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Enough is a gift, not a shortage

Qana'ah & contentment

Children live inside a constant advertisement, and comparison steals their gratitude first. Islam answers with qana'ah. The Prophet ﷺ said whoever wakes up safe in himself, healthy in body and with food for that day has been given the whole world; that true richness is richness of the soul; and that the upper hand — the one that gives — is better than the one that takes. These five lessons train a child to count what they already have, to look at those with less rather than more, and to want less rather than earn more. Every point carries its ayah or hadith reference.

A simple cream clay bowl of dates and a small gold clay cup on a sage clay platform
A small cream clay house with a clay loaf on its sage clay step and a gold clay star above

Lesson 1 · Ni'mah · ages 8-11

Safe, well, and fed for today

The Prophet ﷺ said whoever wakes up safe, healthy in body and with food for the day has been given the world entire.

  1. The hadith

    The Prophet ﷺ said: whoever among you wakes up safe in himself, healthy in his body and having his food for the day, has been given the entire world.

  2. Count them each morning

    Safety, health and food for today are three things most people forget to notice.

  3. Two blessings people undervalue

    The Prophet ﷺ said health and free time are two blessings many people waste.

  4. Gratitude increases

    Allah promises that if you are grateful, He will increase you.

  5. Say alhamdulillah in words

    The morning sunnah is to praise Allah for being returned to life and health.

Surah Ibrahim · 14:7

وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ ۖ وَلَئِن كَفَرْتُمْ إِنَّ عَذَابِى لَشَدِيدٌۭ

Wa iz ta azzana Rabbukum la'in shakartum la azeedannakum wa la'in kafartum inn'azaabee lashadeed

“And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, 'If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe.' "”

Surah An-Nahl · 16:18

وَإِن تَعُدُّوا۟ نِعْمَةَ ٱللَّهِ لَا تُحْصُوهَآ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَغَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ

Wa in ta'uddoo ni'matal laahi laa tuhsoohaa; innal laaha la Ghafoorur Raheem

“And if you should count the favors of Allah, you could not enumerate them. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.”

Surah Ad-Dhuhaa · 93:11

وَأَمَّا بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ فَحَدِّثْ

Wa amma bi ni'mati rabbika fahad dith

“But as for the favor of your Lord, report [it].”

“Whoever among you wakes up physically healthy, feeling safe within himself, with food for the day, then he has been given the entire world.”

Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2346

Do this before next time

Every morning this week name the three blessings from the hadith out loud before breakfast.

A cream clay chest spilling over with sage clay leaves instead of coins

Lesson 2 · Ghina · ages 8-11

Real riches

The Prophet ﷺ said richness is not having many possessions — real richness is richness of the soul.

  1. The hadith

    The Prophet ﷺ said: richness is not having many possessions; rather, true richness is the richness of the soul.

  2. A rich heart is calm

    Someone content with what Allah gave does not feel poor even with little.

  3. Wanting more never ends

    The Prophet ﷺ warned that a person's greed for wealth and status can damage his religion.

  4. Ask Allah for contentment

    The Prophet ﷺ used to ask Allah for guidance, piety, chastity and self-sufficiency.

  5. Compare less

    Scrolling other people's things is the fastest way to feel poor when you are not.

Surah Al-Hadid · 57:20

ٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَا لَعِبٌۭ وَلَهْوٌۭ وَزِينَةٌۭ وَتَفَاخُرٌۢ بَيْنَكُمْ وَتَكَاثُرٌۭ فِى ٱلْأَمْوَٰلِ وَٱلْأَوْلَٰدِ ۖ كَمَثَلِ غَيْثٍ أَعْجَبَ ٱلْكُفَّارَ نَبَاتُهُۥ ثُمَّ يَهِيجُ فَتَرَىٰهُ مُصْفَرًّۭا ثُمَّ يَكُونُ حُطَٰمًۭا ۖ وَفِى ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ عَذَابٌۭ شَدِيدٌۭ وَمَغْفِرَةٌۭ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرِضْوَٰنٌۭ ۚ وَمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَآ إِلَّا مَتَٰعُ ٱلْغُرُورِ

I'lamooo annamal hayaa tud dunyaa la'ibunw wa lahwunw wa zeenatunw wa takaasurun bainakum wa takaasurn fil amwaali wal awlaad, kamasali ghaisin a'jabal kuffaara nabaatuhoo summa yaheeju fataraahu musfaaran summa yakoonu hutaamaa; wa fil aakhirati 'azaabun shadeedunw wa magh firatum minal laahi wa ridwaan; wa mal haiyaa tuddun yaaa illaa mataa'ul ghuroor

“Know that the life of this world is but amusement and diversion and adornment and boasting to one another and competition in increase of wealth and children - like the example of a rain whose [resulting] plant growth pleases the tillers; then it dries and you see it turned yellow; then it becomes [scattered] debris. And in the Hereafter is severe punishment and forgiveness from Allah and approval. And what is the worldly life except the enjoyment of delusion.”

