Have You Thanked Allah for His Graces?
Since 2012-11-28
O you, whom the sky has shaded by its stars… whom the earth has carried above its surface to play and grow. You drank from its water…
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
All the praises and thanks be to Allah Almighty, the Giver of bountiful blessings and gifts. Prayers and peace of Allah be upon the noble Prophet and upon his family and companions, the honorable followers.
O you, whom the sky has shaded by its stars… whom the earth has carried above its surface to play and grow.
You drank from its water… you ate from its plants… its beasts have been subjected to you..
The earth has been humiliated for you… you cut your way through the depth of sea to get out of it tender meat and ornaments to wear.
Flowing graces… overwhelming gifts… they are uncountable and beyond knowledge.
O son of Adam! Have you ever remembered, for a day, the Owner of all these blessings?
Has your tongue uttered thanks for the Lord of theses blessings?
My Muslim brother: the graces of Allah are abundant; have you thanked and praised Allah for them?
Hold yourself responsible and ask it: are you among those who are grateful?
How many graces pass by you day and night as if they are asking you: have you been grateful because of me?
{O you who believe (in the Oneness of Allâh - Islâmic Monotheism)! Eat of the lawful things that We have provided you with, and be grateful to Allâh, if it is indeed He Whom you worship.} [Surat Al-Baqarah: 172]
{يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُلُوا مِنْ طَيِّبَاتِ مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ وَاشْكُرُوا لِلَّهِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ} البقرة: 172
Transliteration: Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo kuloo min tayyibati ma razaqnakum waoshkuroo lillahi in kuntum iyyahu taAAbudoona
{And He it is Who has subjected the sea (to you), that you eat thereof fresh tender meat (i.e. fish), and that you bring forth out of it ornaments to wear. And you see the ships ploughing through it, that you may seek (thus) of His Bounty (by transporting the goods from place to place) and that you may be grateful.} [Surat An-Nahl: 14]
{وَهُوَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ الْبَحْرَ لِتَأْكُلُوا مِنْهُ لَحْمًا طَرِيًّا وَتَسْتَخْرِجُوا مِنْهُ حِلْيَةً تَلْبَسُونَهَا وَتَرَى الْفُلْكَ مَوَاخِرَ فِيهِ وَلِتَبْتَغُوا مِنْ فَضْلِهِ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ} النحل: 14
Transliteration: Wahuwa allathee sakhkhara albahra litakuloo minhu lahman tariyyan watastakhrijoo minhu hilyatan talbasoonaha watara alfulka mawakhira feehi walitabtaghoo min fadlihi walaAAallakum tashkuroona
{And Allâh has brought you out from the wombs of your mothers while you know nothing. And He gave you hearing, sight, and hearts that you might give thanks (to Allâh).} [Surat An-Nahl: 78]
{وَاللَّهُ أَخْرَجَكُمْ مِنْ بُطُونِ أُمَّهَاتِكُمْ لا تَعْلَمُونَ شَيْئًا وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ السَّمْعَ وَالأَبْصَارَ وَالأَفْئِدَةَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ} النحل: 78
Transliteration: WaAllahu akhrajakum min butooni ommahatikum la taAAlamoona shayan wajaAAala lakumu alssamAAa waalabsara waalafidata laAAallakum tashkuroona
{It is out of His Mercy that He has made for you the night and the day that you may rest therein (i.e. during the night) and that you may seek of His Bounty (i.e. during the day) - and in order that you may be grateful} [Surat Al-Qasas: 73]
{وَمِنْ رَحْمَتِهِ جَعَلَ لَكُمُ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ لِتَسْكُنُوا فِيهِ وَلِتَبْتَغُوا مِنْ فَضْلِهِ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ} القصص: 73
Transliteration: Wamin rahmatihi jaAAala lakumu allayla waalnnahara litaskunoo feehi walitabtaghoo min fadlihi walaAAallakum tashkuroona
