Class 2
TYPES OF SHUKR
How to thank Allah
How can a person thank his Lord for His great blessings? His gratitude should fulfill all the necessary conditions, which are gratitude of the heart, gratitude of the tongue and gratitude of the physical faculties.
Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya (d. 751 AH) offers us a concise, yet comprehensive definition of shukr when he states,
Shukr is [manifested] through
the heart, by feelings of subordination and submissiveness
the tongue, through verbally acknowledging the blessing and praising/thanking [the benefactor]
acts of obedience and unwavering devotion.
Note that, in this definition, Ibn al-Qayyim combines both outward expressions and inward experiences. Shukr is to be felt in the heart and exemplified in our external behavior.
Shukr is not simply an optional, supererogatory practice. Rather, it is a fundamental obligation that sets the foundation for and encapsulates the essence of worship (Qur’an, 16:114; 2:172). So much so that Allah divides His creation based on those who express shukr and those who do not. In one verse, for example, He states:
“Indeed, We guided him [i.e., man] to the way, be he grateful (shākir) or be he ungrateful (kafūr”). (76:3)
While shukr means to acknowledge and openly show appreciation for a blessing, kufr is the exact opposite. Kufr is derived from the root word kafara, which means to cover something and make it hidden.
In this context, kufr means to refuse to appreciate these benefits, thus hiding one’s appreciation and not openly showing gratitude. Those who are ungrateful are ultimately labeled with disbelief (kufr), illustrating the magnitude of being ungrateful to Allah. Thus, knowing the signposts on the path of shukr and how to stay on it is essential to attain the mercy of Allah (4:147).
We will look into the three ways of doing Shukr in detail:
1. How to thank Allah in your heart
Gratitude of the heart: what is meant is that the heart senses the value of the blessings that Allah has bestowed upon His slave, and fully acknowledges that the One Who has bestowed these great blessings is Allah Alone, with no partner or associate. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): “And whatever of blessings and good things you have, it is from Allah.” (An-Nahl 16:53)
This acknowledgement is not mustahabb (recommended), rather it is obligatory. Whoever attributes these blessings to anyone other than Allah has disbelieved.
Count your blessings
Allah has blessed us with numerous tangible and intangible blessings, be they material objects or states of being. Ultimately, a blessing is anything that brings us closer to our Creator.
Oftentimes, we assume only “good” things are blessings, like having a home, attending a good school, or finding a suitable spouse. It’s important that we recognize that even events we perceive to be negative (e.g., death of a loved one, divorce, or loss of a job) in reality can still be seen as blessings if they end up bringing us closer to Allah. That it is why it comes as no surprise to find a Successor (tābiʿī) like Shurayḥ al-Qāḍī (d. ca. 80 AH) stating, “A tribulation does not overtake a servant except that Allah presents with it three blessings: that the tribulation was not a test of his religion, that the tribulation was not greater than it was, and that it was an event that passed (i.e., it was not permanent).”
We need to place every difficulty we experience in life into context by recognizing that our challenges are temporary and could have always been more severe. With this mindset, even tough setbacks are an opportunity to reflect on our blessings.
Similar to tying up an animal so it doesn’t escape, scholars point out the only way you can “bind” or tie up your blessings in order to hold on to them and preserve them is through the rope of shukr.
That is, by counting your blessings and not taking them for granted. This is one of the easiest starting points to begin embodying shukr in your life.
In order to count our blessings, we need to first spend time reflecting on what Allah has given us. One way to do so is by thinking about our source of sustenance (rizq). Nine different Qur’anic verses combine the words shukr and rizq. In one verse, for example, Allah states:“O you who have believed, eat from the good [i.e., lawful] things which We have provided for you and be grateful to Allah if it is [indeed] Him that you worship”. (2:172)
So why the emphasis on sustenance? Think about it for a moment. What exactly do you do to grow and consume food? Are you an essential part of this process or is it almost automated? The main argument these Qur'anic verses convey is that these different types of good and pure provisions, from water and rain, to fruits and livestock, are provided to us solely from Allah, ready to be consumed without much preparation. The fact that inhabitants of barren lands still consume some form of sustenance speaks to the reality that, no matter our situation, Allah is there to sustain us, and that is yet another reason to be grateful to Him. Vegetation grows and develops along a specific and predetermined process. The fact that the vegetation’s nourishment (sunlight and rain) also comes from Allah is an additional reason to experience and express shukr.
Another blessing we take for granted is the fact that Allah is lenient with us regarding our obligatory acts during times of inconvenience like traveling or illness. For example, if we are not feeling well or are traveling during the month of Ramadan in which fasting is obligatory, Allah, out of His immense mercy, allows us to break our fast. When Allah mentions concessions like these in the Qur’an, He reminds us that He does so “in order for us to be grateful” (laʿallakum tashkurūn). Take for example the concession we are granted when we cannot find water to make wuḍūʾ:
O you who have believed, when you rise to [perform] prayer, wash your faces and your forearms to the elbows and wipe over your heads and wash your feet to the ankles. And if you are in a state of ritual impurity [janābah], then purify yourselves. But if you are ill, or on a journey, or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself, or have been intimate with your wives and cannot find water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and hands with it. Allah does not intend to make difficulty for you, but He intends to purify you and complete His favor upon you so that you may be grateful. (5:6)
Had He so willed, Allah could have required His servants to fast despite the circumstances or purify ourselves no matter the cost. But in so many different situations, Allah is lenient with us in our obligations and expects only gratitude in exchange.
