Chapter 7 - On Contentment

Imam Sadiq (a.s) advised a man and said: “Be content with what God has destined for you. Do not be greedy of what others own. Do not hope to have what you cannot get. Whoever is content will get satisfied. But whoever is not content will never get satisfied. Gain your benefit from the Hereafter.”

A man went to see Imam Sadiq (a.s) and complained that he was never content with what he gets for his daily bread, and he fought with himself wanting more. He asked the Imam (a.s) to teach him something to benefit him. Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “If you are content with the minimum necessities, you will be rich with the minimum worldly goods, but if you are not, even everything in the world will not suffice to enrich you.”

“Whoever recognizes his destiny will not get ruined, and the people will not cry over what they lose, but over what they excessively obtain.” He then asked: “How much will be enough for a man?”