Grateful for Every Blessing of Allah s.w.t.

The world that we live in is a beautiful place. The nature that surrounds us is filled with wondrous sights and sounds. Regardless of where we are, from the chirping of birds and insects to the wonderful sights of the skies and greenery, we can witness the miracles of nature anywhere.

Then, when we look at ourselves, we see God-given miracles and wonders too. We are alive and healthy. We have people who love and care for us, and we have food and a place to call home.

All those listed above are things we can and should be grateful for. The blessings of Allah s.w.t. are uncountable. From the little things we may or may not notice to the significant events in our lives, we recognise the goodness we receive; everything becomes a call for gratitude (shukr).

However, Allah s.w.t. says in the Quran,

وَقَلِيلٌ مِنْ عِبَادِيَ الشَّكُورُ

“Only a few of My servants are truly grateful.”

(Surah Saba’, 34:13)

Why are only “a few” of Allah’s servants genuinely grateful? The meaning of the verse connotes that being grateful is not easy, as only a select few are considered truly grateful servants of Allah. Are we then able to be from amongst these few?

What Does the Quran Say About Gratitude?

Most dictionaries define gratitude as “the state of being grateful; thankfulness”¹. Grateful is also described as “showing or expressing thanks, especially to another person”².

Imam Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah wrote in his book that al-shukr (or gratitude) is the knowledge of al-ni’mah (blessings). Knowing about the true nature of blessings will eventually lead individuals to the existence of the One who gives these blessings, that is Allah s.w.t. (al-mun’im).³ Hence, gratitude from an Islamic lens is the acknowledgement of Allah’s blessings upon us.

As Muslims, having and showing gratitude is part of our faith. It is an essential part of the life of a believer. Allah s.w.t. commands in the Quran addressing believers:

يَأَيُّهَا الَّذينَ آمَنُوا كُلُوا مِنْ طَيِّبَاتِ مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ وَاشْكُرُوا لله إنْ كُنْتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ

“O believers! Eat from the good things We have provided for you. And give thanks to Allah if you truly worship Him alone.”

(Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:172)

Another well-known Quranic verse that capture the importance and merits of gratitude is in Surah Ibrahim:

وَإِذْ تَأذَّنَّ رَبُّكُمْ لَئِنْ شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ وَإِنْ كَفَرْتُمْ إِنَّ عَذَابِي لَشَديدٌ

“And remember when your Lord proclaimed, ‘If you are grateful, I will certainly give you more. But if you are ungrateful, surely My punishment is severe.”

(Surah Ibrahim, 14:7)

Scholars generally explain that the first part of the verse means that Allah will increase and grant even more favours in countless ways for the person who expresses gratitude.

However, the second part of the verse reminds the ungrateful that punishment awaits those who are not thankful and deny His bounties.

Each person’s journey is unique, with its ups and downs. The modern life of today’s world may be fast paced. For example, consumerism may influence how much we need to own or buy. Often, we may also make unrealistic comparisons between ourselves and others without taking a moment to pause and appreciate what life has blessed us.

This may sometimes trigger ingratitude to appear in our hearts. We may start to forget Allah s.w.t. and His blessings upon us.

If we want to get back on track in the remembrance of Allah and internalising gratitude, let us ponder upon the following verse as a start.

فَاذْكُرُونِي أَذْكُرْكُمْ وَاشْكُرُوا لِي وَلَا تَكفُرُونٍ
Fathkuroonee athkurkumwashkuroo lee wala takfuroon
“Remember Me; I will remember you. And thank Me, and never be ungrateful.”

(Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:152)

What Are You Grateful For Today?

How did we start our day this morning? Perhaps due to our busy, fast-paced life – filled with appointments, deadlines, errands, and so many other items in our schedule – we will most likely mentally go through what our plans are for the day before cracking on all the items on our to-do lists.

