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.

Dua on seeing New Moon

Talhah bin Ubaidullah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: At the sight of the new moon (of the lunar month), the Prophet (PBUH) used to supplicate:

Allahumma ahillahu 'alaina bil-amni wal-iman, was-salamati wal-Islam, Rabbi wa Rabbuk-Allah, Hilalu rushdin wa khairin

Translation:

(O Allah let this moon appear on us with security and Iman; with safety and Islam. (O moon!) Your Rubb and mine is Allah. May this moon be bringing guidance and good)."

[At-Tirmidhi].

Commentary:

After sighting the moon, one should recite the prayer which was recited by the Prophet (PBUH). The prayer cited in the text of this Hadith is one of them.

Remembrance of Allah

Zikrin Arabic means to remember Allah either by salah, tasbeeh, recitation of Quran, darud shareef, kalma-e-tayyeba etc. The heart and soul along with the tongue submit to the remembrance of Allah wholly.  One should remain fully concentrated while doing zikr because mindlessness would deviate from the actual purpose of zikr.  Zikr purifies the heart and creates love for Allah while eradicating all types of errors and evils. It brings divine peace and satisfaction. The Holy Quran says:

” Behold in the Remembrance of Allah do hearts find satisfaction.” (13-28)

” O ye who believes remember Allah very often and glorify Him morning and evening.” (33:41-2)

From the above verse it’s clear that Allah himself asks his servants to remember him morning and evening for it brings satisfaction to hearts. One should not engage in worldly manias to such an extent that they forget to do zikr. Family and wealth are dear to every one yet they should not be a hurdle in Allah’s zikr. Love for Allah should be greater than anything in the world. Zikr not only brings great satisfaction to hearts but also enormous rewards. The bounties of Allah which He has for his men who do zikr day and night are unlimited.  

” And when Salaat is finished then ye may disperse through the land and seek of the Bounty of Allah and celebrate the Praises of Allah much and often; they ye may prosper (here as well as in the next world.)  (62-10)

Its common sense that if you remember someone then only that particular person would remember you. Same is the case with Allah. He never forgets his pious people who remember him on daily basis.

” Then do ye remember Me I will remember you.” (2-152)

To quote a few Hadith about zikr, the Holy Prophet (SAW) says:

” There is a polish for everything, for the hearts it is zikr of Allah.”

He has also said:

“Those who remember Allah and those who do not are like those who are alive and those who are dead.” (i.e. who remember Allah and celebrate, His praises are alive and those who do not are dead.)

 The Holy Prophet (SAW) was once asked who would be the most exalted among the servants of Allah on the Last Day, He (SAW) replied “Those who remember Allah, be they men or women.”

“Keep your tongue always employed in repeating the name of Allah.”