لَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلَنَا بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ وَأَنزَلْنَا مَعَهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْمِيزَانَ لِيَقُومَ النَّاسُ بِالْقِسْطِ وَأَنزَلْنَا الْحَدِيدَ فِيهِ بَأْسٌ شَدِيدٌ وَمَنَافِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَلِيَعْلَمَ اللَّهُ مَن يَنصُرُهُ وَرُسُلَهُ بِالْغَيْبِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَوِيٌّ عَزِيزٌ
[Al-Quran 57:25]
Mission of the Messengers - XXXI
Abstract
The need, wisdom, purpose and manifestation of gratitude in the worship of Allah ﷻ
Full Text
وَإِن تَعُدُّوا نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ لَا تُحْصُوهَا إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَغَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
And if you should count the Favors of Allah, not you could enumerate Indeed, Allah (is) Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
[Al-Quran 16:18]
Surah anNisa` poses the question:
مَّا يَفْعَلُ اللَّهُ بِعَذَابِكُمْ إِن شَكَرْتُمْ وَآمَنتُمْ
وَكَانَ اللَّهُ شَاكِرًا عَلِيمًا
وَكَانَ اللَّهُ شَاكِرًا عَلِيمًا
What would Allah do by punishing you if you are grateful and you believe? And Allah is All-Appreciative, All-Knowing.
وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا لُقْمَانَ الْحِكْمَةَ أَنِ اشْكُرْ لِلَّهِ وَمَن يَشْكُرْ فَإِنَّمَا يَشْكُرُ لِنَفْسِهِ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ حَمِيدٌ
And verily, We gave Luqman the wisdom that, "Be grateful to Allah." And whoever (is) grateful then only he is grateful for himself. And whoever (is) ungrateful, then indeed, Allah (is) Free of need, Praiseworthy.
وَإِذْ قَالَ لُقْمَانُ لِابْنِهِ وَهُوَ يَعِظُهُ
يَا بُنَيَّ لَا تُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّ الشِّرْكَ لَظُلْمٌ عَظِيمٌ
يَا بُنَيَّ لَا تُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّ الشِّرْكَ لَظُلْمٌ عَظِيمٌ
وَوَصَّيْنَا الْإِنسَانَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُ وَهْنًا عَلَىٰ وَهْنٍ وَفِصَالُهُ فِي عَامَيْنِ أَنِ اشْكُرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيْكَ إِلَيَّ الْمَصِيرُ
And when said Luqman to his son while he (was) instructing him,
"O my son! (Do) not associate partners with Allah. Indeed, associating partners (is) surely an injustice great."
And We have enjoined (upon) man for his parents - carried him his mother (in) weakness upon weakness, and his weaning (is) in two years that "Be grateful to Me and to your parents; towards Me (is) the destination."O my son! (Do) not associate partners with Allah. Indeed, associating partners (is) surely an injustice great."
The subsequent ayaat of Surah Luqman continue to detail the importance of gratitude, the need to distinguish between gratitude and shirk, and to guard against associating partners (shirk) with Allah ﷻ
Gratitude for Worship
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ
And not I have created the jinn and the mankind except that they worship Me.
[Al-Quran 51:65]
يَا أَيَّتُهَا النَّفْسُ الْمُطْمَئِنَّةُ
ارْجِعِي إِلَىٰ رَبِّكِ رَاضِيَةً مَّرْضِيَّةً
فَادْخُلِي فِي عِبَادِي
وَادْخُلِي جَنَّتِي
"O NAFS! who is satisfied,
Return to your Lord well pleased, and pleasing.
So enter among My worshippers,
And enter My Paradise."
[Al-Quran 89:27-30, Translation edited (in italics)]
Satisfaction with what we have allows us to enjoy all that we have been given, whether less or more. We become pleased, happy and grateful. Satisfaction also enables patience (sabr) over what is not pleasing. The satisfaction of the NAFS with the decrees of Allah ﷻ is in sharp contrast to the NAFS which is unhappy with whatever has been decreed for it. The unhappy NAFS is unsatisfied*, and constantly strives for change. Surah az-Zumar, which emphasises sincerity in DEEN, commands:
بَلِ اللَّهَ فَاعْبُدْ وَكُن مِّنَ الشَّاكِرِينَ
Nay! But worship Allah and be among the thankful ones.
* Dissatisfaction manifests itself in a variety of ways: personal appearance and abilities, family, financial position, material possessions, status, racism, nation, planet, life, death, ...
Gratitude for the Guidance
To be able to worship Allah ﷻ , we need to know why we are here and what is expected of us. We owe our utmost gratitude to Allah ﷻ for The Quran:
Gratitude for the Guidance
To be able to worship Allah ﷻ , we need to know why we are here and what is expected of us. We owe our utmost gratitude to Allah ﷻ for The Quran:
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدَىٰ وَالْفُرْقَانِ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
Month (of) Ramadhaan (is) that was revealed therein the Quran, a Guidance for mankind and clear proofs of [the] Guidance and the Criterion. So whoever witnesses among you the month, then he should fast in it, and whoever is sick or on a journey then prescribed number (should be made up) from days other. Intends Allah for you [the] ease and not intends for you [the] hardship, so that you complete the prescribed period and that you magnify Allah for [what] He guided you so that you may (be) grateful.
