The Relevance of Stoic Principles and Contentment According to Hadith in Kutub Al-Sittah

This article explores the philosophy of stoicism, widely embraced and studied by millennials as a means to address life challenges. The primary aim of this study was to examine the relationship between stoicism and the concept of qana’ah in Islamic teachings, as reflected in the Hadiths of the Kutub Al-Sittah. The analysis focused on Hadiths transmitted by Bukhari on the wealth of the heart, Tirmidhi on qana’ah, and Ibn Majah on the virtues of wara' and asceticism. The findings reveal that both qana'ah and stoicism emphasize self-control in responding to negative emotions and psychological disturbances. They also underscore the distinction between what can be controlled and what cannot, urging individuals to refrain from dwelling on uncontrollable factors. Additionally, both philosophies advocate gratitude, positive assumptions (husnudzan), and sincere acceptance of circumstances, whether favorable or not. Despite their similarities, stoicism primarily centers on self-control, whereas qana’ah consistently incorporates divine values into every aspect of life events. In conclusion, stoic teachings bear a significant resemblance to qana’ah teachings found in the Hadiths of the Prophet Muhammad. This piece offers novel perspectives on the evolution of spiritual thought in the intricate context of modernity.


Introduction
Happiness is a subjective component of well-being, wherein each individual pursues actions that align with their personal interpretation of what brings them happiness. 1Currently, almost everyone uses social media as a platform for self-expression, sharing personal stories, showing off, and competing through various posts.Life issues are often showcased on social media.Upon observation, these issues are predominantly experienced by millennials, who have grown up immersed in digital media and technology, potentially leading to mental and psychological challenges due to their social media use. 2 An important thing to do is to ensure that they do not vent their anger through words and actions that harm themselves. 3longside these issues, there has been a resurgence of an ancient Greek and Roman philosophy known as Stoicism.This philosophy, which has been around for 2000 years, is gaining renewed attention thanks to numerous YouTube content creators like @satupersen and @radityadika, podcasts such as Habib Ja'far's, and the recent publication of a self-improvement book titled "Filosofi Teras" by Henry Manampiring.Stoicism offers various solutions to address life's challenges that are considered highly relevant to contemporary issues.
The philosophy of Stoicism views life as divided into two dimensions: the realm of control and the realm outside of control.The realm of control encompasses everything that is fully within one's own control, such as personality, life commitments, work ethic, and all aspects related to oneself as a human being.On the other hand, the realm outside of control includes things like how others perceive us, how people judge us, and other matters beyond our personal control.Stoic philosophy teaches us not to worry about things that are beyond our control.Whether good or bad, Stoicism encourages us to approach all events with gratitude and acceptance, rather than regret, which ultimately leads to unhappiness.
The principle of embracing life's destiny and finding contentment resonates with the Islamic doctrine of Qana'ah.Originating in the early days of Islam, Qana'ah encouraged gratitude for blessings and acceptance of divine decree as a means of spiritual closeness to Allah (SWT).In subsequent centuries, Sufi mystics emerged, enriching these teachings with practices like 'suluk'-spiritual journeys aimed at purifying intentions and actions solely for Allah's sake.This path not only leads to inner happiness and peace of mind but also emphasizes selfimprovement and soul purification through Sufism. 4toicism and Qana'ah are not new subjects of study.management is necessary through the application of S-T-A-R (Stop, Think, Assess, Respond).5Arfan Rifqiawan's article compares Syadziliyah teachings with Stoic philosophy in interpreting entrepreneurship and accountability.He identifies similarities and differences between Syadziliyah and Stoicism regarding these concepts.Both Syadziliyah and Stoicism view entrepreneurship and accountability as crucial elements for achieving business success.Syadziliyah interprets entrepreneurship and accountability using sources from the Quran and Hadith to explain their significance.In contrast, Stoicism is value-free and pragmatic.Moreover, according to Shadhili teachings, entrepreneurship and accountability are to be imbued with a consciousness of ubudiyah, or servitude to Allah.In contrast, Stoicism restricts their application solely to the law of cause and effect within the orderly system of the universe. 6n her writing, Dinella Irawati and her colleagues discuss the Concept of Self-Control in the Perspective of Sufi Psychology and Stoic Philosophy.In her comparative study, she examines these concepts through the works of Robert Frager and Henry Manampiring.Dinella finds that Stoic philosophy and Sufi psychology converge in agreeing that the most fundamental aspect of self-control is to manage one's perceptions.This approach enables individuals to achieve a peaceful and tranquil life. 7tudies on Qana'ah are indeed well-established and widely researched.For instance, Azkarisa et al. conducted research on Qana'ah and mental health among fishermen in the village of Pena'ah.Based on their findings, they concluded that there is a significant positive influence of Qana'ah on the mental health of fishermen in the village of Pena'ah.This suggests that contentment with one's circumstances can contribute positively to mental well-being, even in challenging environments like those faced by fishermen. 8n previous studies, Syarifudin highlighted Stoicism's emphasis on the use of reason and rationality as its core principles.Rifqiawan compared the teachings of Syadziliyah and Stoicism in the contexts of entrepreneurship and accountability, while Dinella explored Stoicism alongside Sufi psychology, particularly in terms of self-control through perception.Azkarisa and their team researched the impact of Qana'ah on the mental health of fishermen in Pena'ah.
However, this article aims to introduce a fresh perspective by enriching the study of Stoicism.It will delve into the relationship between Stoic philosophy and the concept of Qana'ah in Islam, drawing primarily from hadiths in the Kutub al-Sittah as primary sources.The goal is to offer new insights into how Stoicism can be understood and applied within the context of Qana'ah in Islam.This endeavor is expected to provide novel perspectives on wise approaches to facing life's challenges in accordance with Islamic teachings on Qana'ah and Stoic principles.
This article aims to explore the similarities and differences between Stoic philosophy and Qana'ah, referencing the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad.It seeks to determine whether Stoic philosophy is relevant to the teachings of Qana'ah in Islam.The primary sources for this study include Henry Manampiring's book "Filosofi Teras" and hadiths related to Qana'ah found in the Kutub al-Sittah.The analysis technique employed involves content analysis of hadiths narrated by Bukhari on the richness of the heart, narrated by At-Tirmidhi on contentment, and narrated by Ibn Majah on the virtues of caution and asceticism.The findings of this research can serve as a valuable reference for future researchers as well as for millennials and the wider community in selecting reading materials as solutions to life's challenges.

