Discontentment and ingratitude are traits of the Satan whose ungratefulness exiled him from the divine kingdom of Allah’s mercy. These two hypocritic traits are, most often, induced by greed. This lends credence to the proposition that every discontented person is unappreciative and greedy. Contentment is not just about monetary issues as it also transcends all spheres of life including political, social or religious matters.
Allah (SWT) created Adam, Alayhi s-Salaam (AS) and his wife, Hawwau to dwell in the eternal garden of bliss; warning both of them to stay away from a particular tree and not to eat of its fruits. But Adam (AS) and his wife were both tempted by their sworn yet worst enemy, the Shaytan (Satan), to defy divine instruction and eat from the tree. Shaytan thus whispered evil to Adam (AS) saying, “O Adam! Shall I lead you to tree of eternity (where you will not die?) and to a kingdom that never degenerates?” Unfortunately, both Adam (AS) and Hawwau disobeyed Allah (SWT) and, thus, ate from the forbidden tree; whence their nakedness appeared to them.
Consequently, Allah (STW) said to both of them (as contained in Qur’an 20:123) to get down (to the earth) from the Garden of bliss. This was how Adam (AS) lost his certificate of occupancy in the Garden. Had Adam not listened to the Shaytan who advised him and his wife to go against Allah’s injunction on the forbidden fruit, both of them (Adam and Hawwau) wouldn’t have been brought down to this hard-to-survive and complex place called the earth planet. Similarly, no man would have experienced all the complex challenges of modern times. This sense of greed infused into Adam (AS) and Hawwau marked the beginning of Adam’s problems, which till today, has not ceased to be one of man’s most critical ‘ailments’ of the heart.
Riches are not from abundance of physical assets but from a contented mind. It has always been Shaytan’s wish to lead man into disobedience through discontentment. An ungrateful person always looks at those who have more in terms of money, farmlands, cars, clothing, shops, businesses, houses or estates. Such a person may never find contentment because Allah (SWT) has designed the natural scheme of things in such a way that, over every possessor of a particular favuor is another. This is why the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) exhorts man to look at those who have less. Let us not use the physical abilities, wealth, health, knowledge, status or personality of others to determine how rich or poor, or how highly or lowly placed we are. Much gratitude lies in our ability to appreciate Allah’s bounties as we have less or none at all. Contentment is tantamount to acknowledging the contrast between “the haves” on the one hand, and the “haves not” on the other.
An ungrateful mind suffers from a variety of illnesses; one leading to another. They include emotional instability and a longing desire to always have more. A discontent person is regularly engrossed in thoughts of how to be better-off in whatever he decides to go after. This obviously creates psychological instability in a greedy and ungrateful person because of his consistent desperate attempts to realize his tall ambitions. One negative consequence of this kind of lifestyle is an unrealistic and disorganized way of life. Discontent and unthankful persons are also likely to be under perpetual psychological tensions.
It is not unlikely that an ungrateful person could remain uncommitted to his religious duties, obligatory as well as superogatory. And even when he does, the religious act may not be accompanied with the desired piety and devotion. Discontentment creates materialistic tendencies. When a business-minded man is unable to tame his greed, the Shaytan tempts his mind to indulge in illegal transactions such as ribbah (usury), hoarding, and fraud; all in an attempt to making ends meet (if they would ever meet).
A contented mind is a peaceful mind. Contentment is virtue and one of the many forms of showing gratitude to Allah, the most Beneficent. Besides making the poor feel as he were rich though without money, ‘contentment is not the fulfillment of what you want but the realization of how much you already have.’ Comparing yourself with others makes the search for contentment a million times harder. With contentment, one is able to build a personality founded on integrity and reputation. A contented person commands a lot of respect from the society. He also becomes one of those that enjoy the love and mercy of Allah (SWT). A mind blessed with contentment is a mind blessed with piety.
No matter our individual or collective moments of trial; no matter the quality of our life; no matter the modest measure of our material possessions; no matter the dictates of modernity or modern life; it is always better and pays off to remain contented. Allah (SWT) has promised in Qur’an 14:7 that, He will not only improve our lots as long as we remain appreciative of our circumstances but will certainly add more favours to us. If, however, we choose not to appreciate Allah’s kindness and mercy upon us including His intangible gifts such as health, the Omnipotent is most severe in His punishments. Certainly, Allah loves those who are contented and grateful. It takes a sincere faith for a person to attain contentment. May Allah (SWT) guide us from becoming stooges in the hands of man’s worst enemy, the Shaytan, Amin.
