Gratitude and Thankfulness

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘A person feeding (himself) with gratitude (before Allah) has a reward equal to the reward of a fasting person who brings himself to strict account. A person in good health who is grateful receives a reward equal to the reward of a person who suffers from an illness but exercises patience. A person who gives charity with gratitude receives a reward equal to the reward of a deprived person who is content.’”

Whenever Allah opens the door of gratitude to someone He does not keep the door of increasing (bounties) hidden from him.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘This is written in the Torah: “Thank (and be grateful to) those who have done favors to you, and do favors to those who thank you; bounties will not go away if you appreciate them and they will not stay all the time if you reject them. Thankfulness increases the bounties and provides security against changes (from good to worse).””’

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘A person in good health who is thankful for it receives the same amount of reward as a person who in an ailing health exercises patience. One who gives (charity) and is thankful (for his ability) receives the same amount of reward as the deprived person who is content.’”

“I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘. . . and proclaim the bounties of your Lord.’ (93:11) The Imam said that in the above passage the Holy Prophet is commanded, to proclaim the special treatment that He has granted you, the distinctions that He has given you, the favors that He has presented to you and His being benevolent to you. The Imam then said, ‘He (the Holy Prophet) then spoke of His religion, and of what Allah had given him and the bounties that He made available to him.’”

‘One night when the Messenger of Allah stayed in ‘A’isha’s chamber she asked, “O Messenger of Allah, why do you tire yourself when Allah has already forgiven all of your past and future sins (that the pagans thought you had committed against them)?” He replied, ‘O ‘A’isha, should not I be a grateful servant?’ “The Imam said, ‘The Messenger of Allah would stand up on his toes worshipping, then Allah revealed this to him, ‘Ta. Ha (Quran 20:1). We have not sent the Quran to make you, (Muhammad), miserable (Quran 20:2) (It is) only a reminder for those who are afraid (of disobeying Allah). (Quran 20:3).'"

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘With the existence of three factors nothing can harm one. These factors include: prayer in difficulties, asking forgiveness in sins and thankfulness for bounties.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Whoever is granted the ability to be thankful is also granted increase in bounties. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, “. . . if you give thanks, I shall give you greater (favors). .. .’””(14:7)

“We heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘If upon Allah’s granting a favor to a servant he acknowledges it in his heart, and expresses thanks to Him in public, as soon as his words are completed, an order is issued to give the servant more.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Not to commit unlawful acts is a form of expressing thanks for a bounty. A complete expression of thankfulness is that one says, “All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds.””’

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘Expressing one’s thankfulness for any favor, no matter how great it may be, is to thank Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, for it.’”

“I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘Is there a limit for the expression of thankfulness, upon which a servant is considered a thankful one?’ “The Imam said, ‘Yes, there is a limit.’ I then asked, ‘What is that limit?’ The Imam said, ‘One must thank Allah for every favor that He has done, such as family and properties. If on the property one has received there is a certain right it must be paid off as is mentioned in the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, quoting certain people, “Glory belongs to Him who has made it subservient to us when we were not able to do so ourselves.” (43:13) He, the Most High, has also said quoting certain people, “Lord, grant us a blessed landing from the Ark; You are the One who provides the safest landing” (23:29). Allah has also said, “(Muhammad), say, ‘Lord, make me enter through a path that will lead to the Truth and come out of an exit that will take me to the Truth. Grant me supportive authority.””” (17:80)

“I heard Abu al-Hassan (a.s.) saying, ‘One’s praising Allah for His granting him bounties is considered his expressing thanks to Allah and expressing the praise of Allah, is better than the bounties one has received.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘For any favor that Allah may grant to any one of His servants, a small or a greater favor, if that servant says “All praise belongs to Allah,” has thanked Him properly.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Whoever receives a favor from Allah and acknowledges it in his heart, in so doing he has expressed his thankfuness for it also.”’

“Once Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) said, ‘One of you drinks water and for this Allah admits him into paradise.’ The Imam then said, ‘He picks up the bowl of water and places it in his mouth, then mentions the name of Allah and then he drinks. He then removes it from his mouth and expresses praise for Allah, even though he still has a desire to drink. He then drinks and removes the bowl of water from his mouth and expresses praise for Allah. He then drinks and then removes and expresses praise for Allah. Thus, Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, deems his admission to paradise necessary.’”