{Do they not see that We have created for them of what Our Hands have created the cattle, so that they are their owners. [71]. And We have subdued them unto them so that some of them they have for riding and some they eat. [72]. And they have (other) benefits from them, and they get (milk) to drink. Will they not then be grateful?} [Surat Yâsîn: 71:73]
{أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا أَنَّا خَلَقْنَا لَهُمْ مِمَّا عَمِلَتْ أَيْدِينَا أَنْعَامًا فَهُمْ لَهَا مَالِكُونَ (71) وَذَلَّلْنَاهَا لَهُمْ فَمِنْهَا رَكُوبُهُمْ وَمِنْهَا يَأْكُلُونَ (72) وَلَهُمْ فِيهَا مَنَافِعُ وَمَشَارِبُ أَفَلا يَشْكُرُونَ (73)} يس: 71-73
Transliteration: Awalam yaraw anna khalaqna lahum mimma AAamilat aydeena anAAaman fahum laha malikoona (71) Wathallalnaha lahum faminha rakoobuhum waminha yakuloona (72) Walahum feeha manafiAAu wamasharibu afala yashkuroona (73)
I wonder about those who lavishly enjoy the blessings of Allah and forget to mention them! He has forgotten that these blessings are from the Bestower in Whose Hands are the treasures of everything.
Abdulla ibn Umar ibn Abdel-Aziz said, “Umar ibn Abdel-Aziz has never seen a blessing that Allah Glorified and Exalted has bestowed upon him but that he said, ‘O Allah! I seek refuge in You that I change Your blessing into disbelief, or that I deny it after knowing it, or that I forget it that I do not be grateful about it’.”.
Ibn Abu Al-Khawari said, “One night, Fudhayl ibn Ayyadh and Sufyan ibn ‘Uyayniya sat till the morning talking about the blessings. Sufyan said, ‘Allah has blessed us with such and such. Allah has blessed us with such and such. He has done such and such for us. He has done such and such for us. He has done such and such for us’.”
That is how the righteous remembers the blessings of Allah bestowed upon him. This remembrance remains the talks of their inner souls, thus they never miss the kindness of Allah towards them nor His graces.
Ibn Al-Munkadir said to Abu Hazim, “How many people I meet who invoke good from Allah for me. I do not know such people. I have never done anything good for them.” Abu Hazim said to him, “do not think that this happens because of you; rather look at Him Who has sent them for you and thank Him.”
How wonderful are those men! They have never missed observing the blessings of He Who is still bestowing upon them the most refined of graces.
Congratulations to the heart that stopped to look at the mighty beneficence of Allah, and consequently acknowledged the grace of its Creator, the Almighty. It busied itself with thanking and praising Him. Where are you my Muslim brother from the convoy of the grateful?!
Beware of being away from such a convoy, list you will find yourself in another path… it might be the path of the people who disbelieve in the graces of Allah!
Do not think that the graces of Allah do not exceed your food, drink and clothing.
He who thinks that is ignorant… heedless.
Al-Hassan Al-Basri said, “He who does not see the blessings of Allah but in food, drink and clothing; then his knowledge is limited and his torment is near.”
A man came to Yunus ibn ‘Ubaid complaining about his poverty. Yunus said to him, “Would you like to exchange your eyesight for one hundred thousand dirhams?”
The man said, “No.”
He said, “What about your hand for one hundred thousand dirhams?”
The man said, “No.”
He said, “What about your legs?”
The man said, “No.”
He said, “He reminded him of the blessings of Allah Glorified and Exalted.”
Yunus said, “I see that you have hundreds of thousands and you are complaining about poverty?!”
My Muslim brother: this is one side of the blessings of Allah Almighty upon His slaves to which this noble scholar has drawn the attention of this man who came complaining about his poverty. He has missed all the blessings he is enjoying.
This is the conditions of a lot of people who has limited understanding when realizing the reality of the blessings of Allah Almighty.
Behold, O wise man that: the greatest blessing of Allah bestowed upon you is your guidance to Islam… the firmness on monotheism.
