100: Appreciation & Thankfulness
اللهم اني أسألك ... قلبا شاكرا
“O Allah! I ask thee… for a grateful heart.”
[Prayer of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)]
We have been advised by the Prophet (pbuh) to be reflexive and appreciative
اغتنم خمسا قبل خمس ؛
شبابك قبل هرمك ، و صحتك قبل سقمك ، و فراغك قبل شغلك ،
و غناك قبل فقرك ، و حياتك قبل موتك
"Value five things before five; Value youth before old age, Health before sickness, Free time before occupation, Wealth before poverty, and Life before death."
Thankfulness & God-Consciousness
Allah says,
فَاذْكُرُونِي أَذْكُرْكُمْ وَاشْكُرُواْ لِي وَلاَ تَكْفُرُونِ
"Remember Me, I remember you; Be thankful and not ungrateful." [Qur'an 2: 152]There is an emphasis on God-consciousness and on gratitude in this Divine injunction. Being appreciative and saying and "thank you" is an amazingly powerful expression that could convey an authentic sense of gratitude. Thankfulness is an important positive emotion that relates directly to our mental and spiritual well-being.
Give & Forgive, do Not Get & Forget
One of the most devastating realities I have had to come to terms with has been the fact that people for whom you truly care and for whom you do the most are often the ones who turn out to be the most ungrateful. They suffer deliberate amnesia (forgetfulness) and, in the process, even deny their indebtedness. Those for whom you would stake your prized privileges are often the ones who forget the quickest. Prophet Jesus/'Isa (pbuh) is reported to have said, "Blessed are those that can give without remembering and receive without forgetting." [popularized by writer, Elizabeth Bibesco]
Conscience and Moral Maturity
People of conscience are people of character and good character (akhlaaq), is in fact ethics in action. People of character have the emotional intelligence to realize their errors and to acknowledge their indebtedness to others and thus possess the moral courage to express genuine genuine appreciation by saying "thank you".
Willingness to express thankfulness for the benefits we may have received are signs of moral maturity. Expressions of gratitude are valued gifts to people who have privileged us. If we say "Thank you" without really feeling thankful then these words merely serve as mindless rituals; just like a wrapped gift box without any gift inside.
Genuine Thankfulness
The ethical dimension to gratitude demands genuine thankfulness proportionate to the blessings received, never to deny those blessings nor devalue the worth of those who so bless us. Gratefulness is indeed a matter of the heart and truly grateful people are more spiritually aware and are more likely to appreciate the interconnectedness of personal life to human interdependence.
It is perchance with this in mind that our beloved Prophet reminded us: من لم يشكرالناس لم يشكر الله "Whosoever is not thankful to people is not thankful to God."
Much To Be Thankful For
Though we always aim for more, we must learn to be thankful for what we have. If we are do not learn to be appreciative, we’ll never be able to be thankful. That is perhaps why the Prophet Muhammad said, whosoever is not thankful with a little من لم يشكر القليل لم يشكر الكثير will not be thankful with a lot.
Allah says, لئن شكرتم لأزيدنكم if you are thankful, Allah will increase your blessings. Successful talk show host, Oprah Winfrey said: "Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate only on what you don't have, you'll never ever have enough."
Count Your Blessing
Consider these words of wisdom ...
- The English writer, Charles Dickens said: "Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every person has plenty; reflect not upon your past misfortunes, of which all people have some."
- "If we could only learn to appreciate the little things…
A song that pleases you, for there those who can not hear
The beauty of sunset, for there are those who can not see
A stroll along the beach, for there are those who can not walk
The warmth and safety of your home, for there are those who are homeless
The company of friends and dear ones, for there are those who are lonely
These are little things that life is all about.
So search your soul and learn to appreciate."
[writer, Shadi Souferian]
- "Wise is the person who grieves not for what he does not have but gratefully rejoices in what he does have" [Graeco-Roman philosopher, Epictetus.]
- Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire,
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?
Be thankful that you don't know everything
For it gives you the opportunity to learn.
Be thankful for your limitations
Because they give you opportunities for improvement.
Be thankful when you're tired and weary
Because it means you've tried to make a difference.
Be thankful for each new challenge
Because it will build your strength and character.
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was asked, "Who are the best of people ?"
He replied:
اذا احسنوا استبشروا و اذا اسآوا استغفروا و اذا اعطوا شكروا
و اذا ابتلوا صبروا و اذا غضبوا غفروا
"Those who are cheerful when they do good, who are repentant when they do wrong, who are grateful when they receive, who show patience when in difficulty and pardon when they are angered."
That is why the Prophet often prayed;
اللهم اني أسألك ... قلبا شاكرا
“O Allah! I ask thee… for a grateful heart.”