Thanks – Shukar (Gratitude)

Summary:

Allah^-azwj Likes those who are thankful (offer Shukar)[1] for enjoying countless bounties in their lives.  Allah^-azwj has Promised us, if we remain sincere in our submission and thank Him^-azwj, Allah^-azwj will Keep on increasing His^-azwj ‘Naymah’ (bounties).  On this topic, some Ahadith are presented, we start with the identification of the most valuable ‘Naymah’ (bounty) which is bestowed upon to us – for that we must always be thankful to Allah^-azwj:

وَ قِيلَ لِي: يَا مُحَمَّدُ قَابِلْ نَعْمَائِي عَلَيْكَ بِالشُّكْرِ الْمُمْتَرِي‏ لِلْمَزِيدِ. فَقُلْتُ: يَا رَبِّي وَ مَا أَفْضَلُ مَا أَشْكُرُكَ بِهِ فَقَالَ لِي: يَا مُحَمَّدُ أَفْضَلُ ذَلِكَ بَثُّكَ‏ فَضْلَ أَخِيكَ عَلِيٍّ وَ بَعْثُكَ‏ سَائِرَ عِبَادِي عَلَى تَعْظِيمِهِ وَ تَعْظِيمِ شِيعَتِهِ،

And He^-azwj Said to me^-saww: “O Muhammad^-saww! Speak of My^-azwj Bounties upon you^-saww with the thankfulness continuously, for the increase (in rewards)”. So I^-saww said: ‘O my^-saww Lord^-azwj! And what is the most superior thing for which I^-saww can thank You^-azwj?

He^-azwj Said to me^-saww: ‘O Muhammad^-saww! The most superior of that (among the bounties) is your^-saww brother Ali^-asws, and I^-azwj Sent you^-saww to the rest of My^-azwj servants upon revering (admiring) him^-asws and reverence of his^-asws Shias. (An extract).[2]

قَالَ الْإِمَامُ ع‏ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ: يا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِتَوْحِيدِ اللَّهِ، وَ نُبُوَّةِ مُحَمَّدٍ ص رَسُولِ اللَّهِ وَ بِإِمَامَةِ عَلِيٍّ وَلِيِّ اللَّهِ: كُلُوا مِنْ طَيِّباتِ ما رَزَقْناكُمْ وَ اشْكُرُوا لِلَّهِ‏ عَلَى مَا رَزَقَكُمْ مِنْهَا بِالْمُقَامِ عَلَى وَلَايَةِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ عَلِيٍّ

The Imam^-asws said: ‘Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic Said: O you those who are believing! – in the Tawheed (Oneness) of Allah^-azwj, and Prophet-hood of Muhammad^-saww, Rasool^-saww of Allah^-azwj, and in the Imamate (mastership) of Ali^-asws (who is) Guardian of Allah^-azwj, Eat from the good (things) what We Provided you (with), and give thanks to Allah – Upon what He^-azwj Provided you from it, with the staying upon the Wilayah (master-ship) of Muhammad^-saww and Ali^-asws. (An extract)[3]

قَالَ الْإِمَامُ ع‏ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ: إِنْ كُنْتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ‏ [أَيْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ‏] فَاشْكُرُوا نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ بِطَاعَةِ مَنْ أَمَرَكُمْ بِطَاعَتِهِ- مِنْ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ عَلِيٍّ وَ خُلَفَائِهِمُ الطَّيِّبِينَ.

The Imam^-asws said: ‘Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic Said if it is Him you are worshipping [2:172] – i.e., if it is Him^-azwj you are worshipping, then be thankful for the Bounties of Allah^-azwj by obeying the one He^-azwj Commanded with obeying him, from Muhammad^-saww and Ali^-asws, and their^-asws goodly Caliphs (the Imam^-asws). (An extract).[4]

Allah^-azwj also Commands us to thank, with gratitude, all those who have extended favours to us, for example:

حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِى ماجِيلوَيْه رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَني أَبي، عَن أَحْمَدِ بْنِ أَبي عَبْدِ اللَّه البَرْقِي، عَن السَيّاريُّ عَنْ الحارِثِ بْنِ الدلهاث، عَن أَبيهِ، عَن أَبي الحَسَن الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَمْر بِثَلاثَةِ مقرون بِهاثَلاثَة اُخْرى‏ أَمْر بِالصَّلاةِ وَالزَّكاة فَمَنْ صَلَّى وَلَمْ يزك لَمْ يُقْبَلُ مِنْهُ صَلاتَهُ وَأَمْر بِالشكرله وَللوالدِّين فَمَنْ لَمْ يشكر والديه لَمْ يشكر اللَّه وَأَمْر باتقاء اللَّه‏صلة الرَّحِمَ فَمَنْ لم يُصَلِّ رحمه لَمْ يتق اللَّه عَزَّ وَجَلَّ.

Muhammad ibn Ali Majiluwayh – may God be pleased with him – narrated that his father quoted on the authority of Ahmad ibn Abi Abdillah al-Barqi, on the authority of al-Sayyari, on the authority of al-Harith ibn al-Dalhath, on the authority of his father, on the authority of:

Abil Hassan Al-Reza^-asws (said), “Indeed Allah^-azwj has Commanded three things which are tied-up with three other things.

Allah^-azwj has Commanded us to offer Salat (pray) and pay the Zakat (alms). The Salat of that person is not accepted who does not pay the Zakat.

Allah^-azwj has also Commanded us to thank Him^-azwj as well as our parents. Whoever thanks Allah^-azwj but does not thank his parents has not really thanked Allah^-azwj.

Allah^-azwj has Commanded us to fear Allah^-azwj and to visit the relations of kin. Whoever does not visit his relatives has indeed not feared Allah^-azwj.”[5]

Introduction:

The believers, are recognised as:

They (momineen) do not get tempted by the praises of the ignorant, and they neither count their (good) deeds, nor procrastinate (delay) themselves in performance of the (good) deeds, (but) they keep on doing good deeds.

And a believer is that who ‘hums’ (chants) thankfulness in the evenings and in the mornings and busies himself with the Remembrance.  And he is firm in shaky situations, and in hardship he is patient, and in the prosperity he is thankful. (See the Hadith in Appendix)[6]

In addition, offering gratitude in comfort and prosperity is equivalent to earning rewards through the hard work and under difficulties – since during the ease, one is prone to forget thanking Allah^-azwj, e.g., out of joy or being full of oneself or considering one has earned those treats.  And consequently ends-up being ungrateful.

عَنِ النَّوْفَلِيِّ بِإِسْنَادِهِ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهُ‏ الطَّاعِمُ‏ الشَّاكِرُ لَهُ مِنَ الْأَجْرِ كَأَجْرِ الصَّائِمِ الْمُحْتَسِبِ وَ الْمُعَافَى الشَّاكِرُ لَهُ مِنَ الْأَجْرِ كَأَجْرِ الْمُبْتَلَى الصَّابِرِ وَ الْمُعْطَى الشَّاكِرُ لَهُ مِنَ الْأَجْرِ كَأَجْرِ الْمَحْرُومِ الْقَانِعِ.

Al-Nufli narrated that Rasool-Allah^-saww said:

“The one who eats and gives thanks has the same reward as the one who fasts.

The reward of one who is healthy and gives thanks is the same as the one who is suffering and is patient.

The reward of one who receives (earns) and is thankful is the same as the one who is deprived but content.”[7]

عَنْ سِنَانِ بْنِ طَرِيفٍ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ خَشِيتُ أَنْ أَكُونَ مُسْتَدْرَجاً قَالَ وَ لِمَ قُلْتُ لِأَنِّي دَعَوْتُ اللَّهَ أَنْ يَرْزُقَنِي دَاراً فَرَزَقَنِي- وَ دَعَوْتُ اللَّهَ أَنْ يَرْزُقَنِي أَلْفَ دِرْهَمٍ فَرَزَقَنِي أَلْفاً وَ دَعَوْتُهُ أَنْ يَرْزُقَنِي خَادِماً فَرَزَقَنِي خَادِماً قَالَ فَأَيَّ شَيْ‏ءٍ تَقُولُ قَالَ أَقُولُ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ قَالَ فَمَا أُعْطِيتَ‏ أَفْضَلُ‏ مِمَّا أُعْطِيتَ‏.