Mujahid said about the words of Allah Almighty, {and has completed and perfected His Graces upon you, (both) apparent (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism, and the lawful pleasures of this world, including health, good looks, etc.) and hidden [i.e. One’s Faith in Allâh (of Islâmic Monotheism) knowledge, wisdom, guidance for doing righteous deeds, and also the pleasures and delights of the Hereafter in Paradise]} [Surat Luqmân: 20]
{وَأَسْبَغَ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعَمَهُ ظَاهِرَةً وَبَاطِنَةً} سورة لقمان: 20
Transliteration: waasbagha AAalaykum niAAamahu thahiratan wabatinatan
He said, “(The grace is) there is no god but Allah.”
Sufyan ibn ‘Uyayniya said, “Allah Glorified and Exalted has not bestowed a blessing upon His slaves better than that He has let them recognize that there is no god but Allah.”
He said, “Verily, ‘there is no god but Allah’ for them in the Hereafter is like water in this worldly life.”
Abu Bakr ibn Abdullah Al-Mazni said, “This who is a Muslim and whose body is sound and healthy, then he has gathered both the master of the blessings of this worldly life as well as the master of the blessings of the Hereafter. As the master of the blessings of this worldly life is health and the master of the blessings of the Hereafter is Islam.”
A man entered upon Sahl ibn Abdullah and said, “A thief entered my house and stole my luggage.”
He said, “Then praise Allah because if a thief entered your heart, that is the Devil, and spoiled your belief in monotheism, what would you have done?”
My Muslim brother: this is the blessing of Islam; the greatest, most precious blessing you have ever got. Have you thanked Allah Almighty for it?
Have you remembered the greatness of this blessing?
How poor are those people whose minds are confined to the blessings of eating and drinking; whose minds do not remember such a tremendous blessing!
Ibn Al-Qayyim said, “The public are grateful for food, clothing and the nutrients of the body while the elite are grateful for monotheism, faith and the nutrients of the hearts.”
My Muslim brother: if you are among the grateful to Allah Almighty for His graces, then you are in a great good… being guided to be grateful is a blessing worthy of thanking.
The Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “Allah Glorified and Exalted has not bestowed a blessing upon His slave and he praised Allah for it but that such praise is better than such blessing.” [Authetic by Alabni]
«ما أنعم الله على عبد نعمة فحمد الله عليها، إلا كان ذلك الحمد أفضل من تلك النعمة» صححه الألباني
Ibn Al-Qayyim said, “Being grateful for being grateful is more complete than being grateful; you see that you are being grateful because of His blessing you with success. Such success is for the blessings bestowed upon you. Thus you thank Him for the blessings and then you thank Him for being thankful.”
It was reported from Abu Bakr Al-Mazni that he said, “The slave of Allah has never said, ‘all praise and thanks be to Allah’ but that a blessing is obligated to be bestowed upon him by saying, ‘all praise and thanks be to Allah’.”
I asked, “What is the reward of such blessing?”
He said, “Its reward is that he says, ‘all praise and thanks be to Allah’ and thus it brings along another blessing. By this way the blessings of Allah Glorified and Exalted will never be exhausted.”
Then, have you held yourself accountable for all the blessings of Allah surrounding you?
Here you are, coming and going in the day and night enjoying the blessings of Allah Almighty. All of that calls for you to thank and praise the Bestower, Glorified and Exalted He is.
The Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “Verily Allah will be pleased with the slave of Allah that he eats the meal and praises Allah for it, or that he drinks a drink and praises Him for it.” [Reported by Muslim]
«إن الله ليرضى عن العبد أن يأكل الأكلة فيحمده عليها . أو يشرب الشربة فيحمده عليها» رواه مسلم
The Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “The one who eats and praises Allah has the same reward as the one who fasts and who is patient.” [Authenticated by Albani]
«الطاعم الشاكر له مثل أجر الصائم الصابر» صححه الألباني
My Muslim brother: remember that you are reveling in the graces of Allah; so do not ever belittle a grace of His graces. How many graces is there that knowledge cannot comprehend its state or the greatness of its value. Do not think that bliss is to have a lot of money, or to be filthy rich reveling in all kinds of pleasures. The graces of Allah Almighty upon you include what is greater than that even if you have little money.
The Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “whoever of you has become safe in his people, healthy in his body, have the sustenance of his day, it is as if he had the whole world.” [Said to be good by Albani]
«من أصبح منكم آمنا في سربه، معافى في جسده، عنده قوت يومه، فكأنما حيزت له الدنيا بحذافيرها» حسنه الألباني
Makhul was asked about the words of Allah Almighty, {Then on that Day you shall be asked about the delights (you indulged in, in this world)!} [Surat At-Takâthur: 8].
{ثُمَّ لَتُسْأَلُنَّ يَوْمَئِذٍ عَنِ النَّعِيمِ} سورة التكاثر: 8
Transliteration: Thumma latusalunna yawmaithin AAani alnnaAAeemi
He said that, “(the delights are) the cold drink, the shading houses, the satiated tummies, the moderate creation of your body and the pleasure of sleep.”
Yunus ibn Ubaid said, “A man asked Abu Tamimah, “How have you become?”
He said, “I have become among two blessings I do not know which of them is better!
(one is) sins which have been concealed by Allah so no one can disgrace me because of them, and (the other is) a love Allah has put in the hearts of His slaves for me to which my work cannot reach.”
As you see, the Knowing have understood the reality of the graces. They are not, as some may think, the apparent things only.
How many blessed is there who has a lot of money, who is filthy rich but cannot enjoy any of this because of diseases or panic that struck him. You will see him not enjoying the delicious food or the sweet sleep; a lot complaining, a little thanking.
How many poor is there; destitute; who does not have the daily bread? Nevertheless he has a sound body; he is laughing and happy. He does not carry the burden of tomorrow’s sustenance. He is thanking his Lord, the Almighty.
Where is this person from that one?
Al-Hassan Al-Basri said, “The good which has no evil is: good health with gratitude, how many blessed there is who is ungrateful!”
My Muslim brother: let gratitude be one of your habits while you are looking into the blessings of Allah.
Know that sincere gratitude is accompanied by work; he is not a grateful person who thanks Allah by his tongue and disobeys Him by his limbs.
Where are you from the gratitude of the limbs?
It was reported from Mohamed ibn Ka’b Al-Qardhi that he said, “Thanking means working; as Allah almighty has said, {“Work you, O family of Dâwûd (David), with thanks!”} [Surat Saba’: 13]
{اعْمَلُوا آلَ دَاوُدَ شُكْراً} سورة سبأ: 13
Transliteration: iAAmaloo ala dawooda shukran
It means do something by which you thank Allah.”
Nasr ibn Mohamed As-Samarqandi said, “It is said: thanking has two faces; general and special. General thanking includes praising with the tongue and admitting the graces of Allah Almighty. As for the special thanking it includes praising with the tongue, acknowledging by the heart, serving by the limbs as well as preserving the tongue and the limbs from all the forbidden.”
O you who have reveled in the graces of Allah Almighty, this must include that you love the Bestower of such graces, that you truly obey Him, Glorified and Exalted, so that you will be giving Him His due thanks.
How strange it is that you see some of those heedless who used the blessings of Allah to disobey Him. Their state has become like the state of a slave to whom his lord has given money and blessed him with great good, and this slave has utilized this money to harm his master and antagonize him.
A man said to abu Hazim, “O Abu Hazim, what is the thanking of the eyes?”
He said, “If you see good you announce it and if you see evil you cover it.”
He said, “What is the thanking of the ears?”
Abu Hazim said, “If you hear the good you comprehend it and if you hear the evil you hide it.”
He said, “What is the thanking of the hands?”
