It is necessary that a person be grateful unto Allah Taála as Allah Taála has blessed us with various bounties. If a person has a big sized body with a large tummy then can we imagine how he would have looked if Allah Taála had not blessed us with clothing, or if the toes of a person does not look too pleasant then what embarrassment would a person undergo if we didn’t have socks and shoes to cover them. We have therefore being taught a beautiful Dua when wearing our clothing,

اَلْحَمْدُ اللهِ اَّلذِىْ كَسَانِى مَا اُوَاْرِىْ بِهِ عَوْرَتِىْ وَاَتَجَمَّلُ بِهِ فِى حَيَاتِىْ

All praises are due to Allah Taála who has granted me clothing by which I conceal my private parts and I beautify myself in my life.

When Hadrat Mufti Taqi Uthmani Saheb visited Azaadville, he had mentioned that his Sheikh Hadrat Doctor Abdul Hay Saheb rused to greatly emphasise the importance of Shukr. There are various good qualities that one should endeavour to acquire such as gratitude, humility, humbleness, generosity, etc. Any of these qualities are sufficient to attract the mercy of Allah and thereafter Allah Taála will pull a person and make him His beloved.

There was once a young boy that had two doves which he loved very much. On one occasion he attended a fair. At the fair he wanted to drink water so he told a young girl to take care of the doves. When he returned he found that one dove had flown away. He enquired, “What happened to the dove?” She replied, “it had flown away.” He then enquired, “How did that happen?” She caused the second bird to fly away and commented, “Just like this.” He was amazed with the simplicity of the girl to such an extent that he fell in love with her. He then married her and when she passed away he had built the Taj Mahal in her remembrance. On falling in love with her, he had done so much for her. When Allah Taála loves a person what won’t Allah Taála do for him? On acquiring a single good quality one can become the beloved of Allah Taála.

If a person is grateful unto Allah Taála then Shaytaan will never gain the upper hand over such a person. Allah Taála says in the Quraan,

ثُمَّ لآتِيَنَّهُم مِّن بَيْنِ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ وَعَنْ أَيْمَانِهِمْ وَعَن شَمَآئِلِهِمْ وَلاَ تَجِدُ أَكْثَرَهُمْ شَاكِرِينَ

“(To mislead them,) I will then approach them  from the front, from their backs, from their right and their left (in every possible manner) and You will not find most of them to be grateful (most of them will follow me and not Your Deen of Islaam).”

Shaytaan has taken a vow to come to lead man astray and the ungrateful ones will easily follow Shaytaan. This indicates that one that makes Shukr will not be easily misguided by Shaytaan. However, do we make Shukr unto Allah?

Allah Taála complains in the Quraan Sharif,

وَقَلِيلٌ مِّنْ عِبَادِيَ الشَّكُورُ

 (Unfortunately,) Few of My bondsmen are thankful.”

In another verse Allah Taála states,

قَلِيلاً مَّا تَشْكُرُونَ

(Unfortunately, despite all these favours) Little is the gratitude that you show (to Us).

This is the condition of those that show gratitude and make Shukr. Allah Taála has blessed us with in-numerable favours because of which we are required to be grateful.   

We should also be grateful unto the people that have assisted or favoured us in anyway. Once Hadrat Doctor Abdul Hay Aarifi R.A  was invited for meals. After meals he thanked the womenfolk for preparing such delicious meals from behind a screen adhering to the relevant rules of Purda. The woman began weeping so the husband asked her the reason. She said, “I am cooking for you for so many years yet you never thanked me, yet this man appreciated the meals.” The husband had learnt his lesson so he decided to thank her the next day for the meals. Again, she began crying profusely which left the man baffled. He again enquired, “Why are you crying?” She replied, “I cooked for you for so many years yet you never thanked but the day the neighbours wife send food, you thank me.”

We should thank our womenfolk for the Khidmat that they offer to us in the form of cooking for us, cleaning the house, taking care of the kids, etc. Similarly the womenfolk should be grateful to the men for ensuring that the rental is paid on time, the utility bills are attended to, the groceries are purchased and brought into the home, etc. Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam is reported to have said,

من لم يشكر الناس لم يشكر الله

Whosoever does not thank people will not thank Allah Taála

Many a times the husband feels it below his dignity to thank the wife. The boss feels it below his dignity to thank the employee as the employee may start taking advantage. However, Allah Taála does not take advantage of his servant so we should always be grateful unto Allah Taála. Nevertheless we should thank fellow human beings as well by saying ‘Jazakallah’. May Allah Taála grant us the Taufeeq of being grateful for all His bounties and express Shukr to fellow human beings as well.