Be grateful to Me and do not be ungrateful to Me ( لي و ال تكفرون (واشكروا Day 2 (شكر هللا ( gratitude? show (سبحانه وتعالى) How does Allah الرضا و الثواب و ( it is pleased with you, and He rewards and recompenses for (سبحانه وتعالى) Allah.(المكافأة (حقيقة الشكر ( Shukr Reality of.(الشعور بالنعمة ( blessings The reality of shukr is to feel the Types of people: (شاكر) There are those who feel the blessings grateful (كفورا) There are those who don t feel the blessings ungrateful ك فورا ( 3: Surah Al Insan ل و إ م ا ه د ي ن ه ٱلس ب ي إ م ا ا (Verily, We showed him the way, whether he be (إ ن ا grateful or ungrateful) Notice the words (شاكر) and (كفورا) are not the same weight, (شاكر) is not exaggerated, it s on the weight of (فاعل) so we can t do complete shukr whereas (كفورا) is exaggerated, so we re intensely not feeling the blessings, subhan Allah. (أكثر الناس ال يشكرون ( grateful Most people are not أ ل م ت ر إ ل ى ٱل ذ ي ن خ ر جوا م ن د ي ر ه م و ه م ألوف ح ذ ر ٱل م و ت ف ق ا ل ل هم ٱ لل موتوا ث م أ ح ي ه م إ ن ٱ لل ل ذو ف ض ل ( :243 Surah Al Baqarah not think of those who went forth (ﷺ (Did you O) Muhammad (ع ل ى ٱلن ا س و ل ك ن أ ڪ ث ر ٱلن ا س ل ي شڪرو ن from their homes in thousands, fearing death? Allâh said to them, "Die". And then He restored them to life. Truly, Allâh is full of Bounty to mankind, but most men thank not) They were afraid of death so they left their places, and Allah وتعالى) (سبحانه commanded for them to die and they died, subhan Allah. This shows you can t escape the decree. Then He made them come سبحانه ( Allah back to life, and this should make a person grateful. Most people are ungrateful because note, has so much favor upon us. We should be grateful when we re given life again. On a side (وتعالى the Prophet (ﷺ) said when there s a plague, people living within should not leave, and people outside should not come to that place. Surah Yunus :60 ( و م ا ظ ن ٱل ذ ي ن يفت رو ن ع ل ى ٱ لل ٱلڪ ذ ب ي و م ٱلق ي م ة إ ن ٱ لل ل ذو ف ض ل ع ل ى ٱلن ا س و ل ك ن أ ك ث ر ه م ل ي شكرو ن ) (And what think those who invent lie against Allâh, on the Day of Resurrection? Truly, Allâh is full of Bounty to mankind, but most of them are ungrateful) You will find most people are ungrateful because they re not feeling Allah s favor upon them. What is Allah s favor upon us here? We are doing sinning yet we re not being seized in punishment immediately. We have more good decrees befalling us than bad. On the Day of Judgement though all will be accounted. Page 1
و ٱت ب ع ت م ل ة ء اب ا ء ى إ ب ر ٲه ي م و إ س ح ق و ي ع قو ب م ا ك ا ن ل ن ا أ ن نش ر ك ب ٱ لل م ن ش ى ء ذ ٲل ك م ن ف ض ل ٱ لل ع ل ي ن ا و ع ل ى ( :38 Surah Yusuf (And I have followed the religion of my fathers, - Ibrahîm (Abraham), Ishâq ) ٱلن اس و ل ك ن أ ڪ ث ر ٱلن ا س ل ي شكرو ن (Isaac) and Ya'qûb (Jacob) [A.S.], and never could we attribute any partners whatsoever to Allâh. This is from the Grace of Allâh to us and to mankind, but most men thank not (i.e. they neither believe in Allâh, nor worship Him).) The theme of Surah Yusuf is to trust Allah s disposing of affairs. The favor here is to be guided and away from shirk. There was a lady whose husband was away and she would drive her children to the masjid everyday. Maybe the children didn t like it, but when will they appreciate it? When they re guided, then they ll appreciate I had a mother who took me step by step. We