A final grouping of verses revolve around the blessing of knowledge and the ways that we acquire it. Two verses specify the human faculties of hearing, sight, and intellect and how we should be grateful for such gifts. Additionally, the blessing of being taught knowledge by Allah, whether through direct instruction (2:31), indirect teaching (55:2; 55:4; 96:4), insight and inspiration (28:7), or revelation (21:80) is another reason to experience gratitude and express thanks. For example, Allah says in the Qur’an:
“And Allah has extracted you from the wombs of your mothers not knowing a thing, and He made for you hearing and vision and hearts [i.e., intellect] that perhaps you would be grateful”. (16:78)
These sets of verses illustrate the numerous blessings we take for granted. It is only by actively reflecting on the fact that it is out of Allah’s generosity that we have our daily sustenance, our hearing and vision, our very abilities to think and act, that we can recognize Allah’s immense favors upon us and be grateful for them.
Tips on How to Identify blessings and cultivate contentment
Sufyān ibn ʿUyaynah (d. 198 AH) used to often repeat, “Allah blessed us in so-and-so, He did for us so-and-so, He did for us so-and-so….”
Identifying and acknowledging the numerous blessings we have is the first step in engaging in shukr. By attributing Allah as the main cause behind every good thing in our lives, our mindset changes and shukr becomes second nature.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Look at those who are lower than you and do not look at those who are higher than you, lest you belittle the favors Allah conferred upon you.” (Bukhari & Muslim)
There is no better way to recognize the extent to which you are drowning in blessings than by heeding the Prophet’s advice in this hadith. How can you not be compelled to be grateful to Allah when there are countless people in the world who would do anything for your home, your health, or your family? Visiting a local homeless shelter or helping individuals less fortunate t han us are small ways to remind ourselves to acknowledge that we have what these individuals are missing. Simply carrying several heavy bags of groceries for an elderly individual makes you appreciate your strength as well as your independence. Want to give shukr for your knowledge? Tutor someone who needs your guidance. Want to give shukr for your wealth? Give some of your money to someone who needs it.
A tābiʿī by the name of Bakr b. ʿAbdullāh al-Muzanī (d. 108 AH) said, “O Son of Adam, if you seek to know the extent of the blessings that Allah has bestowed upon you, then simply close your eyes.”
It is far too common in our society today to assume that only wealth and prosperity are blessings, blinding us to the reality that something as common as eyesight is one of the biggest blessings we will ever be afforded. There are many other blessings that we take for granted. Our mother ʿĀʾishah (rA) said, “There is no slave that drinks from clean and pure water, and it enters the body without injury, and it exits the body without injury, except that it becomes obligatory on this slave to engage in shukr.”
With a broader understanding of blessings, even individuals who have little material wealth have reason to be grateful.
“A blessing by which Allah took away something from my worldly affairs is greater than a blessing by which he gave me something from it (i.e., the world).”
In this case, a blessing extends to situations where we are not tested in our faith. What this attitude ultimately cultivates is a sense of contentment with whatever Allah has given us.
The Prophet ﷺ advised us, “Have qanāʾah (contentment), [and] you’ll be the most grateful of people.” (Ibn Majah, authenticated by Albani)
If we are content with whatever Allah has decreed for us, anything that comes our way turns into a blessing we did not take for granted for which we become immensely grateful. Building contentment does not require hours of learning, praying, or practice. All it requires is a sincere action in the heart where you say “alḥamdulillāh” with full acceptance and joy for the blessings you have received. Even if you can identify only a few blessings, remember that blessings, in reality, are innumerable and therefore can never be fully measured.
Allah says: “And He gave you from all you asked of Him. And if you should [try to] count the favors [i.e., blessings] of Allah, you could not enumerate them. Indeed, mankind is [generally] most unjust and ungrateful”. (14:34)
Finally, the greatest blessing that we have is the blessing of Islam.
We were created to worship Allah. We were also created with numerous blessings in order to show gratitude. By understanding this basic premise, we can start to build the proper mechanism to worship Allah by embodying shukr
TIPS FOR THE TEST
Do not have to memorise the ayahs or hadeeths word for word and their references, but remember their meanings and the msg being given.
Remember the reasons of Shukr
ASSIGNMENT
There will be an Assignment Question asked in the Test. Marks will be given based on the following: -
I. Invite atleast 15 people to the course (can invite via WhatsApp, Facebook, Email, telegram or word of mouth) 3 Marks. (check the note below for exceptions)
Note:
Those who have already invited whether on Whatsapp, Email or FB, do not need to invite again.
It does not matter, whether people join or not, our job is to invite.
II. Talk to 5 people (friends or family) about any three topics from the course - (5 Marks)
III. Pray for the Ummah, pray for the ease of all the poor & oppressed Muslims and Maghfirah of the Muslims who passed away. Pray that Allah make us all strong in imaan and give us the hidayah to work for the aakhirah and to help each other. - 1 Mark
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