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A few weeks ago, I called my son Azhari to check how he was doing, especially with his studies. He said he was fine and doing well in school. “Is there anything that bothers you, or do you have any problem?” I asked. “Nothing ma. It’s just that I feel envious of my roommate who has a great personality and is achieving what he wants in life. I feel bad about it.” “I understand your feelings”, I said. “However it should not bother you because while you think your friend is better than you; you have your own strengths, talents, skills and blessings which you should be grateful about and equally proud of.”
Then I said, “While your roommate maybe better than you in some aspects, I am sure in other areas, you have an edge over him. Just focus and count all the wonderful things that Allah (subhanahu wa ta ‘ala [swt] – the Most Glorious and Most High) has blessed you with, which other people of your age would be most happy and grateful to have. If you focus on these blessings, I am sure you will feel contended and grateful. Do not neglect your prayers because it will help you deal with all your worries and concerns.” “I know ma, that’s why I went with my friends to pray in the mosque,” he happily related, and “I felt quite good after that.” “I am very happy to hear that,” I said. “In your daily prayers, always pray for contentment and thank Allah (swt) for all the many good things He has favored you with.” Alhamdullillah (praise be to God), I am very happy that my son turns to Allah (swt) for mercy and guidance in dealing with his feelings and concerns. As human beings, we are inclined to get jealous about other people’s positive traits, achievements and good life and to desire anything that we do not have or have enough of. We always long for better looks, a better partner, a bigger house, a nicer car, more material things, more money, better job, etc. However, this leads us to bitterness and misery and we rarely take time to reflect on the favors that Allah (swt) has granted us. We take all our blessings for granted and constantly focus on the things that we do not have, instead of being grateful to Allah (swt) for all the things that we have.
If only we reflect, we will realize that there is always another human being who is in a much worse situation than we are. If we are blessed with good sight we should be grateful because there are countless people who are blind. But a blind person is not any worse because he still has feet to walk, ears to hear and mouth to talk while there are others who are blind, deaf and dumb. If we are poor but enjoy good health we should be grateful because so many rich people suffer from sickness and various ailments. If we live in peace and security, we should be grateful because countless people are dying and suffering daily due to the terrible impact of wars and other manmade calamities.
Thus, whatever situation a person is in, he is still blessed with many favors from Allah (swt) for which he should be grateful for. Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam [saw] – peace and blessings be upon him) therefore advised us to always look to those beneath us so that we may be thankful. Just reflecting on the splendor and glory of creation which Allah (swt) has granted mankind for its benefit should make man content and thankful. The favors of Allah (swt) in our daily lives are countless. The air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, our good health, our families, etc. are all favors from Allah (swt) which we should value and not take for granted. The Prophet (saw) also advised that the best way to be thankful to Allah (swt) is to count His favors in our daily lives which He gives in abundance.
“And he gives you all that you ask for. But if you count the favors of Allah, never will you be able to number them. Verily, man is given up to injustice and ingratitude.” (Qur’an, 14:34). While feelings of envy and discontent and man’s tendency to deny Allah’s favors are part of man’s human nature, these are prompted by Satan who continuously instills disbelief and negative feelings among people so they will be ungrateful to Allah (swt). 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 Thou (Allah [swt]) shall not find most of them grateful.” (Qur’an, 7:17)
Greed, jealously, envy, arrogance and discontent lead one to ingratitude. However, the greatest form of ingratitude is to deny the existence of Allah (swt) and to associate partners with him by worshipping other beings or creatures claimed by men to be manifestations of His Majesty, Benevolence and Power or as intercessors to get nearer to Him. The Qur’an reveals that sincere devotion is due only to Allah (swt) and those who worship Him and Him alone are those who are truly grateful.
“Is it not to Allah that sincere devotion is due? But those who take for protectors other than Allah (say): "We only serve them in order that they may bring us nearer to Allah." Truly Allah will judge between them in that wherein they differ. But Allah guides not such as are false and ungrateful.” (Qur’an 39:3)
"For ye do worship idols besides Allah, and ye invent falsehood. The things that ye worship besides Allah have no power to give you sustenance: then seek ye sustenance from Allah, serve Him, and be grateful to Him: to Him will be your return.” (Qur’an, 29:17)
In order to fight the power of Satan in leading men to disbelief and misery, man should be conscious of Allah (swt) all the time and be mindful of all His favors to mankind so he will be content and be grateful to His Lord. “Then do ye remember Me; I will remember you. Be grateful to Me, and reject not Faith.” (Qur’an, 2:152)
In the Holy Qur’an, Allah (swt) in Surah Ar Rahmaan (The Benevolent), calls on man to ponder on all the favors He has bestowed on him which he cannot deny but continues to take for granted. He created man, gave him the power of speech and intelligence, created the heavens and the earth and all its produce for man’s benefit so that he may establish justice on earth and live within its bounds.
“(Allah)) Most Gracious! It is He Who has taught the Qur'an. He has created man: He has taught him speech (and intelligence). The sun and the moon follow courses (exactly) computed. And the herbs and the trees - both (alike) bow in adoration. And the Firmament has He raised high, and He has set up the Balance (of Justice), in order that ye may not transgress (due) balance. So establish weight with justice and fall not short in the balance. It is He Who has spread out the earth for (His) creatures: Therein is fruit and date-palms, producing spathes (enclosing dates); Also corn, with (its) leaves and stalk for fodder, and sweet-smelling plants. Then which of the favours of your Lord will ye deny?” Qur’an, 55:1-13)
In other verses of the Qur’an, Allah (swt) also calls on man to see His signs in His creation so that he may be grateful of His bounties and mercy.