won t appreciate something until we lose it and we re not enjoying because we re hasty. We re hasty to eat, hasty to pray, hasty to shower, even hasty to sleep. Just as we need to chew food, not swallow it, we need to chew the blessings, subhan Allah. Allah وتعالى) (سبحانه is able to make the heavens and the earth in the blink of an eye, but He made it in six days. There s a process to everything and we need to enjoy every moment. Surah An Naml :73 ( و إ ن ر ب ك ل ذو ف ض ل ع ل ى ٱلن ا س و ل ك ن أ ڪ ث ر ه م ل ي شكرو ن ) ("Verily, your Lord is full of Grace for mankind, yet most of them do not give thanks.").(سبحانه وتعالى) We re not appreciating the nurturing of Allah ) ٱ لل ٱل ذ ى ج ع ل ل كم ٱل ي ل ل ت س كنوا ف ي ه و ٱلن ه ا ر مب ص ر ا إ ن ٱ لل ل ذو ف ض ل ع ل ى ٱلن ا س و ل ك ن أ ڪ ث ر ٱلن ا س ل ي شكرو ن ( :61 Surah Ghafir (Allâh, it is He Who has made the night for you that you may rest therein and the day for you to see. Truly, Allâh is full of Bounty to mankind, yet most of mankind give no thanks.) Allah وتعالى) (سبحانه made the night a time of rest, that s why it s dark, and the daytime is a time when everything is visible. Allah وتعالى) (سبحانه has favored us with day and night, but most people are ungrateful. We re ungrateful because morning comes and we want the night to come, and night و هو ٱل ذ ى ج ع ل ٱل ي ل و ٱلن ه ا ر خ لف ة ( 62: comes and we want morning to come, subhan Allah. Surah Al Furqan (And He it is Who has put the night and the day in succession, for such (ل م ن أ ر ا د أ ن ي ذ ڪ ر أ و أ ر ا د شڪور ا who desires to remember or desires to show his gratitude.) the changes of the day and night are in order to make you remember Allah وتعالى) (سبحانه or be grateful to Him, subhan Allah. (ما أسباب عدم الشعور بالنعمة ) blessings? What are the reasons for not feeling the 1. To see the blessing as a problem النعمة على انها نقمة) :(ينظرون for example children are a blessing but we don t appreciate it. Allah وتعالى) (سبحانه decreed this child to be with this mother, and this is the best, but the children want another mother and mothers want another child, subhan Allah. Even the problem that comes with the children is good for the child and good for you. We re also ungrateful for the maids at home; we have to know no one is perfect. Technology is a blessing and we re complaining. Knowledge is a great blessing, so we shouldn t complain about the technology, or where we re sitting. 2. Getting used to the blessing على النعمة) :(العتياد you get used to the husband and stop appreciating him. Page 2
3. Busy with the duniya بالدنيا) :(اإلنشغال we re always occupied. Ramadan has just finished and now you already have promotions for back to school. Even for clothes, it s summer and you already have the fall/winter collection. 4. Nature of the nafs النفس) :(طبيعة we have a greater tendency to be ungrateful, and even more so for women who tend to be unappreciative. We need to be cautious of our nafs because we have this trait. نس ن ل ظ لو م ڪ ف ا ر ( :34 Surah Ibrahim (And He gave you ) و ء ات ٮ كم م ن ڪ ل م ا س أ ل تموه و إ ن ت عدوا ن ع م ت ٱ لل ل تح صوه ا إ ن ٱإل of all that you asked for, and if you count the Blessings of Allâh, never will you be able to count them. Verily! man is indeed an extreme wrong-doer, - a disbeliever (an extreme ingrate, denies Allâh's Blessings by disbelief, and by worshipping others besides Allâh, and by disobeying Allâh and His Prophet (.