Every person is in need of God at every instant of life. From the air
one breathes to the food he eats, from the ability to use one's hands
to the faculty of speech, from being sheltered to being in a joyful spirit,
one lives completely in need of what God creates and grants him. Still,
a vast majority of people do not perceive their weaknesses and that they
are in need of God. They suppose that things develop spontaneously or
that they acquire everything by their own efforts. This is an important
error, as well as a serious ingratitude towards God. Ironically, people
who render their thanks to a person for even an insignificant gift, spend
all their lives ignoring the countless blessings that God gives them all
through their lives. However, so great are the blessings granted to a
person that one could never count them. God relates this fact in a verse
as follows:
If you tried to number God's blessings, you could
never count them. God is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Surat an-Nahl:
18)
Despite this fact, most people fail to give thanks for any of the blessings
they have. The reason for this is related in the Qur'an: Satan, who pledged
to misguide people from God's way, said that his ultimate aim is to make
people be ungrateful to God. Satan's defiant statements to God emphasize
the importance of giving thanks to God:
'Then I will come at them, from in front of them
behind them, from their right and from their left. You will not find most
of them thankful.' He (God) said, 'Get out of it, reviled and driven out.
As for those of them (mankind) who follow you, I, will fill up Hell with
every one of you.' (Surat al-A'raf: 17-18)
Believers, on the other hand, aware of their weaknesses and in humility
before God, render their thanks to Him for every blessing granted. Wealth
and possessions are not the only blessings for which believers render
their thanks to God. Knowing that God is the Owner and Possessor of everything,
believers express their inner gratefulness for good health, beauty, knowledge,
wisdom, love of faith and hatred from disbelief, understanding, insight,
foresight and for power. They are thankful for being rightly guided and
for being in the company of believers. A beautiful landscape, easy handling
of their affairs, fulfillment of their wishes, tidings of great joy, respectful
conduct or any other blessings make believers immediately turn to God,
express their gratefulness to Him and reflect on His mercy and compassion.
In return for good morals displayed, a reward awaits believers. This is
another of the secrets revealed in the Qur'an; God increases His blessings
on those who are grateful. For example, God grants even more health and
power to those who render their thanks to God for the good health and
strength they have. God bestows even more knowledge and property to those
who are grateful for their knowledge or wealth. This is because they are
sincere people who are contented with what God gives and are pleased with
the blessings and who take God as their friend. God relates this secret
in the Qur'an as follows:
And when your Lord announced: "If you are
grateful, I will certainly give you increase, but if you are ungrateful,
My punishment is severe."' (Surah Ibrahim: 7)
Being grateful is also a sign of one's closeness to and love of God. People
who give thanks have the insight and capability to perceive the beauties
and blessings that God creates. God's Messenger, peace be upon him, also
referred to this when he said:
When God gives you property, the bliss of God's blessing
and offering must be reflected on you.
On the other hand, a disbelieving or ungrateful person will only see
the imperfections and faults even in the most beautiful environment, and
thus will be unhappy and discontented. Indeed, as a divine purpose in
God's creation, such people, always come across with seemingly unfavorable
events and unpleasant scenes. On the other hand, God displays more of
His bounties and blessings to those who have a sincere and insightful
outlook.
That God increases His blessings to those who are grateful is one of
the secrets of the Qur'an. However, one needs to keep in mind that sincerity
is a prerequisite for being grateful. No doubt, one's way of showing his
gratitude without turning sincerely to God and feeling the inner peace
of God's infinite mercy and compassion, which is solely intended to impress
people, would be sheer insincerity. God knows what hearts harbor, and
will bear witness to this insincerity. Those who have insincere inner
intentions may conceal it from other people, but not from God. Such people
may render their thanks with affected manners when there is no affliction,
but at times of hardship, it is possible that they may readily lapse into
ungratefulness.
It should be also noted that true believers remain grateful to God even
under harshest conditions. Someone looking from outside may see the diminishing
of some blessings believers enjoy. However, believers, who are able to
perceive the good aspect of every event and situation, see goodness in
this too. For example, God states that He will test people with fear,
hunger and loss of wealth or life. In such a situation, believers rejoice
and feel grateful, hoping that God will reward them with the gifts of
paradise in return for the steadfastness they displayed in this test.
They know that God does not impose on anyone more than he can bear. The
steadfastness and submission of such awareness lead them to patience and
gratitude. Therefore, it is an obvious attribute of believers to show
unwavering dedication and submission and God promises to expand His blessings
on His grateful servants both in the life of this world and in the hereafter.
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