“It is Allah Who has subjected the sea to you, that ships may sail through it by His command, that ye may seek of his Bounty, and that ye may be grateful.” (Qur’an, 45:12)
“Among His Signs is this, that He sends the Winds, as heralds of Glad Tidings, giving you a taste of His (Grace and) Mercy,- that the ships may sail (majestically) by His Command and that ye may seek of His Bounty: in order that ye may be grateful. “(Qur’an, 30:46)
“If it be His Will He can still the Wind: then would they become motionless on the back of the (ocean). Verily in this are Signs for everyone who patiently perseveres and is grateful.” (Qur’an, 42:33)
“It is out of His Mercy that He has made for you Night and Day,- that ye may rest therein, and that ye may seek of his Grace;- and in order that ye may be grateful.” (Qur’an, 28:73)
“Thus doth Allah make clear to you His signs, that ye may be grateful.”
(Qur’an, 5:89)
“Verily in this are Signs for every (soul that is) patiently constant and grateful.” (Qur’an, 34:19)
The fact that Allah (swt) gave Islam as guidance to mankind is in itself a great favor for which man should be thankful for. “Surely We showed him the Way: whether he be grateful or ungrateful (rests on his will).” (Qur’an, 76:3)
Despite Allah’s warning and admonitions to mankind from the time of Adam (swt) until today, man remains ungrateful and denies His Lord and all His favors to him and only very few of them are grateful. “But verily thy Lord is full of grace to mankind: Yet most of them are ungrateful.” (Qur’an, 27:73). “Truly man is, to his Lord, ungrateful.” (Qur’an, 100:6). “-----but few of My slaves are grateful!” (Qur’an, 43:13). Allah (swt) has therefore prepared Hell as an abode for those who deny Him and are ungrateful of all His favors.
“But those who reject ((Allah)) - for them will be the Fire of Hell: No term shall be determined for them, so they should die, nor shall its Penalty be lightened for them. Thus do we reward every ungrateful one! (Qur’an, 35:36)
“On that Day no question will be asked of man or Jinn as to his sin. Then which of the favours of your Lord will ye deny? (For) the sinners will be known by their marks: and they will be seized by their forelocks and their feet. Then which of the favours of your Lord will ye deny? This is the Hell which the Sinners deny: In its midst and in the midst of boiling hot water will they wander round! Then which of the favours of your Lord will ye deny?” (Qur’an, 55:39-45)
But those who fear Allah (swt) and are grateful to Him, they can look forward to Paradise, a fitting reward for those who live in faith, gratefulness and righteousness.
“But for such as fear the time when they will stand before (the Judgment Seat of) their Lord, there will be two Gardens- Then which of the favours of your Lord will ye deny?- Containing all kinds (of trees and delights);- Then which of the favours of your Lord will ye deny?- In them (each) will be two Springs flowing (free); Then which of the favours of your Lord will ye deny?- In them will be Fruits of every kind, two and two. Then which of the favours of your Lord will ye deny? They will recline on Carpets, whose inner linings will be of rich brocade: the Fruit of the Gardens will be near (and easy of reach). Then which of the favours of your Lord will ye deny? In them will be (Maidens), chaste, restraining their glances, whom no man or Jinn before them has touched; - Then which of the favours of your Lord will ye deny? - Like unto Rubies and coral. Then which of the favours of your Lord will ye deny? Is there any Reward for Good - other than Good? “ (Qur’an, 55:46-60)
If man is grateful to Allah (swt) and follows His commandments, this action will benefit only him and his soul. Allah (swt) is free of all wants, is Supreme in Honor and Worthy of all praise. He does not need man’s gratitude nor will He gain anything by punishing man for his ingratitude and wrongdoings. However, He dislikes ingratitude from his servants but is well pleased with those who are grateful.
" Any who is (so) grateful does so to the profit of his own soul: but if any is ungrateful, verily Allah is free of all wants, Worthy of all praise.” Qur’an, 31:12)
“What can Allah gain by your punishment, if ye are grateful and ye believe? Nay, it is Allah that recogniseth (all good), and knoweth all things.” (Qur’an, 4:147)
"This is by the Grace of my Lord!- to test me whether I am grateful or ungrateful! and if any is grateful, truly his gratitude is (a gain) for his own soul; but if any is ungrateful, truly my Lord is Free of all Needs, Supreme in Honour !" (Qur’an, 27:40)
“If ye reject ((Allah)), Truly Allah hath no need of you; but He liketh not ingratitude from His servants: if ye are grateful, He is pleased with you.” (Qur’an, 39:7)
Contentment and gratefulness liberates man from the ills of arrogance, greed, selfishness and envy. It enriches his soul and makes him conscious of Allah (swt) all the time and His continuous blessings and mercy in his daily life. Allah (swt) will grant unlimited rewards and blessing to those who are grateful when He said:
“….if you’re grateful, I will add more (favours) unto you…..” (Qur’an, 14:7)
Let us therefore struggle and pray to be among the grateful ones who will constantly remember Allah (swt) and all His favors to us and keep our minds, tongues and hearts filled with sincere devotion and praise to Him.
"O my Lord! Grant me that I may be grateful for Thy favour which Thou has bestowed upon me, and upon both my parents, and that I may work righteousness such as Thou mayest approve; and be gracious to me in my issue. Truly have I turned to Thee and truly do I bow (to Thee) in Islam." (Qur’an, 46:15)
“Blessed be the name of thy Lord, full of Majesty, Bounty and Honour.” (Qur’an, 55:78)
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