Sanan ibn Zarif said: “I told Imam Sadiq^-asws that I am afraid to be reprimanded. He^-asws asked me why. I said I asked Allah^-azwj for a thousand Dirhams, and He^-azwj Granted it to me. I asked Him^-azwj for a servant, and He^-azwj Gave me one. Then Imam Sadiq^-asws asked me what I have to say now. I said: ‘الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ’ praise be to Allah^-azwj. He^-asws said: “What you have said is better than what you have been given.”[8]

عَنْ سَعْدَانَ بْنِ يَزِيدَ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ إِنِّي أَرَى مَنْ هُوَ شَدِيدُ الْحَالِ مُضَيَّقاً عَلَيْهِ الْعَيْشُ وَ أَرَى نَفْسِي فِي سَعَةٍ مِنْ هَذِهِ الدُّنْيَا- لَا أَمُدُّ يَدِي إِلَى شَيْ‏ءٍ إِلَّا رَأَيْتُ فِيهِ مَا أُحِبُّ وَ قَدْ أَرَى مَنْ هُوَ أَفْضَلُ مِنِّي قَدْ صُرِفَ ذَلِكَ عَنْهُ فَقَدْ خَشِيتُ أَنْ يَكُونَ لِي اسْتِدْرَاجاً مِنَ اللَّهِ لِي بِخَطِيئَتِي فَقَالَ ع أَمَّا مَعَ الْحَمْدِ فَلَا وَ اللَّهِ.

Sae’dan ibn Yazeed said: “I told Imam Sadiq^-asws that I saw someone having hard times in life while I had a good life.  Whatever I reach out for, I find in it what I like. Sometimes I see other people who are superior to me but they do not have these blessings. I am afraid this might be a sort of Divine test for me”. The Imam^-asws said: “Have no fear as long as you give thanks (say: ‘الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ’ ) for these blessings.”[9]

عنه عليه السلام قال: إذا أحسنتم فاحمدوا الله، وإذا أسأتم فاستغفروا الله.

Imam Sadiq^-asws said: “Give thanks to Allah^-azwj whenever you do a good deed, and seek Allah^-azwj‘s forgiveness whenever you do something bad.”[10]

Gratitude Brings The Pardoning:

عيون أخبار الرضا عليه السلام الْبَيْهَقِيُّ عَنِ الصُّولِيِّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا الْغَلَابِيُّ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ عِيسَى بْنِ زَيْدٍ أَنَّ الْمَأْمُونَ أَمَرَنِي بِقَتْلِ رَجُلٍ فَقَالَ اسْتَبْقِنِي فَإِنَّ لِي شُكْراً فَقَالَ وَ مَنْ أَنْتَ وَ مَا شُكْرُكَ

(The book) ‘Uyoon Akhbar Al-Reza^-asws’ – Al Bayhaqi, from Al Sowly who said, ‘It is narrated to us by Al Galaby, from Ahmad Bin Isa Bin Zayd,

(The narrator says) ‘Al-Mamoun ordered me with killing a man. He said, ‘Let me live, for there is thanking for me’. He said, ‘And who are you and what is your thanks?’

فَقَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُوسَى ع يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَنْشُدُكَ اللَّهَ أَنْ تَتَرَفَّعَ عَنْ شُكْرِ أَحَدٍ وَ إِنْ قَلَّ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَمَرَ عِبَادَهُ بِشُكْرِهِ فَشَكَرُوهُ‏ فَعَفَا عَنْهُمْ‏.

