What Is the Best Way to Express Our Gratitude to Allah?
Answered by Shaykh Bassem Itani
Question
What is the best way to express our gratitude to Allah?
Answer
Gratitude to Allah Almighty in your life only arises from your love for Him (Most High). Contemplating Allah’s benevolence towards you, His favors, and His gifts of life, faith, health, well-being, security, provision, and countless blessings obliges you to love Him because souls are naturally inclined to love those who do good to them. And this love should be translated into gratitude with your heart, your tongue, and your limbs.
True Gratitude
True gratitude to Allah (Most High) requires His divine facilitation, and thus a servant asks Allah to aid him in being grateful to be successful in expressing it. We notice that the Prophet – peace and blessings be upon him – taught us through the Companions – may Allah be pleased with them – to pray after every Salah (prayer), asking Allah’s help in expressing gratitude. It has been narrated from Mu‘adh ibn Jabal that the Messenger of Allah – peace and blessings be upon him – took his hand and said: “O Mu‘adh, by Allah, I love you, by Allah, I love you. I advise you, O Mu‘adh, do not fail to say at the end of every prayer: “O Allah, help me in remembering You, in expressing gratitude to You, and in worshipping You well.’” [Abu Dawud]
Expressing Gratitude
The servant expresses gratitude to Allah Almighty in three ways:
- The Heart: The heart must acknowledge and feel the value of Allah’s blessings bestowed upon His servant, recognizing them without denying or disregarding that they come solely from the Benefactor with no partners. Allah Almighty says: “Whatever blessing you have are from Allah” [Quran, 16:53].
- The Tongue: Praising the true Benefactor with the tongue for the countless blessings He has bestowed. Whenever you contemplate and remember a specific blessing, praise Allah for it, as this will be a source of Allah’s pleasure. The Messenger of Allah – peace and blessings be upon him – said: “Indeed, Allah is pleased with the servant who eats a meal and praises Him for it, or drinks a drink and praises Him for it.” [Muslim]
- The Limbs: The servant uses his limbs in obeying Allah and worshipping Him, and in everything that pleases the Benefactor, glorified be He, and avoids what Allah has forbidden of sins and wrongdoings. Allah Almighty says: “(We ordered:) ‘Work gratefully, O family of David!’ (Only) a few of My servants are (truly) grateful.” [Quran, 34:13] This means Allah commanded them to be grateful for His blessings by obeying Him through their actions.
Embodiment
The practical embodiment of gratitude is exemplified in the personality of the Noble Messenger – peace and blessings be upon him.
‘Aisha reported that when Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) occupied himself in prayer, he observed such a (long) qiyam (posture of standing in prayer) that his feet were swollen. ‘Aisha asked:
“O Messenger of Allah, why do you do this when Allah has forgiven your past and future sins?” He replied: “O ‘Aisha, should I not be a grateful servant?” [Muslim]
Remains Short
No matter how much a believer thanks and praises Allah, and no matter how much he extols His praises, he cannot fully express Allah’s deserving praise and remains short of reaching the level of gratitude that Allah Almighty deserves.
Therefore, the Messenger of Allah – peace and blessings be upon him – taught us a supplication in this regard, saying:
”اللَّهُمَّ إني أَعُوذ بِرِضَاك من سَخَطِك، وبِمُعَافَاتِكَ من عُقُوبَتِكَ، وأعُوذ بِك مِنْك، لا أُحْصِي ثَناءً عليك أنت كما أَثْنَيْتَ على نفسك“
“O Allah, I seek refuge with Your pleasure from Your wrath, and in Your forgiveness from Your punishment, and I seek refuge in You from You. I cannot enumerate praise for You; You are as You have praised Yourself.” [Muslim]
All praise is to Allah, Lord of the worlds,
And Allah is the One who grants success in expressing His gratitude.
[Shaykh] Bassem Itani
