Day 6 – Juz 6
Gratitude Protects Blessings
مِّنْهُ ۚ مَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ لِيَجْعَلَ عَلَيْكُم مِّنْ حَرَجٍۢ وَلَـٰكِن يُرِيدُ لِيُطَهِّرَكُمْ وَلِيُتِمَّ نِعْمَتَهُۥ عَلَيْكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
is not Allah’s Will to burden you, but to purify you and complete His favour upon you, so perhaps you will be grateful. (Quran 5:6)
Tonight, Allah reminds us that every blessing we enjoy is not random — it is rizq, provision deliberately chosen for us by Him.
Food, health, safety, family, faith, time, and even the ability to stand in Taraweeh tonight — none of these are entitlements. They are trusts.
Even the verse that instructs us to make Wudu, ends with a reminder to be grateful that Allah has made a system by which we get physically and spiritually clean five times a day.
Often, blessings do not disappear suddenly. They fade when gratitude fades. Don’t take the blessing of Allah for granted.
So what is gratitude?
Gratitude in Islam, or Shukr, is the conscious recognition, appreciation, and verbal/physical expression of thanks to Allah for all blessings, both big and small. It involves acknowledging that every good thing comes from Allah alone, using those blessings to please Him, and maintaining contentment during trials.
Key Aspects of Gratitude (Shukr) in Islam:
* Recognition of Allah as the Source: Believing in the heart that all blessings—life, health, sustenance—originate from Allah (Quran 16:53).
* Three Components of Gratitude:
1. Heart: Deep appreciation and inner contentment.
2. Tongue: Regularly praising Allah and thanking him, saying “Alhamdulillah” (All praise and thanks are for for Allah), and speaking positively.
3. Action: Using blessings (wealth, health, knowledge) in righteous deeds, obeying Allah’s commands, and helping others.
* Purpose of Gratitude:
* Increase in Blessings: The Quran promises that if you are grateful, Allah will increase your blessings (Quran 14:7).
* Protection from Ingratitude: It serves as a spiritual defense against arrogance, envy, and despair.
* Worship: It is a form of worship that brings one closer to Allah and earns His pleasure.
* Gratitude in Hardship: True Shukr includes being grateful even during challenges, recognizing that trials are tests and potential means of spiritual elevation.
So let’s ask ourselves a few questions honestly:
What blessing have I taken for granted?
Is it health?
A peaceful home?
Plenty of food?
Iman after confusion?
People who love us?
Another Ramadan?
Gratitude is not only saying Alhamdulillah with the tongue — it is seeing every blessing as a responsibility and trust:
•Eyes are a trusts and blessing so you can see but avoid what displeases Allah is a sign of gratitude
•Wealth is a gift from Allah not just for your own self but that benefits others.
•Time is a precious resource from Allah, must be spent wisely and best way to spend your time is in remembrance of Allah.
•Heart is a the central part of your being and the most precious gift of Allah, keeping it clean is a sign of gratitude, keeping it humble, free from rancour, envy and resentment.
The scholars said gratitude has three parts:
– recognition in the heart,
– praise on the tongue,
– and obedience through action.
So tonight, before you fall asleep leave, take a moment and thank Allah and praise Him for:
– Identify three blessings that you enjoy on a regular basis specifically and personally, and thank Him for them. Not generally. Not quickly. But consciously. Take your time like the Prophet of Allah used to.
Make gratitude your daily companion.
Gratitude will protect the blessings and ingratitude will lead you to destruction.
May Allah make us among those who recognise His gifts, preserve His blessings through gratitude, and meet Him with hearts full of praise.