Ali^-asws Bin Musa^-asws said (who was happened to be there): ‘O commander of the faithful! I^-asws adjure you with Allah^-azwj not to raise anyone from thanking, and even if it is little. Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic Commanded His^-azwj servants to thank Him^-asws, so they are thanking Him^-azwj and He^-azwj is Pardoning them’’.[11]

Offering Thanks Increase The Bounties:

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ وَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ جَمِيعاً عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ الْمُبَارَكِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ جَبَلَةَ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ وَهْبٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ مَنْ أُعْطِيَ ثَلَاثاً لَمْ يُمْنَعْ ثَلَاثاً مَنْ أُعْطِيَ الدُّعَاءَ أُعْطِيَ الْإِجَابَةَ وَ مَنْ أُعْطِيَ الشُّكْرَ أُعْطِيَ الزِّيَادَةَ وَ مَنْ أُعْطِيَ التَّوَكُّلَ أُعْطِيَ الْكِفَايَةَ

A number of our companions, from Sahl Bin Ziyad, and Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, altogether from Yahya Bin Al Mubarak, from Abdullah Bin Jabala, from Muawiya Bin Wahab, from

Abu Abdullah^-asws said: ‘The one who gives three (things) would not be denied three (things) – The one who gives the supplication would be Given the answer, and the one gives the thanks would be Given the increase, and the one who gives the reliance would be Given the sufficient’.

ثُمَّ قَالَ أَ تَلَوْتَ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ مَنْ يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ وَ قَالَ لَئِنْ شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ وَ قَالَ ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ.

Then he^-asws said: ‘Did you recite the Book of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic [65:3] and whoever relies upon Allah, He is sufficient for him?’ And he^-asws said: ‘[14:7] If you are grateful, I would Increase it more for you. And He^-azwj Said [40:60] And your Lord says: Call upon Me, I will Answer you’.[12]

عَنِ الصَّادِقِ ع قَالَ: أَيُّمَا عَبْدٍ أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ بِنِعْمَةٍ فَعَرَفَهَا بِقَلْبِهِ وَ حَمِدَ اللَّهَ عَلَيْهَا بِلِسَانِهِ لَمْ ينفذ [يَنْفَدْ] كَلَامُهُ حَتَّى يَأْمُرَ اللَّهُ بِالزِّيَادَةِ وَ ذَلِكَ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ جَلَّ وَ عِزَّ- لَئِنْ شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ‏.

Imam Sadiq^-asws said: “Whenever Allah^-azwj Grants someone some blessings and he acknowledges that with his heart and expresses his gratitude, Allah^-azwj will Order an increase in his blessings before he finishes his words. Allah^-azwj the Almighty has Said: “If you are grateful, I will add more (favours) unto you.” [The Holy Quran: 14:7].[13]

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ الْمُبَارَكِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ جَبَلَةَ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ وَهْبٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ مَنْ أُعْطِيَ الشُّكْرَ أُعْطِيَ الزِّيَادَةَ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَئِنْ شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ .

A number of our companions, from Sahl Bin Ziyad, from Yahya Bin Al Mubarak, from Abdullah Bin Jabala, from Muawiya Bin Wahab, from:

Abu Abdullah^-asws said: ‘The one who gives the thanks is Given the increase. Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic is Saying [14:7] And when your Lord Proclaimed: If you are grateful, I would Increase it more for you’.[14]

عن أبي عبد الله عن آبائه: قال: قال رسول الله صلي الله عليه و اله و سلم: ما فتح الله لعبدٍ باب شكرٍ فخزن عنه باب الزيادة.

Imam Sadiq^-asws quoted that Rasool-Allah^-saww, on the authority of his forefathers^-asws said: “Allah^-azwj will not Open the doors to thanksgiving for anyone without Opening up a door to increased blessings.”[15]

Thanking To Avert Troubles:

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ الْخَزَّازِ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ تَقُولُ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ إِذَا نَظَرْتَ إِلَى الْمُبْتَلَى مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ تُسْمِعَهُ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي عَافَانِي مِمَّا ابْتَلَاكَ بِهِ وَ لَوْ شَاءَ فَعَلَ

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Ibn Abu Umeyr, from Abu Ayoub Al Khazzaz, from Abu Baseer, from

Abu Ja’far^-asws said: ‘You should be saying three times, whenever you look at the afflicted one, from without him hearing it, ‘The Praise is for Allah^-azwj Who Gave me good health from that which you have been afflicted with, and had He^-azwj so Desired to, would have Done so (to me)’.

