HOW TO BECOME MORE GRATEFUL TO ALLAH ALMIGHTY?

 

HOW TO BECOME MORE GRATEFUL TO ALLAH ALMIGHTY?

What are the benefits of showing gratitude to Allah Almighty?

Nowadays Muslims are busy with various worldly matters and they sometimes because of difficult times say such words that show ungratefulness to Allah Almighty and sometimes they forget the splendid blessings that they have. However, it is obligatory upon all Believers to feel and show their gratitude to the most Beneficent and the most Merciful Allah Almighty throughout every day of our lives and ultimately it will strengthen our faith and helps to gain the goal of "Total submission to Allah Almighty's will. No doubt, Allah Almighty had designed us as an intelligent specie and blessed us with numerous things. Everything, we achieve related to professional, personal, or spiritual life - is eventually from Allah Almighty. In the Glorious Quran He mentioned;

 

وَءَاتَىٰكُم مِّن كُلِّ مَا سَأَلۡتُمُوهُۚ وَإِن تَعُدُّواْ نِعۡمَتَ ٱللَّهِ لَا تُحۡصُوهَآۗ إِنَّ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ لَظَلُومٞ كَفَّارٞ

And He gave you from all you asked of Him. And if you should count the favor of Allah, you could not enumerate them. Indeed, mankind is [generally] most unjust and ungrateful. (Surah Ibrahim: 34)

 

The above-mentioned verse of the Noble Quran depicts the need to regularly show gratitude to Allah Almighty. However, there is some confusion among people like what types of acts can show our gratitude? Some very simple acts, attitudes, or practices that you can adopt to express gratitude to Allah Almighty are mentioned below.

 

1. Make the Habit of saying "Alhamdullilah" whenever you feel something grateful to you. If a person is continuously facing a tough time in his life, he also has so many blessings of Allah Almighty including, Allah creating him and sustaining him, making him Muslim, giving him faith, and keeping the devil(Shaitaan) away.
2.  Make the Habit of spending a few minutes after each prayer thanking Allah Almighty- Everyone has some little or some big blessings in his life. Acknowledge that Allah Almighty always deserves our gratitude and feels unhappy when we are ungrateful to Him. It is not because He needs our gratitude, but simply because He knows that our gratitude to Him is good for us.

لَئِن شَكَرۡتُمۡ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمۡ

"If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]" (Surah Ibrahim: 7)

So after each prayer try to say "Alhamdulillah" 33 times at least.

3.  Make Habit of reciting Du'a for waking up every morning. Express gratitude to Allah Almighty for making night and for giving you a new day to live. Thank Allah Almighty for a specific Du'a and for other limits or laws that He has to establish for us and promise an excellent reward for following them. 

4.  Make habit of making Dhikr while traveling or going somewhere. It would not become an excessive burden but you will feel comfortable and find the courage to face the difficulties of life. Whenever you feel hardships in life, try to remind the blessings that you have and express gratitude. This practice will build confidence in you and you will feel happy or comfortable.

You can use some little phrases to express gratitude e.g. "Astaghfirullah", "Subhanallah-Allahi wa bihamdihi" ( Allah is free from imperfection and all praise is due to Him).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HONOR AND DIGNITY OF HUMAN IN ISLAM

 

HONOR AND DIGNITY OF HUMAN IN ISLAM

Islam is the religion that derives the source and origin of dignity from Allah Almighty. Absolute honor and dignity belong to Allah Almighty and all other dignities that exist are driven from Him. Islam depicts man as vicegerent of Allah Almighty on earth. Every mundane component has been created to facilitate the accomplishment of man's aristocratic mission of Vicegerency. When Allah Almighty created Man (Adam), angels, the most exalted and impeccable creatures, were asked to witness the divine act of creation and then after completing this creation, Allah Almighty asked them to prostrate themselves before Man (Adam), that was, to prostrate to Allah Almighty, for there is no prostration except to Allah Almighty alone and to admit thereby the merit and wisdom of Allah Almighty's creation, and to give respect to Man and his empirical capabilities as the crown of Allah Almighty's invention.

