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azeemarahman · 20 days

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It is the first night of Ramadan. Ali makes the same journey that he has for the past 22 years. He walks down the same streets, once filled with the night sounds of children laughing and women chatting, the scent of coffee wafting from cafes that stay open for suhoor, the sight of streetlights and dainty lamps and scattered stars, the feeling of moving along with the hustle and bustle of men rushing towards the call of the adhan. The same streets are now eerily silent, whispers of du’a barely audible, no sound of women or children, not enough men to form a crowd, no electricity to fuel the lights, the cafes and buildings crumbled to rubble and dust, the graveyard of a city that once came to life at night.

Ali prays Tarawih on the ruins of the mosque he grew up in.

It is the fifth night of Ramadan. Ali thinks back to the time he first entered this mosque. At four years old, he walked through the doors, his excitement contained within four stone walls. Rays of sun bounced off of tall windows, casting light onto Ali, running around in circles as his father prayed Asr. Ali remembers climbing onto his father’s back as he went down into sujood; he remembers his father putting his head down slower the second time; he remembers standing in front of his father, poking his head and waiting for him to finish; he remembers his father smiling at him and taking Ali into his arms as he completed his du’a; he remembers his father blowing the barakah of his du’as into his hands and blanketing Ali in that same barakah. He remembers his laughter as he did the same back to his father. He remembers the laughter of the other children ringing through the mosque’s four walls.

There are no longer walls to contain the sound, no longer children with any laughter.

It is the 12th night of Ramadan. Ali remembers being 15, in a circle of his friends as they learned the Qur’an. He remembers the giggles and whispers that passed when the teacher’s head was down. He remembers his cheeks flushing as the teacher caught him talking to his friends. He remembers every mistake he made when he first recited Surah Mulk by memory. He remembers his teacher’s sigh when he gave the same lecture for the hundredth time that day. He remembers seeing his teacher smile for the first time when he recited the Surah with no mistakes.

Ali attended the Janazah prayer of his teacher in this very mosque only three Ramadan’s ago.

It is the 14th night of Ramadan. Ali remembers being only 21 when he had his Nikkah. He remembers his cousin sisters decorating the entrance of the mosque. He remembers his mother cooking enough to feed an entire masjid full of worshippers. He remembers his father sitting him down and lecturing him on the responsibilities to come. He remembers the laugh that came after as he told him the blessings that were to follow. Ali remembers the smile that broke as his father told him how proud he was of him. He remembers his father blowing the breath of his du’as on him once more, just like the day he first entered the mosque. He remembers Fatima entering the mosque and thinking they were destined for one another, right down to their names. He remembers lifting her veil the moment they were officially wedded. He remembers their first hug, shy and small and sweet; he remembers wrapping his thobe around her; he remembers the first Salah he led her in and taking her by the hand to lead her out of the mosque, together this time.

Fatima hasn’t entered the mosque since she witnessed her sister being shot on the musallah that their mum gifted her.

It is the 17th night of Ramadan. Ali remembers being 23, rushing into the mosque with a smile just before Isha, exclaiming how Fatima had blessed him with a daughter. He remembers that despite the ongoing attacks, the hugs and smiles and tears and du’as were abundant among the brothers he prayed beside. He remembers looking forward to the day he could bring his daughter into the mosque and she could climb on his back the same way Ali used to climb on his father’s.

Ali’s daughter went missing from the mosque only two nights ago.

It is the 20th night of Ramadan. Ali remembers being 24 and opening his fast with his brother-in-law beside him. He remembers not having much for iftar, but at least having enough dates and bread to feed all of the worshippers that day.

The worshippers lessen as the genocide continues, and yet there is not enough bread to go around.

It is the 27th night of Ramadan. Ali remembers being 25, watching and being part of all the brothers immersed in their prayers and du’as during what may have been Laylatul Qadr. He remembers brothers praying for safe returns, for the healing of loved ones, for the protection of their Lord.

Ali was reluctant to lift his head from the rubble as he prayed for his daughter to come home.