Surah Taa-Haa · 20:131

وَلَا تَمُدَّنَّ عَيْنَيْكَ إِلَىٰ مَا مَتَّعْنَا بِهِۦٓ أَزْوَٰجًۭا مِّنْهُمْ زَهْرَةَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا لِنَفْتِنَهُمْ فِيهِ ۚ وَرِزْقُ رَبِّكَ خَيْرٌۭ وَأَبْقَىٰ

Wa laa tamuddanna 'ainaika ilaa ma matta'na biheee azwajam minhum zahratal hayaatid dunya linaftinahum feeh; wa rizqu Rabbika khairunw wa abqaa

“And do not extend your eyes toward that by which We have given enjoyment to [some] categories of them, [its being but] the splendor of worldly life by which We test them. And the provision of your Lord is better and more enduring.”

Surah Al-Qasas · 28:60

وَمَآ أُوتِيتُم مِّن شَىْءٍۢ فَمَتَٰعُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَزِينَتُهَا ۚ وَمَا عِندَ ٱللَّهِ خَيْرٌۭ وَأَبْقَىٰٓ ۚ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ

Wa maaa ooteetum min shai'in famataa'ul hayaatid dunyaa wa zeenatuhaa; wa maa 'indal laahi khairunw wa abqaa; afalaa ta'qiloon

“And whatever thing you [people] have been given - it is [only for] the enjoyment of worldly life and its adornment. And what is with Allah is better and more lasting; so will you not use reason?”

“Richness is not having many possessions, but richness is being content with oneself.”

Sahih al-Bukhari 6446

Do this before next time

Write down five things you own that you are grateful for, and give one thing you do not need away.

A small full cream clay bowl glowing gold beside a larger empty cream clay bowl on a sage clay table

Lesson 3 · Comparison · ages 5-7

Look at the one with less

The Prophet ﷺ said look at the one who has less than you, not the one who has more, so you do not belittle Allah's favour on you.

  1. The hadith

    The Prophet ﷺ said that when one of you looks at someone given more in wealth or appearance, he should also look at someone who has less.

  2. Not to feel proud

    The point is gratitude and helping, never looking down on someone with less.

  3. Then do something

    Noticing someone with less should turn into sharing, not just thankfulness.

  4. Allah shares out on purpose

    Allah says He raised some above others in provision so that people serve one another.

  5. Envy burns the one who feels it

    Wanting what someone else has taken from them is hasad, and it is forbidden.

Surah Az-Zukhruf · 43:32

أَهُمْ يَقْسِمُونَ رَحْمَتَ رَبِّكَ ۚ نَحْنُ قَسَمْنَا بَيْنَهُم مَّعِيشَتَهُمْ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۚ وَرَفَعْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ فَوْقَ بَعْضٍۢ دَرَجَٰتٍۢ لِّيَتَّخِذَ بَعْضُهُم بَعْضًۭا سُخْرِيًّۭا ۗ وَرَحْمَتُ رَبِّكَ خَيْرٌۭ مِّمَّا يَجْمَعُونَ

Ahum yaqsimoona rahmata Rabbik; Nahnu qasamnaa bainahum ma'eeshatahum fil hayaatid dunyaa wa rafa'naa ba'dahum fawqa ba'din darajaatil liyattakhiza ba'duhum ba'dan sukhriyyaa; wa rahmatu Rabbika khairum mimmaa yajma'oon

“Do they distribute the mercy of your Lord? It is We who have apportioned among them their livelihood in the life of this world and have raised some of them above others in degrees [of rank] that they may make use of one another for service. But the mercy of your Lord is better than whatever they accumulate.”

Surah Taa-Haa · 20:131

وَلَا تَمُدَّنَّ عَيْنَيْكَ إِلَىٰ مَا مَتَّعْنَا بِهِۦٓ أَزْوَٰجًۭا مِّنْهُمْ زَهْرَةَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا لِنَفْتِنَهُمْ فِيهِ ۚ وَرِزْقُ رَبِّكَ خَيْرٌۭ وَأَبْقَىٰ

Wa laa tamuddanna 'ainaika ilaa ma matta'na biheee azwajam minhum zahratal hayaatid dunya linaftinahum feeh; wa rizqu Rabbika khairunw wa abqaa

“And do not extend your eyes toward that by which We have given enjoyment to [some] categories of them, [its being but] the splendor of worldly life by which We test them. And the provision of your Lord is better and more enduring.”

