69 – Al-Ḥusayn narrated to us; he said: ʿAbd Allah narrated to us; he said: ʿAli ibn al-Ḥasan ibn Musa narrated to me, from Muhammad ibn Saʿid, who said: Ashʿath ibn Shuʿbah informed us, saying: Ibn ʿAwn said:

“Be content with Allah’s decree, whether it brings hardship or ease. That will relieve your worry and serve you best in what you seek of the Hereafter. Know that a servant will never reach the essence of contentment until he is as pleased during poverty and trial as he is during wealth and prosperity. How can you entrust your affairs to Allah and then resent His judgment when it runs contrary to your desire? It may well be that what you longed for—had it been granted—would have spelled your ruin, yet you are only satisfied with His decree when it matches your whim; this is because your knowledge of the unseen is so limited. How, then, can you appoint Him to decide for you in such a state? In so doing, you have neither been fair to yourself nor found the gate of true contentment.”