Qanāʿa
Definition
Qanaʿa is the felt sense of 'enough' — the inner sufficiency that does not reach for more simply because more is available. Al-Ghazali presents it as the practical fruit of zuhd in daily life: the zahid experiences qanaʿa in their relationship to food, clothing, shelter, and status. They take what is needed, do not stretch for excess, and feel genuinely satisfied rather than deprived. He is careful to distinguish qanaʿa from laziness or the failure to earn one's livelihood — a person may work diligently and lawfully while still practicing qanaʿa, in that they are content with what they earn and do not allow the desire for more to distort their character or crowd out their remembrance of God.
As understood in the classical tradition of Imam al-Ghazali and the scholars of his school.
How the scholars use Qanāʿa.
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"But enters paradise due to his generosity It is narrated that Allah enough even case saw a man with a Durham in his hand and asked whose Durham is that? the man replied it is mine Allah enough said it is not truly yours until it leaves your hand and Similarly, it is said the money is yours when you hold it, but when you spend it, then it's truly yours Wasil Ibn Ata was nicknamed al-ghazal because he would sit with the sellers of gazelle if he saw a poor woman He would give her something al-asmai mentioned that Hassan Ibn Ali wrote to his brother Hussain Ibn Ali May Allah be pleased with them admonishing him for giving to poets"
— Imam al-Ghazali, Book 27: Condemnation of Miserliness and Love of Wealth
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"Without anger, which allows you to fend off opposition, you would remain vulnerable, and everything you’ve procured in nourishment could be taken from you. You need a prompting to repel and combat threats, which is the impulse of anger. Yet, desire and anger alone are not enough, as they only address immediate harm and benefit. Allah the Exalted created another will, guided by reason, which comprehends consequences. This allows you to benefit from intellect, for mere knowledge that a desire harms you is not enough to abstain from it without an inclination to act according to knowledge."
— Imam al-Ghazali, Book 32: Patience and Gratitude
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"your mercy? Imam Ahmad narrated a similar account where golden locusts were sent upon Ayyub, and he gathered them into his garment. When asked if it was enough, he responded, Yes, my Lord, but who can be free of the bounty of your favor? This narration is considered mawkuf, but there is also a marfu version from another chain. In another narration, while Ayyub was bathing, a swarm of golden locusts fell upon him. His Lord asked if he had not made him rich enough, and Ayyub replied, Yes, O Lord, but I cannot do without your blessing."
— Ibn Kathir, Volume 1 — From Creation to Mūsā
Appears in
3 books in the library
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