قَالَ مَنْ قَالَ ذَلِكَ لَمْ يُصِبْهُ ذَلِكَ الْبَلَاءُ أَبَداً .

He^-asws said: ‘The one who says that would not be hit by that affliction, ever!’.[16]

Also,

عَنْهُ ع قَالَ: لَا تَنْظُرُوا إِلَى أَهْلِ الْبَلَاءِ فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ يَحْزُنُهُمْ.

Imam Sadiq^-asws said: “Do not stare at those in trouble since this will make them sad.”[17]

Supplications – Thanking Allah^-azwj:

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ وَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ جَمِيعاً عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْحَمِيدِ عَنِ الصَّبَّاحِ بْنِ سَيَابَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ مَنْ قَالَ إِذَا صَلَّى الْمَغْرِبَ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي يَفْعَلُ مَا يَشَاءُ وَ لَا يَفْعَلُ مَا يَشَاءُ غَيْرُهُ أُعْطِيَ خَيْراً كَثِيراً .

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, and Muhammad Bin Ismail, from Al Fazl Bin Shazaan, altogether from Ibn Abu Umeyr, from Ibrahim Bin Abdul Hameed, from Al Sabbah Bin Sayaba,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘The one who says, when he prays the Maghrib Salāt, three (3) times,

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي يَفْعَلُ مَا يَشَاءُ وَ لَا يَفْعَلُ مَا يَشَاءُ غَيْرُهُ

‘The Praise is for Allah^-azwj who Does whatever He^-azwj so Desires to, and does not Do what others desire’, (one) would be Given a lot of goodness’.[18]

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ مَنْصُورِ بْنِ الْعَبَّاسِ عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جَنَاحٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو مَسْعُودٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ مَنْ قَالَ أَرْبَعَ مَرَّاتٍ إِذَا أَصْبَحَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ فَقَدْ أَدَّى شُكْرَ يَوْمِهِ وَ مَنْ قَالَهَا إِذَا أَمْسَى فَقَدْ أَدَّى شُكْرَ لَيْلَتِهِ .

A number of our companions, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Khalid, from Mansour Bin Al Abbas, from Saeed Bin Janah who said, ‘Abu Masoud narrated to me, from:

Abu Abdullah^-asws said: ‘The one who says four (4) times when it is the morning,

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ’ ‘The Praise is for Allah^-azwj Lord^-azwj of the worlds’, so he has paid the thanks for his day, and the one who says it when it is the evening, so he has paid his thanks for his night’.[19]

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ يَعْقُوبَ بْنِ شُعَيْبٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) أَنَّهُ كَانَ يَقُولُ

Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Muhammad Bin Sinan, from Yaqoub Bin Shuayb, that:

Abu Abdullah^-asws was saying (prescribed the following supplication):

يَا مَنْ يَشْكُرُ الْيَسِيرَ وَ يَعْفُو عَنِ الْكَثِيرِ وَ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ اغْفِرْ لِيَ الذُّنُوبَ الَّتِي ذَهَبَتْ لَذَّتُهَا وَ بَقِيَتْ تَبِعَتُهَا .

‘O the One Who Thanks for the less, and Forgives from the more, and He^-azwj is the Forgiving, the Merciful. Forgive my sins for me whose pleasure has (already) gone, and there remains its consequence (the load of the regret)’’.[20]

اَلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي هَدانا لِهذا وَ ما كُنَّا لِنَهْتَدِيَ لَوْ لا أَنْ هَدانَا اللَّهُ

Praise be to Allah^-azwj who has guided us here, and if it was not for Allah^-azwj‘s Guidance, we would not have been guided. (An extract from Ziyarah of Amir-ul-Momineen^-asws).^[21]

وَ هُوَ يَوْمُ التَّهْنِئَةِ يُهَنِّي بَعْضُكُمْ بَعْضاً فَإِذَا لَقِيَ الْمُؤْمِنُ أَخَاهُ يَقُولُ

And it is a day (18^th Zilhajj) of the congratulations, some of you would be congratulating the others. So when a Momin meets his brother, he would be saying:

اَلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ‏ الَّذِي‏ جَعَلَنَا مِنَ‏ الْمُتَمَسِّكِينَ‏ بِوَلَايَةِ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ‏ وَ الْأَئِمَّةِ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلَامُ

‘The Praise is for Allah^-azwj Who Made us to be from the adherents with the Wilayah of Amir Al-Momineen^-asws and the Imams^-asws’. (An extract from a lengthy Hadith on Ghadeer day).[22]

Sajda e Shukar (Prostration of Thanks)

عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ: مَنْ سَجَدَ سَجْدَةً لِيَشْكُرَ نِعْمَةً وَ هُوَ مُتَوَضِّئٌ كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ عَشْرَ حَسَنَاتٍ وَ مَحَا عَنْهُ عَشْرَ خَطِيئَاتٍ عِظَامٍ.

Imam Sadiq^-asws said: “Allah^-azwj will record ten good deeds for the one who makes ablution and prostrates to thank Allah^-azwj. He^-azwj will also Wipe out ten of that man’s major sins.”[23]

حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِبْراهيمِ بْنِ إِسْحاق الطَّالِقانِيُّ رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا أَحْمَدِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَعِيدُ الكُوفِي قالَ: حَدَّثَنا عَلِىِّ بْنِ الحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِىِّ بْنِ فضال عَنْ أَبيهِ، عَن أَبي الحَسَن‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ السَّجْدَةُ بَعْدَ الْفَرِيضَةِ شُكْرٌ لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى عَلَى مَا وَفَّقَ لَهُ الْعَبْدَ مِنْ أَدَاءِ فَرْضِهِ وَأَدْنَى مَا يُجْزِئُ فِيهَا مِنَ الْقَوْلِ أَنْ يَقُولَ

Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn Ishaq al-Taleqani – may God be pleased with him – narrated that Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Sa’eed al-Kufi quoted on the authority of Ali ibn Al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn Fadhdhal, on the authority of his father,

Abil Hassan Al-Reza^-asws said, “Prostrating after performing the obligatory prayers is a way of expressing gratitude to Allah^-azwj – Exalted is His Remembrance – for the servant’s success in performing the obligatory deed. The minimum that should be said while prostrating in gratitude is

شُكْراً لِلَّهِ شُكْراً لِلَّهِ شُكْراً لِلَّهِ ثَلاثَ مَرَّاتٍ.

‘شُكْراً لِلَّهِ شُكْراً لِلَّهِ شُكْراً لِلَّهِ’ ‘Thanks Allah, Thanks Allah^-azwj Thanks Allah^-azwj’ three (3) times.”

قُلْتُ فَمَا مَعْنَى قَوْلِهِ شُكْراً لِلَّهِ قَالَ يَقُولُ هَذِهِ السَّجْدَةُ مِنِّي شُكْرٌ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عَلَى مَا وَفَّقَنِي بِهِ مِنْ خِدْمَتِهِ وَأَدَاءِ فَرْضِهِ وَالشُّكْرُ مُوجِبٌ لِلزِّيَادَةِ فَإِنْ كَانَ فِي الصَّلاةِ تَقْصِيرٌ لَمْ يَتِمَّ بِالنَّوَافِلِ تَمَّ بِهَذِهِ السَّجْدةِ

I asked, “What is meant by ‘Thanks Allah^-azwj?’ The Imam^-asws said, “It means that this prostration that I perform is indeed an expression of gratitude to the Honourable the Exalted Allah^-azwj for Granting me success in serving Him^-azwj and performing the obligatory deeds. Expression of gratitude will cause an increase in prayers. Indeed, if there are any deficiencies in one’s prayers which have not been made up by other prayers, they will be compensated for by this act of prostration.”[24]

حَدَّثَنا أَبي رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا سَعْدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّه، عَن مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى بْنِ عُبِيْد، عَن سُلَيْمان بن حَفْصٍ الْمَرْوَزِيِّ قالَ كَتَبَ إِلَيَّ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قُلْ فِي سَجْدَةِ الشُّكْرِ مِائَةَ مَرَّةٍ شُكْراً شُكْراً وَإِنْ شِئْتَ عَفْواً عَفْواً.