It is Eid day. Ali enters the mosque to pray Eid Salah. He remembers how Ramadan always passes in the blink of an eye. He contemplates the first Ramadan he spent praying on the ruins of his local mosque instead of within its four walls. He ruminates over how the worshippers lessened and lessened from that first night of Tarawih. He remembers attending the Janazah of the ones who were at least blessed enough to be found. He dreads how this Eid prayer will be followed by Janazah prayer, after Janazah prayer, after Janazah prayer.

Ali begs Allah that none of those prayers are reserved for his daughter.

-azeemarahman

*please note this story is fiction.

[Translations:

Ramadan - the month when Muslims fast from the time of the dawn prayer to sunset.

Suhoor - the pre-dawn meal.

Adhan - the call to prayer.

Dư'a - supplication.

Tarawih - Sunnah prayer performed in Ramadan.

Asr - afternoon prayer.

Sujood - an action during prayer whereby the forehead is lowered to the ground.

Barakah - blessings.

Quran - the Holy Book of Islam.

Surah Mulk - 67th chapter of the Qur'an, meaning 'The Sovereignty'.

Surah - a chapter of the Qur'an.

Janazah - funeral.

Nikkah - Islamic marriage ceremony.

Masjid - mosque.

Thobe - traditional garment.

Salah - prayer.

Musallah - prayer mat.

Isha - night prayer.

Iftar - the meal in which Muslims open their fast.

Laylatul Qadr - the Night of Power.

Eid (ul-Fitr) - celebration at the end of Ramadan.]

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mirkobloom77 · 2 days

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‼️🇵🇸💚 In Gaza, one hundred memorisers of the Qur’an recited it whole in one sitting

🔸 Source: alburujpress

#palestine #free palestine #gaza #free gaza #israel #palestine news #jerusalem #tel aviv #quran #holy quran #islam #palestinian resistance #palestine resistance

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notetaeker · 29 days

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March 20, 2024 - Friday | Ramadan Challenge 10/30

Pictured: Migraine essentials and early blooms of the season. Alhamdulillah feeling better by the time of this post!

Taraweeh Tip: If you’re at the masjid, follow along with the recitation in your mus-haf. If you’re not sure where they’re up to, ask someone! If you’re praying at home, read from your qur’an! It’s not an obligatory prayer so you’re allowed to hold up your mushaf and read from there. Doing that instead of just speeding thru rakats with the same few juz amma surahs you usually read will make such a big difference trust me. Ofc this is advice to myself first and foremost 🌱

#notes #studyblr #studyspo #ramadanchallenge2024

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julaibib · 6 days

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Listening to Qur’an recitation regularly and keep repeating it helps you memorize the Qur’an,

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wrappedinamysteryy · 4 months

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HIGHLY REWARDING GOOD DEEDS ✨

1️⃣ Would You Like To Be Close To Allah?

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

"The closest that a person is to his Lord is when he is prostrating, so say a great deal of supplication (in this state)."

📚: Sahih Muslim 482 (1083)

2️⃣ Would You Like The Reward of Hajj?

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said:

"Perform Umrah in the month of Ramadan as it is equivalent to Hajj or Hajj with me (in reward)."

📚: Sahih Bukhari 1863

3️⃣ Would You Like A Home In Paradise?

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

"Whoever builds a mosque in which the Name of Allah is mentioned, Allah will build a house for him in Paradise."

📚: Sunan Ibn Majah 735 | Sahih

4️⃣ Would You Like To Achieve The Pleasure of Allah (س��حانه و تعالى)?

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said:

"Allah is pleased with His servant who eats some food and then praises Him for it (says Alhamdulillah - Praise be to Allah) or who drinks some drink and then praises Him for it (says Alhamdulillah)."

📚: Sahih Muslim 2734 (6932)

5️⃣ Would You Like Your Duaa To Be Answered?

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said:

"The supplication made between the adhan and the iqamah is not rejected."

📚: Sunan Abi Dawud 521 | Sahih

6️⃣ Would You Like The Reward For Fasting A Complete Month Written For You?

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

"Fasting for three days during the month is like fasting, the whole of the month."

📚: Sahih Muslim 1159 (2736)

7️⃣ Would You Like To Have Good Deeds The Size of Mountains?