The Concept of Stoic Philosophy
Stoicism, known as "stoicism" in English and often referred to as "stoikisme" or "stoik" in Indonesian, derives from the Greek word "stoa," meaning "porch" or "portico."Stoicism can be considered an ancient philosophy.Historically, Stoicism was first introduced by a wealthy merchant from Citium in Cyprus, a region in southern Turkey, named Zeno.He was of Phoenician descent and the founder of Stoic philosophy, which began with Zeno's teachings in Athens around 300 BCE and continued until the death of Emperor Marcus Aurelius in 180 CE. 9 Stoicism is often referred to as a philosophy that is Islamic because its ideas closely resonate with Islamic teachings.Moreover, this philosophy is easily accepted by any religion or belief system because its teachings are not contradictory; they align with the values of any religion or belief system.Stoicism is practical and can be applied in daily life as an alternative way of living, known as "Way Of Life."10Today, this philosophy has become increasingly popularized as a mainstream philosophy by many individuals and numerous YouTubers discussing Stoicism.Furthermore, Stoicism gained popularity due to Henry Manampiring, who authored the book "Filosofi Teras".This book primarily delves into Stoic philosophy, which Manampiring translated into Indonesian as "Filosofi Teras."Some of the key concepts of Stoic teachings include: 1. Stoic View of the Universe Those who adhere to Stoic philosophy assume that the universe operates according to a specific pattern, or in Islamic teachings, "Sunnatullah," which refers to the principles of rationality or logos.Thus, the universe does not function randomly; rather, it follows patterns and purposes.For example, human birth, the growth of plants, and the reproduction of animals are not accidental occurrences.This concept is also known as "Natural Law."Stoicism views that God is present in everything and everything is in God, a perspective known as pantheism.From this viewpoint, the idea emerges that the universe has been created according to its laws, and everything must adhere to these laws for them to function as desired.11Therefore, for natural law to operate effectively and produce desired outcomes, every element within the universe must fulfill its respective role.

