Once my teacher displayed to us an A-4 sized paper and then folded a tiny corner of it, leaving us quite baffled whilst we tried to comprehend the significance of such a demonstration.

Whilst the gears of our brain were yet grinding, she enlightened us about the presentation by telling us to hypothetically imagine that the whole foolscap represented the enormous amount of blessings bestowed upon us by Allah the Most Merciful, whereas the miniscule folded corner denoted the blessings that we actually acknowledged.

Thinking it back, the clear truth of this experiment seems to simply manifest itself increasingly as I try to realize all those blessings that I simply take for granted or even those blessings for which initially I am overwhelmed with gratitude and then later forget about as a trivial thing of the past. Also the shameful thing is our ghastly attitude when we use the very blessings of Allah to commit sins, for example when Allah blesses us with money we go ahead to purchase the latest touch screen gadget to use it for a “variety of xyz purposes”. I feel certain that I hardly need to elucidate on our delinquencies and it won’t be hypocritical for me to say that I am affirmative that I indeed am not the only one sailing in this boat of acute ingratitude and that definitely, quite some of us are guilty of this offence.

But, it’s never too late to atone for one’s folly, so let us all sit back for a while and try to have a small brainstorm session where we list down something that we have and which isn’t from the mercy of Allah to us.

Not surprisingly, our list shall note only blank spaces, for everything without a second thought, is but a blessing from Allah.

So my dear friends, don’t you think it’s incumbent that we turn to our Rabb in gratitude, think about the innumerable times where we commit great sins and yet Allah forgives us and forgives us, but are we grateful to Allah for being so merciful to us and for not depriving us from His Blessings? After all we are still able to eat, drink and live!

When one enters a medical field, one realizes the astronomical number of diseases that Allah has protected us from, but do we realize this? My friends, if Allah was to punish us for our endless crimes, than what would be of us?!

Indeed our attitude is revolting, but I sincerely hope and believe that we can try to turn for the better, and humble ourselves in gratitude to Allah, the Most Gracious.

Furthermore the Messenger (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said “Whoever says ‘I am pleased with Allah as my Lord, Islam as my religion and Muhammad Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) as my Prophet’ paradise becomes compulsory for them. [Abu Dawud – Classed as Sahih by Sh Al-Albaani]

Truly this hadith brings tears to my eyes, the mercy of Allah is indeed so vast that He the Almighty honours us miserable ungrateful slaves to even say such a phrase.

Subhan Allahi wa bi hamdihi Subhanallahil Adheem!

This hadith shows the mercy of Allah Almighty whereby He The Exalted gives such great reward and makes paradise compulsory for a person in return for such a small action which requires little effort.

However, one should keep in mind that this does not mean that the utterance of these words is at all sufficient. One should express his satisfaction which entails acting upon these words by worshipping Allah Almighty alone and making Him unique in His Lordship, Worship and in His names and attributes and this is being pleased with Allah as our Lord. We should follow the Shariah of Islam and strive to perform that which it orders and avoid that which it prohibits and this is being pleased with Islam as our religion. Last but not least, following the Sunnah of the Messenger (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and taking his path and rejecting all other paths as this is being pleased with Muhammad (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) as our Prophet.

And Allah Knows Best!

Indeed the aforementioned criteria is no piece of cake, and one shall have to strive to fulfil these rights, but remember the reward is Jannah. Also our foremost motivation for the doing the aforementioned should be to please Allah who is so generous and merciful to us. Doesn’t the thoughts of His blessings escalate our love for Him, and when we love someone we strive to please them?

I pray that Allah makes us among the grateful and helps us we endeavour to fulfil the rights of the aforementioned dua and honour us with the gift of Paradise.

Ameen ya Rabbil Alameen

Bint Ayesha

Writer, AAT