In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Abdullah Bin Mas’ood [radiyallaahu anhu] said that the Prophet [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] used to supplicate, saying: [اللَّهُمَّ إِنِي أَسْأَلُكَ الهُدَى، وَالتُّقَى، وَالعفَافَ، والغنَى – O Allaah! I ask You for guidance, piety, modesty and self-sufficiency].

This is a comprehensive supplication that gathers four great affairs that are to be sought after and they are: Guidance, Piety, Modesty and Self-sufficiency [or contentment]. At-Teebiy [rahimahullaah] said, “Guidance and Piety brings about everything that will [rightly] guide a person to the worldly affairs, affairs of the afterlife and noble manners, and keeps a person away from everything that is obligated on him to refrain from, such as Shirk, disobedience and evil manners…”

Imaam An-Nawawi [rahimahullaah] said, “As for modesty, it is to be free from what is not permissible and to refrain from it. And self-sufficiency in this statement means contentment of the soul – to suffice oneself and not covet what the people possess.”

Shaikh Abdur Rahmaan Bin Sadi [rahimahullaah] said, “This supplication is one of the most comprehensive and beneficial, and it necessitates asking for the good of this world and the afterlife; for indeed guidance necessitates beneficial knowledge, piety necessitates righteous deeds and to abandon that which Allaah and His Messenger have forbidden, and by way of this one’s religion will become upright; for indeed the religion is based on beneficial sciences and sound knowledge based issues, and that necessitates guidance; and piety necessitates obedience to Allaah and His Messenger. Modesty and self-sufficiency necessitate not being in need of the people [i.e. being covetous] and attaching one’s heart to them, sufficing oneself with Allaah and His provision, being contented and seeking after that which brings tranquillity to the heart through self-sufficiency; and by way of this, complete happiness in the worldly life and a relaxed heart is attained. This is what a good life is. Therefore, whoever is bestowed with guidance, piety, modesty and self-sufficiency, then he will obtain the two types of happiness, achieved everything that is sought after and has been saved from every fear”.

[An Excerpt from Fiqhul Ad’iyah Wal-Adkaar. Vol 1. Pages 479-480. Slightly paraphrased]