Currency of contentment: trading temporary pleasures for eternal bliss

This world is not what it seems. It entices us with its glitz and glamour, promising happiness and fulfilment, yet it ultimately delivers nothing but disappointment and regret. The more we chase after its fleeting pleasures, the more it ensnares us, pulling us away from the ultimate reality—the Hereafter. We are reminded to be content with what we have, for this world is like an unobtainable fruit—tempting us with the promise of sweetness but ultimately delivering bitterness.

The blessed Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم captured this reality in a profound statement:

حُلْوَةُ الدُّنْيَا مُرَّةُ الْآخِرَةِ وَمُرَّةُ الدُّنْيَا حُلْوَةُ الْآخِرَةِ

“The sweetness of the world is bitterness in the Hereafter, and the bitterness of the world is sweetness in the Hereafter.” — Aḥmad b. Ḥanbal #22899

This ḥadīth teaches us a timeless lesson, that the temporary struggles and sacrifices we endure in this world may feel bitter now, but they lead to everlasting sweetness in the Hereafter. Conversely, excessive indulgence in worldly pleasures at the expense of our faith may feel sweet in the moment, but it results in bitterness in the eternal life to come.

Allah عزوجل reminds us in the Qurʾān (57:20) of the fleeting nature of this world:

ٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَا لَعِبٌۭ وَلَهْوٌۭ وَزِينَةٌۭ وَتَفَاخُرٌۭ بَيْنَكُمْ وَتَكَاثُرٌۭ فِى ٱلْأَمْوَٰلِ وَٱلْأَوْلَـٰدِ ۖ كَمَثَلِ غَيْثٍ أَعْجَبَ ٱلْكُفَّارَ نَبَاتُهُۥ ثُمَّ يَهِيجُ فَتَرَىٰهُ مُصْفَرًّۭا ثُمَّ يَكُونُ حُطَـٰمًۭا ۖ وَفِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ عَذَابٌۭ شَدِيدٌۭ وَمَغْفِرَةٌۭ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرِضْوَٰنٌۭ ۚ وَمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَآ إِلَّا مَتَـٰعُ ٱلْغُرُورِ

“Know that the life of this world is but amusement and diversion and adornment and boasting to one another and competition in increase of wealth and children. Like the example of a rain whose [resulting] plant growth pleases the tillers; then it dries and you see it turned yellow; then it becomes [scattered] debris. And in the Hereafter is severe punishment and forgiveness from Allah and approval. And what is the worldly life except the enjoyment of delusion?”

Just as rain gives rise to crops that flourish for a short while before withering and turning to dust, so too are the pleasures and possessions of this world. They may appear beautiful, but they are temporary and ultimately meaningless compared to the eternal joys—or consequences—of the Hereafter.

The allure of this world can easily blind us to our purpose. It tempts us to chase wealth, power, and luxury at the expense of our faith and morality. Allah عزوجل warns us in the Qurʾān (3:14):

زُيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ حُبُّ الشَّهَوَاتِ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ وَالْبَنِينَ وَالْقَنَاطِيرِ الْمُقَنطَرَةِ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ وَالْفِضَّةِ وَالْخَيْلِ الْمُسَوَّمَةِ وَالْأَنْعَامِ وَالْحَرْثِ ۗ ذَٰلِكَ مَتَاعُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَاللَّهُ عِندَهُ حُسْنُ الْمَآبِ

“Beautified for people is the love of that which they desire—of women and sons, heaped-up sums of gold and silver, fine branded horses, and cattle and tilled land. That is the enjoyment of worldly life, but Allah has with Him the best return.”

While these desires are natural, they are also a test. When we become consumed by them, we risk losing sight of the greater reality, which is that true success lies not in worldly accumulation but in seeking the pleasure of Allah عزوجل. The blessed Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم warned us of this danger when he صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم said:

وَاللَّهِ مَا الْفَقْرَ أَخْشَى عَلَيْكُمْ وَلَكِنِّي أَخْشَى أَنْ تُبْسَطَ الدُّنْيَا عَلَيْكُمْ كَمَا بُسِطَتْ عَلَى مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ فَتَنَافَسُوهَا كَمَا تَنَافَسُوهَا فَتُهْلِكُكُمْ كَمَا أَهْلَكَتْهُمْ

“By Allah, it is not poverty that I fear for you, but I fear that the world will be spread out for you as it was spread out for those before you, and you will compete in it as they competed, and it will destroy you as it destroyed them.” — Bukhari #4015

The blessed Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم also said: الدُّنْيَا سِجْنُ الْمُؤْمِنِ وَجَنَّةُ الْكَافِرِ meaning, “This world is a prison for the believer and a paradise for the disbeliever.” (Muslim #2956) The restrictions and sacrifices required to follow Allah’s عزوجل commands may feel confining, but they are a means to eternal liberation. Conversely, those who indulge without regard for Allah’s عزوجل laws may enjoy their paradise here, only to face regret in the Hereafter.

