Since the introduction of the media, being thankful became a challenge to many of us. We are being brainwashed for the ideas like “how perfect-life should look like” by using technology, brands, luxury lifestyles, fashion shows … etc. They are not something really bad, but sometimes they are very dangerous if we don’t give them their limits. They have a powerful ability to change the “how we should perceive our reality”. For example, if a middle-class housewife is doing house duties like washing clothes or cooking on daily bases, and if she watches regularly Tv series like “Reality shows” since the reality tv shows are known for unscripted real-life situations, the woman may start comparing her life to theirs thinking that her life is not “as it should be” and she might start feeling that there is “something missing” in her life. Since her expectation from her current situation does not meet the reality she redrew (subconsciously) in her mind by the media, she might be challenged to be thankful and may not enjoy blessings that she already have. And that all sum up and may cause her to be depressed unnecessarily. But if the woman is always thankful for what she have, and not affected by the people above her (tv shows, friends, neighbours or anyone else), she will take from those influences whatever positive ideas she can improve her life while she is thankful for what she already have. And that leads her life to be more and more positive.
The Importance Of Being Thankful In Islam?
Prophet Moses has talked to God our creator, and he asked him the following:
Moses to Allah: You have created Adam [the first human being] with your power, and breathed into him the spirit, and made the angels prostrate to him, and you entered him heaven, and you accepted his repentance, how could Adam Thank you in return for all these favours?
Allah said to Moses: Oh Moses, it was sufficient from Adam that he said: “Praise be to God, Lord of Worlds” [i.e expressing true thankfulness and gratitude to God our creator]
So, If you avoid major sins (especially the shirk (Associating false God with God our creator)), being always grateful and thankful to our creator might be the reason for you to enter heaven. Because we don’t know which of our deeds will enter us to heaven. But remember, you can not be thankful to other than our creator, because he is the one who created us, give us all the benefit to support us. So, we can not be thankful to the “universe” or “just feel the feeling of gratitude” as some people say, but we have to be thankful to our creator because he was the source for our blessings.
Say, “It is He who has produced you and made for you hearing and vision and hearts; little are you grateful.”
And We have certainly established you upon the earth and made for you therein ways of livelihood. Little are you grateful.
A person believes in our creator God, Allah, doesn’t mean that the person is ALWAYS thankful. Life is full of up and downs, and a person might be in a state of ungratefulness, which is natural. The important thing is when we are down we have to remember that God our creator is there for us, and that problem is temporary. However, when you are grateful even when you feel down, it will not only make you positive and make the problem easier, but also you will have a higher rank and reward from God, our creator. Sometimes the person may take some blessings that he/she have as for granted which makes the person focus on the things that he/she doesn’t have. So, let’s not wait until we lose what we have to be thankful, let’s be thankful to our creator for what we have now. There is always something to be thankful for in our life, and recognizing them is our duty.
let’s see how Islam views “Gratitude”
1. We can never count Allah’s Blessings:
Be ever grateful to Allah for everything that you possess including your wealth, health, status, intellectual abilities and life. Allah says:
“Is, then, He Who creates comparable to any that cannot create? Will you not, then, take heed? For should you try to count Allah’s blessings, you could never compute them” (An-Nahl 16:17-19).
2. Shaytan’s [Iblis or The Devil] primary mission is to make human beings ungrateful:
From the very beginning of the human being’s creation, the issue of gratefulness and thankfulness to Allah has been debated. After refusing to bow to Adam, Satan said:
“Then I will certainly come to them from before them and from behind them, and from the right-hand side and from the left-hand side, and You (Allah) shall not find most of them thankful.” (Al-Araf 7:17)
3- We thank Allah for our own benefit:
If you are ungrateful, Allah is unaffected. If you become grateful, then you have taken the first step towards becoming a true Believer. It is for this reason that the Prophet exhorted us to “Love Allah as we benefit from His grace” (Tirmidhi).
Allah reminds us: ” And whoever is grateful, he is only grateful for the benefit of his own self” (Luqman 31:12). “For surely if it was not for the grace of God on you and His mercy, you would have been among the losers” (Al-Baqarah 2:64).
4- True worship means sincere thankfulness to Allah:
Allah explained in the Quran that the only people who truly worship Him are those who give gratitude to Him, so those who are not among the people of gratitude are not among the people of Ibadah (worship and obedience). “… and be grateful to Allah, if it is Him you worship” (Al-Baqarah 2:172).
5- Being thankful leads to Allah’s pleasure:
Allah has told us that His pleasure may be attained through gratitude. ” If you are grateful, He is pleased with you…” (Az-Zumar 39:7).
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Allah is pleased with His servant if, when he eats something, he thanks Allah for it, and when he drinks something, he thanks Allah for it” (Muslim).
6- Gratitude is a purpose of our creation:
“It is He Who brought you forth from the wombs of your mothers when you knew nothing; and He gave you hearing and sight and intelligence and affection: that you may give thanks (to Allah)”(An-Nahl, 16:78).
7- Being thankful is a quality of success in this life and in the Hereafter:
Ibn Abbas narrated that the Prophet said: “There are four qualities, whoever is given them has truly been given the best in this world and the next. They are: a grateful heart (that is thankful to Allah), a remembering tongue (that mentions Allah often), an enduring body (to persevere through the trials), and a faithful wife.”
8- Being grateful and patient in times of difficulty:
Everything that happens to us – even events that we may consider to be personal afflictions or natural disasters-are from Allah. Therefore, in times of calamity and distress, there will be some good for us, provided we respond appropriately. The Prophet said:
“How wonderful is the case of a Believer! There is good for him in whatever happens to him – and none, apart from him, enjoys this blessing. If he receives some bounty, he is grateful to Allah and this bounty brings good to him. And if some adversity befalls him, he is patient, and this affliction, too, brings good to him” (Muslim).
9- Allah’s Mercy is for all, but most people will remain ungrateful:
He shows and gives mercy to all, even those who continue to be ungrateful and rebellious towards Him: “Indeed God is the possessor of bounty for all people but most people do not give thanks.” (Al-Baqarah 2: 243).
10- Most people subconsciously thank God:
Reflect upon your own life and you will find innumerable occasions when Allah’s `hand’ has been holding you and helping you. So often, believers and even atheists subconsciously use the expression ‘Thank God’, without realising the full implications of our words.
11- Gratitude leads to abundance in Allah’s favors:
If you appreciate Allah’s favors, He has promised increased Rahma or mercy for you. Allah’s reward for your gratitude is unlimited and unconditional. “If you are grateful, I will surely give you more and more” (Ibrahim 14:7).
12- Gratitude fills the scales on the day of judgement:
When you say “Alhamdulillah” which is expressing true gratitude towards our creator, one the day of judgement your scale will be filled with good deeds.
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
“Purity is half of Iman. Alhamdulillah (saying praise be to Allah) fills the scales…
Three ways to express Gratitude (Shukr):
The classical Muslim scholars have indicated Shukr (gratitude) can be shown in three ways:
– Shukr of the heart (Qalb), which is achieved by harboring and intending good for all of Allah’s creation.
– Shukr of the tongue (Lisan), which involves celebrating the praises of Allah, such as utterance of Alhamdulillah (repeating the word Alhamdulillah (which means Praise be to God, Lord of Worlds), and expressing gratefulness to Allah with our tongue.
– Shukr of the limbs (Jawarih), which is fulfilled by using our external senses to do good. Every time Allah gives us a blessing, we must use it in a way that benefits humanity and that pleases Allah.
Credit: https://www.soundvision.com/article/12-reasons-for-shukr-thankfulness-to-allah