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said:

"(A believer) who accompanies the funeral procession of a Muslim out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah's reward and remains with it till the funeral prayer is offered and the burial ceremonies are over, he will return with a reward of two Qirats. Each Qirat is like the size of the (Mount) Uhud. He who offers the funeral prayer only and returns before the burial will return with the reward of one Qirat only."

📚: Sahih Bukhari 47

8️⃣ Would You Like To Accompany The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) In Paradise?

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said:

"I and the one who looks after an orphan will be like this in Paradise." showing his middle and index fingers and separating them.

📚: Sahih Bukhari 5304

9️⃣ Would You Like That Your Actions Continue After Your Death?

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

"When a person dies, his deeds are cut off except for three: Continuing charity, knowledge that others benefited from, and a righteous son (child) who supplicates for him."

📚: Jami at-Tirmidhi 1376 | Sahih

1️⃣0️⃣ Would You Like A Gem From The Gems of Paradise?

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said:

"Shall I not tell you of a treasure which is one of the treasures of Paradise?"

He (ﷺ) said: "La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah (There is no power and no strength except with Allah)."

📚: Sunan Ibn Majah 3825 | Sahih

1️⃣1️⃣ Would You Like The Reward of Praying The Whole Night?

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

"Whoever prays Isha in congregation, it is as if he spent half the night in prayer, and whoever prays Subh (Fajr) in congregation, it is as if he spent the whole night in prayer."

📚: Sahih Muslim 656 (1491)

1️⃣2️⃣ Would You Like The Reward of Reciting One-Third of The Qur’an?

The Prophet (ﷺ) said to his companions: "Is it difficult for any of you to recite one-third of the Qur'an in one night?"

This suggestion was difficult for them so they said: "Who among us has the power to do so, O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)?"

Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) replied: "Allah (the) One, the Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need.' (Surat Al-Ikhlas 112:1-4) is equal to one-third of the Qur'an."

📚: Sahih Bukhari 5015

1️⃣3️⃣ Would You Like That Your Scale Is Very Heavy With Reward?

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said:

"(The following are) two words (sentences or utterances) that are very easy for the tongue to say, and very heavy in the balance (of reward), and most beloved to the Gracious Almighty (Allah):

« سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ، سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ الْعَظِيمِ »

(Glory and praise is to Allah, Glory is to Allah The Most Great)."

📚: Sahih Bukhari 6682

1️⃣4️⃣ Would You Like That Allah Increases Your Provisions?

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said:

"Whoever would like his rizq (provision) to be increased and his life to be extended, should uphold the ties of kinship."

📚: Sahih Bukhari 5986

1️⃣5️⃣ Would You Like To Have A House In Paradise?

Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said:

"Whoever is regular with twelve Rak'ah of Sunnah (prayer), Allah will build a house for him in Paradise.

Four Rak'ah before Zuhr (and) two Rak'ah after it, two Rak'ah after Maghrib, two Rak'ah after Isha and two Rak'ah before Fajr."

📚: Jami at-Tirmidhi 414 | Hasan

1️⃣6️⃣ Would You Like That Allah Protects You?

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said:

"Whoever prays the Fajr prayer then he is under the protection of Allah.."

📚: Sahih Muslim 657 (1494)

1️⃣7️⃣ Would You Like Allah To Send Salat (Blessings) Upon You?

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said:

"Whoever sends Salah (Graces, Honours, Blessings and Mercy, etc.) upon me once, Allah will send Salah upon him tenfold, and will erase ten sins from him, and will raise him ten degrees in status."

📚: Sunan an-Nasa'i 1298 | Sahih

1️⃣8️⃣ Would You Like Allah To Increase Your Honor And Raise Your Status?

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said:

"Charity does not decrease wealth, no one forgives another except that Allah increases his honour, and no one humbles himself for the sake of Allah except that Allah raises his status."

📚: Sahih Muslim 2588 (6592)

1️⃣9️⃣ Would You Like To Be Distant From The HellFire By Seventy Years?

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said:

"Whosoever observes fast for one day in Allah's Cause (to seek His good pleasure), Allah will keep his face away from the (Hell) Fire (a distance covered by a journey of) seventy years."

