Reflection on the Qana'ah attribute

I was told many examples of people who had lived with attribute of Qana'ah. What is Qana'ah? Qana'ah means to live simply by what Allah s.w.t had given us, do not sulk, demanded more and complain. Nowadays many Muslims (including myself) is far from Qana'ah. For example, although three pieces of plain bread and a glass of plain water is enough to fill up my stomach, I want mutton dam briyani with a cool bandung. Qana'ah however does not apply to pursue of knowledge and the time spent for Amal to get closer to Allah s.w.t.

Qana'ah : Which one would you choose when you are really hungry? This...



or this...



In the past, Habib Ahmad Bin Semait mentioned to me of a Sufi who lived only on bread. When the Sufi is given some meat by a person, he doubles his Amal Ibadah and traded his sleeping with even longer night Solats. The Sufi mentioned that Allah s.w.t has given him what is necessary for him to live on and so far he could not even Syukur (thank) enough. Hence anything that is extra deserves even more Amal to show more Syukur to Allah s.w.t.

People who are not in tune with Tasawwuf might think that this is a stupid thing to do. They also might think that this is not a good example to Muslims. It can be seen as an idea that can make the Muslim society go backwards and lags behind in progress. However, if humans throughout the whole world were to behave like this. Then there will be no wars, no stress, no hunger, no greed and there might be even no boundaries... The Earth resources may last even longer than what Scientists have predicted. Modernization (that resulted in a lot of destruction) may took a different direction altogether.