Instead of chasing the fleeting sweetness of this world, we must focus on the eternal sweetness promised in the Hereafter. In the Qurʾān (2:155–157), Allah عزوجل reassures us that the hardships we endure for His عزوجل sake are not in vain:

وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ بِشَيْءٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْخَوْفِ وَٱلْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْأَمْوَٰلِ وَٱلْأَنفُسِ وَٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَآ أَصَٰبَتْهُم مُّصِيبَةٌۭ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّآ إِلَيْهِ رَٰجِعُونَ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَلَوَٰتٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ وَرَحْمَةٌۭ ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُهْتَدُونَ

“And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient, who, when disaster strikes them, say, ‘Indeed, we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return.’ Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy. And it is they who are [rightly] guided.”

As we navigate the trials and temptations of this life, let us remind ourselves that true success lies not in wealth or status but in living a life that pleases Allah عزوجل. True qanāʿah—contentment—is one of the greatest blessings a person can attain. It is a state of the heart that allows one to feel at peace with what Allah عزوجل has decreed, regardless of their circumstances. The blessed Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم emphasised the immense value of contentment in a powerful ḥadīth:

قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَنْ أَسْلَمَ وَرُزِقَ كَفَافًا وَقَنَّعَهُ اللَّهُ بِمَا آتَاهُ

“Successful is the one who accepts Islam, is provided with what is sufficient for his needs, and is content with what Allah has given him.” — Muslim #1054

This profound ḥadīth teaches us that contentment is not about accumulating wealth or possessions but about finding satisfaction in what Allah عزوجل has already provided. It is the ability to see blessings, even in scarcity, and to resist the endless pursuit of more, which often leads to dissatisfaction and spiritual emptiness.

The blessed Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم further explained the concept of true wealth, shifting our focus from materialism to the richness of the soul. He صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم said:

لَيْسَ الْغِنَى عَنْ كَثْرَةِ الْعَرَضِ، وَلَكِنَّ الْغِنَى غِنَى النَّفْسِ

“Richness is not having many possessions; rather, true richness is the richness of the soul.” — Muslim #1051

This timeless wisdom reminds us that no amount of material wealth can fill the void in a heart that lacks gratitude and contentment. A rich soul is one that is grateful for Allah’s عزوجل blessings, trusts His عزوجل decree, and remains steadfast through trials. Such a soul is unshaken by the fluctuations of worldly life, finding solace and peace in the remembrance of Allah عزوجل. He عزوجل has also assured us that if we are grateful, He عزوجل will increase His عزوجل blessings upon us. In the Qurʾān (14:7), He عزوجل says:

وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ وَلَئِن كَفَرْتُمْ إِنَّ عَذَابِى لَشَدِيدٌ

“And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, ‘If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favour]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe.”

Gratitude and contentment go hand in hand, for a grateful heart sees abundance in what others might consider little. It is through gratitude that we unlock the door to greater blessings, both in this life and the Hereafter. The blessed Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم also taught us that living simply and being content with less is a source of tranquillity; he صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم said:

مَنْ كَانَتِ الدُّنْيَا هَمَّهُ فَرَّقَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ أَمْرَهُ وَجَعَلَ فَقْرَهُ بَيْنَ عَيْنَيْهِ وَلَمْ يَأْتِهِ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا مَا كُتِبَ لَهُ وَمَنْ كَانَتِ الْآخِرَةُ نِيَّتَهُ جَمَعَ اللَّهُ لَهُ أَمْرَهُ وَجَعَلَ غِنَاهُ فِي قَلْبِهِ وَأَتَتْهُ الدُّنْيَا وَهِيَ رَاغِمَةٌ

“Whoever makes the world his greatest concern, Allah will scatter his affairs, place poverty before his eyes, and he will receive nothing of this world except what has been decreed for him. But whoever makes the Hereafter his greatest concern, Allah will gather his affairs, place contentment in his heart, and the world will come to him, submissively.” — Ibn Majah #4105

Here we learn that chasing the world leads to disarray and dissatisfaction, while focusing on the Hereafter brings inner peace and sufficiency. Contentment is not about denying ourselves the permissible pleasures of life but about prioritising what truly matters—our relationship with Allah عزوجل and our ultimate destination in the Hereafter.

When we reflect on the life of the blessed Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم, we find the perfect example of contentment. Despite being offered the treasures of the world, he chose a life of simplicity, relying solely on Allah عزوجل. Heصلى الله عليه وآله وسلم would often go days without food, tying stones to his stomach to suppress hunger, yet his صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم heart was filled with gratitude and unwavering trust in his Lord. Allah عزوجل reminds us in the Qurʾān (13:28) that it is through His عزوجل remembrance that our hearts find true peace and contentment:

الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ ۗ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ

“Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allah. Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured.”

As we strive to embody this contentment, let us remind ourselves that true wealth is not in material possessions but in the richness of faith, gratitude, and reliance on Allah عزوجل. A few moments of hardship or simplicity in this world, endured with a grateful and content heart, will yield eternal sweetness in the Hereafter. May Allah عزوجل grant us the wisdom to prioritise what truly matters, to find peace in His عزوجل remembrance, and to be content with His عزوجل decree. May He عزوجل grant us eternal success and the sweetness of the Hereafter.

And Allah عزوجل and His Messenger صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم know best.