17. Be content and satisfied

The voyage towards emotional and spiritual satisfaction is continuously interrupted by inevitable worries, perturbation, and deceptions along the way. These discomforts are lessons to teach us and guidelines to lead the way towards Allah's Straight Path. Trying to get every single factor in your life under your control is futile, as life constantly challenges us with new tests. 130 Allah (~) says: ~Do people think that they will be left alone because they say, 'We believe, and will not be tested?'~ (Quran 29: 2) That is the law of existence and it is in your own interest to surrender to it. Appreciate your Divine blessings, focus on your gifts and blessings, adapt your needs to your earnings and possessions, and stop questioning the Divine arrangement of your life. 131 Prophet Muhammad (~ ) said: «Do not impeach Allah about something He preordained for you.» 132 A person's misery stems from the inability to achieve this balance in life. If you measure your happiness by your material achievements, you may be faced with many disappointments and frustrations since it is impossible to control your outside world. You only have control over your inner choices, your awareness, consciousness and feelings; and these are the factors that can change your whole world view. To fail to accept Allah's Will and conform to ° Carter-Scott, 1999. 13 131 Ibid. 132 Al:imed (a good hadith). it is to deny yourself the opportunity to advance and prosper. Prophet Muhammad (~) said: «If the son of Adam (that is, a human being) had two valleys full of gold, he would wish for three!» 133 You have to look within your heart to find inner peace and contentment. Prophet Muhammad (~ ) said: «If one wakes up in the morning in the full security of his heart, and his body free from harm, and having a day's provision, then it is as if the world, all of it, is driven to him.» 134 When you are afflicted with a calamity, you can choose how to respond to it: 135 you can nurture hostility, anxiety, and disbelief, even complain and lose patience, but then you will be harming only yourself. Furthermore, you may become so overwhelmed and depressed that you abandon your obligations and neglect your commitments. Alternatively, you can be patient and wait for Allah's deliverance, or - even better - feel content and grateful, praising Allah for His precious lesson that is delivered to you in the form of a test. According to lbn al-Qayyim, the cure for sorrow and distress lies in the acceptance and satisfaction experienced deep in your heart, knowing that all that matters is seeking Allah's pleasure and rewards. We should also be certain that afflictions will only affect us as much as we permit them to. 136 Being contented dissipates your worries and your fears for tomorrow. lbn al-Qayyim also said: "Contentment is heaven on earth." Know that your share of life is there waiting for you and your sustenance has been preordained even before the creation of humankind. Allah (~) says: 133 Bukhari and Muslim. 134 Tinnidhi (a good or sound hadith). 135 Ghazali, 2001. 136 Jauziyah, (~):-1 r-! ..:r.l ..:r...l.ll v-1"), 2001. ~Say [0 Muhammad], 'Do you verily disbelieve in Him Who created the earth in two Days and you set up rivals [in worship] with Him? That is the Creator and Owner of the Universe. He placed therein firm mountains from above it, and He blessed it, and measured therein its sustenance [for its dwellers] in four Days equal [i.e., all these four 'days' were equal in length of time], for all those who ask [about its creation]) (Quran 41: 9-10) We should look at affliction as merely a test for our patience, acceptance and faith; they rid us of sins, strengthen our resolve and purify our souls. Prophet Muhammad (~) said: «The bigger the test is, the greater the reward for it will be. When Allah loves people, He tests them. If they are accept the affliction (cheerfully), then they will achieve contentment (or Allah's pleasure); and those who become enraged (or evade the affliction) will only reap Allah's rage.» 137 No matter how long you may complain or grieve, sooner or later you will have to forgo the matter and get on with your life. A wise man once said: "On the first day that a calamity strikes, the wise person behaves just like the ignorant person behaves days later." 138 To help you in your journey towards satisfaction, adopt this dhikr that Prophet Muhammad (~) taught us, to be said three times in the morning after Fajr prayer and three times in the evening after 'Av prayer: 137 Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah, with a good chain of narration. 138 Ghazali the Elder, 2001. «0 Allah, I am satisfied with Allah as my God, Islam as my religion and Muhammad ( ~ ) as my Prophet. (Allahumma innee raq,eetu billahi rabban wa bit /slami deenan wa bi MulJ,ammadin nabiyya.) 139 Prophet Muhammad (~ ) said that if one says this dhikr at these specified times, it is mandatory that Allah will grant that person satisfaction and contentment.» 140 Another help in your journey towards satisfaction is the adjustment of your will to the Divine Will, which can be achieved by a non-obligatory prayer called istikharah (seeking what is good). Prophet Muhammad (~ ) taught us that whenever anyone intends to undertake a matter, s/he should first offer two non-obligatory units (rak'ah) of ~alat and then supplicate to Allah seeking guidance to make the right decision or choose the proper course. This puts one in total agreement with Allah's choice and brings satisfaction into one's heart. Prophet Muhammad (~ ) said: «A source of a person's happiness is being content with Allah's will; while among the sources of misery are refraining from asking for Allah's guidance and feeling discontented ~ith Allah's decree.» 141