We as human beings often forget the abundance of favours Allah has given us. This may be due to the fact that we live in an age of constant advertisement of material objects. We are constantly bombarded with messages to discard the year old gadgets, clothes, etc. and go for the latest new models. We often think that having the newest things will make us happy; but, we forget the formula to a peaceful life which is simplicity and being grateful for what Allah has already given us.
Here are several Quranic verses and hadith on the importance of being grateful.
Quran on Being Grateful
One of the tasks Satan took up is to make people ungrateful. 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.” (Surah Al-Araf 7:17)
Thanking Allah for what He has given us actually increases His favours upon us. Allah says, “If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor].” (Surah Ibrahim 14:7)
Being grateful doesn’t benefit or increase Allah’s greatness in any way. He is already the Most High. In fact, being grateful is for our own benefit. As Allah has said in the Quran, “Be grateful to Allah. And whoever is grateful is grateful for [the benefit of] himself. And whoever denies [His favor] – then indeed, Allah is Free of need and Praiseworthy.” (Surah Luqman 31:12)
Did you know that we cannot finishing counting the benefits of just one favour of Allah? Allay says, “If you count the favour of Allah, you cannot count them all. Surely, Allah is Most-Forgiving, Very-Merciful.” (Surah An-Nahl 16:18). Think about it, would you be able to count all the usage of just the blessing of water?
Sometimes we want something but we just don’t get it. This is due to the wisdom of Allah. Allah says, “But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah Knows, while you know not.” (Surah Baqarah 2:216). Remember, we are not meant to have everything in this world, that’s reserved for Jannah. We must be grateful for what we have.
Blessings are more than just money and power. Allah says, “And among His Signs is this, that He sends the winds as glad tidings, giving you a taste of His Mercy (i.e. rain), and that the ships may sail at His Command, and that you may seek of His Bounty, in order that you may be thankful.” (Surah Luqman 31:46). Rain, the ability to travel through or over seas for our sustenance, etc. are all blessings of Allah and we should be thankful for them.
Hadith on Being Grateful
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)
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)
Jabir (RA) reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Whoever is not grateful for small things will not be grateful for large things. Whoever does not thank people has not thanked Allah Almighty.” (Al-Firdaws lil-Daylamī 5962; Grade: Lahu shawahid (corroborated) according to Al-Sakhawi)
Ibn Abbas reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “The first to be called to Paradise are those who always praised Allah in times of ease and adversity.” In another narration, the Prophet said, “Those who praised Allah in every situation.” (Al-Mu’jam al-Kabīr 12345; Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Suyuti)
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “The best wealth is a tongue that remembers Allah, a grateful heart, and a believing wife to help him in his faith.” In another narration, the Prophet said, “And a believing wife to help one of you in matters of the Hereafter.” (Sunan at-Tirmidhi)
Ibn Abbas (RA) reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Whoever has four things has been given the best in this world and the Hereafter: a grateful heart, a tongue of remembrance, a body that can withstand with trials, and a wife not seeking betrayal in herself or his wealth.” (Shu’ab al-Iman 4111; Grade: Hasan (fair) according to Al-Suyuti)
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