Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem,
Asalaamu aleykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu,
The other day a conversation occurred between another sister and me. This conversation really struck home with me and so I would like to share with you the lesson I learnt from it InshaAllaah. It started with me saying to this sister that “It really is upsetting because so many years I’ve wasted in ignorance”. And her reply which has stuck with me ever since was “we should be grateful that He guided us now rather than later, we should be grateful that He guided us now rather than never!”. May Allaah (swt) reward her immensely for providing this much needed reminder and May He forgive me for my ingratitude. Aameen.
I ask us all to really think, when was the last time we sat down and praised Allaah (swt) for granting us with the blessing of Al-Islam? Especially those of us that were born and raised as muslims. Sometimes we forget because Islam is something we have experienced our whole lives and we don’t have the other side to compare it to. We forget to be grateful for the blessings that Allaah (swt) has bestowed upon us. Think, when was the last time we showed gratitude for the food we have? The clothes we wear? Housing? Heating? He is the Provider and He is the Sustainer, He chooses to guide whom He wills. Just as easily as we received this guidance, as easily this guidance can be taken away!
“Seek your provision from Allaah (Alone), and worship Him (Alone), and be grateful to Him. To Him (Alone) you will be brought back” [Al-‘Ankaboot 29:17]
Your Lord has decreed: “‘The more you thank Me, the more I give you. But if you turn unappreciative, then My retribution is severe.’” [Ibrahim 14:7]
A very short video of gratitude with examples taken from patience and gratitude by Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3J5M3JlEUyE
Sujood Al-Shukr (the prostration of gratitude)
When the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) used to receive good news, he would prostrate himself (sujood) and give thanks to Allaah. ‘Abdur-Rahman ibn Awf (ra) narrated: “The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) entered upon us in the mosque, stood facing the qiblah, then prostrated himself and remained in sujud for a long time. I said to him: ‘O Messenger of Allaah, you prostrated yourself for such a long time that we thought Allaah had taken your soul.’ He said, ‘Jibril came to me with good news. He told me, “Allaah says, ‘Whoever sends blessings on you, I will send sixty blessings on him in return, and whoever salutes you, I will salute him in return,” so I prostrated myself and gave thanks to Allaah (Ahmad). Taken from Patience and Gratitude by Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah
Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in al-Majmoo’ (3/564): al-Shaafa’i and his companions said: ‘The prostration of gratitude is a Sunnah when a new, obvious blessing comes and when an obvious adversity is warded off, whether the blessing or adversity affects the individual or all the Muslims.’ Our companions said: ‘Similarly, if he sees a person who is afflicted with a calamity, physical or otherwise, or with sin, it is mustahabb to prostrate out of gratitude to Allaah. But it is not prescribed to prostrate for ongoing blessings because they do not cease.’
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “Sujood al-shukr is done in response to a calamity that is averted or a blessing which come to a person. It is like sujood al-tilaawah outside prayer. Some of the scholars said that wudoo’ and takbeer is required, and some said that only the first takbeer is required. Then he should fall down in prostration, and make du’aa’ after saying “Subhaana Rabbiy al-A’laa (Glory be to my Lord Most High).” (Fataawa Islamiyyah, 1/205)
Brothers and Sisters a reminder to not take for granted and be grateful for all the blessings Allaah(swt) has bestowed upon us. A reminder to myself before you. May Allaah (swt) make us among those who are grateful. Aameen.
Wasalaamu aleykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu.
See Related Posts:
I was just thinking of this last night and here you are posting a article on this! mashaAllah. We have everything we need to live a healthy and prosporous life yet we do not take heed. It is only when Allah takes it away from us then we will realise. May Allah give us the tawfeeq to give thanks to him for everything he has blessed us with and continue showering us with his blessings. Ameen.
JazakAllah for the reminder.
Like or Dislike:
Aameen, wa iyyaki ya ukhti
Like or Dislike:
Allaahumma Ameen
SubhanaAllaah we have soo many deficiencies, why is it that it is only until you come across someone more unfortunate that you become grateful…how did we become so forgetful or rather i
Jazakillah
Like or Dislike:
Narrated Al-Mughira: The Prophet used to stand (in the prayer) or pray till both his feet or legs swelled. He was asked why (he offered such an unbearable prayer) and he said, “should I not be a thankful slave.” (Sahih Bukhari – Book #21, Hadith #230)
SubhanAllaah Allaah(swt) has promised his beloved slave and the final messenger to mankind, Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam) his place in Jannah yet he prayed till both his feet and legs were swollen. we who are full of so deficiencies do not do even as half as much as this as
.May Allaay (swt) forgive us for our deficiencies and May we attain His Pleasure Aameen
Like or Dislike:
Aameen. Don't be so sad my dear sister in Islaam, the first stage of improving is knowing we have deficiencies. How foolish are we when we feel we have attained perfection, be it even for a moment?
Like or Dislike:
Jazakillaahu Khayrun ya ukhtil habeebati!
Like or Dislike: