Growing up and the Gratitude Culture

بسم الله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله

Being Thankful is your reason for existence! 

Gratitude is a Muslim’s raison d’etre.

Indeed, it is the announcement of the Creator of all humans!

وَاللَّهُ أَخْرَجَكُم مِّن بُطُونِ أُمَّهَاتِكُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ شَيْئًا وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ السَّمْعَ وَالْأَبْصَارَ وَالْأَفْئِدَةَ ۙ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ 

“And Allah has extracted you from the wombs of your mothers not knowing a thing, and He made for you hearing and vision and intellect that perhaps you would be grateful.“ ‎(Surah An-Nahl 16: 78)

Today, you are able to read these lines. Recall the state when you were born. Do you remember anything?

You knew nothing while Allah brought you into existence! He, then, gave you the tools for being grateful – the faculties of hearing, seeing and discerning. 

Not only this, each day and each night reminds man that the time at his disposal is only meant to be utilised in acts of being thankful to the Almighty, the One who alternates the night and the day!  

وَهُوَ الَّذِي جَعَلَ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ خِلْفَةً لِّمَنْ أَرَادَ أَن يَذَّكَّرَ أَوْ أَرَادَ شُكُورًا 

“And it is He who has made the night and the day in succession for whoever desires to remember or desires gratitude.‎” (Surah al Furqaan 25: 62)

Man being ungrateful is a fact attested by Allah Himself:

إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ لِرَبِّهِ لَكَنُودٌ ‎

‏ وَإِنَّهُ عَلَىٰ ذَٰلِكَ لَشَهِيدٌ 

“Indeed mankind, to his Lord, is ungrateful. And indeed, he is to that a witness.” (Surah al ‘Aadiyaat 100: 6, 7)

The test lies in this. You have to lift yourself whether in prosperity or adversity. Utilising the resources that the Almighty has allocated for you and your survival, you have to lift yourself to the horizons of gratitude and develop in you the culture of gratitude.

Man has no reason to grumble. He Who caused you to establish on earth has also provided you with the means and facilities of livelihood.

وَلَقَدْ مَكَّنَّاكُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَجَعَلْنَا لَكُمْ فِيهَا مَعَايِشَ ۗ قَلِيلًا مَّا تَشْكُرُونَ ‎

“And We have certainly established you upon the earth and made for you therein ways of livelihood. Little are you grateful.” (Surah al A’raaf 7: 10)

You have to exert yourself to the best of capacity, in the best of manners possible. 

Not only this, a beautiful promise from the Lord of the worlds is waiting to take its practical shape at all times. Allah, Your gracious Lord, promises you an increase in His favours should you be thankful unto Him:

وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ ۖ وَلَئِن كَفَرْتُمْ إِنَّ عَذَابِي لَشَدِيدٌ 

“And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, ‘If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe.’ ”  (Surah Ibraheem 14: 7)

A Muslim must be grateful for everything the Almighty Lord has bestowed upon him: Health, wealth, children, Faith, Knowledge, Wisdom, Modesty, Provisions – in short everything that the Lord has provided you! 

Please remember a law of nature and a maxim:

Law of nature: Provisions increase as per your way of showing thanks to Allah. 

Maxim: If you do not see any increase in your state of affairs, then think of His favours and turn to Him in gratitude. Start doing things that will lead to enhancement, for the Lord never breaks His promise! 

May Allah give us the Tawfeeque to develop gratitude in us.

اللهم اعنا على ذكرك وشكرك وحسن عبادتك

O Allah! Help us to remember You, to show thanks unto You and to worship You in the Best manner! 

See also: SHUKR: BEING THANKFUL TO ALLAH