Hawzah News Agency | Imam Ali, peace be upon him, says in Nahj al-Balaghah concerning the importance of gratitude:
«إِذَا وَصَلَتْ إِلَیْکُمْ أَطْرَافُ النِّعَمِ، فَلَا تُنَفِّرُوا أَقْصَاهَا بِقِلَّةِ الشُّکْرِ.»
“When the beginnings of blessings turn toward you, do not drive away their continuation through lack of thankfulness.” (Wisdom no. 13)
Explanation:
One of the teachings that brings abundant benefits to one’s life in this world and the Hereafter is gratitude and thankfulness for blessings that come from God.
In a beautiful and rarely quoted narration, Imam al-Hādi, peace be upon him, says:
«اَلشَّاکِرُ أَسْعَدُ بِالشُّکْرِ مِنْهُ بِالنِّعْمَةِ اَلَّتِی أَوْجَبَتِ اَلشُّکْرَ لِأَنَّ اَلنِّعَمَ مَتَاعٌ وَ اَلشُّکْرَ نِعَمٌ وَ عُقْبَی.»
“The happiness of gratitude for a grateful person is greater than the happiness he feels toward the blessing that brought about his gratitude, for the blessing is a perishing possession, while gratitude is itself a blessing and an everlasting reward.” (Tuhaf al-Oqul, v. 1, p. 483)
Indeed, “gratitude” itself is a blessing—and a lasting one. It is a blessing that leads to an increase in blessings, because the Almighty God has said:
«لَئِنْ شَکَرْتُمْ لَأَزِیدَنَّکُمْ.»
“If you are grateful, I will surely enhance you [in blessing].” (Chapter Ibrahim, 14:7)
The value of this thankfulness and gratitude is so high that, according to the words of Imam Ali, peace be upon him, this divine promise of increase is fulfilled even before one expresses gratitude verbally:
«مَا أَنْعَمَ اَللَّهُ عَلَی عَبْدٍ نِعْمَةً فَشَکَرَهَا بِقَلْبِهِ إِلاَّ اِسْتَوْجَبَ اَلْمَزِیدَ قَبْلَ أَنْ یُظْهِرَ شُکْرَهُ عَلَی لِسَانِهِ.»
“When God grants a servant a blessing and the servant shows gratitude for it in his heart, before he even speaks his thanks aloud, he becomes worthy of further increase in that blessing.” (Wasail al-Shia, v. 16, p. 311)
However, two important points must not be overlooked:
First, everything mentioned is truly a sign of the vast mercy of the Almighty, Generous God. Otherwise, how could this human being ever be capable of true gratitude? As Imam al-Sajjād, peace be upon him, says:
«فَکَیْفَ لِی بِتَحْصِیلِ الشُّکْرِ وَ شُکْرِی إِیَّاکَ یَفْتَقِرُ إِلَی شُکْرٍ، فَکُلَّمَا قُلْتُ لَکَ الْحَمْدُ وَجَبَ عَلَیَّ لِذَلِکَ أَنْ أَقُولَ لَکَ الْحَمْدُ.»
“O Lord! How can I praise You as You deserve, when my very praise of You itself demands yet another praise? For every time I say, ‘I praise You,’ it becomes incumbent upon me again to say, ‘I praise You,’ for that praise.” (Munajat al-Shakirin)
Second, let us never forget the true essence of gratitude, for real gratitude means avoiding everything that God does not approve of.
Imam al-Ṣādiq, peace be upon him, says in this regard:
«شُکْرُ اَلنِّعْمَةِ اِجْتِنَابُ اَلْمَحَارِمِ.»
“Gratitude for a blessing consists of refraining from what is forbidden (by God).” (Osul al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 95)
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