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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/44240/1/ICR_5.3.pdf
http://irep.iium.edu.my/44240/
http://www.iais.org.my/icr/index.php/icr/article/view/435
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spelling my.iium.irep.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 REM 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
institution Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia
building IIUM Library
collection Institutional Repository
continent Asia
country Malaysia
content_provider International Islamic University Malaysia
content_source IIUM Repository (IREP)
url_provider http://irep.iium.edu.my/
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/44240/1/ICR_5.3.pdf
http://irep.iium.edu.my/44240/
http://www.iais.org.my/icr/index.php/icr/article/view/435
_version_ 1643612538328317952
score 13.211869

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