Satisfaction
“Competition for more ˹gains˺ diverts you ˹from Allah”
Surah At-Takathur 102:1
This verse is so powerful, consisting of only two words. ‘Alhākum’ in Arabic comes from the verb ‘lahw’ which means to play or to become distracted. ‘Takāthur’ refers to the constant gathering of wealth and the desire for more and more. God is reminding us that our obsession with competing for worldly gains can steer us away from what truly matters.
We constantly find ourselves wanting more clothes, more objects we convince ourselves we “need”. We compare our lives to others and chase the next upgrade, a better phone, a bigger house, a faster car. But is it ever enough? Are we ever truly satisfied?
Our ego is driven by “more,” attempting to fill an inner void with material possessions, while our soul will feel content with less. In all cases, the ultimate fuel of the soul is the love of the Divine. Everything else becomes a temporary pleasure in life that’s ‘nice to have’, but not essential. The essence of ‘Islam’ is to surrender, and here we can surrender to our truth that finds contentment in simplicity.
The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Wealth is not in having many possessions. Rather, true wealth is the richness of the soul.” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī).
When we pause and look within, we realize how rich we already are, rich in character, values, and in the gift of a magnificent body working for us every moment, every organ, through every breath.
“Greed is a bottomless pit which exhausts the person in an endless effort to satisfy the need without ever reaching satisfaction.”
Erich Fromm
Reflect on the meaning of this verse and how you could have been doing this in your life.
We forget to value what we have because we don’t actively write it down. Write down what you have today that you did not have last year, especially things you once wished for. Read them and thank God for these blessings.
Draw a line down a page and label two columns Needs and Wants. List what you were planning to buy next, and honestly ask yourself what is essential and what you could actually live without.
Give away what could be precious to someone else, rather than keeping it without purpose.
“Let go of your need to have more. The mantra of the ego is more. It’s never satisfied. No matter how much you achieve or acquire, your ego will insist that it isn’t enough. You’ll find yourself in a perpetual state of striving and eliminate the possibility of ever arriving. Yet in reality you’ve arrived, and how you choose to use this present moment of your life is your choice. Ironically, when you stop needing more, more of what you desire seems to arrive in your life. Since you’re detached from the need for it, you find it easier to pass it along to others because you realize how little you need in order to be satisfied and at peace.”
The Power of Intention – Dr Wayne Dyer
“People are never satisfied. If they have a little, they want more. If they have a lot, they want still more. Once they have more, they wish they could be happy with little, but are incapable of making the slightest effort in that direction.”
The Winner Stands Alone – Paulo Coelho
“The more a man lays stress on false possessions, and the less sensitivity he has for what is essential, the less satisfying is his life. He feels limited because he has limited aims, and the result is envy and jealousy. If we understand and feel that here in this life we already have a link with the infinite, desires and attitudes change.”
Memories, Dreams, Reflections – C.G. Jung
