Gratitude
The writer, Zamena Manekia-Manji (Bujumbura, Burundi) is a writer for TMJ News. Born and raised in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and currently residing in Bujumbura, Burundi, her writing has evolved from fiction to Islamic, contemporary, and historical writings. She works in the history and Islamic events department at TMJ News, where she previously worked as a breaking News writer. Zamena is also a writer for 313juniors, a YouTube channel that works to produce Islamic content for little children, trying to improve her writing with each task. Through her words, she hopes to shed some light on Islamic History and share her thoughts on contemporary views through an Islamic lens, slowly doing her part towards building a better and stronger society.
It’s hard to remain patient and express gratitude to the Lord when one’s life is falling apart. But this is exactly what we see today. A child is blown to pieces, yet his father, at the peak of his anguish, cries out: “Hasbunalluhu wa ni´mal wakeel”. Sufficient for us is Allah, and [He is] the best Disposer of affairs.
Ease and hardship are both tests from the Lord, each offering opportunities for spiritual growth and self-refinement. Two vital virtues – patience and gratitude – serve as guiding principles to help one attain the highest level a human can attain.
It’s pretty straightforward: patience in hardship and gratitude in happiness. Patience, especially, is emphasised during difficult times. Instead of viewing hardship as negative, this test is a means through which one’s spiritual growth blossoms. Patience does not only refer to suffering; rather, it reflects perseverance, trust in God’s wisdom, and remaining steadfast despite the suffering.
The lives of the Prophets and the Ahl al-Bayt serve as timeless examples of this virtue. From the pain of being insulted, belittled, and shunned for almost a thousand years that Prophet Nuh (a.s) endured, to Imam Musa al-Kadhim (a.s) withstanding the worst forms of torture for over a decade in prison, the religion of Islam is filled with examples of how the Prophets and the Ahl al-Bayt (AS) beautifully taught us that even the best of His creations are tested with tribulations.
Gratitude, on the other hand, is not limited to verbal expressions but has to be demonstrated through actions, where one uses their blessings in ways that benefit others. This becomes a continuous acknowledgement of divine mercy.
Essentially, patience and gratitude are interconnected. A believer is to remain patient in hardship and grateful in times of comfort, understanding that both conditions are temporary and purposeful. This balanced outlook nurtures inner peace and strengthens the relationship between God and man.
Embodying these virtues allows the heart to receive God’s endless love and mercy. This further assures the human that this fleeting world will pass and that the reward that awaits us is indeed everlasting. Hence, even while life feels like it is falling apart and when pain overwhelms us, the believer returns to the same profound truth echoed at the beginning of this article: “Hasbunalluhu wa ni´mal wakeel”. Here, surrender lies not in weakness, but in the highest form of strength – trusting that Allah (swt) is indeed sufficient and that He truly is the best Disposer of all affairs.
Moe from this Writer
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