Contentedness & Patience

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ 

The following is extracted from “The Purification of the Soul”, compiled from the works of Imam Zayn ad-Din Abu al-Faraj ‘Abd ar-Rahman ibn Ahmad ibn Rajab al-Hanbali (r.a.), Imam Shams ad-Din Abu ‘Abdullah Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah (r.a.), and Imam Abu Hamid Muhammad ibn Muhammad al-Ghazali (r.a.). 

The servant may experience one of two states as regards what he dislikes: the state of being content, or that of being patient.  Being content is a praiseworthy quality, while being patient is a duty which the believer must fulfill.  At some times, the people of contentment witness the Wisdom and Beauty of the One Who Tests when He Tests His servant, and they see that He is always Right in whatever He Decrees.  At other times, they witness the Might and Majesty and Perfection of the One Who Tests, to such an extent that they become completely immersed in these Attributes of Allah (s.w.t.) so that they do not experience any pain. 

Being patient involves restraining the self and preventing it from giving in to resentment, in spite of any suffering that it experiences – in the hope that the misfortune which afflicts it will come to an end – as well as restraining the limbs from behaving badly, out of impatience.  Being content, on the other hand, involves feeling at ease in accepting the Divine Decree, and being unconcerned with when any suffering will stop, even though it is being experienced.  Being content alleviates any suffering by reason of the heart’s immersion in the spirit of certainty and knowledge.  If the contentment increases in its intensity, then it removes the experiencing of any suffering altogether. 

It has been related, on the authority of Sayyidina Anas ibn Malik (r.a.), that the Prophet (s.a.w.) said, “When Allah Loves someone then He Tests him: as for whoever is content - Allah will be Pleased with him; and as for whoever is discontented - Allah will be Displeased with him.” 

Sayyidina Abu ‘Abd ar-Rahman ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (r.a.) said, “Allah (s.w.t.) has, in His Justice and Wisdom, Placed refreshment and joy in certainty and contentment, and He has Placed sadness and sorrow in doubt and discontentment.”