A summary of the concepts held by the Ahl al-Sunnah.
Contentment (al-rida).
The station of contentment is among the highest stations of the heart’s actions.
If acceptance and submission are among the conditions for the validity of the testimony that there is no god but Allah,
then contentment is a station even higher than both.
It encompasses them both,
and adds to them the removal of any constriction from the heart,
along with complete submission to Allah the Exalted,
and to the judgment of Him and His Messenger, peace be upon him.
As the Almighty says:
“But nay, by thy Lord, they will not believe (in truth) until they make thee judge of what is in dispute between them and find within themselves no dislike of that which thou decidest, and submit with full submission.” (4:65)
“But nay, by thy Lord, they will not believe (in truth) until they make thee judge of what is in dispute between them and find within themselves no dislike of that which thou decidest, and submit with full submission.” (4:65)
"...and submit in full, willing submission."
By the implication of this verse,
contentment consists of three degrees that correspond to the levels of Islam, Iman (faith), and Ihsan (spiritual excellence).
Making the Sharia the arbiter is the station of Islam.
The absence of constriction in the heart is the station of Iman.
And submitting to that, both outwardly and inwardly, is the station of Ihsan.
A summary of the concepts held by the Ahl al-Sunnah.