📚: Sahih Bukhari 2840

2️⃣0️⃣ Would You Like To Enter Paradise?

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said:

"Whoever offers the two cool prayers ('Asr and Fajr) will enter Paradise."

📚: Sahih Bukhari 574

#islam #muslim #islamic reminders #islamic quotes #islamicreminder #islamic

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lughatul-qurania · 7 months

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The pillars of the prayer are humility and presence of heart, together with the recitation of the Qur’an and the remembrance of Allah with comprehension.

#islamic #quran #duaa #hadith #muslim

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aysufs · 4 months

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Al-‘Allamah Ibn Baz رحمه الله said:

“The one who listens to the Qur’an

shares with the reciter a hasanah (good deed) for every letter

and every hasanah is worth ten times its like.”

Nur alad-Darb 26/350

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sabrgirl · 1 year

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ramadan series: ramadan for women on their periods ♡

sometimes, it can be disheartening when we're on our period during ramadan - especially if during the last 10 days of ramadan - and it may feel like we are missing out on the blessings as we cannot fast or pray. however, there are other things we can do to take part and it is important to plan what you will do on these days in advance.

some things you can do are:

sit and talk to Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ

one of my favourite things to do is just talk to Allah, whether I'm sitting down or walking around. He is always there listening, so why not talk to Him like He is your Friend? ask for what you would ask for during salah, have a conversation and pour out your heart as though you were in sujood - except now, you're just talking with him outside of prayer! this is a great way to boost your connection and relationship with Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ .

gain islamic knowledge

there are many ways to do this such as: - reading an islamic book - watching islamic lectures / videos - listening to islamic podcasts

study surahs

if you type in 'tafsir surah _____' on youtube, there are videos out there that can help you understand surahs in more depth and learn lessons from them. someone on youtube said why not study Surah Maryam to learn about an important woman during this time and get inspiration from her!

there are many resources to study the commentary of the Qur'an online that you can read, too.

eat healthily and regain nourishment

this is a time to eat healthily and drink lots of water to rejuvenate your body and have a break before you fast again. cook and eat healthier recipes to help get your energy up so that when you do fast again, you are able to do so better Insha’Allah.

increased dhikr

make a plan for yourself. for example - maybe you'll want to recite istighfar and subhanallah x250 times during salah times so that, although you can’t pray at the moment, you are still remembering Allah during prayer times and gaining blessings.

perhaps you can even wake up at Tahajjud or Fajr time and do dhikr then, to remember Him during the early hours when you would usually wake up to fast and pray.

you can recite Durood Sharif as soon as you wake up or when you’re about to go to sleep

learn names of Allah and invoke Him with them during du’as.

listen to the Qur'an

we may not be able to physically touch and read the Qur'an Mushaf during this time, but we can still listen to it, alhamdulillah. play it aloud and listen to it throughout the day as you cook, study, go for a walk, etc. there are many playlists of the Holy Qur'an on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.

you can also read it on your devices (phones, laptops), as you are not physically touching the Mushaf, and can download PDFs of the Qur’an too.

do charitable acts

increase your charity and pay sadaqah, give to the poor, have a little sadaqah box, make iftar for the homeless or for neighbours or family and friends.

rest!

our bodies go through different things during our periods and different women experience different symptoms. aside from doing good deeds, make sure to also listen to your body and take care of your physical and mental health too. this can also help get your energy levels up to fast again after, Insha’Allah, and is also counted as a good deed as you will be taking care of yourself!

don't forget that good deeds are multiplied during ramadan, alhamdulillah, so don't fret when you get your period. Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ can and will still be pleased with you and your acts and answer your du'as.

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uma1ra · 10 months

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Sunnah’s to Follow on the First Ten Days of Dhul-Hijjah

The first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are the most virtuous days of the year, in which Allah (swt) has blessed his Ummah with opportunities to multiply their rewards through His infinite mercy. These days are so sacred that Allah swears an oath by them:‘By the dawn; by the ten nights’ [The Noble Qur’an, 89:1-2].

