Attaining Contentment with Allah

In a Hadith, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever says, ‘I am pleased with Allah as my Lord, with Islam as my religion, and with Muhammad as my Prophet,’ Paradise will become obligatory for them.” Guidance to this state of pleasure can only be attained by following the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), who reached the highest degree of Allah’s pleasure and honor – for Allah (swt) forgave his past and future sins. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said about himself: “I am the master of the children of Adam, and this is no boast. I will be the first for whom the earth will split open on the Day of Resurrection, and this is no boast. I am the first intercessor and the first whose intercession will be accepted, and this is no boast. The Banner of Praise will be in my hand on the Day of Resurrection, and this is no boast.” Thus, by embodying the qualities through which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) attained the perfection of Allah’s pleasure, whoever follows him with excellence and sincerity likewise attains Allah’s pleasure. Allah’s being pleased with His servant – and the servant being pleased with Him – is the mark of true righteousness and sincere adherence to prophetic guidance. As Allah, The Exalted, says: “Allah is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him” (9:100).

This leads us to ask: What are the characteristics of one who is truly pleased and contented with Allah, The Exalted?

Contentment is the first step in spreading an atmosphere of profound and all-encompassing closeness to Allah (swt). This state of contentment represents the true essence of a successful bargain with the Divine. Its sign is the joy that fills the heart after fulfilling Allah’s will and obeying His command.

The servant’s pleasure and contentment with his Lord are manifested through tranquility with Him, trust in His decree, thinking well of His judgment, gratitude for His blessings, and patience in the face of His trials. The practical realization of this contentment is summed up in the perfect directive found in Allah’s saying: “And follow what is revealed to you, and be patient until Allah gives judgment, for He is the best of judges” (10:109). Following revelation encompasses all circumstances and every aspect of life. It becomes the foundation of one’s actions, the path to success, the framework for setting goals, and the driving force of one’s emotions and conscience. The ultimate aim of patience is to remain steadfast upon this following until Allah issues His judgment – and He is the best of judges.

The essence of following the revelation lies in complete submission and wholehearted obedience, holding fast to it no matter how situations change. Allah (swt) says: “O Prophet, fear Allah and do not obey the disbelievers and the hypocrites. Indeed, Allah is ever Knowing and Wise. And follow what is revealed to you from your Lord. Indeed, Allah is ever Acquainted with what you do. And rely upon Allah, and sufficient is Allah as Disposer of affairs” (33:1-3).

Through following revelation, a person gains knowledge, sincerity, understanding, righteous action, and patience until Allah passes His judgment. This is the true path to attaining contentment with Allah (swt). But, whoever deviates from following revelation strays from the straight path and will be among the regretful in the Hereafter, as Allah says: “Perhaps Allah will bring conquest or a decision from Him, and they will become, over what they have been hiding within themselves, regretful” (5:52).

One must understand that if they are not striving to attain Allah’s pleasure, they risk exposing themselves to His wrath. The path to earning Allah’s pleasure begins with the servant’s contentment with Him. One should also recognize that being content with Allah (swt) secures the soul within the realm of peace and serves as the believer’s fortress against Allah’s anger, as He says: “And he upon whom My wrath descends has certainly fallen” (20:81).

Whoever steps outside this circle – the circle of contentment with Allah – will be afflicted with distress, hardship, and rebuke. Consider Noah (peace be upon him), when he asked his Lord, interceding for his son with the compassion of a loving father. This request was outside the bounds of full tranquility and submission to Allah’s decree. Noah (peace be upon him) was interpreting the matter, not rebelling, yet a profound admonition came to him, and he feared for himself, lest he be among the losers.

Likewise, Prophet Yunus (peace be upon him), when he became impatient with his people and departed from them, contrary to Allah’s command, was tested with great distress. In the darkness, he cried out: “There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been among the wrongdoers” (21:87). Through this he realized that salvation lies in returning to Allah (swt) and being content with His decree.

It becomes clear from this that failing to be at peace with Allah’s decree and patiently endure it constitutes a breach of contentment with Allah (swt). This results in distress and leads one away from the beauty of true contentment and from divine companionship.

Let no one think that whoever steps outside this circle and does not experience distress or trial is truly well; for it is part of Allah’s mercy upon His servants that He tests them so that they may repent and seek forgiveness. But, whoever is deprived of such trials and is led astray by blessings until his/her heart is sealed, becomes unable to comprehend, reason, hear, or see. And is there any greater calamity than being distant from divine guidance? Allah, The Exalted, says: “And grant them respite; indeed, My plan is firm” (7:183). And He says: “And let not those who disbelieve think that giving them respite is good for themselves; rather, We give them respite so that they may increase in sin” (3:178).

Two deeds help attain one’s contentment with Allah (swt): first, truthfulness; second, modesty and humility before Allah, exalted is He. Truthfulness cultivates contentment, while modesty preserves and strengthens it.