‘…and be among the grateful’

A journey through the Qur’an about the significance of being grateful..

The Qur’an has mentioned many verses regarding being grateful to Allah, and nears 75 times. It is a leading trait of the believers and defines them. Allah ordered His Prophet, Mohammed, salah allahu ‘alayi wa salam, to be grateful. Allah said, ‘Rather, worship [only] Allah and be among the grateful’ [39:66]

Subhanna Allah, and he was the most grateful of Allah’s creation - salah allahu ‘alayhi wa salam. He would wake up at night to pray, and ‘Aisha would him ask why as Allah has forgiven him of all his sins. So he told her that he wanted to be thankful slave.

Allah mentions in the Qur’an specifically how grateful His Prophet’s were, and it is one of leading attributes mentioned in them. Allah says that Ibrahim, ‘alayhi asalam, was a nation by himself and that he was surely grateful. Allah says, ‘[He was] grateful for His favors. Allah chose him and guided him to a straight path’ [16:121]. When Allah spoke of Nooh, ‘alayhi asalam, He said, ‘O descendants of those We carried [in the ship] with Noah. Indeed, he was a grateful servant.’ [17:3]

Look at what happened to the tribe of Lut, ‘alayhi asalam, when they transgressed against Allah and His Prophet. Allah destroyed his tribe but saved him and those who were thankful. Allah says, ‘Indeed, We sent upon them a storm of stones, except the family of Lot – We saved them before dawn, As favor from us. Thus do We reward he who is grateful‘ [54:34/35]

Sulaiman, ‘alayhi asalam, remembered this when he saw the throne of Bilqis in front of him, and the blessings of Allah only reminded him of the test of being thankful. Allah says, ‘And when [Sulaiman] saw it placed before him, he said, “This is from the favor of my Lord to test me whether I will be grateful or ungrateful. And whoever is grateful – his gratitude is only for [the benefit of] himself. And whoever is ungrateful – then indeed, my Lord is Free of need and Generous.’ [27:40]

What did Allah order Prophet Dawood, ’alayhi asalam, out of all things? Allah says, ‘”Work, O family of David, in gratitude.” And few of My servants are grateful.’ [34:13] Since few of us are grateful, Allah takes His slaves who are in high regards.

Look closely how the Shaytan describes those he attempts to lead astray and abandon Allah. ‘[Satan said] ‘Then I will come to them from before them and from behind them and on their right and on their left, and You [i.e., Allaah] will not find most of them grateful [to You].”‘ [7:17] He told Allah that most of whom he misguides are ungrateful slaves.

Being grateful was the path of the righteous Prophets, Messengers, and all of Allah’s righteous slaves. Allah ordered everyone without exception to be grateful of His gifts, Allah says, ‘So remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful to Me and do not deny Me’ [2:152]. Allah also reminds us why we should be grateful, Allah says, ‘And Allah has extracted you from the wombs of your mothers not knowing a thing, and He made for you hearing and vision and intellect that perhaps you would be grateful.’ [16:78] What about the abundance of food and wealth He has given us? Allah says, ‘Then eat of what Allah has provided for you [which is] lawful and good. And be grateful for the favor of Allah , if it is [indeed] Him that you worship. [16:114].

Being grateful to Allah gives us both the best in this life and the hereafter. It increases our sustenance and provisions, Allay says, ’..but Allah will reward the grateful.‘ [3:144] -‘And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, ‘If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor] [14:7], in another verse, Allah says, ‘So seek from Allah provision and worship Him and be grateful to Him. To Him you will be returned.” [29:17]. It will also save the believers from the punishent of the hereafter, Allah says, ‘What would Allah do with your punishment if you are grateful and believe? And ever is Allah Appreciative and Knowing’ [4:147].

Therefore, we have a great test in front of us today. It is whether we end up being grateful to Allah or not. Allah says, ‘Indeed, We guided him to the way, be he grateful or be he ungrateful’ [76:3]. The condition of Allah’s approval is dependent upon how grateful we are, Allah says, ‘If you disbelieve – indeed, Allah is Free from need of you. And He does not approve for His servants disbelief. And if you are grateful, He approves it for you.’ [37:9] Allah surely knows whom of us are grateful to Him and those who are not, Allah says, ‘And thus We have tried some of them through others that they [i.e., the disbelievers] might say, ‘Is it these whom Allaah has favored among us?’ Is not Allaah most knowing of those who are grateful?‘ [6:53].

We’ll conclude with the du’aa of Sulaiman, ‘alayhi asalam, ‘”My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to do righteousness of which You approve. And admit me by Your mercy into [the ranks of] Your righteous servants.” [27:19].