And Allah also reminds us: ‘Remember Allah during the appointed days’. [The Noble Qur’an, 2:203]

Therefore, we should increase our acts of worship during this sacred time. The Prophet (saw) said, ‘There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than in these (ten) days’. [Abu Dawud]

Here are nine Sunnah actions you should follow to seek Allah’s forgiveness and maximise your reward during the best ten days of the year:

Dhikr

Let’s begin with a simple yet effective action - increasing your dhikr. In Makkah, the Talbiyah will be on every pilgrim’s tongue throughout the day and night; those at home have also been commanded to praise Allah constantly in these ten days.

The Eid takbeer is an example of dhikr that ticks all three of these boxes - tahleel, takbeer and tahmeed.

You can also make dhikr after your five daily prayers - SubhanAllah 33 times, Alhamdulillah 33 times, and Allahu Akbar 34 times.

Reciting SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi (Glory be to Allah and praise Him) one hundred times a day will wipe away sins - no matter how burdensome they are.

These simple measures will ensure you are remembering Allah throughout the day and benefitting from the blessings of Dhul-Hijjah.

Fast the first nine days

It is Sunnah to fast on the first nine days of Dhul-Hijjah, because fasting is one of the best of deeds. In a hadith Qudsi, Allah says, ‘All the deeds of the son of Adam are for him, except fasting, which is for Me and I shall reward for it’. [Bukhari]

If you are unable to fast for the whole nine days, try to fast on just the Day of ’Arafah, the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah. Just as Laylat al-Qadr is the most blessed night of the year, ’Arafah is the most blessed day of the year. The Prophet (saw) said, ’There is no day on which Allah frees more people from the Fire than on the day of ‘Arafah’. (Muslim)

Like Laylat al-Qadr, we should spend this day seeking forgiveness and availing ourselves of Allah’s incredible mercy. On this day, non-pilgrims have the opportunity to extinguish the sins of two years by fasting! The Prophet (saw) said, ′It (fasting on the Day of ‘Arafah) expiates the sins of the past year and the coming year’. [Muslim]

The Eid takbeer is an example of dhikr that ticks all three of these boxes - tahleel, takbeer and tahmeed.

You can also make dhikr after your five daily prayers - SubhanAllah 33 times, Alhamdulillah 33 times, and Allahu Akbar 34 times.

Reciting SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi (Glory be to Allah and praise Him) one hundred times a day will wipe away sins - no matter how burdensome they are.

These simple measures will ensure you are remembering Allah throughout the day and benefitting from the blessings of Dhul-Hijjah.

Fast the first nine days

Give Sadaqah

Many of us maximise our Sadaqah during the last ten nights of Ramadan, but the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are just as valuable and present the perfect opportunity to earn extra rewards for simple good deeds!

Hasan al-Basri (rh) said, ‘Going to fulfil the need of your brother is better for you than performing Hajj after Hajj’.

Helping our brothers and sisters in need is one of the acts most beloved to Allah and we have the perfect tool to help you maximise your rewards over the blessed days of Dhul-Hijjah. The Best 10 Days allows you to automate your donations to five emergency locations, including Yemen and Syria, providing food, clean water and medical supplies to suffering families.

Repent

Hajj is the ultimate act of worship we can perform as Muslims to seek forgiveness from Allah and expiate our sins, but most of us are lucky if we can go even once in our lifetime. That is why Dhul-Hijjah is the perfect gift from Allah, allowing us to repent and seek forgiveness for our sins even if we are not on pilgrimage.

Repentance brings us closer to Allah and cleanses our souls. Allah says:

‘Seek forgiveness of your Lord and repent to Him, [and] He will let you enjoy a good provision for a specified term and give every doer of favour his favour’. [The Noble Qur’an, 11:3]

Pray Eid Salah

Eid Salah is one of the ways we show our Islamic identity as a community and is therefore a very important act of worship for all Muslims to partake in. The Prophet (saw) always attended Eid Salah, as did his companions after he had passed away. He encouraged everyone to attend, even menstruating women - who are unable to perform the prayer itself but can still share in the blessings of this gathering.