(ﷺ Muhammad Allah وتعالى) (سبحانه gave us everything we asked Him for and this truly should make us ashamed. And we can t encompass all the blessings, yet still we re ungrateful. نس ن ك فورا ( 67: Surah Al Isra a (And ) و إ ذ ا م س كم ٱلضر ف ى ٱل ب ح ر ض ل م ن ت د عو ن إ ل إ ي اه ف ل م ا ن ج ٮ ك م إ ل ى ٱلب ر أ ع ر ض ت م و ك ان ٱإل when harm touches you upon the sea, those that you call upon vanish from you except Him (Allâh Alone). But when He brings you safe to land, you turn away (from Him). And man is ever ungrateful) When we face a problem, we turn to Allah وتعالى) (سبحانه and make dua a to Him and when He takes us out of the problem, we turn away from Allah وتعالى),(سبحانه istaghfar Allah. نس ن م ن ا ر ح م ة ث م ن ز ع ن ه ا م نه إ ن ه ۥ ل ي و س ڪ فو ر ( :9 Surah Hud (And if We give man a taste of Mercy ) و ل ٮ ن أ ذ قن ا ٱإل from Us, and then withdraw it from him, verily! he is despairing, ungrateful) When Allah وتعالى) (سبحانه gives a blessing, we taste some of its mercy, and if it s taken away what happens? We quickly despair. We need to tie the blessing with gratitude. One of the righteous predecessors said: Blessings are wild like a beast and you need to chain it with.(النعم وحشية فقيدوها بالشكر ( gratitude Hasan Al Basri, may Allah have mercy on him, said: Allah وتعالى) (سبحانه makes you enjoy a blessing ان هللا ليمت ( torment forever long He wills. If a person is not grateful for it then He will turn it into a names: He called gratitude these two.(بالنعمة ما شاء فإن لم يشكر عليها قلبها عذابا o Protector :(الحافظ) It s a protector for the blessings you have النعم الموجودة).(يحفظ You can protect these blessings until you die with gratitude. o Bringer :(الجالب) gratitude brings missing blessings, subhan Allah النعم المفقودة).(يجلب Sometimes we think if we don t have something then we don t need to be grateful. But we need to be و ( says: (سبحانه وتعالى) grateful to bring blessings we don t have, subhan Allah. Because Allah (if you are grateful then I will increase you). We really can t be heedless (لئن شكرتم ألزيدنكم from gratitude. 5. Society :(المجتمع) society can make us see something as not a blessing and make us ungrateful. 6. Calamities :(اإلبتالءات) calamities and problems can make us ungrateful. Allah Ash Shakir Ash Shakoor ( الشكور (الشاكر The Grateful, The Appreciative Page 3
Names of Allah Ash Shakir Ash Shakoor mentioned in the Quran: (الشاكر) Ash Shakir Surah An Nisa a :147 ( ي فع ل ٱ لل ب ع ذ اب ڪ م إ ن ش ك ر ت م و ء ام نت م و ك ان ٱ لل ش اڪ را ع ل يم ا (م ا (Why should Allâh punish you if you have thanked (Him) and have believed in Him. And Allâh is Ever All Appreciative (of good), All Knowing) Surah An Nisa a is about justice and in the previous ayat, Allah وتعالى) (سبحانه spoke about the punishment of the hypocrites. Does Allah وتعالى) (سبحانه benefit from punishing us? Of course not. What is the safeguard from punishment? Gratitude and faith. Whether you have something or not, just be grateful. When you re appreciating everything, then it motivates you to do more good deeds and to do ihsan. When someone is complaining then he won t move forward. Ingratitude weakens a person because it removes the energy from him. When you re grateful for everything, then you find yourself energized and doing more ihsan. The hypocrites do not remember Allah وتعالى) (سبحانه much, rather they re thinking about how they look like in front of the people. When Allah ( وتعالى (سبحانه punishes anyone, it s His justice, not to seek revenge or to benefit. Allah is Shakir He appreciates the (سبحانه وتعالى) appreciates your gratitude and faith. Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) little from you. A prostitute gave water to a dog and He appreciated it this act though she s a sinner. Allah وتعالى) (سبحانه appreciates the good more, what does He do with your punishment? Subhan Allah. Allah وتعالى) (سبحانه is Aleem He knows Who to appreciate from because He knows what s inside our hearts. For example, Allah وتعالى) (سبحانه appreciated the fear inside the magician s hearts and made them Muslim. At home we might not be appreciated, but when you know Allah is Ash Shakir Ash Shakoor He will appreciate your work when your intention is for Him. We like to be appreciated, but we should want appreciation from Allah وتعالى),(سبحانه not others. And think about the small things before the big things. Allah وتعالى) (سبحانه appreciates the small things which others don t, subhan Allah. There was a (سبحانه وتعالى) man who would do his obligations but he would give food to the orphans and Allah made him to die in the haram, subhan Allah. (الشكور) Ash Shakoor إ ن ٱل ذ ين ي تل ون ك ت ب ٱ لل و أ ق اموا ٱلص ل و ة و أ نف قوا م م ا ر ز ق ن هم س ر ا و ع ال ن ي ة ي ر جون ت ج ر ة ل ن ت بو ر )٩٢( ل يو ف ي هم ( :29-30 Surah Fatir (Verily, those who recite the Book of Allâh (this Qur'ân), and (أ جور هم و ي ز يد هم م ن ف ض ل ه ۦ إ ن ه ۥ غ ف ور ش ڪ ور )٠٣ ) perform As Salât (Iqâmat as Salât), and spend (in charity) out of what We have provided for them, secretly and openly, they hope for a (sure) trade gain that will never perish. (29) That He may pay them their wages in full, and give them (even) more, out of His Grace. Verily! He is Oft Forgiving, Most Ready to appreciate (good deeds and to recompense). (30)) They re constantly reciting the Quran, establishing the prayer, and giving zakat, but what s inside their heart? They re hoping this trade doesn t go to loss. Imagine Allah وتعالى) (سبحانه is giving us everything, He s giving us the shop, the materials, and when we make a profit, He doesn t want.(سبحانه وتعالى) anything from us, truly there is no one like Allah Page 4
Allah وتعالى) (سبحانه will give their reward in full and He will give more from His favors, subhan Allah. With Allah + 1 (سبحانه وتعالى) 1 doesn t equal 2. With Allah + 1,(سبحانه وتعالى) 1 equals infinity. Allah وتعالى) (سبحانه is Ghafoor for the shortcomings of our deeds, we need His forgiveness even for our good deeds. And He s Shakoor He greatly appreciates all that we do. ثم أ و ر ثن ا ٱل ك ت ب ٱل ذ ين ٱص ط ف ي ن ا م ن ع ب اد ن ا ف م ن هم ظ ال م ل ن ف س ه ۦ و م نہم مق ت ص د و م ن ہم س اب ق ب ٱل خ ي ر ٲت ب إ ذن ٱ لل ذ ٲل ك ( :32-34 Surah Fatir هو ٱل ف ض ل ٱلڪ ب ير )٠٩( ج ن ت ع د ن ي د خل ون ہ ا يح ل و ن ف يہ ا م ن أ س او ر م ن ذ ه ب و ل ؤ ل ؤ ا و ل ب اسہم ف يہ ا ح ر ير )٠٠( و ق الوا ٱل ح م د لل ٱل ذ ى (Then We gave the (Book the Qur'ân) as inheritance to such of Our ) أ ذ ه ب ع ن ا ٱل ح ز ن إ ن ر ب ن ا ل غ ف ور ش كور ٠٣( ) slaves whom We chose. Then of them are some who wrong their ownselves, and of them are some who follow a middle course, and of them are some who are, by Allâh's Leave, foremost in good deeds. That (inheritance of the Qur'ân), that is indeed a great grace. (32) 