But did you know that the Prophet s.a.w. taught us to start our day by expressing gratitude towards Allah s.w.t? Huzaifah r.a. reported:

كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا أَوَى إِلَى فِرَاشِهِ قَالَ ‏"‏اللَّهُمَّ بِاسْمِكَ أَحْيَا وَأَمُوتُ‏"‏‏.‏ وَإِذَا أَصْبَحَ قَالَ ‏"‏الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَحْيَانَا بَعْدَ مَا أَمَاتَنَا وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ‏"‏‏.‏

“Whenever the Prophet s.a.w. went to bed, he would supplicate: ‘Allahumma bismika ahyaa wa amuutu (With Your Name, O Allah, I die and return to life)’. And when he woke up, he would supplicate: ‘Alhamdulillahil-lazi ahyana ba’da ma amatana wa ilaihin-nusyur (All praise belongs to Allah Who has restored us back to life after causing us to die; and to Him shall we return).’”

(Sahih Al-Bukhari)

Through this hadith, we are reminded that every time we wake up in the morning, it is only due to Allah’s mercy and permission. Allah s.w.t. still wants us to remain in this life despite our sins and errors. It is a humbling thought, and it is an apt moment to remember Allah and thank Him for His uncountable bounties upon us.

This supplication is, therefore, the perfect way to start our day every morning. It is also one way to respond to the Quranic verse (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:152) as quoted above.

6 Practical Tips to Incorporate Gratitude into Our Lives

No matter who we are and what we are doing, practising gratitude will undoubtedly add value and meaning to our lives. Gratitude can enrich us and broaden our perspectives. Here are six ways we can incorporate gratitude into our daily routine.

1. Seek Allah’s s.w.t. assistance to grant us gratitude

Making supplications is part of our life as Muslims. The Prophet s.a.w. once advised one of his companions, Sayyidina Muaz Bin Jabal r.a. to utter the following supplication after every solat (prayer):

اللَّهُمَّ أَعِنِّي عَلَى ذِكْرِكَ وَشُكْرِكَ وَحُسْنِ عِبَادَتِكَ
Allahumma a’inni ‘ala zikrika wa syukrika wa husni ‘ibadatik
“O Allah, help me to remember You and thank You and help me to the best manner of worshipping You.”

(Sunan An-Nasa’i)

Read: Dua After Prayer in English With Transliteration

This particular supplication reaffirms our utter reliance on Allah and our belief that Allah is the one who can strengthen our resolve to worship Him and to thank Him. As human beings, we so often forget. Only with Allah’s aid and mercy are we able to remember, thank, and worship Him in the best manner that we can.

2. Start your day with gratitude

In Islamic tradition, beginning each day with gratitude sets a positive tone for our lives. Consider incorporating morning supplications into your daily routine. The Prophet s.a.w. would recite the following dua upon waking up from his sleep.

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَحْيَانَا بَعْدَ مَا أَمَاتَنَا وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ
Alhamdulillahi-lazi ahyana ba'da ma amatana wa ilaihin-nushur
Praise be to Allah who gave us life after having taken it from us and unto Him is the resurrection.

(Sahih Al-Bukhari)

This simple act of reciting the above dua reminds us of the blessing of life itself and helps cultivate a positive and grateful mindset from the moment we wake up to guide us throughout the day.

3. Express gratitude to others

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah r.a, Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. said, 

من لم يشكرِ النَّاسَ لم يشكرِ اللَّهَ

“He who does not thank people, does not thank Allah” 

(Sunan At-Tirmizi) 

Expressing gratitude to others not only strengthens our relationships but also reflects our gratitude to Allah s.w.t. 

Make it a habit to sincerely thank people for their kindness, no matter how small. This could be as simple as thanking the cashier at the grocery store or expressing appreciation to a colleague or family member for their support.

4. Perform extra acts of worship

Voluntary acts of worship (Nafl) can be a beautiful expression of gratitude. Consider offering extra prayers beyond the obligatory ones, such as Solat Tahajjud and Solat Istikhara, or giving additional charity. 