Give a Prophetic Qurbani

Abu Talhah (ra) reported, ‘The Prophet (saw) sacrificed for the one who could not sacrifice from his Ummah, one who bore witness to the Oneness of Allah and [his] Prophethood’. [Tabarani and Ahmad]

During Eid, the Prophet (saw) would offer an additional sacrifice on behalf of someone in his Ummah that could not afford to. Allah says, ‘There has come to you a Messenger of Allah from among yourselves, who is distressed by the losses you sustain, who is ardently desirous of your welfare and is tender and merciful to those that believe’. [The Noble Qur’an, 9:128]

SubhanAllah, this generous act of our beloved Messenger of Allah is an incredible example of His mercy to His Ummah that Allah refers to in the above ayah, to sacrifice for his Ummah and cover them till the Day of Judgement.

You too can follow this beautiful Sunnah and give an extra Qurbani to maximise your reward during Dhul-Hijjah. Not only will you be reviving a forgotten Sunnah, but you will be also doubling your impact by feeding even more families a rare meal with meat during the days of Eid-al-Adha.

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tawakkull · 6 months

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ISLAM 101: Spirituality in Islam: Part 166

Shukr (Thankfulness)

Literally meaning gladness felt about and gratitude shown for the good done to one, Sufis use shukr to mean using one’s body, abilities, feelings, and thoughts bestowed upon one to fulfill the purpose of his or her creation: being thankful to the Creator for what He has bestowed. Such thankfulness is to be reflected in the person’s actions or daily life, in speech and in the heart, by admitting that all things are directly from Him, and by feeling gratitude for them.

One may thank God verbally by only depending upon His power and strength, as well as upon His bestowal or withholding of favors, and acknowledging that all good and bounties come from Him. As He alone creates all good, beauty, and bounty, as well as the means by which they can be obtained, only He sends them at the appropriate time.

Since He alone determines, apportions, creates, and spreads [all our provisions] before us as “heavenly tables,” He alone deserves our gratitude and thanks. Attributing our attainment of His bounties to our own or to another’s means or causes, in effect thereby proclaiming that He is not the true Owner, Creator, and Giver of all bounty, is like giving a huge tip to the servant who lays before us a magnificent table and ignoring the host who is responsible for having it prepared and sent to us. Such an attitude reflects sheer ignorance and ingratitude, as mentioned in: They know only the outward face of the life of the world (apparent to them), and they are completely unaware of (its face looking to) the Hereafter (30:7).

True thankfulness in one’s heart is manifested through the conviction and acknowledgment that all bounties are from God, and then ordering one’s life accordingly. One can thank God verbally and through one’s daily life only if personally convinced, and if one willingly acknowledges that his or her existence, life, body, physical appearance, and all abilities and accomplishments are from God, as are all of the bounties obtained and consumed. This is stated in: Do you not see that God has made serviceable unto you whatsoever is in the skies and whatsoever is in the earth, and has loaded you with His bounties seen or unseen? (31:20), and: He gives you of all that you ask Him; and if you reckon the bounties of God, you can never count them (14:34).

Bodily thankfulness is possible by using one’s organs, faculties, and abilities for the purposes for which they were created, and in performing the duties of servanthood falling on each. On the other hand, some have stated that verbal thankfulness means daily recitation of portions of the Qur’an, prayers, supplications, and God’s Names. Thankfulness by the heart means that one is certain or convinced of the truth of the Islamic faith and straightforwardness. Practical or bodily thankfulness, according to others, means observing all acts of worship. Since thankfulness relates directly to all aspects or branches of belief and worship, it is regarded as half of the faith. With respect to this inclusiveness, it is considered together with patience, meaning that according to some people, thankfulness and patience are considered as the two halves of religious life.

In His eternal Speech, God Almighty repeatedly commands thankfulness and, as in the phrases so that you may give thanks (2:52) and God will reward the thankful (3:144), presents it as the purpose of creation and of sending religion. In such verses as: If you are thankful I will add more unto you. But if you show ingratitude My punishment is terrible indeed (14:7), He has promised abundant reward to the thankful and threatened the ungrateful with a terrible punishment. One of His own Names is the All-Thanking, which shows us that the way to obtain all bounties or favors is through thankfulness, which He returns with abundant reward. He exalts the Prophets Abraham and Noah, upon them be peace, saying: (Abraham was) thankful for His bounties (16:121) and Assuredly, he (Noah) was a grateful servant (17:3).

