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The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “A man saw a dog eating moist earth on account of (severe) thirst. The man took his shoe (and filled it with water) and kept on pouring the water for the dog till it quenched its thirst. So, Allah appreciated his deed and admitted him into Paradise.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri]
Praising Himself, Allah Almighty says: {...Allah is Appreciative, All-Knowing.} [Surat an-Nisā’: 147] He also says: {...Allah is Ever-Appreciative, Forbearing} [Surat at-Taghābun: 17]
Our Lord appreciates our little acts of obedience and gives abundant rewards for them and even multiplies the rewards many times, with no limit. {Whoever comes with a good deed will be rewarded tenfold, but whoever comes with an evil deed will only be punished with its like; and none will be wronged.} [Surat al-An‘ām: 160]
Our Lord even appreciates our gratitude to Him and in return increases His blessings and bounty towards us. {Whatever blessing you have, it is from Allah...} [Surat an-Nahl: 53]
Our Lord also appreciates the deeds of His servants by praising them among His angels and His high company and by making them appreciated amongst other people on earth. {O descendants of those whom We carried [on board] with Noah. He was indeed a grateful slave.} [Surat al-Isrā’: 3]
Our Lord forgives many sins and accepts small good deeds and gives rewards for them. {...Indeed, our Lord is All-Forgiving, Ever-Appreciative} [Surat Fātir: 34]
Indeed, our Lord bestows a lot of blessings and is pleased with little gratitude.
The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Allah is pleased with a person who eats some food and then praises Him for it, or who drinks some drink and then praises Him for it.” [Narrated by Muslim]
In another Hadīth, the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever says in the morning: ‘Allāhumma ma asbaha bi min ni‘matin faminka wahdaka la sharīka lak, falaka al-hamdu walaka ash-shukr (O Allah, whatever favor has come to me, it comes from You alone, with no partner; so to You praise and thanks are due)’, he will have expressed full gratitude of the day; and if anyone says the same in the evening, he will have expressed full gratitude of the night.” [Narrated by Abu Dāwūd; Hasan (sound)]
Out of His perfect appreciation, Allah Almighty gives blessings to us and enables us to do what He appreciates. So, He gives blessings and then shows appreciation, though it all comes from Him. Allah Almighty says: {[And they will be told,] “Indeed, this is your reward, and your efforts have been appreciated.”} [Surat al-Insān: 22]
Glory be to the One Who bestows upon us the favor of endeavor and enables us to do it and then appreciates our deeds! Indeed, this is the utmost bounty and benevolence. All praise and thanks are due to Him.
He is the Ever-Appreciative Lord, Who does not cause our efforts to go to waste; rather, He rewards them and multiplies the reward countless times.
When Prophet Sulaymān (Solomon) (peace be upon him) slaughtered the horses in anger because they distracted him from remembrance of his Lord, and he wanted to avoid the repetition of that distraction, Allah Almighty gave him the wind in place of the horses.
When Yūsuf (Joseph) (peace be upon him) endured the hardship of imprisonment, Allah Almighty appreciated his patience by putting him in authority. {This is how We established Joseph in the land so that he may settle wherever he wished. We extend Our mercy to whom We will, and We do not let the reward of those who do good to be lost.} [Surat Yūsuf: 56]
And when His messengers (peace be upon them) sacrificed their lives and honor in the cause of their Lord and were, thus, harmed and abused, Allah Almighty compensated them by sending His peace and blessings upon them and by making the angels invoke His peace and blessings upon them. Moreover, He made them laudable in the heavens and among people: {We chose them exclusively for the remembrance of the Final Home.} [Surat Sād: 46]
When the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) left their homes and got out for the sake of their Lord, He compensated them by His approval and by giving them power and abundance in this world.
He is the Ever-Appreciative. He brings servants out of Hellfire on account of an atom’s weight of goodness, and He does not cause this tiny amount to be lost. The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “While a man was on the way, he found a thorny branch of a tree there on the way and put it aside. Allah appreciated that deed and forgave him.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
Then, what about those who remove moral hurdles from people’s way?! What about those who make things easy for people, remove their distress, help them with their needs, and bring them joy?! It all comes from Allah Almighty and it is His favor upon us from beginning to end.
As Allah Almighty is Ever-Appreciative Himself, the dearest to Him among His servants are the grateful and the most hated to Him are the ungrateful.
Imam Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy upon him) said: “Blessings are a trial and test from Allah, as they reveal the thankfulness of the thankful and the ingratitude of the ungrateful.”
1. By the tongue, which is praising the Bestower of favors.
2. By the body organs, which is using them in obeying Allah Almighty.
This is the attitude of all prophets and righteous people.
The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) used to stand in prayer during the night for so long that his feet would get swelled. ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) once said to him: “Why do you do this although Allah forgave your past and future sins?” Thereupon, he said: “Should I not be a thankful servant?!” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri]
Allah Almighty praised the family of Prophet Dāwūd (David) (peace be upon him) for their gratitude. He says: {...“Do [good deeds] in gratitude, O household of David!”...} [Surat Saba’: 13]
As only few of Allah’s servants show proper gratitude to Him, which is an act of worship, He ordained upon us to ask Him to enable us to be thankful and to accept that from us.
The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) instructed Mu‘ādh to say this supplication after every prayer: “Allāhumma a‘inni ‘ala dhikrika wa shukrika wa husni ‘ibādatik (O Allah, help me remember You, give thanks to You, and worship You properly).” [Narrated by Abu Dāwūd; Sahīh (authentic)]
In another Hadīth, the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Rabbi ij‘alny laka shakkāran laka dhakkāran (My Lord, make me ever-grateful to You, ever-remembering of You).” [Narrated by Abu Dāwūd; Sahīh (authentic)]
Then, consider this guarantee from the Lord of the worlds in case you are grateful to Him. Allah Almighty says: {Why would Allah punish you, if you are grateful and faithful? Allah is Appreciative, All-Knowing.} [Surat an-Nisā’: 147]
Our gratitude is, in fact, for our own benefit. Allah Almighty says: {...Whoever is grateful, it is only for his own good; and whoever is ungrateful, then Allah is Self-Sufficient, Praiseworthy.} [Surat Luqmān: 12] Whoever wants increase from his Lord should show gratitude to Him: {And [remember] when your Lord declared, “If you are grateful, I will surely give you more...} [Surat Ibrāhim: 7] How Merciful Allah is!
Beware of comparing yourself to others in terms of fortunes and blessings. This would give you nothing but grief and distress. You should rather act upon this verse: {...So hold fast to what I have given you, and be of those who are grateful.} [Surat al-A‘rāf: 144]
He who is thankful to Allah Almighty should also give thanks to those through whom Allah sends His blessings, most notably his parents: {...Be grateful to Me and to your parents. To Me is the final return.} [Surat Luqmān: 14]
The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever is not grateful to people is not grateful to Allah.” [Narrated by Ahmad; Sahīh (authentic)]
Blessed be the One to Whom His servants fail to show proper gratitude,
for indeed His blessings are limitless and endless.
Those who give thanks need to give thanks for being able to give thanks.
Also, being able to give thanks for the ability to give thanks does itself entail thanks.
Indeed, every blessing and every thanks is a favor after a favor.
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O Allah, make us among the thankful, O Lord of the worlds!