everything in Paradise was open to them, except a tree whose fruit they were told to not eat. (2.35; 7.19) For some days, Adam followed this instruction. But gradually, he developed a desire to eat the fruit of the Forbidden Tree. Both Adam and Eve ate the fruit of the Forbidden Tree. Thus both were asked to leave Paradise.
This is not a simple matter. This is the greatest advice for a person. Humans have been given this advice. They were then settled on the planet earth and removed from Paradise. They were given the lesson to settle on earth where there are all arrangements. On earth, you will not get everything. You will not get the whole, but only the part. This is contentment. If a person is content, he will be successful.
This is true of an individual, community and state. Both individuals and communities have to follow this principle. We must be content with what we have been given. We should not try to possess everything. If you try to run after everything, you will lose what you already have. You will not be able to avail what you have.