'Adn (Eden) Paradise (everlasting Gardens) will they enter, therein will they be adorned with bracelets of gold and pearls, and their garments there will be of silk. (33) And they will say: "All the praises and thanks are to Allâh, Who has removed from us (all) grief. Verily, our Lord is indeed Oft Forgiving, Most Ready to appreciate (good deeds and to recompense). (34)) There are people who take the book: o People doing sins but Allah وتعالى) (سبحانه will forgive their sins o Moderate: only doing the obligations (سبحانه وتعالى) it s only Allah ;(سبحانه وتعالى) o Foremost in doing deeds by the permission of Allah Who allows you to do good deeds. All of them will enter paradise, but have different levels. Notice their adornment is mentioned first before their clothes, they will have bracelets of gold and pearls. The people of paradise will say in paradise ( ٱل ح م د لل ٱل ذ ى أ ذ ه ب ع ن ا ٱل ح ز ن إ ن ر ب ن ا ل غ ف ور ش كور ) (All the praises and thanks are to Allâh, Who has removed from us (all) grief. Verily, our Lord is indeed Oft Forgiving, Most Ready to appreciate). They will mention the name of Allah Al Ghafoor Ash Shakoor in paradise. We need to live under these names. ل ٱل م و د ة ف ى ٱلق ر ب ى و م ن ي ق ت ر ف ( :23 Surah Shura ذ ٲل ك ٱل ذ ى يب ش ر ٱ لل ع ب اد ه ٱل ذ ي ن ء ام نوا و ع م لوا ٱلص ل ح ت قل ل أ س ل ك م ع ل ي ه أ ج را إ د ل ه ۥ ف يہ ا حس نا إ ن ٱ لل غ فو ر ش كور (That is (the Paradise) whereof Allâh gives glad tidings to His slaves ) ح س ن ة ن ز who believe (in the Oneness of Allâh Islâmic Monotheism) and do righteous good deeds. Say: "No reward do I ask of you for this except to be kind to me for my kinship with you." And whoever earns a good righteous deed, We shall give him an increase of good in respect thereof. Verily, Allâh is Oft- Forgiving, Most Ready to appreciate (the deeds of those who are obedient to Him).) Allah وتعالى) (سبحانه gives glad tidings to those who believe and do good deeds. When you do one small good deed, Allah ( وتعالى (سبحانه will multiply it 10 to 700 times. Allah وتعالى) (سبحانه is Ghafoor, forgiving us and Shakoor, appreciating the deeds. ش كور ح ل يم ( 17: Surah At Taghabun (If you lend Allâh a goodly (إ ن تق ر ضوا ٱ لل ق ر ضا ح س نا يض ع فه ل ك م و ي غ ف ر ل ك م و ٱ لل loan (i.e. spend in Allâh's Cause) He will double it for you, and will forgive you. And Allâh is Most Ready to appreciate and to reward, Most Forbearing) Page 5
If you lend a goodly loan to Allah وتعالى),(سبحانه though of course Allah وتعالى) (سبحانه doesn t need a (سبحانه وتعالى) loan, but it s to show He will reward you so much. When you give any sadaqah, Allah will multiply it and He will forgive you. Allah وتعالى) (سبحانه is Shakoor, He will appreciate it and multiply it. And He s Haleem, you might have sins but He s forbearing. His appreciation is connected with His forbearing we have sins though He s still appreciating us, subhan Allah. Unlike ourselves, our children might not be perfect, and if they do one small good thing, we don t appreciate it because we want them to be perfect, subhan Allah. May Allah وتعالى) (سبحانه forgive us. Ameen. In summary, the gratitude of Allah وتعالى) (سبحانه is linked to His knowledge, He forgives your sins, and He s still forbearing with your sins. Allah وتعالى) (سبحانه loves shukr and He called Himself Ash Shakir Ash Shakoor. May Allah وتعالى) (سبحانه make us grateful. Ameen. Page 6