Although thankfulness is a religious act of great importance and significant “capital,” few people truly do it: Few of My servants are thankful (34:13). Very few people live in full awareness of the duty of thankfulness, saying: Shall I not be a servant grateful (to my Lord)?, and try their best to perform their duty of thankfulness and order their lives accordingly.

The glory of humanity, upon him be peace and blessings, whose soles swelled because of his long supererogatory prayer vigils (tahajjud), was a matchless hero of thankfulness. On one occasion, he told his wife ‘A’isha: Shall I not be a servant grateful to God? He always thanked God and recommended thankfulness to his followers, and prayed to God every morning and evening, saying: O God. Help me mention You, thank You, and worship You in the best way possible.114

Thankfulness is the deep gratitude and devotion of one who, receiving His bounties or favors, directs these feelings toward the One Who bestows such blessing, and the subsequent turning to Him in love, appreciation, and acknowledgment. The above Prophetic saying expresses this most directly.

People are thankful for many things: the provisions, home, and family with which they have been favored; wealth and health; belief, knowledge of God, and the spiritual pleasures bestowed on them; and the consciousness with which God favored them so they could open themselves to the knowledge that they must be thankful. If those who are thankful for such a consciousness use their helplessness and destitution as “capital” and thank Him continuously, they will be among the truly thankful. It is narrated from God’s Messenger, upon him be peace and blessings, that

The Prophet David, upon him be peace, asked God Almighty: O Lord. How can I be thankful to You, since thanking You is another favor that requires thankfulness? The Almighty responded: Just now you have done it.

I think this is what is expressed in: We have not been able to thank You as thanking You requires, O All-Thanked One.

One can be thankful by recognizing and appreciating Divine favors, for feeling gratitude to the One Who bestows favors depends to a great extent on due recognition and appreciation of them. Belief and Islam (including the Qur’an) lead one to recognize and appreciate favors and thus turn to God in gratitude. One can be more aware of these favors, and that they are given to us by God out of His mercy for our helplessness and inability to meet our own needs, in the light of belief and Islamic practices. This awareness urges us to praise the One Who bestows upon us those favors and bounties that we consume. Awakening to the meaning of: As for the favor of Your Lord, proclaim it (93:11), we feel a deep need to be grateful and thankful.

Everyone is naturally inclined to praise the good and the one who does good to him or her. However, until this feeling is aroused there is no awareness of being favored by someone else, just as fish are not conscious of living in water. Furthermore, these favors may be attributed to the means and causes used to obtain them. If it is blindness and deafness not to see and appreciate the favors we continuously receive, then it must be an unforgivable deviation to attribute them to various blind, deaf, and unfeeling means and causes. The Prophetic statements: One who does not thank for the little does not thank for the abundant, and: One who does not thank people does not thank God, express blindness and deafness to favors and remind us of the importance of being thankful. Such verses as: Mention Me so that I will mention you, and give thanks to Me and do not be ungrateful to Me (2:152), and: Worship Him and give Him thanks (29:17) tell us that it is God Who truly deserves to be thanked, and also remind us of His absolute Unity.

Thankfulness can be divided into three categories. The first category consists of thankfulness for those things that everyone, regardless of religion or spiritual attainment, desires. The second category consists of thankfulness for those things that, although apparently disagreeable or displeasing, reveal their true nature to those who can see them as favors requiring gratitude.

The third category of thankfulness is that kind performed by those who are loved by God and view favors or bounties from the perspective of the One Who bestows them. They spend their lives in spiritual pleasure that begins in observing God’s manifestation of Himself through His favors, and take the greatest pleasure in worshipping Him. Although they are always enraptured with the spiritual delight flowing from their love of Him, they are extremely careful of their relationship with Him. Such people constantly strive to preserve the Divine blessings that have been bestowed upon them, and always search for what they have missed. While they constantly deepen their belief, love, and gratitude along the way toward Him, the “nets of their sight” are filled with different blessings and gifts.

O God! Include us among Your servants whom You love, have made sincere, and have brought unto You. Grant peace and blessings to our Master, the Master of those loved, made sincere, and brought near unto You.

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