Contentment (Qana'ah) and its role in curbing social and environmental problems
Contentment is an important dimension of virtuous human character (akhlaq) in the context of our attitude towards material provision and worldly sustenance, and our attitude towards sharing our sustenance with others. We first explore the position which the discipline of cultivating human character...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies Malaysia (IAIS)
2014
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| Online Access: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/44240/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/44240/1/ICR_5.3.pdf |
| _version_ | 1848782577053204480 |
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| author | Ali, Mohammed Farid |
| author_facet | Ali, Mohammed Farid |
| author_sort | Ali, Mohammed Farid |
| building | IIUM Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Contentment is an important dimension of virtuous human character (akhlaq) in the context of our attitude towards material provision and worldly sustenance, and our attitude towards sharing our sustenance with others. We first explore the position which the discipline of cultivating human character holds in Islam. It discloses the direct relationship of human character with our society and the environment. These relations are the foundation on which the treatment of contentment (qana'ah) is based. After defining the term qana'ah, we discuss the “good wholesome life (hayatan tayyibah)” mentioned in the Qur’an (al-Nahl 16:97) which denotes ‘self-contentment’. The term provides the premise that a virtuous and pure life in this world is based on human selfcontrol towards his means of provision, his society, and the environment. With a disciplined human attitude towards material means, material abundance or scarcity of worldly things will not disrupt one’s conviction and self-sufficiency. We then discuss the by-products of non-contentment and greed such as wasting of food and other natural resources. This leads us to the topic of self-discipline in terms of dealing with the material world and our fellows. Finally we discuss the importance of self-discipline through frugal- moderation for individual and civilisational renewal. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T16:07:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | iium-44240 |
| institution | International Islamic University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T16:07:40Z |
| publishDate | 2014 |
| publisher | International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies Malaysia (IAIS) |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | iium-442402017-10-30T07:51:57Z http://irep.iium.edu.my/44240/ Contentment (Qana'ah) and its role in curbing social and environmental problems Ali, Mohammed Farid BL Religion H Social Sciences (General) Contentment is an important dimension of virtuous human character (akhlaq) in the context of our attitude towards material provision and worldly sustenance, and our attitude towards sharing our sustenance with others. We first explore the position which the discipline of cultivating human character holds in Islam. It discloses the direct relationship of human character with our society and the environment. These relations are the foundation on which the treatment of contentment (qana'ah) is based. After defining the term qana'ah, we discuss the “good wholesome life (hayatan tayyibah)” mentioned in the Qur’an (al-Nahl 16:97) which denotes ‘self-contentment’. The term provides the premise that a virtuous and pure life in this world is based on human selfcontrol towards his means of provision, his society, and the environment. With a disciplined human attitude towards material means, material abundance or scarcity of worldly things will not disrupt one’s conviction and self-sufficiency. We then discuss the by-products of non-contentment and greed such as wasting of food and other natural resources. This leads us to the topic of self-discipline in terms of dealing with the material world and our fellows. Finally we discuss the importance of self-discipline through frugal- moderation for individual and civilisational renewal. International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies Malaysia (IAIS) 2014-07 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://irep.iium.edu.my/44240/1/ICR_5.3.pdf Ali, Mohammed Farid (2014) Contentment (Qana'ah) and its role in curbing social and environmental problems. Islam and Civilisational Renewal (ICR), 5 (3). pp. 430-445. ISSN 2041-8728 (O), 2041-871X (P) http://www.iais.org.my/icr/index.php/icr/article/view/435 |
| spellingShingle | BL Religion H Social Sciences (General) Ali, Mohammed Farid Contentment (Qana'ah) and its role in curbing social and environmental problems |
| title | Contentment (Qana'ah) and its role in curbing social and environmental problems |
| title_full | Contentment (Qana'ah) and its role in curbing social and environmental problems |
| title_fullStr | Contentment (Qana'ah) and its role in curbing social and environmental problems |
| title_full_unstemmed | Contentment (Qana'ah) and its role in curbing social and environmental problems |
| title_short | Contentment (Qana'ah) and its role in curbing social and environmental problems |
| title_sort | contentment (qana'ah) and its role in curbing social and environmental problems |
| topic | BL Religion H Social Sciences (General) |
| url | http://irep.iium.edu.my/44240/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/44240/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/44240/1/ICR_5.3.pdf |