In the Glorious Quran Allah Almighty mentioned this dramatic occurrence as;

And [mention, O Muhammad], when your Lord said to the angels, "Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority." They said, "Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood, while we declare Your praise and sanctify You?" Allah said, "Indeed, I know that which you do not know." And He taught Adam the names - all of them. Then He showed them to the angels and said, "Inform Me of the names of these, if you are truthful." They said, "Exalted are You; we have no knowledge except what You have taught us. Indeed, it is You who is the Knowing, the Wise." He said, "O Adam, inform them of their names." And when he had informed them of their names, He said, "Did I not tell you that I know the unseen [aspects] of the heavens and the earth? And I know what you reveal and what you have concealed." And [mention] when We said to the angels, "Prostrate before Adam"; so they prostrated, except for Iblees. He refused and was arrogant and became of the disbelievers. (Surah Al-Baqarah, 30-34).

 

 

Hence, the main source of dignity is Allah Almighty and is the complete source of honor just as He is the source of light:

 

وَمَن لَّمۡ يَجۡعَلِ ٱللَّهُ لَهُۥ نُورٗا فَمَا لَهُۥ مِن نُّورٍ

And he to whom Allah has not granted light - for him, there is no light. (Surah An-Nur, 40).

 

And in another verse, Allah Almighty mentioned that dignity only belongs to Him but it does not mean no man can achieve it; rather, it means that all honor (izzaah) belongs to Allah Almighty as the main source, and then He spread it to Man. It is a precious gift to Man from Allah Almighty. Man does not own it but gains from Allah Almighty. Then the verse describes it as;

 

مَن كَانَ يُرِيدُ ٱلۡعِزَّةَ فَلِلَّهِ ٱلۡعِزَّةُ جَمِيعًاۚ إِلَيۡهِ يَصۡعَدُ ٱلۡكَلِمُ ٱلطَّيِّبُ وَٱلۡعَمَلُ ٱلصَّٰلِحُ يَرۡفَعُهُۥۚ

Whoever desires honor [through power] - then to Allah belongs all honor. To Him ascends good speech, and righteous work raises it. (Surah Fatir, 10).

 

Islam is the guidance for man; it is meant for him. Man in turn is a follower of Islam. As man's entitlement, Islam through the Glorious Quran invites man to a righteous path by discovering the laws of nature and the universe's existence. Though every living or nonliving things creature from large mountains to the smallest insect or plant is made by Allah Almighty, no one has the book of Guidance, intellectual mindset except Man. We are all distinguished from birth. Allah Almighty has provided us some extent of honor as our capital.

 

وَلَقَدۡ كَرَّمۡنَا بَنِيٓ ءَادَمَ وَحَمَلۡنَٰهُمۡ فِي ٱلۡبَرِّ وَٱلۡبَحۡرِ وَرَزَقۡنَٰهُم مِّنَ ٱلطَّيِّبَٰتِ وَفَضَّلۡنَٰهُمۡ عَلَىٰ كَثِيرٖ

 مِّمَّنۡ خَلَقۡنَا تَفۡضِيلٗا

And We have certainly honored the children of Adam and carried them on the land and sea and provided for them of the good things and preferred them over much of what We have created, with [definite] preference. (Surah Al-Isra, 70)

 

The need is to make use of our capital and add to it. If we lose it, then this would be a great loss. We are to cherish, safeguard, and put to it. A majestic or dignified person deals others with majestically, and never embarrasses them. Dignified people never use abusive words and a strong believer comes down to dishonor.

THE GREAT AND MATCHLESS LEADER IN HUMAN HISTORY

 

THE GREAT AND MATCHLESS LEADER IN HUMAN HISTORY

 

The one unique, complete, and matchless person in all shades of life is Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him). He is the leader who has enhanced this garden of the world with fresh roses of quotes, with a deeply immersed soul of morals, with a strong character of ethics, with the fragrance of kindness, with the glory of respect, with the beauty of patience, with colors of relations and with the noble act of sacrifice. He (Peace be Upon Him) is incomparable in all spheres of life. His (Peace be Upon Him) personality is elegant and matchless in both enormous fields of life, first is practical, social, cultural, and political- second spiritual, moral, and religious.

He (Peace be Upon Him) is supreme in every walk of life either as a husband or a leader of a state or a friend or a human or a preacher or a teacher or a neighbor. He (Peace be Upon Him) truthful example in all aspects of life and his splendid actions and merits are very helpful for a purely natural human lifestyle. He (Peace be Upon Him) is unprecedented and exceptional in the global record of great personalities. There are no fables about his life history and Allah Almighty says in the Glorious Quran;

 

لَّقَدۡ كَانَ لَكُمۡ فِي رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ أُسۡوَةٌ حَسَنَةٞ لِّمَن كَانَ يَرۡجُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلۡيَوۡمَ ٱلۡأٓخِرَ وَذَكَرَ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرٗا

There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allah often. (Al-Quran 33:21)

 

Being Muslims we believe that our honorable Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) is superior to all Prophets (Ambiya and Rusul) and he has stated:

“I am the chief of all the descendants of Adam (Tirmidhi, vol. 5, Hadith: 3159).”

