I’m Zaynab Dawood from Lancashire, England. I’m a busy mum of four, a teacher, and an author. For me, there are three delights in life: ibadah, spending time with family and friends, and reading good literature.
Gratitude has been the hallmark of self-care in modern times. Self-development books, blogs, therapists, and counsellors all promote the virtue and practice of gratitude. Islam, as a religion as well as a complete way of life, endorses gratitude as a spiritual exercise, a mental state, and even an ethical maxim that informs our behaviour.
In an age where technology is entrenched in every juncture of life, we live in a fast-paced world—a world where feelings, too, must be fast-paced. In such a whirling state of being, it can be difficult to truly appreciate the virtues of gratitude and even to acknowledge its importance in daily life.
Gratitude in a World of Ingratitude
The sheer fabric of society is woven with threads that diminish our journey towards living in the best form:
“Indeed, We have created humans in the best form.” (Qur’an 95:4)
As believers, we should strive for this state, but the threads of pride and greed entangle us, removing the harmony that Allah (SWT) has created for our mental well-being, our emotional equilibrium, physical health, and even in our communities.
Pride magnifies our egos and individuality to the extent that we place our singular selves at the centre of our existence, with the fulfilment of our wants and needs as the sole purpose. When our plans are scuppered, we sink into a mental cesspit of ingratitude.
Greed is tantalising, as it evokes the sensation of wanting more and more, never inducing a state of gratitude for what we have. A common expression that captures this obsession is “rat race.” This is a disturbing and grotesque analogy, but it encapsulates the hungry souls rushing towards accumulating more and more, without truly acknowledging the source of all blessings, while also becoming something other than the “best form” that Allah (SWT) expects from us.
We can counteract pride and greed by activating our awareness of gratitude. A simple utterance of “Alhamdulillah” is the beginning of the healing process.
Gratitude is an Expression of Faith
Gratitude is a serious facet of our faith. Allah (SWT) says in the Qur’an:
“And give thanks to Allah if you [truly] worship Him [alone].” (Qur’an 2:172)
Being in a state of gratitude towards Allah (SWT), who is the source of all our blessings, actually affirms our belief in His Ninety-Nine Names. We are grateful when we have food and drink: Allah (SWT) is the Sustainer. We are grateful when a new baby is born: Allah (SWT) is the Creator. We are grateful when a troubled period ends: Allah (SWT) is the Remover of Calamities. Gratitude enables us to remember Allah (SWT) in every situation, and as believers, we have the humbling opportunity to be remembered by Him:
“Remember Me; I will remember you. And thank Me, and never be ungrateful.” (Qur’an 2:152)
Gratitude is Expressed by Praising and Thanking Allah (SWT)
Muslims express gratitude by directing it towards Allah (SWT). Gratitude in Islam transcends the world we live in. Instead of proclaiming self-affirmations that are centred around oneself, gratitude is an upward and outward focus on The One who is the recipient of the gratitude we express, whilst internalising the positive benefits of acknowledging gratitude.
We express gratitude by praising and giving thanks to Allah (SWT), primarily with the phrase, Alhamdulillah (Praise be to Allah SWT), as well as other verbal meditations. By praising Allah (SWT), we thank Him for all the blessings that are too abundant for us to list and even to understand.
Gratitude Helps Us as Social Beings
Expressing gratitude verbally or through actions helps maintain our relationships with others. For healthy and sound mental health, we need to be connected to others: family, relatives, friends, and people we meet in the mosque. Therefore, Islam places so much emphasis on familial rights and duties and on congregational prayer and living.
We need others to help us grow and thrive, and this should be reciprocal. This may be difficult for new Muslims, who may find themselves isolated from their families, but Allah provides us with what we need. Being connected to charities like Solace and having access to local mosques helps to provide that social engagement we all need to be content.
Being grateful to others by saying thank you or offering a kind word removes distrust and unpleasantness that can build up between people, as well as prevent these feelings from growing into something darker in one’s mind, leading to feelings of isolation and abandonment. Gratitude creates positivity between people, giving a sense of value and purpose.
Often, a lack of purpose and feeling undervalued spirals into a downward mental state of depression and darkness. We should remember, and remind others, that feelings of negativity reach everyone, but having a mental mechanism of gratitude can spur us out of such feelings. Sometimes saying “Alhamdulillah” may instantly jolt us out of self-pity, and at other times, we may need to repeat the phrase again and again, throughout the days and nights, until we have blotted the abscess of ingratitude and replaced it with the healing balm of gratitude.
Gratitude and Patience
Many are tested with severe trials, which inevitably reduce the positive persona that exudes from Muslims. Yet, Muslims say, “Praise be to Allah in all conditions.” This expression is a combination of two essential virtues in Islam: patience and gratitude.
When tested with excessive challenges and grief, Muslims reaffirm their belief that Allah is the source of destiny by saying, “Sufficient is Allah; He is the Best Disposer of affairs.” By acknowledging The Almighty at work, even when every fibre in our minds and bodies is consumed with pain and grief, we are exercising patience, which in turn is also a sign of our gratitude towards Allah (SWT).
Allah (SWT) says:
“He can calm the wind, leaving the ships motionless on the water. Surely in this are signs for whoever is steadfast, grateful.” (Qur’an 42:33)
We turn to Him when we are down and in the deepest darkness. He is the Light that removes all darkness. This mental acknowledgement is an undefeatable signpost in our psyche that allows the light to come in and stops the destructive and corrosive laments of self-pity from taking root.
We must remember the hadith:
“How wonderful is the case of a believer; there is good for him in everything, and this applies only to a believer. If prosperity attends him, he expresses gratitude to Allah, and that is good for him; and if adversity befalls him, he endures it patiently, and that is better for him.” (Muslim)
A believer has much to be grateful for, and the most singular thing to be grateful for is that we are Muslims. Alhamdulillah.
