Gratitude is the essence of Islam. It is also the key to bring happiness, prosperity, peace, and success in one’s life. We can say that Sabr and Shukr are the most important aspects of our deen. We, as Muslims, should always be thankful to the Almighty Allah for all the blessings given by Him. The feeling of thankfulness is an amazing feeling which beautifies our lives. It emanates positivity, humbleness and contentment.

وَاِ ذْ تَاَ ذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ لَئِنْ شَكَرْتُمْ لَاَ زِيْدَنَّـكُمْ وَلَئِنْ كَفَرْتُمْ اِنَّ عَذَا بِيْ لَشَدِيْدٌ

“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.'” (Ibrahim: 7)

Being grateful brings a lot of barakah in our lives because Allah (S.W.T) blesses those abundantly who are thankful to Him.

When we are thankful to our Rabb for everything that He has given, it automatically brings extreme contentment in our hearts. Then we are satisfied with whatever blessings we have and do not compare our lives with that of others. Personally, whenever I see certain things that others have and I don’t, I immediately focus my attention to numerous blessing that my Lord has bestowed upon me.  It gives so much peace and tranquillity to know what meant for me will never miss me.

Whenever any misfortune befalls, and we take it positively and consider it only a short test from Allah (S.W.T) which will be followed by a lot of khair then even the toughest situation becomes easy. This attitude of shukr and sabr really does miracles and always keeps us strong and positive.

Our Prophet (PBUH) 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)

The sense of gratitude brings a lot of humbleness in our behaviour. The main obstacle in being thankful to Allah (S.W.T) and to others is that we think too high of ourselves and give all credit to our abilities and talents.  But when we remove the shell of self-imposed greatness and thank Allah and other people in our lives for everything they do and acknowledge their favours, it brings humbleness in us. Allah loves His humble and grateful servants and people respect them too.

Allah has told us that His pleasure may be attained through gratitude.

” If you are grateful, He is pleased with you…” (Az-Zumar 39:7)

Allah (S.W.T) grants wisdom to His grateful servants and make them Muhsineen (those who do utmost good). This wisdom or hikmah is the greatest blessing of Allah which He gives to His chosen worshippers only. Those who always remain grateful that’s for their own benefit and this quality distinguishes them from disbelievers as Allah SWT said:

وَلَقَدْ اٰتَيْنَا لُقْمٰنَ الْحِكْمَةَ اَنِ اشْكُرْ لِلّٰهِ ۗ وَمَنْ يَّشْكُرْ فَاِ نَّمَا يَشْكُرُ لِنَفْسِهٖ ۚ وَمَنْ كَفَرَ فَاِ نَّ اللّٰهَ غَنِيٌّ حَمِيْدٌ

“And We had certainly given Luqman wisdom [and said], 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.” (Luqman 31: 12)

In my opinion, if one is truly grateful to Allah, the feeling of gratitude must be expressed through heart, tongue and limbs. A person should be grateful deep inside his heart by acknowledging Allah’s blessings, he should mention those blessings through tongue by constantly doing dhikr of Allah and saying alhamdulillah and he should use it to please Allah (S.W.T)   May Allah (S.W.T) make us among His grateful servants and fill our lives with His abundant blessings ameen!