When someone does anything nice for us, we always show our gratitude. This acknowledgement demonstrates how we humans rely on one another for assistance. Every now and then, we confront a problem and seek assistance, such as when someone’s car breaks down on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere, and there is neither a mechanic nor a gas station nearby, but a passing vehicle suddenly stops and the driver offers a lift. One can envision the state of mind of the individual who has been given a helping hand and how indebted they feel to the collaborator.
How can we not be grateful to the Lord, who is the ultimate facilitator, if we admit that we are interdependent on one another and feel obligated to those who help us? He is the One Who bestows His blessings on all of us, regardless of our caste, creed, religion, or colour, and does it without expecting anything in return. The concept of appreciation is highly valued in Islam, and it is mentioned numerous times in the Holy Quran:
It signifies that being thankful to others is not only a moral necessity, but it is also a religious commitment to recognise and express gratitude to Allah Almighty for everything we have in our lives.
Let us look at some of the ways that one can become a true Muslim and have a greater admiration for Allah:
1. When you observe something for which you are grateful, remember to say “Alhamdulillah.” Spend a few minutes after each prayer praising Allah (glory be to Him) for some of the small and large blessings in your life. Give thanks for being chosen to be a Muslim, for giving us our religion, and for keeping Shaitaan at bay by acknowledging that Allah (glory be to Him) created and sustains us.
Remember that Allah (praise be to Him) is always deserving of our gratitude and is offended when we are unthankful.
Allah’s (glory be to Him) dissatisfaction with our ingratitude is not because He requires our gratitude, but because He understands that thankful servitude is the finest state for us.
Allah (glory be to Him) may choose to punish us for our ingratitude in this life by inflicting difficulty on us, or in the next life by consigning us to Hellfire, or both.
The feeling of gratitude comes from the heart, and it makes us realise how fully reliant we are on Allah (glory be to Him).
Consider your own life and you will quickly realise how many blessings Allah (glory be to Him) has showered upon you.
2. Throughout the day and night, remember Allah (glory be to Him). Set aside time during the day to repeat beautiful Qur’anic and Sunnah sentences to help you remember Allah (glory be to Him). Dhikr (plural Adhkar) is the name for these. Dhikr is soul nourishment because Islam teaches that if we remember Allah (glory be to Him) in this life, He will remember us in the next.
Making dhikr while travelling or doing boring domestic duties is an excellent idea. Many Muslims vow to repeat certain lines throughout the day, such as “Subhaan-Allahi wa bihamdihi” (Allah is perfect and all praise is due to Him), in order to deepen their faith. This should be done while thinking about the message, but not to the point of exhaustion.
Every night, before going to sleep, recall Allah (glory be to Him) by following the Prophet Muhammed’s (peace be upon him) usual rituals, such as praying Witr and sleeping on the side.
3. Remember Allah (glory be to Him) and recite the Du’a for waking up as you wake up. Thank God for surviving the night and for keeping you alive. Try to remember Allah (glory be to Him) throughout the day by repeating expressions praising, honouring, and thanking Him.
Even simple statements repeated with sincerity, such as “Astaghfirullah,” will provide shelter from Allah’s retribution (glory be to Him).
As a gesture of gratitude, thank Allah (glory be to Him) for the limitations and regulations that He has established for us in the Qur’an and Sunnah.
4. Remember Allah (glory be to Him) and recite the Du’a for waking up as you wake up. Thank God for surviving the night and for keeping you alive. Try to remember Allah (glory be to Him) throughout the day by repeating expressions praising, honouring, and thanking Him.
Even simple statements repeated with sincerity, such as “Astaghfirullah,” will provide shelter from Allah’s retribution (glory be to Him).
As a gesture of gratitude, thank Allah (glory be to Him) for the limitations and regulations that He has established for us in the Qur’an and Sunnah.
Keeping a thankfulness notebook is a good idea. Keeping track of just one blessing per day – anything that has made you say “Alhamdulillah” – as well as your observations on how it has aided you, can help you sharpen your attention and develop your relationship with Allah (glory be to Him).
5. To everybody who is blessed, say “Masha-Allah.” This literally means “God willed.” Know that envy is forbidden in Islam, so don’t be envious of the wealthy. Instead, consider those who are less fortunate. In every life, there is always something to be thankful for.
Parents should teach their children to say “Alhamdulillah” and “Masha-Allah” at appropriate times to help them recognise and be grateful for their blessings.
When they are a bit older, they should understand that if we do not show thankfulness for our blessings, Allah (glory be to Him) will be unhappy, and may decide to deliver us trouble in this life, or punish us in the future world, or both, if we do not show gratitude.
Children should be in the habit of consistently thanking Allah’s gifts (glory be to Him) by the age of 10, and they should be aware that they will be rewarded for doing so. Ingratitude, on the other hand, should be dealt first and foremost through education, and then, if required, through the family’s normal disciplinary process, as if a child had missed salah.
Older children should be informed that individuals who refuse Allah’s (glory be to Him) rights, including the right to receive our gratitude, will end up in Jahannam (the Fire). In the Qur’an, Allah (glory be to Him) states that gratitude is a trait shared by all good Muslims: If you are grateful, I will undoubtedly enhance your wealth, but if you are ungrateful, My retribution is terrible. (Surah Ibrahim: Verse 7)
6. Thank Allah (praise be to Him) for your excellent health, wealth, and overall well-being. Make the most of Allah’s (glory be to Him) favours by performing good activities that will delight Him. It would only multiply your blessings if you thank Allah (glory be to Him).
On the Day of Judgement, our gratitude throughout our lives will be scrutinised and will play a big role in determining our eternal fate.
When the weight of our good and bad deeds is weighed, ingratitude is an indication of being too concerned with earthly affairs and will count severely against us.
7. Feel inspired, and make a conscious effort to be appreciative. Gratitude is a lovely manner of recognising Allah (glory be to Him) and a fantastic way to gain blessings in this world and the next.
Remember that the best way to show our thankfulness to Allah (glory be to Him) is to adore Him.
Try to establish a strong daily worship routine that includes regular prayers (salah), remembrance of Allah (glory be to Him) through repeating phrases glorifying Allah (glory be to Him) (dhikr), asking Allah (glory be to Him) for assistance (dua’), Qur’an study, and trying to live a Muslim lifestyle and follow Muslim rules.
