Shukr & Gratitude

“Let us discuss the subject of knowledge which leads us to understanding purpose itself. The Creator, al-Khaliq, creates. His work is to constantly create. He is constantly creating, in a never ending cycle, increasing His creation. Everything around us which we can observe, and that which we cannot observe, is constantly increasing by the Almighty Creator, al-Khaliq, from each blade of grass, to the branches of the trees, to the water in the oceans, the gold formed in the earth, the hair on our body, and even the nails on our fingers. He is constantly creating without halt, increasing His creation. As such, we can comfortably agree, Allah’s work is to increase. Now let us look at religion, Din. The very purpose of the Shariah, which forms true religion is the recognition of al-Khaliq, The Creator. Let us dive deeper in this ocean! The purpose of recognition of al-Khaliq, is to acknowledge Him. The very purpose of acknowledging al-Khaliq is to reach Maqam al-Ihsan, or to be able to worship in deep gratitude al-Khaliq as if you ‘see’ Him constantly. The very purpose of ‘seeing’ Him constantly is to observe Him working, carrying out His work of constantly increasing His creation in every breath they take and more. The very purpose of observing al-Khaliq constantly work, is to acknowledge it and render to Him constant gratitude for it. “It is He Who brought you forth from the wombs of your mothers when you knew nothing; and He gave you hearing and sight and intelligence and affection: that you may give thanks (to Allah)”(16:78). “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) The very purpose of giving Him thanks, gratitude is to allow Him to do His work of constant increase, creation. “And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, ‘If you are grateful, I will surely increase you; but if you are ungrateful, indeed, My punishment is severe.’ ” (14:7) “What can Allah gain by punishing you, if ye show gratitude and ye believe? Nay, Allah is Ever All-Appreciative , All Knowing” (4:147) Everything is constantly increasing by al-Khaliq. The only thing which retards His work of increase is ingratitude, it hinders Him from increasing, and we should say to ourselves, He waits for me to learn to be able to acknowledge Him and give gratitude to Him so He can increase His bounties to me and continue His work of constant increase. This is our religion. Iman is Shukr, and Shukr, gratitude, is the opposite of Kufr. Kufr is ingratitude. The Kafir is the one who chooses to live in a perpetual state of constant ingratitude. After refusing to prostrate to Adam, Iblis said: “Then I will certainly come to them from before them and from behind them, and from the right-hand side and from the left-hand side, and You (Allah) shall not find most of them thankful.” (7:17) You can only be in a state of gratitude or ingratitude, not both, for every moment in your life. There is no such thing as being both. You must choose what you are going to choose. “And say, “The truth is from your Lord, so whoever wills – let him believe; and whoever wills – let him be ungrateful.” (18:29) Believe in what? Believe that if I am showing gratitude to my Creator, He is increasing me in all I show gratitude for. Islam is gratitude. “… and be grateful to Allah, if it is Him you worship” (2:172). Kufr is ingratitude. “Then remember Me; I will remember you. Be grateful to Me, and do not be ungrateful to Me” (2:152). “Indeed Allah is the possessor of bounty for all people but most people do not give thanks.” (2: 243). “And Moses said: “If ye show ingratitude ye and all on earth together-yet is Allah Free of all wants Worthy of all praise.” (14:8) “We endowed Luqman with wisdom: ‘Be thankful to God: whoever gives thanks benefits his own soul, and as for those who are thankless–God is self-sufficient, worthy of all praise’” (31:12).”If you are grateful, He is pleased with you…” (39:7), “And swiftly shall We reward those that (serve Us with) gratitude.” (3:145) Lets thank Allah for you, me, everything and all – from its manifest form to its molecular level and beyond” – Sayyid Ahmed Amiruddin