Class 4
SHUKR BY ACTION
Gratitude of the physical faculties
Gratitude of the physical faculties means using one's physical faculties in obedience of Allah and keeping them from committing sins and acts of disobedience that Allah has forbidden.
Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): “‘Work you, O family of Dawud (David), with thanks!”” [Saba 34:13]
‘Aishah R.A. said: When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ prayed, he would stand for so long that his feet became swollen. ‘Aishah said: O Messenger of Allah, are you doing this when Allah has forgiven your past and future sins? He ﷺ said: “O ‘Aishah, should I not be a thankful slave?” (Bukhari & Muslim)
Abu Harun said: “I entered upon Abu Hazim, and said to him: May Allah have mercy on you, what is the gratitude of the eyes? He said: If you see something good with them, you mention it, and if you see something bad with them, you conceal it. I said: What is the gratitude of the ears? He said: If you hear something good with them, you remember it, and if you hear something bad with them, you forget it.”
Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “Gratitude is of two degrees, one of which is obligatory, which is doing obligatory actions and avoiding haram (unlawful) things. This is essential and is sufficient as gratitude for these blessings.
Hence one of the salaf said: “Gratitude means giving up sin.”
And one of them said: “Gratitude means not using any blessing to help one to disobey Him.”
So to summarize, Shukr by action is done by two things…
Doing good deeds.
Staying away from Sins.
Doing Good Deeds
We list below some good deeds listed in the Quran
Allah Says,
Charity: “And spend of your substance in the cause of Allah, and make not your own hands contribute to (your) destruction; but do good; for Allah loveth those who do good.” (2:195)
Help others: "Do good to others, surely Allah loves those who do good to others." (2:195)
Be a Good Relative: “Allah commands justice, the doing of good, and liberty to kith and kin, and He forbids all shameful deeds, and injustice and rebellion: He instructs you, that ye may receive admonition”. (An Nahl 16:90)
Do good to Parents, Neighbors etc. “Worship Allâh and join none with Him (in worship), and do good to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, Al-Masâkin (the poor), the neighbour who is near of kin, the neighbour who is a stranger, the companion by your side, the wayfarer (you meet), and those (slaves) whom your right hands possess. Verily, Allâh does not like such as are proud and boastful” (4:36)
Make Dua:“ Invoke your Lord with humility and in secret. He likes not the aggressors. And do not do mischief on the earth, after it has been set in order and invoke Him with fear and hope; Surely, Allaah’s Mercy is (ever) near unto the good doers.” [55-56]
Be forgiving: “Those who spend (in Allah’s Cause) in prosperity and in adversity, who repress anger, and who pardon men; verily, Allah loves Al-Muhsinun (the good-doers)”. (3:134)
Sajdat al-Shukr
The prostration of shukr (sajdat al-shukr) is yet another simple behavior anyone can do whenever they recognize and appreciate a blessing they have from Allah. This form of worship does not require ablution or even facing the qiblah, and hence offers us an easy, but meaningful way to submit to our Creator for the blessings we have received. Abū Bakrah narrated, “When anything came to the Prophet ﷺ which caused pleasure (or, by which he was made glad), he prostrated himself in gratitude to Allah.” (Abu Dawood; classed as Sahih by Albani)
There is no specific du`a narrated in the hadiths for Sujud Ash-Shukr. Hence the scholars said that what is to be said in Sujud Ash-Shukr is the same tasbih and du`a as are said when prostrating in prayer.
Offering Sacrifice as means of Thanking Allah
Part of being grateful to Allah is seeking to draw closer to Him by means of different kinds of acts of worship and to endear oneself to Him by means of good deeds such as prayer, zakaah, fasting and so on.
Another part of being grateful to Allah is giving thanks to Him by means of sacrifice rituals, which means offering a sacrifice for the sake of Allah.
Allah says, “Therefore turn in prayer to your Lord and sacrifice (to Him only)” (al-Kawthar 108:2)
If Allah bestows a great blessing upon a person – and all His blessing are great – then it is mustahabb for him to give thanks to Allah for it by showing kindness to people, so he can offer a sacrifice and make food and invite his brothers and friends, and give charity to those who are in need.
Offering sacrifice to give thanks and not to ward off evil
If offering a sacrifice on the threshold of the new house – is done in order to placate the jinn and ward off calamities and undesirable events, then it is a haraam custom, and is in fact shirk. This is what seems to generally be the case with offering the sacrifice before entering the house, and doing it on the threshold in particular.
But if the intention is to honour one's new neighbours and get to know them, and to give thanks to Allah for the blessing of a new home, and to honour one's relatives and friends on this occasion, and to show them the house, then this is good and the one who does it is to be praised for his action. But that is only usually done after the people have moved into the house, and not before, and the animal or animals should not be slaughtered on the threshold of the house or in the entryway to the house.
ALLAH’s PROMISES TO Al Muhsinoon (DOERS OF GOOD)
Paradise -Jannah
“Give glad tidings to those who believe and work righteousness, that their portion is Gardens, beneath which rivers flow. Every time they are fed with fruits therein, they say: “Why, this is what we were fed with before,” for they are given things in similitude; and they have therein companions pure (and holy), and they abide therein (for ever).” (Al Qur’an 2:25)
“And whoever does righteous deeds, whether male or female, while being a believer - those will enter Paradise and will not be wronged, [even as much as] the speck on a date seed”. (Soora an Nisa a 124)
This promise of Allah is sufficient. One does not even need to think of the other promises, as this promise of Paradise is sufficient and is in fact more than what we deserve.
