How to Seek the Pleasure of Allah One Must have Gratitude towards Allah

life is a fluctuation between afflictions which one patiently endures and blessings for which one is grateful to His Lord. This is the reason why many of our predecessors used to say, "Faith is divided into two: gratitude and endurance." The Prophet used to say, "The condition of a believer is a wonder, it is all good. Only the believer enjoys this situation. When he enjoys good fortune, he thanks Allah and this benefits him. When he undergoes afflictions, he patiently endures it and this is also good for him." Umar bin Al-Khattab once said, "If gratitude and endurance were two camels, I would not mind which of the two I mounted." Both gratitude and endurance are provisions for the Muslim on his journey towards his Lord. This was why the following verse has been repeated many times in the Qur'an, "Surely, therein are signs for ever patient [and] thankful person." [Surah Ibrahim (14), Ayah 5.]

Furthermore, the Qur'an has divided people into two groups Furthermore, the Qur'an has divided people into two groups. The first denied Allah's benevolence and the second recognised it and thanked Him for it. Allah says (which means): “Verily, We showed him the way, whether he be grateful or ungrateful." [Surah Al- Insan (76), Ayah 3.] Gratitude is the reason for which Allah has created man. The Qur'an says (which means): "It is Allah who brought you forth from the wombs of your mothers while you knew nothing; and He gave you hearing and sight and hearts that you may give thanks [to Him]." [Surah An-Nahl (16), Ayah 78.] If the Muslim Nation seeks to achieve the pleasure of its Lord, its members must be among the grateful. It is the duty of the people of knowledge to teach how to thank Allah for His benevolence and caution against ungratefulness to their Lord

The firmness and perseverance of the Muslim nation in its adherence to the truth greatly depends on the gratitude of its members to Allah. We must not make the same mistakes the Christians and those who came before us did in this: "Muhammad is no more than a Messenger, and [indeed] many Messengers have passed away before him. If he died or is killed, will you then turn back on your heels [as disbelievers]? And he who turns back on his heels, not the least harm will he do to Allah, and Allah will give reward to those who are grateful." [Surah Ale-Imran (3). Ayah 144.] Allah had instructed Moses (as) to take the religion with firmness and be grateful, "O Moses, I have chosen you above men by My Messages and by My speaking [to you], so hold that which I have given you and be of the grateful." [Surah Al-A'raaf (7), Ayah 144.] The Muslim nation, therefore, should pass on the same instruction to all its members. It should also teach them that Allah tests His servants with good fortunes as well as with afflictions, "And we shall make a trial of you with evil and with good." [Surah Al- Anbiyaa (21), Ayah 35.]

Allah can readily open the gates of good fortune and wealth and inundate a servant with them. The servant will then either be helped by Allah to remain steadfast. This will enable him to be of those who are grateful, who give what is legally due from them and acknowledge His benevolence. Alternatively he will rejoice in the world and its fleeting pleasures, forgetting the source of his good fortune, only to destroy himself by turning the blessing into a curse. Allah tells us that, "If you continue to enjoy His benevolence while persisting in disobeying Him, then be careful because you are going to be punished gradually from directions which you do not perceive." Therefore, the Muslim Nation should thank Allah for His benevolence; otherwise, they will either lose it or it will continue in the form of a veiled affliction and, a testing enticement. If our nation sees its supporters growing in number and its Da'wah spreading and its knowledge increasing, it is gratitude which will perpetuate these blessings and help it receive more of them, "And [remember] when you Lord proclaimed: `If you give thanks (by accepting faith and worshipping none but Allah], I will give you more (of My bounty), but if you are thankless (i. e. disbelievers), verily! My punishment is indeed severe." [Surah Ibrahim (14), Ayah 7.]

Umar bin `Abdul-`Aziz once said, Listen to what some of the companions had to say about showing gratitude to Allah: Umar bin `Abdul-`Aziz once said, "Secure Allah's blessings by expressing gratitude [to Allah]." Hassan Al-Basri said, "When Allah bestows His favours upon a people, He asks for their gratitude. If they offer their thanks [to Him], He is able to increase their good fortune, but if they deny His favours, He is able to turn these favours of His into torment and affliction."

Gratitude of the Tongue Gratitude of the Heart Gratitude of the Deeds Someone however may ask, "What do we mean by gratitude?" Is it a few words that one utters with one's tongue when one receives some of Allah's favours or does it mean something else? The answer to this question is that the type of gratitude we are talking about is wider in meaning and more complete and comprehensive than this. It expands to include all the actions, utterances and conditions of the servant. The gratitude that we seek as a provision for us consists primarily of three things: Gratitude of the Tongue Gratitude of the Heart Gratitude of the Deeds

Gratitude of the Tongue This means that the person constantly praises Allah with his tongue, thanks Him and recounts His blessings, favours and his own failure to express sufficient gratitude for them. Sulaiman said, "Remembering Allah's blessings with one's tongue increases one's love for Him."

Gratitude of the heart This manifests itself in the heart's constant recognition of Allah's blessings, its constant witnessing of His favours and its admitting of its own shortcomings in expressing gratitude for them.

Gratitude of the Deeds This means making use of every blessing in a manner pleasing to Allah alone, "Work you, O family of David, with thanks." [Surah Saba (34), Ayah 13.] The Muslim nation, therefore, should teach its members to thank Allah for His favours by the tongue, the heart and the limbs. The Qur'an tells us about the Messenger Sulaiman (as ) who said, "This is by the grace of my Lord! -- To test me whether I am grateful or ungrateful! And whoever is grateful, truly, his gratitude is for [the good of] his ownself, and whoever is ungrateful, (he is ungrateful only for the loss of his ownself]. Certainly! My Lord is free of all wants, Bountiful." [Surah An- Naml (27), Ayah 40.]