The word “Thankfulness”
(Shukr) and its derivatives have been used in the Glorious Qur’an 75 times.
Muslims or even non-Muslims should ponder over the universe, himself, his body
and different systems of the body and naturally one would thank his Creator. Islam is the guide for humanity and at many
places in the Glorious Qur’an Allah addresses to the entire humanity.
Although there are
75 Ayahs pertaining to thankfulness but some of them are reproduced below:
Surah Ibrahim Ayah
7: “Remember, when your Lord said to you, ‘If you give thanks, I shall give you
greater (favors), but if you deny the Truth, know that My retribution is
severe.”
Surah Luqman Ayah
12: “We gave wisdom to Luqman so that he would give thanks to Allah. Those who
give thanks to Allah do so for their own good. Those who are ungrateful should
know that Allah is self-sufficient and Praiseworthy.”
Surah al-Naml Ayah
19: “(Sulayman) smiled at the ant’s remarks and said, “Lord, inspire me to
thank you for Your favors to me and my parents and to act righteously so as to
please You. Admit me, by Your Mercy into the company of Your righteous
servants.”
Surah al-Nisa Ayah
147: “Why should Allah punish you if you give thanks and believe in Him…?”
Surah al-Baqarah
Ayah 152 & 172: “therefore, remember Me and I shall remember you. Thank Me
and do not hide the truth about Me.””Believers, eat from the good things that
We have given you and give thanks to Allah if you worship only Him.”
Surah al-Nahl Ayah
114: “(People), consume the pure and lawful sustenance which Allah has given to
you and thank Allah for His bounty if you are His true worshippers.”
A thankful person realizes and appreciates all blessings in
his heart, then thanks with his tongue, and lastly expresses his gratitude by
rightful deeds.
Khajah Abdullah
Ansari in his book “Manazil al Sa’irin” (The Stations of the Wayfarers)
laid more emphasis on the first stage of realization of the blessings in heart.
To
know that something is a gift: for example, one might know everything about
health, but to know that the health
is a “Gift” from Allah is to know something additional.
To
acknowledge that this is a gift from Allah: this means to admit that what one
has been given is a gift, and that he
is the recipient. Sometimes men do not acknowledge out of arrogance.
To
praise Allah for it.
Thankfulness
has different levels:
Regular
level is shared by ordinary people: they understand that there are some gifts
from Allah that we are thankful
for, and they are pleased and praise Him.
On
higher levels, people are not only thankful to Allah for the gifts but also
thank Him for any bad thing that occurs
to them.
Some
people are very concerned with Allah’s presence. Out of love for Him, they do
not have time to think about
whether they are in state of any ease or pain. This is the thankfulness of the
Elite.
Love and Thankfulness
are two intertwined concepts which can help us practically on our journey to
self-improvement. Imam Khomeini (r.a.) in his book “Forty Hadiths” points out
that the appearance of the effects of love and thankfulness become apparent in
the heart, on the tongue and in the bodily acts and movements. As for the
heart, one becomes filled with humility, awe and love.
Sources used:
The Glorious Qur’an
Ethical Discourses by
Ayatollah Nasir Makarim Shirazi
Key Concepts in Islamic Spirituality by Ayatollah Mohammad Ali
Shomali
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