2. The mercy of Allah – Rahmah.
3. Allah will erase the evil.
4. Love for them.
5. No effort will be wasted.
6. A good ending.
7. Guidance – Hidayah.
8. No fear and no grief.
9. A good life – Hayaatan tayyibah.
10. A Good place in Paradise
May Allah give us the Hidayah to be amongst the to good deeds to be amongst the Muhsinun, to fear Him and be Mindful of Him to be amongst the Muttaqoon and grant us a good ending to be able to die us Mu’minoon (with our last words being La Ilaaha Illa Allah).
Please remember us an the whole Ummah in your prayers.
2. Staying away from Sins (Taqwa of Allah)
Allah says,
“O you who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared and do not die except as Muslims”. (Surah Imran 3 : 102)
‘O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may become people having Taqwaa.’ [Sooratul-Baqarah (2): 183]
“O you who believe, fear Allah and let every soul see what he has sent forward tomorrow. Fear Allah! Verily Allah is aware of what you do...” (Surah Hashr 59:18).
As for that [happy] life in the hereafter, We grant it [only] to those who do not seek to exalt themselves on earth, nor yet to spread corruption: for the future belongs to the Muttaqoon. (28:83)
“But yes, whoever fulfils his commitment and fears Allah then indeed, Allah loves those who fear Him.” [Al-Imran: 76]
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ, said: “Fear Allah wherever you may be; follow up an evil deed with a good one which will wipe (the former) out, and behave good-naturedly towards people.” [Al-Tirmidhi)
Taqwa is also Being Mindful of Allah
‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbas, radiyallahu anhuma, reported: One day I was behind the Prophet ﷺ and he said: "O young man, I shall teach you some words [of advice] : Be mindful of Allah, and Allah will protect you. Be mindful of Allah, and you will find Him in front of you. If you (have need to) ask, ask of Allah; and if you seek help, seek help from Allah. Know that even if the Nation (or the whole community) were to gather together to benefit you with something, they would not benefit you with anything except that which Allah has already recorded for you, and that if they gather together to harm you with something, they would not be able to harm you with anything except that which Allah has already recorded against you. The pens have been lifted and the pages have dried." [Al-Tirmidhi]
Al-Hasan al-Basri said, “The people who have Taqwa (al-Muttaqeen) are those who avoided whatever Allah (swt) has prohibited and act upon what he has commanded.”
Summarised list or traits/characteristics of Muttaqoon
Fears Allah
Is Mindful of Allah at all times.
Fasts
Refrains from evil deeds
Relies on Allah alone
ALLAH’s PROMISES TO THOSE WHO FEAR HIM (Muttaqoon)
Paradise. But those who feared their Lord will be driven to Paradise in groups until, when they reach it while its gates have been opened and its keepers say,"Peace be upon you; you have become pure; so enter it to abide eternally therein," [they will enter]. (39:73)
Blessings – Barakah.
Allah is with them.
Success,
Forgiveness & Rewards in the hereafter.
Tips for keeping away from Sins
Seeking Refuge with Allah
Dispelling Shaytan anytime of Day or night – Duas of before each act
Recite the Qur’an with its meanings
Keeping busy with Dhikr
Adhering to the Main Body of the Muslims (The Jama’ah)
Be with good company
Knowing the Tricks of Shytaan & The means of defeating him
Learn Islam
Fasting
Remember much the destroyer of pleasures: DEATH!
Other tips to attain Taqwa and stay away from Sins
Never consider yourself as higher and better than anyone else.
Long for Allah’s pleasure and satisfaction in all affairs.
Renew the fountains of your Iman by studying and reflecting on Allah’s creation.
Fear of worldly punishment
Hope for rewards in this life 4. Hope for rewards in the Hereafter
Realization that God sees you 7. Being thankful for His blessings with obedience
Observe the sunnah whenever possible.
Summary of the three types of Shukr
In order to be grateful to your Lord for the blessings that He has bestowed upon you, you must acknowledge in your heart that the Giver of these blessings and the Bestower is Allah, may He be exalted, so you venerate Him, attribute it to Him, and you acknowledge that with your tongue, so you give thanks to Him after waking from sleep for having given new life, and after eating and drinking for having provided you with them and bestowed them upon you, and so on with every blessing that you see in your life.
You give thanks with your physical faculties by not letting them see or hear any sin or evil, such as singing or gossip; you do not walk with your feet to haram places; you do not use your hands to commit evil, such as haram writing in a relationship with non-mahram women (one whom you can marry according to Islamic law), or writing haram contracts, or making or doing anything haram. Giving thanks with the physical faculties for blessings also includes using them to obey Allah, by reading Quran and books of knowledge, listening to beneficial and useful things, and so on with all the faculties which you should use in various kinds of obedience and worship.
Remember that gratitude for blessings is a blessing which needs to be given thanks for, so that one will continue to enjoy the blessings of his Lord, thanking his Lord for those blessings and praising Him for helping him to be among those who give thanks.
We ask Allah, may He be exalted, to help us and you to do that which He loves and which pleases Him.
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 promises of Allah.
Remember the tips
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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