 

The companions of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) described him and said:

"We haven't seen anybody like him before him or after him." ( Sahih Bukhari)

 

Words fall less of defining the incomparable and matchless personality of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him). No one can complete the description of his beauty because if his beauty will reveal in its entirety, we will not be able to bear the radiance of his incomparable personality. The Jibrail, an archangel who acts as an intermediary between Allah Almighty and humans and as a bearer of revelation to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) declared Holy Prophet Muhammed's (Peace be Upon Him) personality:

"I have combed the east and west of the earth, but I have not found anyone as eminent as Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him)." (A Tradition related by Baihaqi, Tibarani, and Asaker).

 

We know that there are many revolutionists in the world and we have seen many great contributors or leaders to the world civilization. For example, when we appraise the qualities of any person we do so by scanning or conforming to the accomplishments and victories of such person. So, to understand the distinctive character of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) one needs to evaluate the significance of his achievements and contributions by Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him).  The outstanding characteristics and extraordinary virtues of Holy Prophet (Peace be Upon Him) make him the best role model for all mankind.

 

 

 

Importance of Charity in Islam and the Third pillar of Islam.

CHARITY IN ISLAM

Allah Almighty said,

"O son of Adam! Spend, and I shall spend on you."

(Narrated by Abu Huraira: Bukhari, 64)

Charity is called Sadaqah or Zakat in Islam and Muslims give voluntarily to poor people to please Allah Almighty. This act also describes an uncoerced charitable act towards other people through love, generosity, faith, and compassion. Even the simple kind deeds such as helping others, and smiling, are seen as Sadaqah.

Anyone can give sadaqah for any good purpose and amount. Many companions of Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) were extremely bounteous in giving charity, often giving away big portions of wealth and keeping only small enough for their needs.

In Islam being caring and sympathetic to others is the central part of belief. At different points in the Quran, charity is mentioned several times and one can help being struck by them. Various references in the Quran about feeding the poor and needy, helping relatives, orphans, and travelers, and spending for the pleasure of Allah emphasize the importance of Sadaqah in Islam.

In addition to the undeniable benefits of charity, Islam mentioned the courage to spend your money selflessly with a strong belief that everything they have in life comes from Allah Almighty. We must not collect our money and blessings because we believe that He wishes for us to be sympathetic and share our blessings with others without pride.

 

Believers! Do not nullify your acts of charity by stressing your benevolence and causing hurt as does he who spends his wealth only to be seen by people and does not believe in Allah and the Last Day. (Al- Baqarah: 264)

Types of Charity in Islam

Zakat or charity is the third pillar of Islam. Spending wealth as charity for needy and poor people is the most important characteristic of Islam. Muslims should realize how their charity could build strong societies. It is necessary for the well-being of the poor as well as the ultimate pleasure of the giver. Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) explained the forms of charity. One is Zakat and another is Sadaqah. Zakat is given to deserving people with a specific or standardized percentage of wealth. But sadaqah is not for specific people or in a standardized form, we can give it to anyone in different forms. The smile, true advice, or any good help is Sadaqah.

The Prophet said: "Your smile for your brother is a charity. Your removal of stones, thorns or bones from the paths of people is a charity. Your guidance of a person who is lost is a charity." (Bukhari)

Awards on the day of Judgment

On the Final day of judgment when the sun will be too hot to bear and everyone lost shade and could not protect themselves from heat waves, Allah Almighty will save those under shade who spend money for the poor and give charity. The sacrifices of Muslims in this life will be the protection on the Day of Judgment.

The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) said: "The believer's shade on the Day of Resurrection will be his charity." (Al-Tirmidhi)

Giving Sadaqah that is too easy can save you from the hellfire if Allah Almighty so wishes.

The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) said:

 

"Guard yourself against the Hellfire, even with half of a date in Sadaqah. If he cannot find it, then with a kind word."  (Bukhari and Muslim)

Sometimes we consider the small acts are not enough and we avoid ourselves to do these acts but Allah Almighty reminds us repeatedly that they are much enough and that we should do the act of kindness even when we can not see the value in them.

Another power of Sadaqah is that it can protect you from difficulties, calamities, trials, and hardships.

