Is it possible to reconcile the idea that the station of contentment (rida) is higher than that of patience (sabr), and that for the one who is content, affliction and its absence are equal, with what happened to the Prophet of God Ya‘qub (Jacob), namely the whitening of his eyes due to grief over Yusuf (Joseph), which suggests his intense emotional impact, despite our certainty of his contentment with God's decree and destiny?

Contentment with God's decree and destiny is one of the commendable acts of worship and a station of the people of faith. It is higher than patience; for the patient one restrains himself from expressing discontent, while the content one has a tranquil heart. Contentment is not invalidated merely by pain or sorrow; natural sadness does not contradict contentment, just as the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, grieved for his son Ibrahim, and Jacob, peace be upon him, grieved for Joseph, without saying anything other than what pleases God. The important thing is that the grief should not involve any words that violate the Sharia (definition), nor should it contain any discontent with the divine decree.