Class 5
REWARDS OF SHUKR
AND SECRET OF HAPPINESS IN THE MODERN WORLD
Rewards of Shukr
The benefits of gratitude are many—and those of shukr far greater. It is not surprising that gratitude studies point to physical and mental health benefits, along with general life satisfaction. Gratitude interventions, such as counting one’s blessings or daily journaling, are not only encouraged, but reveal positive correlations with overall wellbeing, better sleep, heart and mental health, self-esteem, coping skills, and self-improvement. Additional benefits such as the cultivating of other virtues like patience, humility, and wisdom have also been reported, as have a number of social benefits in regard to forming and maintaining relationships, as a result of the mutual empathy and generosity that gratitude inspires.
We all seek happiness. We are naturally inclined toward comfort, provision, and meaningful relationships. People, wealth, and status will come and go, but the one constant that remains with each of us and always will is the One who is our Creator, Master, and most Generous benefactor. Shukr is the means to fulfill the purpose of life. It is the means by which to ultimately connect to Allah. Hence, shukr is also the means to true and lasting contentment beyond the brief glimmers of happiness that come from worldly possession. Allah reassures us of this: “And Allah will reward those who are grateful”. (3:144)
Allah tells us that the blessings He gifts cannot be enumerated. “And He has granted you all that you asked Him for. If you tried to count Allah’s blessings, you would never be able to number them. Indeed, humankind is truly unfair, [totally] ungrateful.” (14:34)
Not only have we been instructed to be thankful to Allah but also to one another. We can also further gain the pleasure of Allah by inculcating within us the divine attribute of generosity.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “He who does not thank the people is not thankful to Allah.” (Tirmidhi & Abu Dawood; classed as Sahih by Albani)
These qualities are universally recognized as building blocks to nurture meaningful relationships.
The blessings of Allah extend beyond our perception. This is also the case with Allah’s generosity in rewarding those who are grateful. The knowledge alone of immeasurable blessings and reward beyond the scope of our imagination is a means of increased gratitude, humility, and the motivation to seek closeness to Allah. We list below some them…
1. Better Relationship with Allah
Gratitude is one of the most beloved characteristics of Allah Almighty. Being thankful is the best way to get closer to Allah (SWT). By Shukr we invoke His mercy and love upon us. Gratitude is the key to Allah’s reward and pleasure. When we thankful to Him we try getting better our relationship with Allah Almighty. Allah stated in a way: “…And whoever desires the reward of this world – We will give him thereof, and whoever desires the reward of the Hereafter – We will give him thereof. And We will reward the grateful” (Quran, 3:145).
2. Increased rewards.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “The one who eats gratefully has a reward similar to one who fasts patiently.” (Sunan Ibn Mājah, classed as Sahih by Albani)
3. Prosperity in Life
Gratitude (Shukr), or thankfulness, is a quality that will lead to success both in this life and in the next that will never be going to an end. Allah (SWT) promises us mercy and an increase in His favors upon us if we are grateful. Allah says: “And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, ‘If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]…” (Quran, 14:7). From this verse, we can conclude that if we grateful to Allah Almighty for His blessing then He will give us abundantly in return.
4. Prevents Punishment from Allah
Allah says: “If Allah took mankind to task by that which they deserve, He would not leave a living creature on the surface of the earth; but He grants them reprieve unto an appointed term, and when their term comes – then verily Allah is Ever All-Seer of His slaves”(Quran, 35:45). Allah will grant us blessings when we Gratitude Him and also He is justified to punish us for our negligence. So from gratitude, we can get His blessings and if we don’t do it then He will punish us. Gratitude prevents punishment from Allah Almighty.
5. Seeking Pleasure of Allah
We (Muslims) spend all our lives to get the pleasure of Allah and gratitude is one way to do so not only in this life but also in the hereafter when we will express it to Him for His blessings. Shukr is the best mean to attain the pleasure of Allah.
6. Reduce Materialism and Boosts Sympathy
Ultimate happiness does not rely upon worldly possessions. Gratitude has actually been shown to reduce feelings of materialism and its consequential negative effects. Greater expressions of gratitude were associated with lower materialism and a higher life satisfaction. If you want a satisfied life then always thankful to Allah Almighty.
7. A Grateful heart.
Ibn ‘Abbâs (RA) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: “There are four qualities, whoever is given them has truly been given the best in this world and the next. They are: a grateful heart (that is thankful to Allâh), a remembering tongue (that mentions Allâh often), an enduring body (to persevere through the trials which Allâh may send), and a faithful wife (who does not cheat him of her body or his wealth).” (Tirmidhi, classed as hasan)
Thus, gratitude builds the believers’ optimism and resilience, driving them to work hard, with patience, and with consistency to overcome challenges, to attain balance and a more holistic wellbeing, and to reap the rewards of this world and the Hereafter. Allah's Messenger ﷺ summarized this when he ﷺ said: “How wonderful is the case of a believer! There is good for him in every situation and this applies only to a believer. If something good happens to him, he thanks [Allah] and this is good for him. When he faces adversity, he endures it patiently and this too is good for him.” (Sahih Muslim)
“…Be grateful to Allah, for whoever is grateful, it is only for their own good. And whoever is ungrateful, then surely Allah is Self-Sufficient, Praiseworthy”. (31:12)
Dangers of not being thankful
Among the greatest benefits of shukr to emphasize foremost is that it safeguards the believer from the very arrogance that led Iblīs and countless after him to failure.