"Give Sadaqah without delay, for it stands in the way of calamity." – Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (At-Tirmidhi)

There are many reasons to give Sadaqah even when you are not particularly religious. You might help poor people and teach your children as an act of generosity or selflessness. But when you are Believer your reasons for spending money, care, and time for others are tied to the higher rank.

 

The question is: Will you act on this?

Muslims do many things to please Allah, then why non-Muslims are in the list of most successful persons in the world? (Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates)

 

Muslims do many things to please Allah then why non-Muslims are in the list of most successful persons in the world? (Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates)

 

Usually, we see only a small number of Muslims are successful or rich in the world. Muslims do many things to please Allah. They offer prayer, pay Zakat, do fasting, offer Hajj and believe in all those aspects that Allah wants them to believe then why Non- Muslims are more successful and these non-Muslims do nothing to please Allah. They even don't believe in Allah.

It is reported by Abu Huraira that;

 The Messenger of Allah, peace, and blessings be upon him, said, "I do not fear poverty for you, rather I fear that you will compete for riches. I do not fear for your mistakes, rather I fear for what you do on purpose.” (Musnad Aḥmad 8013)

 

The True Success of a Muslim

Prophet Muhammad Peace be Upon Him had this fear that His ummah will grow rich, will earn wealth and this wealth will become the cause of their sins. So wealth or being rich is not the criteria for success. Most of us consider that being successful means having more wealth and the more rich the person the more successful he is. In Quran, it is mentioned in Surah Al-Hujrat that true richness is the richness of Eman and Taqwa.

یٰۤاَیُّهَا النَّاسُ اِنَّا خَلَقْنٰكُمْ مِّنْ ذَكَرٍ وَّ اُنْثٰى وَ جَعَلْنٰكُمْ شُعُوْبًا وَّ قَبَآىٕلَ لِتَعَارَفُوْاؕ-اِنَّ اَكْرَمَكُمْ عِنْدَ اللّٰهِ اَتْقٰىكُمْؕ-اِنَّ اللّٰهَ عَلِیْمٌ خَبِیْرٌ(۱۳)

O mankind, indeed we have created you from male and female and made you people and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the noblest of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted. ( Al Hujrat 49:13).

 

The criteria of judgment in the sight of Allah are not cast, color, wealth, and money but RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Prophet Muhammad Peace be Upon Him said;

يَدْخُلُ فُقَرَاءُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ الْجَنَّةَ قَبْلَ أَغْنِيَائِهِمْ بِنِصْفِ يَوْمٍ وَهُوَ خَمْسُ مِائَةِ عَامٍ

The poor Muslims are admitted into Paradise before the rich by half a day. And that is five hundred years. (Sunan al-Tirmidhi 2354)

 

 A rich man has to give accounts of all his spending. He will be questioned about Zakat. Whereas, the poor man will get a hundred out of a hundred in Zakat because he doesn't need to pay Zakat. For this, we can even see the example of the most successful person in the world in the sight of Allah. Without any doubt, he is the Beloved Prophet Muhammad Peace be Upon Him. What he did leave behind? Did he leave behind wealth and money? No, He left behind Sahaba, who were the taught bearers of the world.

The direct lines from the last sermon of Prophet Mohammad Peace Be Upon Him;

"I leave behind me two things, the Quran and the Sunnah and if you follow these you will never go astray." "All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again; and may the last ones understand my words better than those who listen to me directly."

 

Today, even though many Arab Muslims are counted as the richest persons in the world but still Muslims have no power like non-Muslims. The reason behind this is only that, we left the Quran and Sunnah. We divided and lost unity.

Who is the richest person in the world? Most of young Muslims will answer, "Jeff Bezos".  But, what did our Prophet Muhammad Peace be Upon Him said about the richest person in the world? He said;

 

رکعتاالفجر خیرمن الدنیا وما فیھا

"The two Rak'ah before the dawn (Fajr) prayer are better than this world and all it contains."

So we Believers of Islam just need to strive for the hereafter and the only thing that will be acceptable in the sight of Allah is on the day of judgment, it is not your money, not your wealth but it is your Good deeds, it's your righteous deeds. So, even if a person is rich in this world, he may not be rich in the hereafter. If a person runs behind money and wealth in this world and considers it a success, he may not get a share in the hereafter. Therefore for Muslims, the prime focus or the true richness is the richness of Iman, Taqwa.

“Success is based upon the Person's good deeds or the person's righteous deeds. So we need to understand that even though some people, maybe rich, may be wealthy but that is never the criteria to judge the success of Human beings.”