Al-Hajj Khalil Champsi (Toronto, Canada)
Surely Allah gives us so many favours (blessings) that we are not able to count them all, He provides us with good health, and intellect with which to think; eyes with which to see; ears with which to hear. He also supplies us with food and drink. It is through His favour that we may be healed when we are ill. We should always feel thankful for the blessings of Allah and praise and thank Him.
Certainly we thank Allah when He gives us food and drink.
And how grateful we are when He saves us from danger or harm!
And how we thank Him if He delivers us from drowning, or a car accident!
And how we thank Him when we see a disabled man or a blind man while we are in a good health!
Let us look at the Steps of Remembering and thanking God:
- Always remember to say “Alhamdulillah” when you see something that you feel grateful for. After each prayer, spend a few minutes thanking Allah (glory be to Him) for some of the little and big things you have in your life. Acknowledge that Allah (glory be to Him) has created and sustains us, then give thanks for being chosen to be a Muslim, for giving us our faith and for keeping Shaitaan away.
- Remember that Allah (glory be to Him) is always deserving of our thanks and feels displeasure when we are ungrateful.Allah’s displeasure (glory be to Him) with our ingratitude is not because He needs our thanks, but simply because He knows that a state of grateful servitude is best for us.
- Allah (glory be to Him) may decide to punish us for our ingratitude, either in this world, by sending us hardship, or in the next world, by sending us to the Hellfire, or both. The feeling of gratitude comes from the heart and helps us to recognise just how completely dependent we all are upon Allah (glory be to Him).
- Reflect on your own life and you will soon come to appreciate the many blessings that Allah (glory be to Him) has bestowed upon you
- Remember Allah (glory be to Him) during the day and night. Set aside time throughout the day to repeat beautiful phrases from the Qur’an and teachings of our Ahlulbayt to help remind you of Allah (glory be to Him). These are known as dhikr, plural Adhkar. Dhikr is nutrition for the soul because Islam tells us that if we remember Allah (glory be to Him) in this life, He will remember us in this life and the next.
- Traveling or going about mundane household chores are good times to make dhikr. Many Muslims commit to repeating certain phrases, such as “Subhaan-Allahi wa bihamdihi” (Allah is free from imperfection and all praise is due to Him) numerous times each day, to help them strengthen their faith. This must be done while contemplating the meaning but should not become an excessive burden.
- Every night, before sleep, remember Allah (glory be to Him) by following the regular practices of the Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him) and our Ahlulbayt, such as praying before sleep and sleeping on the side.
- When you wake up, remember Allah (glory be to Him) and recite the Du’a for waking up. Give thanks for making it through the night and for being alive. During the day, try to keep mindful of Allah (glory be to Him) by repeating phrases praising, glorifying and thanking Him.
- Even simple phrases, such as “Astaghfirullah”, repeated with sincerity, will bring protection from Allah’s punishment (glory be to Him).Thank Allah (glory be to Him) for the limits and laws that He has set for us in the Qur’an and the teachings of our Ahlulbayt and promise to respect them as an expression of gratitude.
- Give thanks that you have your friends and family to support you through thick and thin. Many people around the world would love to be able to hug their mum or dad but can’t. Many wish to have friends to spend good times with, but do not have the opportunity.
- Remember that every good Muslim is humble and grateful for what they have, even though their life may seem to be a struggle.Accept that the struggles and worldly desires that we face are tests planned by Allah (glory be to Him) to guide us towards His obedience.
- Keep a gratitude journal. Noting down just one blessing each day – something that has made you say “Alhamdulillah” – together with your reflections on how it has helped you, will help improve focus and strengthen your connection with Allah (glory be to Him).