The Qur’an narrates the story of Qārūn who was destroyed because of his arrogance. “Indeed, Qārūn was from the people of Moses, but he behaved arrogantly towards them. We had granted him such treasures that even their keys would burden a group of strong men. [Some of] his people advised him, ‘Do not be prideful! Surely Allah does not like the prideful’… He replied, ‘I have been granted all this because of some knowledge I have.’”
He ignored the advice he was given to use his wealth to seek the reward of the Hereafter. He was deceived by his wealth and knowledge, so he denied the true source of his blessings, Allah, and falsely credited himself for his success. As a result of this arrogance and ingratitude, Allah caused the ground to swallow him!
Another dangerous false perception related to arrogance is assuming one’s wealth and status to be an indication of Allah’s pleasure, such that one becomes complacent, even heedless, and eventually more distanced from Allah. This is a misconception from Satan’s subtle deception which he skillfully camouflages in the abundance many have become accustomed to and feel entitled to. The noble Companions of the Prophet ﷺ were found among the poorest and the wealthiest of their time, while those who fell from Allah’s favor have also been among the most downtrodden and the loftiest of their time. What separated them and saved the righteous from arrogance was their sincerity, servitude, and gratitude to Allah.
“And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, “If you are grateful, I will certainly give you more. But if you are ungrateful, surely My punishment is severe.” (14:7)
SHUKR - The Secret to Happiness in the Modern World
The timeless words of Allah “…and few of My servants are truly grateful” have held true in every age, just as they do at present. The mindset of humility and gratitude grounded in servitude to Allah may seem outdated and unrealistic in this day and age. However, when the Qur’an was first revealed 1400 years ago, society was far from the pristine ideals of Islam, such that the Prophet ﷺ was initially met with significant resistance. Yet Islam revolutionized the world in a few short years.
The message of Islam has remained unchanged since the advent of man. We have clearly been informed of this through the examples of Adam and the chain of all the prophets who followed after him, right up to the final Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Hence, the concept of shukr was established as an obligation upon Adam and thus upon all of humanity, then and forever. The Qur’an is filled with stories of past societies, some quite advanced for their age, who failed to heed this obligation and thereby sealed their fate. There is no reason to think that modern societies are immune to the same heedlessness.
“And Allah sets forth the example of a society which was safe and at ease, receiving its provision in abundance from all directions. But its people met Allah’s favors with ingratitude, so Allah made them taste the clutches of hunger and fear for their misdeeds”. (16:112)
Researchers are saying, “Contentedness seems to be a scarce commodity in the storehouse of modern experience”.
They conclude that most of the people living in advanced modernity are not happy to be there, and those in pursuit of it are not likely to enjoy the improved life they seek.
A survey of current research and behavioral studies reveals disturbing trends, particularly among the younger population of Millennials (born after 1980) and Gen-Z or Zoomers (born after 1996).
The landscape of modern society in the digital era has lost many of the moral and social norms of family and community known to man for centuries. Where, in a mental field fixated on instant gratification, can gratitude find a place to flourish?
It comes as no surprise that scientific studies of gratitude show that it is negatively associated with such personality traits as narcissism, materialism, and envy. The sense of entitlement produced by narcissism and lower life satisfaction resulting from materialism and envy naturally inhibit gratitude, given one perceives that they have less to feel grateful for.
Our society’s ingratitude manifests itself in widespread dissatisfaction with life, incessant complaining, greed, arrogance, anger, jealousy, and despair, to name just a few vices. All of these harmful traits corrupt the heart because they are symptoms of attachment to other than Allah, as explained by Ibn al-Qayyim. He goes on to say that Allah hands such people over to whatever they are attached to until it becomes a source of betrayal and failure for them.
As Allah states, “…they neglected Allah so He neglected them.” (9:67)
No doubt the threat of Iblīs holds true to this day. His attack on humanity from all sides is evident in our moral decline, increased doubts about God and religion, and attachment to material comforts. The very same attributes Iblīs displayed—arrogance, despair, ingratitude—have sadly become normative today.
Faith and shukr, as understood in Islam, are intertwined such that one cannot exist without the other. Hence, there is a correlation between the scarcity of faith and gratitude in society today.
To Conclude
Every single human is blessed beyond count or measure. Allah guided every single one of us, provided us with sustenance, and gave us multiple opportunities to gain His favor as well as more gifts and blessings. Despite recognizing this, you might still think to yourself: how can I ever be truly thankful if I’m unable to give thanks for everything?
The Prophet ﷺ said, “The best shukr is [to say] alḥamdulillāh (praise be to Allah).”
Not only does praising Allah through alḥamdulilah help us practice shukr, but as Bakr ibn ʿAbdullāh al-Muzanī reminded us, “There’s not an instance when a slave [of Allah] says alḥamdulillāh (praise be to Allah) except that a new blessing was bestowed upon him due to his utterance of alḥamdulillāh. Someone asked, ‘What is the repayment for such a blessing?’ He [al-Muzanī] said, ‘To say alḥamdulillāh [again], so a different blessing will come, and as a result, the blessings of Allah will never end.’”
May Allah give us the ability to give shukr and to be counted among the shākirūn. Our closing prayer is “alḥamdulillāh rabbi l-ʿālamīn [All praise is for Allah—Lord of all worlds]”, and may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon His messenger Muḥammad ﷺ , his family and descendants, his companions, and all those who follow him in righteousness until the Day of Judgment. Amīn.
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 rewards 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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