How to Practice Gratitude in Islam – Shukar-guzari
Gratitude: The quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.
Synonyms: gratefulness – thankfulness – thanks – appreciation
“Allah’s generosity is connected to gratitude, and gratitude is linked to increase in His generosity.
The generosity of Allah will not stop increasing unless the gratitude of the servant ceases” — Ali ibn Abu Talib (KW)
Actively and consciously practicing gratitude in Islam is the key to a life of abundance, prosperity, peace and joy. And no other path provides such ample opportunity to exercise gratitude. In fact, the root meaning of the word kufr, which is normally translated as unbelief, originates from the word for “ingratitude.” So be happy and be grateful! Be grateful morning and evening. Practice taking a brief moment first thing in the morning when you wake and last thing at night when you sleep to simply say and experience, “Thank You.” Be grateful when you pray.
Islamic practices provide a minimum of five opportunities daily to take rest in the Divine Presence of God and to be grateful. Make it a practice to consciously take a moment to say “Thank You” while feeling and experiencing gratitude after your prayers. In fact, the best way to ensure your prayers are answered is to be grateful! Be grateful when you eat and drink. By taking a little extra time to experience gratitude when you eat and drink, you become more present, and in Islam, eating is meant to be a spiritual experience. Gently and consciously say “Thank You” as you eat, and you will find the entire experience more joyful and healthy.
Give charity. By consciously giving charity in Islam, you not only affirm that you are blessed, but you attract greater abundance to yourself as you strengthen your belief and trust in God, become less dependent upon dunya, the world, and so become rooted in a paradigm based in Providence. Keep a small jar or box in your home and before leaving each morning, put a little money, even some loose change, as you say, “Thank You.” Breathe and trust in God. Know that you are held, cared for and carried.
Tasbih. Tasbih, one of the forms of Islamic Meditation, is a powerful spiritual exercise to strengthen one’s mind and soul on haq, truth. Make it a daily practice so recite 100 times, “Ya Rabbi Shukr,” which means, “O My Lord, Thank You.” Cultivate an attitude of gratitude in Islam, be grateful always so that the words “Thank You” naturally and continuously flow from your lips and are felt in your heart, and your life will increasingly become a shining example of true Islam, a path to peace, prosperity and abundance. Be grateful even for calamities and misfortunes, for nothing happens except to ultimately serve a divine purpose. And the fastest way to move beyond undesirable circumstances is to stop resisting them, to simply let them be, be grateful and thus surrender and accept what is, and so allow them to flow out of your life. “Gratitude for the abundance you have received is the best insurance that abundance will continue.” — Prophet Muhammad PBUH Quotes
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