Investigating the educational implications of "contentment" in Mathnawi

The purpose of this study is to investigate the concept and functions of "contentment" in the book ‘Mathnawi” and to deduce its implications for moral education. This study was conducted using a qualitative approach and using the reconstructed Frankena inference model. In the first part of the research, after a brief overview of the status and importance of the Mathnawi, the concepts of ethics and contentment, some of the basic characteristics of contentment are recognized in the form of realistic statements and educational principles, and under each principle, first, the Quranic or Hadith document is stated and then the main point of view of each principle is explained from the Mathnawi. Recognized propositions in this study include: contentment as a way to the “Hayat tayyebeh”(Pure Life), a factor for maintaining self-esteem, a treasure for freedom of want, a factor to distinguish from envy, a tranquilizer of greed, a source of happiness and a factor for correlation between reliance to God, daily bread and internal satisfaction. In today's world, where consumerism and attachment to worldly attitudes are instilled to different societies by the capitalist system, it is necessary for our national education system to rely on influential religious teachings and ideas like Rumi, to put 'contentment' as an educational goal and nurtured a 'convincing and self-sufficient' generation.