[Al-Quran 2:185]
Purpose of the Guidance
كِتَابٌ أَنزَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكَ مُبَارَكٌ لِّيَدَّبَّرُوا آيَاتِهِ وَلِيَتَذَكَّرَ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ
(This is) a Book We have revealed it to you, blessed, that they may ponder (over) its Verses and may be reminded those of understanding.
[Al-Quran 38:29]
The Quran guides the believers in all matters personal, social, economic and state. It informs us that this world is temporary, and that humans have been made 'khalaaif' of the Earth to be tested who is the best in deeds. The Hereafter is permanent. Forgetting this fact changes the human focus to this world as the only life, and ultimately the challenges of this life coupled with a lack of faith make humans lose their balance, opting for human philosophical systems of theology and economy, which eventually turn out to be unjust and harmful in the long run:
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَشْتَرِي لَهْوَ الْحَدِيثِ لِيُضِلَّ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَيَتَّخِذَهَا هُزُوًا أُولَٰئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ مُّهِينٌ
But among men there is many a one that prefers a mere play with words [to divine guidance], so as to lead [those] without knowledge astray from the path of God, and to turn it to ridicule: for such there is shameful suffering in store.
[Al-Quran 31:6]
The materialist outlook, and all the evils that pervade society, capitalise on the ingratitude for and dissatisfaction with what we already have:
إِنَّ الْمُبَذِّرِينَ كَانُوا إِخْوَانَ الشَّيَاطِينِ وَكَانَ الشَّيْطَانُ لِرَبِّهِ كَفُورًا
Indeed, the spendthrifts are brothers (of) the devils. And is the Shaitaan to his Lord ungrateful.
[Al-Quran 17:27]
As power increases, human greed and the consequent social injustice goes from individual consumerism to the domination of entire nations in pursuit of economic resources and worldly power. Instead of serving the people in the name of God, the rulers become tyrants and oppressors, as Satan's representatives, regardless of which philosophical, economic system they adopt.
The Quran informs us that eventually the DEEN of Allah ﷻ will be established, and encourages patience and perseverance, in anticipation of the Days of Allah ﷻ . Prophet-King David (Dawood عليه السلام) was appointed Khalifa and iron was made pliable for him. The importance of iron in technological advancement is fundamental. Technology can be used for both good and evil. The grateful uphold the DEEN, while the unsatisfied ingrates try to corrupt creation. David (Dawood عليه السلام)'s son Solomon (Sulaiman عليه السلام) inherited from his father, and a mighty kingdom was bestowed upon him. The Jinn worked for him. The House of David was advised:
يَعْمَلُونَ لَهُ مَا يَشَاءُ مِن مَّحَارِيبَ وَتَمَاثِيلَ وَجِفَانٍ كَالْجَوَابِ وَقُدُورٍ رَّاسِيَاتٍ اعْمَلُوا آلَ دَاوُودَ شُكْرًا وَقَلِيلٌ مِّنْ عِبَادِيَ الشَّكُورُ
They worked for him what he willed of elevated chambers and statues and bowls like reservoirs and cooking-pots fixed. "Work, O family (of) Dawood! (in) gratitude." But few of My slaves (are) grateful.
[Al-Quran 34:13]
Prayer for Gratitude
فَتَبَسَّمَ ضَاحِكًا مِّن قَوْلِهَا وَقَالَ رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِي أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَالِدَيَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرْضَاهُ وَأَدْخِلْنِي بِرَحْمَتِكَ فِي عِبَادِكَ الصَّالِحِينَ
So he smiled - laughing at her speech and said, "My Lord! Grant me (the) power that I may thank You (for) Your Favor which You have bestowed on me and on my parents and that I may do righteous (deeds), that will please You. And admit me by Your Mercy among Your slaves righteous."
[Al-Quran 27:19]
The Prophet-King Solomon (Sulaiman عليه السلام) prayed for gratitude when he heard the (Queen) Ant warn her ants against the forces of Solomon (Sulaiman عليه السلام). Surah an-Naml goes on to relate how this Prophet-King used his power to invite the sun-worshipping mighty kingdom of Saba to the worship of the One, True God. Both of them had great power and magnificent kingdoms, yet what Solomon (Sulaiman عليه السلام) had was far superior to what had been given to the Queen of Saba.