Surah An-Nisaa · 4:32

وَلَا تَتَمَنَّوْا۟ مَا فَضَّلَ ٱللَّهُ بِهِۦ بَعْضَكُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍۢ ۚ لِّلرِّجَالِ نَصِيبٌۭ مِّمَّا ٱكْتَسَبُوا۟ ۖ وَلِلنِّسَآءِ نَصِيبٌۭ مِّمَّا ٱكْتَسَبْنَ ۚ وَسْـَٔلُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مِن فَضْلِهِۦٓ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمًۭا

Wa laa tatamannaw maa faddalal laahu bihee ba'dakum 'alaa ba'd; lirrijaali naseebum mimak tasaboo wa linnisaaa'i naseebum mimmak tasabna; was'alullaaha min fadlih; innal laaha kaana bikulli shai'in 'Aleemaa

“And do not wish for that by which Allah has made some of you exceed others. For men is a share of what they have earned, and for women is a share of what they have earned. And ask Allah of his bounty. Indeed Allah is ever, of all things, Knowing.”

“When one of you looks at one who stands at a higher level than you in regard to wealth and physical structure, he should also see one who stands at a lower level than you in regard to these things.”

Sahih Muslim 2963a

Do this before next time

Find one thing you have plenty of and share some of it with someone who has less.

A cream clay hourglass with a traveller's clay staff leaning beside it on a sage clay base

Lesson 4 · Zuhd · ages 12-15

The dunya in its place

The Prophet ﷺ told Ibn 'Umar to be in this world like a traveller, and compared the dunya to a rider's short rest in the shade.

  1. Be like a traveller

    The Prophet ﷺ said: be in this world like a stranger, or like a passer-by.

  2. Shade for a short stop

    He ﷺ described his relation to the dunya as a rider who stops in the shade of a tree and then moves on.

  3. Dunya is not evil

    Wealth used for good is praised; the warning is against loving it more than the akhirah.

  4. Allah's picture of it

    Allah compares worldly life to plants that grow, dazzle, then dry up.

  5. Use it, do not carry it

    Enjoy halal blessings gratefully without letting them decide who you are.

Surah Al-Hadid · 57:20

ٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَا لَعِبٌۭ وَلَهْوٌۭ وَزِينَةٌۭ وَتَفَاخُرٌۢ بَيْنَكُمْ وَتَكَاثُرٌۭ فِى ٱلْأَمْوَٰلِ وَٱلْأَوْلَٰدِ ۖ كَمَثَلِ غَيْثٍ أَعْجَبَ ٱلْكُفَّارَ نَبَاتُهُۥ ثُمَّ يَهِيجُ فَتَرَىٰهُ مُصْفَرًّۭا ثُمَّ يَكُونُ حُطَٰمًۭا ۖ وَفِى ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ عَذَابٌۭ شَدِيدٌۭ وَمَغْفِرَةٌۭ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرِضْوَٰنٌۭ ۚ وَمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَآ إِلَّا مَتَٰعُ ٱلْغُرُورِ

I'lamooo annamal hayaa tud dunyaa la'ibunw wa lahwunw wa zeenatunw wa takaasurun bainakum wa takaasurn fil amwaali wal awlaad, kamasali ghaisin a'jabal kuffaara nabaatuhoo summa yaheeju fataraahu musfaaran summa yakoonu hutaamaa; wa fil aakhirati 'azaabun shadeedunw wa magh firatum minal laahi wa ridwaan; wa mal haiyaa tuddun yaaa illaa mataa'ul ghuroor

“Know that the life of this world is but amusement and diversion and adornment and boasting to one another and competition in increase of wealth and children - like the example of a rain whose [resulting] plant growth pleases the tillers; then it dries and you see it turned yellow; then it becomes [scattered] debris. And in the Hereafter is severe punishment and forgiveness from Allah and approval. And what is the worldly life except the enjoyment of delusion.”

Surah Al-Kahf · 18:45

وَٱضْرِبْ لَهُم مَّثَلَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا كَمَآءٍ أَنزَلْنَٰهُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ فَٱخْتَلَطَ بِهِۦ نَبَاتُ ٱلْأَرْضِ فَأَصْبَحَ هَشِيمًۭا تَذْرُوهُ ٱلرِّيَٰحُ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ مُّقْتَدِرًا

Wadrib lahum masalal hayaatid dunyaa kamaaa'in anzalnaahu minas samaaa'i fakhtalata bihee nabaatul ardi fa asbaha hasheeman tazroo hur riyaah; wa kaanal laahu 'alaa kulli shai'im muqtadiraa

“And present to them the example of the life of this world, [its being] like rain which We send down from the sky, and the vegetation of the earth mingles with it and [then] it becomes dry remnants, scattered by the winds. And Allah is ever, over all things, Perfect in Ability.”

