The Obligation of Gratitude

Gratitude means responding to kindness and giving praise to the one who has done good and kind towards you. If looked closely then we will realize that the one deserving gratitude most is Allah the Exalted. Allah has bestowed us with many blessings and great favors in both spiritual and worldly terms. Therefore Allah has commanded us to give thanks and praise Him for everything He does for us and besides it’s our obligation as well. Gratitude from heart consists in actually being intentionally aware of the immeasurable gifts and blessings of Allah and in attributing them to Him and no one else.

"If you give thanks (by accepting Faith and worshiping none but Allah), I will give you more (of My Blessings)." (14:7)

Allah has given us the means to thank Him and moreover in His overwhelming generosity promised to reward us for doing it.  The above ayat depicts this by informing us that by thanking we will end up having more of Allah’s blessing. So there is return gift too for gratitude.

Allah says:

“Say (O Muhammad PBUH): “Praise and thanks be to Allah, and peace be on His slaves whom He has chosen (for His Message)….” [Surah An-Naml 27: 59]

and Allah said:
“…And If you would count the blessings of Allah you would not be able to count them…” [Surah Ibrahim 14:34]

In another Verse, Allah commands us to thank Him:
“Therefore remember Me (by praying, glorifying), I will remember you, and be grateful to Me (for My countless Favors on you) and never be ungrateful to Me.” [Surah al-Baqarah 2: 152]

In Surah Rahman (The Most Gracious), This Verse is repeated many times:
“Then which of the Blessings of your Lord will you both (jinn and men) deny?”

Allah also asks His slaves to be patient and praise Him in an event of calamity. The following hadith illustrates what approach a person should adopt at times of death of one owns child.

Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari (RA) reported: The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, "When a slave's child dies, Allah the Most High asks His angels, 'Have you taken out the life of the child of My slave?" They reply in the affirmative. He then asks, 'Have you taken the fruit of his heart?' They reply in the affirmative. Thereupon he asks, 'What has My slave said?' They say: 'He has praised You and said: Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji'un (We belong to Allah and to Him we shall be returned). Allah says: 'Build a house for My slave in Jannah and name it as Bait-ul-Hamd (the House of Praise)."' 
[At-Tirmidhi]

This Hadith points that rather than moaning and wailing, one should submit himself to the Will of Allah and demonstrate firmness. Such attitude of patience and resignation is highly meritorious and has great reward.