Abu Hazim said, “Do not use them to take what does not belong to them and do not prevent a right of Allah in them.”
He said, “What is the thanking of the tummy?”
He answered, “That underneath it is food and above it is knowledge.”
He said, “What is the thanking of the private parts?”
He answered, “It is as Allah Almighty has said, {Except from their wives or (the slaves) that their right hands possess, - for then, they are free from blame ;} [Surat Al-Mu’minûn: 6]
{إِلا عَلَى أَزْوَاجِهِمْ أوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ غَيْرُ مَلُومِينَ} المؤمنون: 6
Transliteration: Illa AAala azwajihim aw ma malakat aymanuhum fainnahum ghayru maloomeena
He said, “What is the thanking of the legs?”
Abu Hazim said, “If you see someone alive whom you envy, you use them to do the same as his work, and if you see someone dead whom you hate you stop them from doing as he used to do. All that while you are grateful to Allah.”
As for this who thanks Allah by his tongue and not by the rest of his limbs, he is like the man who has a garment which he takes by the border but does not wear. The garment will not thus protect him from the heat, the cold, the snow or the rain.
My Muslim brother: gratitude for the graces is a protection from them being going away. It binds them against running away. In addition, ingratitude is a means of the disappearance of the graces.
Al-Hassan Al-Basri said, “Allah bestows His blessings upon whomever He wishes. If he does not praise for it, He turns it into torment. That is why they used to name gratitude the preserver; as it preserves the existing blessings. They also used to call it the bringer as it brings about lost blessings.”
‘Umar ibn Abdel-Aziz said, “Bind the graces of Allah Glorified and Exalted by praise to Allah Almighty.”
Some of the ancestors said, “Graces are wild, so bind them by thanks.”
It is from thanking for the graces to talk about them. This draws the attention of the listener to the graces of Allah Almighty.
The Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “Talking about the grace of Allah is thanking. Leaving it is disbelief. This, who does not thank for little, does not thank for much. He, who does not thank people, does not thank Allah. The congregation is a blessing, and dissention is torture.” [said to be Good by Albani]
«التحدث بنعمة الله شكر، و تركها كفر، و من لا يشكر القليل لا يشكر الكثير، و من لا يشكر الناس لا يشكر الله، و الجماعة بركة، و الفرقة عذاب» حسنه الألباني
My Muslim brother: notice also that thanking for the grace is connected to increasing it. Whoever thanks Allah Almighty for His graces He will give him more. The increase from Allah Almighty is the increase from the Rich (Free of all wants), the Owner of everything.
Allah Almighty has said, {And (remember) when your Lord proclaimed: “If you give thanks (by accepting Faith and worshipping none but Allâh), I will give you more (of My Blessings); but if you are thankless (i.e. disbelievers), verily My punishment is indeed severe.”} [Surat Ibrâhîm: 7]
{وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ لَئِنْ شَكَرْتُمْ لأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ وَلَئِنْ كَفَرْتُمْ إِنَّ عَذَابِي لَشَدِيدٌ} ابراهيم: 7
Transliteration: Waith taaththana rabbukum lain shakartum laazeedannakum walain kafartum inna AAathabee lashadeedun
Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, said to a man from Hamadân, “Verily, grace is joined to thanking, thanking is related to having more, both are united. So, Allah, Glorified and Exalted, will not cease to give more unless the slave of Allah ceases to thank.”
My Muslim Brother: the previous were the most important features of thanking Allah Almighty. The successful is the one who is blessed to having them, and who has been one of their people.
Hold yourself accountable; where are you from the degree of thanking? What is your share of this precious merchandise?
Observe the graces of Allah Almighty while they are flooding to you with a grateful eye. Do not use the grace of Allah in disobeying Him, the Almighty.
And ask Allah Almighty to help you thanking Him; that you may be amongst those who are grateful.
All praise and thanks be to Allah Almighty, and prayers and peace of Allah be upon the Prophet and upon all his family and companions.
Azhari Ahmed Mahmoud
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