These acts serve as a tangible way to show appreciation for the blessings in our lives. Expressing gratitude to Allah s.w.t. is materialised by performing praiseworthy actions and abstaining from His prohibitions. Remember, these don't have to be grand gestures; even a small act done consistently can have a significant impact.

Read: 3 Tips to Achieve Istiqamah

5. Practise contentment

One of the downsides of getting daily exposure to social media and being constantly “connected” to the internet has led some to focus too much on what others have going on in their lives. As a result, we may be compelled to feel dissatisfied and insecure when we compare their blessings and achievements with our ‘ordinary’ lives. In fact, this is not just a modern problem. It is simply human nature: we begin to feel discontent when we focus only on what we lack, overlooking the blessings we already possess.

Contentment (Qana'ah) or acceptance (Redha) is closely linked to gratitude in Islam. Redha is to find pleasure in Allah’s decree upon us. Thus, try to find satisfaction in what you have rather than constantly yearning for more. When you catch yourself making comparisons, pause and reflect on your own blessings instead. Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. teaches us in a hadith:

وارْضَ بما قسم اللهُ لكَ تَكُن من أَغْنَى الناسِ

“Be content with what Allah has given you, and you will be the richest of people”

(Sunan At-Tirmizi)

6. Keep a gratitude journal

Author and co-founder of “Calm”, Michael Acton Smith, recommends keeping a journal to practise mindfulness and a life of peace and calm. One of the key questions that he suggests including in the journal is: “What Are You Grateful For?”⁴

Although Allah’s s.w.t blessings upon us are incalculable, we can start to be more aware of these beautiful godsends, and pen them down. It can be a simple catch-up text from a good friend or the smile of a stranger when you make way for them, or it can be a bigger event such as a delicious celebratory meal with loved ones, or a promotion at work.

Either way, when we make the extra effort to recall those small moments and write them down, it can help us become more appreciative of the wonderful things we have going on for us.

Mel Noakes, author of “The Little Book of Self Care”, suggests some ways we can take up gratitude journaling:

- Keeping a gratitude jar, and emptying it at the beginning or end of the year to look back at all the wonderful things you are grateful for;
- Capturing at least one thing you are grateful for every day and writing it down;
- Being as specific as possible when writing down what you are grateful for.⁵

Conclusion: Gratitude as an Attitude

As Muslims, we need to constantly practise self-reflection so we will be more aware of how we are doing spiritually. One of the things we need to keep checking is our level of gratitude. How grateful are we? How often are we thankful? Do we express our gratitude properly? Are we practising it in our daily life?

Going back to the verse from Surah Saba’ (34:13) as mentioned in the beginning of this article, let us regard the verse not as something to bring us down, or something that excludes us. Rather, let us take it up as a challenge so that we work hard to be amongst the few grateful servants of Allah.

Make the conscious effort to be more grateful, to express our gratitude and appreciation more – whether it is to our Creator, or to those around us in our daily interactions. Apart from thanking Allah for all His favours upon us, thanking others who have helped us and eased our affairs in whatever way is also a recommended act in Islam.

May Allah s.w.t. be pleased with us, accept all our good deeds and hard work, and may He aid us to become those who are grateful to Him.

References:

¹ Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Citation. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved November 15, 2024, from here.

² Cambridge Dictionary. (n.d.). Citation. In dictionary.cambridge.com dictionary. Retrieved November 15, 2024, from here.

³ Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah. (n.d.). Madārij al-Sālikīn bayna Manāzil "Iyyāka Naʻbudu Waʼīyāka Nastaʻīn". Dār al-Kutub al-Islāmīyyah.

⁴ Smith, M. A. (2015). Calm. Penguin Life.

⁵ Noakes, M. (2017). The Little Book of Self-Care. Ebury Press.

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