Ummu Sufyaan
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The Station of Gratitude
Translation from: Madarij us-Saalikeen, by Ibn ul-Qayyim
Among the stations of “Iyyaka na’budu wa iyyaka nasta’een” is the station of gratitude (shukr). It is of the highest stations, higher even than contentment (Ridha). Indeed, contentment is inscribed and presumed in gratitude, for gratitude cannot exist without it. Gratitude is half of faith, as we have mentioned earlier. Faith (eman) is two parts: Half gratitude, half patience. God has commanded gratitude, prohibited its opposite, praised the grateful, praised the best of his creation for it-indeed, made it the ultimate goal of all creation-and promised the grateful the highest reward. Furthermore, He has made gratitude a cause of increase in His blessings on a servant, and made it a protection for blessings. He has also revealed that His signs are of benefit only to those who possess this virtue. Most of all, the Exalted has derived a name for Himself from this virtue: He has called Himself ash-Shakoor. He causes the grateful to attain to the One who is the end of all gratitude. Rather, He turns Himself to the grateful in gratitude. Gratitude, therefore, is the summation of all that the Lord demands of his servant.
Allah the Most High says: “And be grateful for God’s blessing if it is indeed Him that you worship” [2: 172].
Also: “And be grateful to Me, and deny My favors” [2: 152].
Of His friend (Khaleel), Ibraheem, Upon him be peace, God says: “Ibraheem, indeed, was a community unto himself, devoted to God, sincere. He was not among those who deem others God’s equals. [Rather] He was grateful for His blessings” [16: 120-1].
Of Nuh (Noah) upon him be peace, God says: “He was, indeed, a grateful servant” [17:3]. And He says: “It is He Who brought you forth from the wombs of your mpthers when you knew nothing; and He gave you hearing and sight and intelligence and affections: that you may give thanks (to Allah)” [16: 78].
“And when your Lord proclaimed: If you give thanks, I will give you more; but if you are thankless, behold! My punishment is dire” [Ibraheem: 14:7].
“Behold! Therein, indeed, are signs for every steadfast, grateful (heart)” [31:31].
The Most High has named himself Shakir and Shakoor, thus sharing His name and sacred attribute with His grateful servants. This alone should be enough for you to realize His love and grace for the grateful.
The scarcity of grateful servants of grateful servants is a sign tgat tget are His elite: “And few of My servants are grateful” [34: 13].
In the Two Sound Collections (Bukhari and Muslim), it is reported that he Porpeht, sallalahu aleyhi, was seen standing “in Prayer until his feet swelled. He was asked: ‘Do you do this to yourself, while God has already forgiven your future and past sins?’ He replied, ‘Shall I not be a grateful servant?’”
It has also been reported, more over, that the prophet, sallahu aleyhi wa sallam, said to the Companion Mu’aath: “By God, O Mu’aath. I truly love you. Forget not, then, to say after each salah, ‘O God, help me in Your remeberence, and giving You thanks, and worshiping You with excellence.” [Allahumma a3inni 3alaa dhikrika wa shukrika wa husni 3ibadatika] )Sahih, narrated by Abu Dawud, Ahmad and others).
to be continued, ishallah!
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