What does Islam say about contentment (qanāʿah)?

"اللّٰه has chosen for him." الفُضَيْل بْن عِيَاض said to بِشْر الحَافِي: "Contentment is better than renunciation of the world, for the contented person does not wish for a status higher than his own." أَبُو عُثْمَان was asked about the saying of the Prophet, peace be upon him: "I ask You for contentment after the decree." He said: "Because contentment before the decree is a resolve for contentment, and contentment after the decree is true contentment.""

"اللّٰه is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him. That is for those who fear their Lord" from سُورَة البَيِّنَة. Contentment with Him is the foundation of contentment with Him, and contentment with Him is the fruit of contentment with Him. The essence of the matter is that contentment with Him relates to His names and attributes, while contentment with Him relates to His reward and recompense."

"the comfort of the knowers, the life of the lovers, the bliss of the worshippers, and the delight of the eyes of the longing ones. One of the greatest means to attain contentment is to adhere to what اللّٰه has placed His contentment in, for it will inevitably lead one to the station of contentment. It was said to يَحْيَى بْن مُعَاذ: "When does a servant reach the station of contentment?" He replied: "When they establish themselves on four principles in their dealings with their Lord, saying: If You give me, I accept."

"Whoever is content with their Lord, اللّٰه will be content with them. Indeed, a servant's contentment with اللّٰه is a result of اللّٰه's contentment with them. It is surrounded by two types of اللّٰه's contentment with His servant: contentment before it, which causes Him to be pleased with them, and contentment after it, which is the fruit of His pleasure with them."

"The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "Indeed, Allah, exalted be He, has placed joy in contentment and certainty, and anxiety in doubt and discontent." To further understand contentment, know that some believe only patience is possible in adversity, not contentment. However, if love for Allah is established, contentment with His actions follows. This can happen in two ways: First, the sense of pain is nullified, so one does not feel it even when afflicted."

"This is the paradise of this world and a bliss that has no equal. It is the source of strength for the lovers and the life for the knowers. The satisfaction of people's eyes is only according to their contentment with Allah Almighty. Whoever finds contentment in Allah, every eye is content with him. Whoever does not find contentment in Allah is left tearing his soul apart with worldly regrets."

"Allah delights in good words, and they ascend to him. Good deeds he raises up. This delight is not like our delight. Interpreting it does not resolve the issue, for what these scholars found problematic in delight also applies to satisfaction. If they say his satisfaction is not like human satisfaction, then his delight is not like human delight. Based on this, everything from this domain applies. The day of resurrection is mentioned in the hadith because it is the day of recompense. On this day, the scent of the fasting person's mouth will outweigh the musk used to prevent bad odors seeking Allah's pleasure."

"Leave us alone with your talk. Paradise is the contentment of my soul, and the two units of prayer are the contentment of my Lord; and the contentment of my Lord is dearer to me than the contentment of my soul. The knower of God is upon the earth a sweet herb from the herbs of Paradise; when the aspirant breathes its fragrance, his soul longs for Paradise."

"When Umar arrived, he said, I advise you to know that Allah has a right during the day that he does not accept at night, and he has a right at night that he does not accept during the day. He does not accept the voluntary until the obligatory is performed. Indeed, the scales of those whose scales weigh heavy on the Day of Judgment are made so by following truth in this world, which was burdensome for them. So, the scales that contain only truth are entitled to be heavy. Conversely, the scales that are light are due to following falsehood, which was easy for them. Thus, scales that only contain falsehood are entitled"

"know from where they have been afflicted, and they would confirm that their souls are their worst enemies. How can I accept their fasting when they strengthen themselves upon it with unlawful food? And how can I accept their prayer when their hearts incline towards those who fight me and violate my sanctities? How can I accept their charity when they wrongfully take it from others? Indeed, I reward it to its rightful people. And how can I have mercy on their weeping when their hands drip with the blood of prophets? My anger has increased upon them. O Jesus, I decreed on the day I created the"