Thanks and Praise for the bounties

3:50:8

2023-05-16

1518

The remembrance (dhikr) of Allah's bounties and its acknowledgement is the first step towards expression of thanks (shokr) and praise for His bounties to us. Ameer Al-Mu’mineen (AS) starts Sermon 114 of Nahjul Balagha with these most profound words which sheds light on the correlation of praise with bounty, “Praise be to Him Who makes praise followed by bounty and bounty with gratefulness. We praise Him on His bounties as on His trials.”

From his eloquent words of wisdom, we come to recognize that Allah (SWT) the Almighty Creator created 'praise' and taught us its knowledge so that we can appreciate His bounties. It follows that more praise leads to more divine grace and vice versa. Not only that, but our praise to Him should not be limited or restricted to His bounties on us. As servants, we should also express thanks and gratitude for the times of trial and calamities we experience.

From the strange phenomenon which is of human nature that doesn't change with time or place is that man tends to forget, disregard, or overlook Allah's bounties and blessings to him, whether they are apparent or hidden. It is the tendency of humans, with the exception of few, that when man receives a blessing on a continuous and consistent basis he takes that bounty for granted and forgets to thank the Giver and Provider for that عطاء / grant. He distances himself from the Provider and becomes غافل/ heedless and oblivious to it. Allah (SWT) describes man to be ungrateful,

"وقليلُ مِن عباديَ الشكور."

Only very few of my servants are grateful. [34:13]

It is only when that bounty is seized from him at a moment of trial that man begins to wake up from his slumber and remember that the bounty was indeed a gift and that gift was bestowed by the Creator/Gifter. When a calamity or misfortune takes place, the person is then reminded to return to his Creator in a state of despair seeking refuge and help from Him. However, that state of return is short-lived and dies down when the bounty is restored and he returns back to his normal life of ghaflat / heedlessness and detachment from His Lord. This state is described in the Holy Quran as Allah (SWT) says in Surat Al-Israa:

أعرض ونأى بجانبه وإذا مسه الشر فذو دعاء عريض" "وإذا أنعمنا على الإنسان

When we bestow favors on man he turns away, and gets himself remote on his side (instead of coming to Us); and when evil seizes him (he comes) full of prolonged prayer! [17:83]

It is important for us to note that trials or Neqmat can also act as a Ne’mat which we may not realize or recognize that it is. In fact, authentic narrations say that the right of Allah (SWT) during the time of trial is satisfaction and patience, while His right during the time of ease is praise and gratitude. So, if we exercise patience, submission, reliance, and gratitude to Allah (SWT) at our times of trial and difficulty, then this experience will surely strengthen our relationship with our Creator and will bring us closer to Him which is the ultimate salvation and the greatest bounty from Him.