All of us need to be grateful, and to express it through our words and deeds, in whatever capacity personal or social we have been placed in:
وَوَصَّيْنَا الْإِنسَانَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ إِحْسَانًا حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُ كُرْهًا وَوَضَعَتْهُ كُرْهًا وَحَمْلُهُ وَفِصَالُهُ ثَلَاثُونَ شَهْرًا حَتَّىٰ إِذَا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُ وَبَلَغَ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً قَالَ رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِي أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَالِدَيَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرْضَاهُ وَأَصْلِحْ لِي فِي ذُرِّيَّتِي إِنِّي تُبْتُ إِلَيْكَ وَإِنِّي مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ
أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ نَتَقَبَّلُ عَنْهُمْ أَحْسَنَ مَا عَمِلُوا وَنَتَجَاوَزُ عَن سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ فِي أَصْحَابِ الْجَنَّةِ وَعْدَ الصِّدْقِ الَّذِي كَانُوا يُوعَدُونَ
And We have enjoined upon man, to his parents, good treatment. His mother carried him with hardship and gave birth to him with hardship, and his gestation and weaning [period] is thirty months. [He grows] until, when he reaches maturity and reaches [the age of] forty years, he says, "My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to work righteousness of which You will approve and make righteous for me my offspring. Indeed, I have repented to You, and indeed, I am of the Muslims."
Those are the ones from whom We will accept the best of what they did and overlook their misdeeds, [their being] among the companions of Paradise. [That is] the promise of truth which they had been promised.
Those are the ones from whom We will accept the best of what they did and overlook their misdeeds, [their being] among the companions of Paradise. [That is] the promise of truth which they had been promised.
The phrase ' وَأَصْلِحْ لِي فِي ذُرِّيَّتِي ' reminds us that we must repent from our individual and collective mistakes and misadventures, and submit willingly to the DEEN, if we wish to serve Allah ﷻ eternally. The perks and privileges awaiting those who serve in the divine government have been detailed across The Quran, and even more unimaginable rewards are promised. The key to it all is being grateful to Allah ﷻ , and cherishing all His gifts as is. Abraham (Ibrahim عليه السلام) was chosen because of his gratitude:
إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ كَانَ أُمَّةً قَانِتًا لِّلَّهِ حَنِيفًا وَلَمْ يَكُ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ
شَاكِرًا لِّأَنْعُمِهِ اجْتَبَاهُ وَهَدَاهُ إِلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
وَآتَيْنَاهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَإِنَّهُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ لَمِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ
ثُمَّ أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ أَنِ اتَّبِعْ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ
Indeed, Ibrahim was a nation obedient to Allah upright, and not he was of the polytheists.
Thankful for His favors. He chose him and guided him to the way straight.
And We gave him in the world good, and indeed, he in the Hereafter (he) will surely (be) among the righteous.
Then We revealed to you, that, "You follow (the) religion (of) Ibrahim upright; and not he was of the polytheists."
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ارْكَعُوا وَاسْجُدُوا وَاعْبُدُوا رَبَّكُمْ وَافْعَلُوا الْخَيْرَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
وَجَاهِدُوا فِي اللَّهِ حَقَّ جِهَادِهِ هُوَ اجْتَبَاكُمْ وَمَا جَعَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ مِنْ حَرَجٍ مِّلَّةَ أَبِيكُمْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ هُوَ سَمَّاكُمُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ مِن قَبْلُ وَفِي هَٰذَا لِيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ شَهِيدًا عَلَيْكُمْ وَتَكُونُوا شُهَدَاءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ فَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِاللَّهِ هُوَ مَوْلَاكُمْ فَنِعْمَ الْمَوْلَىٰ وَنِعْمَ النَّصِيرُ
O you who believe! bow down and prostrate yourselves and serve your Lord, and do good that you may succeed.
And strive hard in (the way of) Allah, (such) a striving a is due to Him; He has chosen you and has not laid upon you an hardship in religion; the faith of your father Ibrahim; He named you Muslims before and in this, that the Messenger may be a bearer of witness to you, and you may be bearers of witness to the people; therefore keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate and hold fast by Allah; He is your Guardian; how excellent the Guardian and how excellent the Helper!
[Al-Quran 22:77-78; Translation: Shakir]
وَجَاهِدُوا فِي اللَّهِ حَقَّ جِهَادِهِ هُوَ اجْتَبَاكُمْ وَمَا جَعَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ مِنْ حَرَجٍ مِّلَّةَ أَبِيكُمْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ هُوَ سَمَّاكُمُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ مِن قَبْلُ وَفِي هَٰذَا لِيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ شَهِيدًا عَلَيْكُمْ وَتَكُونُوا شُهَدَاءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ فَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِاللَّهِ هُوَ مَوْلَاكُمْ فَنِعْمَ الْمَوْلَىٰ وَنِعْمَ النَّصِيرُ
O you who believe! bow down and prostrate yourselves and serve your Lord, and do good that you may succeed.
And strive hard in (the way of) Allah, (such) a striving a is due to Him; He has chosen you and has not laid upon you an hardship in religion; the faith of your father Ibrahim; He named you Muslims before and in this, that the Messenger may be a bearer of witness to you, and you may be bearers of witness to the people; therefore keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate and hold fast by Allah; He is your Guardian; how excellent the Guardian and how excellent the Helper!
[Al-Quran 22:77-78; Translation: Shakir]
إِنَّ الْمُتَّقِينَ فِي جَنَّاتٍ وَنَهَرٍ
فِي مَقْعَدِ صِدْقٍ عِندَ مَلِيكٍ مُّقْتَدِرٍ
Indeed, the righteous (will be) in gardens and river,
In a seat (of) honor near a King Most Powerful.
Last updated on May 10, 2024
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