Surah Al-A'laa · 87:16

بَلْ تُؤْثِرُونَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا

Bal tu'siroonal hayaatad dunyaa

“But you prefer the worldly life,”

Surah Al-A'laa · 87:17

وَٱلْءَاخِرَةُ خَيْرٌۭ وَأَبْقَىٰٓ

Wal Aakhiratu khairunw wa abqaa

“While the Hereafter is better and more enduring.”

“Be in this world like a stranger, or like a passer-by.”

Sahih al-Bukhari 6416

Do this before next time

Pick one thing you spend a lot of time wanting, and spend that time on something for the akhirah instead.

A cream clay hand placing a gold clay coin into another open cream clay hand above a sage clay bowl

Lesson 5 · Giving · ages 8-11

The hand that gives

The Prophet ﷺ said the upper hand is better than the lower hand — the one that gives is better than the one that takes.

  1. The hadith

    The Prophet ﷺ said the upper hand is better than the lower hand, and the upper hand is the one that gives while the lower is the one that asks.

  2. Start with your family

    He ﷺ taught that you begin spending on those you are responsible for.

  3. Charity does not shrink you

    The Prophet ﷺ said charity never decreases wealth.

  4. Give what you like

    Allah tells the believers to spend from what is good, not what they would refuse themselves.

  5. Independence is a goal

    Working so you do not need to ask is part of the same hadith's lesson.

Surah Al-Baqara · 2:267

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَنفِقُوا۟ مِن طَيِّبَٰتِ مَا كَسَبْتُمْ وَمِمَّآ أَخْرَجْنَا لَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ وَلَا تَيَمَّمُوا۟ ٱلْخَبِيثَ مِنْهُ تُنفِقُونَ وَلَسْتُم بِـَٔاخِذِيهِ إِلَّآ أَن تُغْمِضُوا۟ فِيهِ ۚ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَنِىٌّ حَمِيدٌ

Yaaa 'ayyuhal lazeena aamanooo anfiqoo min taiyibaati maa kasabtum wa mimmaaa akhrajuaa lakum minal ardi wa laa tayammamul khabeesa minhu tunfiqoona wa lastum bi aakhizeehi illaaa an tughmidoo feeh; wa'lamooo annal laaha Ghaniyyun Hameed

“O you who have believed, spend from the good things which you have earned and from that which We have produced for you from the earth. And do not aim toward the defective therefrom, spending [from that] while you would not take it [yourself] except with closed eyes. And know that Allah is Free of need and Praiseworthy.”

Surah Al-Baqara · 2:274

ٱلَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَٰلَهُم بِٱلَّيْلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ سِرًّۭا وَعَلَانِيَةًۭ فَلَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ

Allazeena yunfiqoona amwaalahum billaili wan nahaari sirranw wa 'alaaniyatan falahum ajruhum 'inda Rabbihim wa laa khawfun 'alaihim wa laa hum yahzanoon

“Those who spend their wealth [in Allah 's way] by night and by day, secretly and publicly - they will have their reward with their Lord. And no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve.”

Surah Al-Munaafiqoon · 63:10

وَأَنفِقُوا۟ مِن مَّا رَزَقْنَٰكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِىَ أَحَدَكُمُ ٱلْمَوْتُ فَيَقُولَ رَبِّ لَوْلَآ أَخَّرْتَنِىٓ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍۢ قَرِيبٍۢ فَأَصَّدَّقَ وَأَكُن مِّنَ ٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ

Wa anifqoo mim maa razaqnaakum min qabli any-yaatiya ahadakumul mawtu fa yaqoola rabbi law laaa akhkhartaneee ilaaa ajalin qareebin fa assaddaqa wa akum minassaaliheen

“And spend [in the way of Allah] from what We have provided you before death approaches one of you and he says, "My Lord, if only You would delay me for a brief term so I would give charity and be among the righteous."”

“The upper hand is better than the lower hand. The upper hand is the one that gives and the lower hand is the one that asks.”

Sahih al-Bukhari 1429

“Charity does not decrease wealth.”

Sahih Muslim 2588

Do this before next time

Give something of your own away this week that you actually liked keeping.

Every ayah on this page comes from the Tanzil Uthmani text of the Qur'an with the Sahih International translation, and every hadith carries its collection and number so you can check it yourself. Back to the learning path

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