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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Main Author:	Ali, Mohammed Farid
Format:	Article
Language:	English
Published:	International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies Malaysia (IAIS) 2014
Subjects:	BL Religion H Social Sciences (General)
Online Access:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/44240/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/44240/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/44240/1/ICR_5.3.pdf

id	iium-44240
recordtype	eprints
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
repository_type	Digital Repository
institution_category	Local University
institution	International Islamic University Malaysia
building	IIUM Repository
collection	Online Access
language	English
topic	BL Religion H Social Sciences (General)
spellingShingle	BL Religion H Social Sciences (General) Ali, Mohammed Farid Contentment (Qana'ah) and its role in curbing social and environmental problems
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.
format	Article
author	Ali, Mohammed Farid
author_facet	Ali, Mohammed Farid
author_sort	Ali, Mohammed Farid
title	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_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_sort	contentment (qana'ah) and its role in curbing social and environmental problems
publisher	International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies Malaysia (IAIS)
publishDate	2014
url	http://irep.iium.edu.my/44240/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/44240/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/44240/1/ICR_5.3.pdf
first_indexed	2023-09-18T21:02:55Z
last_indexed	2023-09-18T21:02:55Z
_version_	1777410743071670272

Contentment (Qana'ah) and its role in curbing social and environmental problems

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