Living in Harmony with Nature
Human beings are part of nature; what distinguishes humans from other creatures is that humans possess reason (intellect), and the only component of the universe connected to God is humans.From the perspective of Islamic thought, one can find an expression of wisdom: "al-insanu hayyawanun natiq" (humans are speaking beings).12Reason is an essential element possessed by humans; when reason is not utilized, humans lose their essence.When humans cannot think, it is like animals that are not endowed with reason/intellect to think.Nevertheless, humans remain part of the universe; human existence is always linked to the existence of other entities.Therefore, if humans are not in harmony and harmony with other components in this world such as plants and living animals, it can also damage or threaten human existence.13

Living in the Realm of Control
The principle of the Realm of Control, also known as the control dichotomy, is a central tenet of Stoic philosophers and adherents.It acknowledges that in life, there are things we can control and things we cannot control.The Stoic philosopher Epictetus famously stated, "Some things are up to us, and some things are not up to us." 14 This statement by Epictetus forms the foundation of Stoic teachings, emphasizing that life is divided into two dimensions: what can be controlled and what cannot.
Marcus Aurelius once said, "Stop complaining-either to yourself or to others."According to him, when we complain, we direct our energy outward and end up worrying about external matters (things beyond our control).Stoic philosophy, on the other hand, emphasizes the importance of internal selfmanagement, personal development, and focusing on what we can control. 15y studying the control dichotomy, we learn to control our interpretation of all events that occur.This dichotomy is a crucial principle in Stoic philosophy and is easily applicable in life.When moments of sadness, worry, and other negative emotions disturb our minds, this principle teaches us to manage them effectively. 16Stoicism doesn't solely focus on happiness; rather, it emphasizes controlling one's thought patterns and perceptions.

The concept of Qana'ah and related Hadiths in the Kutub al-Sittah
Etymologically, the word "qana'ah" is derived from the Arabic root "Qani'a-yaqna'u-qana'an wa qana'atun," which signifies contentment, acceptance with satisfaction, and feeling sufficient and content. 17Terminologically, "qana'ah" signifies finding contentment in what one possesses, embracing gratefully whatever Allah SWT bestows, and refraining from attitudes of discontent and excessive feelings of inadequacy.
In another sense, Qana'ah means feeling content and sincere with what Allah SWT has given without comparing oneself to others or viewing others' advantages as deficiencies in oneself. 18Qana'ah does not imply living a lazy life; rather, someone who practices Qana'ah will be diligent in their work and always strive.When their efforts do not achieve the desired results, they accept it with an open heart and gratitude towards Allah.Thus, those who embody this trait Makhul, from Watsilah bin Al Asqa', from Abu Hurairah, who said, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, "O Abu Hurairah, be one who exercises wara' (piety and caution), and you will be the most devoted worshipper among the people.Be one who feels content, and you will be the most thankful of people.Love for people what you love for yourself, and you will be a believer.Improve your relationship with your neighbors, and you will be one who submits.(Narrated by Ibn Majah,Hadith No: 4207) Muhammad Fuad Abdul Baqi, in his commentary on the above hadith, explains that the phrase ‫الناس"‬ ‫أعبد‬ ‫"تكن‬ means to be among the most devout worshippers by being cautious and avoiding what is prohibited, which is more virtuous than merely performing what is commanded.Regarding "manusia yang paling bersyukur" (the most thankful of people), he emphasizes that one of the greatest forms of gratitude is being content with all the blessings provided.
The hadith above advises on cultivating virtues such as wara' (piety), (contentment), faith, good conduct with neighbors, and reducing laughter.To be a good Muslim, one must guard their speech and actions.Wara' entails being prudent and considering the consequences of one's actions.A person characterized by wara' will obey what is commanded and abstain from what is prohibited.Thus, wara' is recognized as an esteemed character trait.32

The Relevance of Stoic Philosophy to Qana'ah in the Hadiths Review
Based on the hadiths concerning Qana'ah above, the philosophical teachings of Stoicism are not contradictory and are aligned with the concept of Qana'ah in Islamic teachings.Considering the attitude of Qana'ah during the time of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the philosophy of Stoicism in contemporary times, we can see that Qana'ah was a way of life during the Prophet's era to attain true happiness and inner peace.Qana'ah became an alternative way of life among Muslims at that time, especially among the Sufis.As time has progressed, the challenges of life and the alternatives people seek to solve problems and achieve happiness have evolved.One such alternative is the philosophy of Stoicism or modern philosophical teachings that are relevant to the current human condition.These philosophies offer pathways to contentment, resilience, and managing life's challenges in a manner that aligns with Islamic teachings on Qana'ah.Therefore, both Stoicism and Qana'ah share common principles of inner satisfaction, resilience, and accepting what is given with maintaining self-control and accepting oneself in all situations, which also aligns with a key concept in Stoic philosophy.There is no teaching in Stoic philosophy that contradicts the concept of qana'ah in the Hadiths.However, there are slight differences between these teachings: Stoic philosophy focuses solely on selfcontrol, whereas qana'ah always involves divine values and the belief that everything that happens in the world is the involvement of the Creator.