“Once I said to Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘I prayed to Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, for property and He granted me. I prayed to Allah for a child and He granted me. I prayed to Him for a house and He granted me. I am afraid that it (coming true of my wishes) is a kind of leading me to my own destruction (gradually)’ The Imam said, ‘I swear by Allah, it is not so if it takes place along with expressing His praise.’”

“Once Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) came out of the Mosque and his animal that he had ridden was missing. The Imam said, ‘If Allah will return my animal I will thank Him the way He must be thanked.’ Not long thereafter his animal was brought back. The Imam said, ‘All praise belongs to Allah.’ Someone then said, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, did you not say, “I will thank Allah the way He must be thanked?’” The Imam said, ‘Did you not hear me saying, “All praise belongs to Allah?’””

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘If the Messenger of Allah were to receive happy news he would say, “All praise belongs to Allah, for His granting this favor.” Whenever he was to receive a sad news he would say, “All praise belongs to Allah in all conditions.’””

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘Say three times when you see an ailing person without making him hear it, “All praise belongs to Allah for his keeping me safe from that with which you are afflicted. Had You (the Lord) wanted You could have made me suffer from this also.’” The Imam said, ‘Whoever says this he will never be afflicted with such ailment.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Anyone who upon seeing an ailing person says, “All praise belongs to Allah Who has avoided afflicting me with what He has afflict you and has given preference to me over you in granting a good health. O Allah, grant me good health against the ailment with which he is afflicted.” He, because of this prayer, will not suffer from such an ailment.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘When you see a man who is in affliction and Allah has granted you a favor, say, “O Allah, I do not ridicule him or boast, but I express Your praise for the great favors that You have done for me.”’”

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘When you see people who are in affliction, express the praise of Allah but do not make them hear it; it may cause them to feel sad.’”

“The Messenger of Allah once was on a small journey on his camel. He dismounted and prostrated five times. When he mounted the camel they said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, we saw you do what we had not seen you do before.’ He said, ‘Yes, it is true, but Jibril came to me with much good news from Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, and I then made one prostration in gratitude for each word of good news.’”

“When any of you may remember or speak of the bounties of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, he should place his cheek on the soil as an expression of gratitude to Allah. If one is riding one should dismount and place one’s cheek on the soil. If he is not able to do so because of his avoiding publicity, should place his cheek on the saddle. If this also cannot be done he should place his cheek on his palm, then thank Allah for the favor that He has done for him.”

“Once I was walking with abu al-Hassan (a.s.) on a certain side of the city of Madina. He joined his legs on one side of the animal he was riding, dismounted and went to prostrate on the ground. He prolonged and prolonged the prostration. He then raised his head and mounted the animal. I then said, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, you had a very long prostration.’ The Imam said, ‘1 just remembered a favor that Allah had granted me and I loved for it to thank my Lord.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Of the things that Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, revealed to Moses was this: “O Moses, thank Me the way I must be thanked.” Moses said, “O Lord, how can 1 thank You the way You must be thanked while there is no thanking that I may perform but that in it You grant me a (new) favor.” Allah said, “Now you have thanked Me, for realizing that it (the ability to thank) is also from Me.”’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘In the morning and evening say ten times: “O Lord, every morning I find myself with a favor and the well-being of the world or the hereafter. All such favors are from You, from You alone, and no one is Your partner. All praise belongs to You and thanks to You for Your favors to me, O Lord, until You are happy with me. Thanks to You even after Your being happy with me.”’ If you say this you have thanked Allah for what He has granted you on that day and on that night.”

“Abu Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Noah would say the prayer in the previous Hadith every morning and for that reason he is called a thankful person.’ The Imam said, ‘The Messenger of Allah has said, “Whoever accepts the truth from Allah, gains his salvation.”’”

“Allah loves every sad heart and He loves every thankful servant. Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most High, on the Day of Judgment will say to a servant among His servants, ‘Did you thank so and so?’ He (that servant) will say, ‘No, but 1 thanked You, O Lord.’ Allah will say, ‘You have not thanked Me because you did not thank him.’ The Imam said, ‘The most thankful among you to Allah is the most thankful among you to people.’”