Nahj al-Balagha Hadith n. 57

Selections from The Sayings and Preaching of Amir al-Muminin Ali ibn Abi Talib (Peace Be Upon Him) Including His Replies to Questions and Maxims Expressed for Various Purposes.
Translated by Sayyid Ali Reza

وَقَالَ (عليه ‏السلام):

Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said:

الْقَنَاعَةُ مَالٌ لاَ يَنْفَدُ

Contentment is wealth that does not diminish. 22

قال الرضي: و قد روي هذا الكلام عن النبي صلي الله عليه و آله و سلم.

as-Sayyid ar-Radi says: This saying has also been related from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his descendants.

 

22. Contentment means that a man should remain satisfied with what he gets and should not complain if he gets less. if he is not so contented he will try to satisfy his greed by committing social crimes like misappropriation, cheating and deceiving others, because greed compels one to satisfy one's wants by any means whatever. Then the satisfaction 0f one's want opens the way for another want and as a man's wants get satisfied his craving increases and he can never get rid of his needs or of dissatisfaction. This increasing dissatisfaction can be stopped only by contentment which makes a man carefree from all wants except the most essential ones. This is that everlasting wealth that gives satisfaction for good.