The term ‘mutmain’ is an Arabic term that encompasses meanings such as peace of heart, trust, satisfaction, and freedom from doubt. ‘Mutmain nefis’ refers to the superior spiritual level attained by the human soul or self, and describes a state of peace, satisfaction, and trust. The soul that reaches this level surrenders itself completely to Allah, fulfills His commands with great care, and lives in deep inner peace and tranquility through sincere faith. There is no room for doubt, indecision, or restlessness in such a heart. A person in this state constantly remembers Allah and lives in gratitude. They are filled with intense spiritual power at every moment of their life. The ‘mutmain’ soul seeks the eternal life of the hereafter and closeness to Allah rather than the temporary pleasures of this world. This spiritual state enables a person to live a life in accordance with the purpose of their creation and leads to the complete peace of the heart
Why is it important for the soul to be satisfied?
An unsatisfied soul has an uncontrolled and selfish nature. While pursuing its endless desires, it displays an arrogant, aggressive, and thoughtless attitude. It only cares about its own interests without considering the consequences. Just like the devil, it has an anarchic spirit at its core; it is incapable of understanding goodness. It is constantly restless. It believes it is living freely and as it pleases by pursuing worldly desires and ambitions, wandering aimlessly, but no matter what it does, the emptiness within it does not subside, and it cannot attain happiness. Allah describes the inevitable fate of such people as follows:
“Do not be deceived by the fact that those who are kafir (unbeliever) move freely around the earth. A brief enjoyment; then their shelter will be Hell. What an evil resting-place!”(Surah Al-i-Imraan, 196-197)
The self that has not attached itself to Allah and therefore has not found satisfaction in its soul can become violent and uncontrollable at the slightest provocation. It can suddenly become completely dehumanized and turn into someone who harms those around them. However, despite being extremely tactless, excessive, and rude, it always sees itself as intelligent and superior. It harbors a hidden anger toward Muslims. It cannot suppress this anger and expresses it at the slightest opportunity. Due to its wrong beliefs and prejudices, it constantly causes problems. It does not give thanks to Allah for the destiny He has created or for the blessings He has bestowed. Our Exalted Lord draws attention to the characteristics of the unsatisfied soul in a verse of the Quran as follows:
Leave the person I created on his own to Me alone, him to whom I have given great wealth and sons who stay with him, and whose way I have smoothed. Then he wants Me to add yet more! No indeed! He is obdurate about Our Signs.(Surah Al-Muddaththir, 11-16)
In the continuation of these verses, Allah warns those whose souls are out of control about hell:
I will roast him in Saqar. (Surah Al-Muddaththir, 26)
The Believer's Soul Becomes Content
A sincere Muslim purifies his soul and attains inner peace, thus feeling confident so ‘mutmain’, and achieving a calm spirit with a satisfied heart. The believer who possesses a ‘mutmain’ soul has a gentle personality endowed with patience, contentment, and tolerance. They stay away from discord, chaos, and unrest, always avoid tension, and prefer a peaceful environment. Instead of pursuing greed, jealousy, quarrelsome attitudes, or worldly desires, they aim to achieve spiritual maturity and inner peace.
Renouncing the self, that is, surrendering one's ego to Allah and staying away from selfishness, is a very appropriate attitude for a believer. The contented soul is far from selfishness. Because selfishness is a behavior that devalues and humiliates people. Living only for one's own interests is a great flaw and a moral weakness. In fact, there is a tendency toward selfishness in human nature, but this tendency can be overcome with the morals of the Quran. Those who organize their lives in accordance with the Quran and obey Allah's will do not neglect to live for their loved ones. Those who do not live for their loved ones cannot attain true spiritual quality.
The ‘mutmain’ soul becomes like the earth. It is fertile and humble. It is distinguished by its characteristics of humility, generosity, and modesty. It does not seek to always be at the forefront of life, but rather to fulfill its duty of worship to Allah and to support others while doing so. Constantly seeking to be in the spotlight and desiring leadership are passions of the self and are certainly not acceptable behaviors. A person with a contented self has attained true piety. They always pursue goodness and see striving in the way of Allah as a duty and responsibility. This kind of approach naturally increases the person's inner peace and the positive impact they have on their surroundings.
When a Muslim makes humility the goal of their life, they can hope to become valuable in the sight of Allah. A person who wants to discipline their soul is aware that they are constantly in a state of helplessness, so they turn to Allah with complete submission. They sincerely love their fellow believers, approach them with love, and feel the excitement of worship in their hearts. This attitude also forms the basis of beautiful friendships and strong bonds.
Conclusion: The Way to Attain Peace of Mind is to Be Satisfied with Allah
The only way for a person to find peace and satisfaction in their heart is to constantly remember and mention Allah. A peaceful soul is a state of mind that, guided by the Quran, trusts in Allah, is satisfied with everything He has created, and shows deep love and devotion to Allah. Such a soul fears Allah, always desires to be close to Him, and never harbors ill thoughts about Him. For whoever harbors ill thoughts is bound to fall into error and be disgraced. A believer with perfect faith believes with complete submission that every event he cannot comprehend is the decree of the Almighty Allah. Acting with this awareness, the believer maintains a positive opinion of Allah in the face of all events and embraces the following understanding: “We may not fully comprehend His divine knowledge. However, He is the best Knower of all our needs, circumstances, and difficulties. We are His servants who have surrendered ourselves to Him wholeheartedly.” This understanding motivates the believer to be content with Allah under all circumstances and to strengthen his devotion to Him unwaveringly. The believer is fully aware that Allah is always with His servants and places this truth at the center of his life. Thus, he strives to see Allah’s mercy, wisdom, and justice in every event of his life. This understanding grants the believer peace in both this world and the hereafter.
It should not be forgotten that believers carry the spirit of Almighty Allah within them. Because of this, their closeness to their Creator is always felt in all their attitudes and behaviors. The calmness, gentleness, and humility of the believer are not limited to this world but continue in the hereafter. At the core of this is the contented soul, which is sincerely satisfied with every situation that comes from the Almighty Allah. Such a person knows that everything Allah has created contains wisdom and goodness. A soul imbued with this understanding possesses many virtues such as self-sacrifice, generosity, patience, forgiveness, purity, courtesy, elegance, culture, and refinement. These qualities enable such a person to attain Allah's pleasure and secure a place among those who are promised Paradise. Our Lord reveals this truth as follows:
‘O self at rest and at peace, return to your Lord, well-pleasing and well-pleased! Enter among My slaves! Enter My Garden.’(Surat Al-Fajr, 27-30)