(The author of the book narrated) my father – may God be pleased with him – narrated that Sa’d ibn Abdullah quoted on the authority of Muhammad ibn Isa ibn Obayd, on the authority of Soleiman ibn Hafs al-Marwazi,

“Abul Hassan^-asws wrote me a letter in which he^-asws wrote, Say ‘Thanks Thanks’ or ‘Forgive Forgive’ one hundred (100) times when you perform the Sajdah e Shukar (prostration for expression of your gratitude).”[25]

Sajda of Thanks (On the Spot)

. عنه عليه السلام قال: بينما رسول الله صلي الله عليه و اله و سلم مع أصحابه إذا سجد فأطال السجود حتّى ظنّوا أنّه، ثمّ رفع رأسه، فقيل: يا رسول الله، فقد أطلتَ السجود حتّى ظنّنا أنّك ممّا ذاك، فقال: أتاني جبرئيل من عند الله تبارك وتعالى فقال: يا محمّد، إنّ ربّك يقرئك السلام ويقول لك: إنّي لن أسوئك فيمن والاك من أمتك، ولن أقضي على مؤمنٍ قضاءً ساءه أو سرَّه ذلك إلا وهو خير له، قال صلي الله عليه و اله و سلم: فلم يكن عندي مالٌ فأتصدّق به، ولا مملوكٌ فأعتقه، فسجدتُ لله وشكرتُه وحمدتُه على ذلك.

Imam Sadiq^-asws said: “One day when the Prophet^-saww went to the mosque with his^-saww companions, he^-saww prostrated for so long that they suspected his^-saww health was endangered. When he^-saww finally sat up they told him^-saww that he^-saww had prostrated for such a long time that they suspected he^-saww had died.

He^-saww said: “Jibraeel^-as descended to me^-saww from Allah^-azwj the Almighty and said: O’ Muhammad^-saww! Your Lord^-azwj Sends His^-azwj greetings and says: “I^-azwj have never Hurt your^-saww feelings concerning anyone of your^-saww nation who loves you^-saww.

I^-azwj have not Done anything for a believer to please him or hurt him unless it was good for him. The Prophet^-saww added: “At that time I had neither any property to give away in charity nor a slave to free, so I^-saww fell in prostrate in worship and thanked Allah^-azwj and praised Him^-azwj for this.”[26]

. عن أبي عبيدة الحذّاء قال: كنت مع أبي جعفر عليه السلام في طريق المدينة فوقع ساجدا لله، فقال لي حين استتمّ قائما: يا زياد! أنكرتَ عليَّ حين رأيتني ساجدا؟ فقلتُ: بلى جُعلتُ فداك، قال: ذكرتُ نعمةً أنعمها الله عليَّ فكرهتُ أنْ أجوز حتّى أؤدي شكرها.

Abi Ubeydeh Al-Haz’za said: “When I was accompanying Imam Baqir^-asws on the way to Medina, he^-asws suddenly fell into prostrate of worship. When he^-asws finished he^-asws stood up and asked me if I was surprised. I replied: “May I be your^-asws devoted servant! Yes.” He^-asws said: “I^-asws remembered a blessing that Allah^-azwj had Given me^-asws, and I^-asws found it hard to go along my way without thanking God for it (but no one could saw me^-asws doing the sajda as per another Hadith).”[27]

Acknowledging the Favour of Others:

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْبَغْدَادِيِّ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ الْجَعْفَرِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ مَكْتُوبٌ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ اشْكُرْ مَنْ أَنْعَمَ عَلَيْكَ وَ أَنْعِمْ عَلَى مَنْ شَكَرَكَ فَإِنَّهُ لَا زَوَالَ لِلنَّعْمَاءِ إِذَا شُكِرَتْ وَ لَا بَقَاءَ لَهَا إِذَا كُفِرَتْ الشُّكْرُ زِيَادَةٌ فِي النِّعَمِ وَ أَمَانٌ مِنَ الْغِيَرِ .

Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Isa, from Ja’far Bin Muhammad Al Baghdady, from Abdullah Bin Is’haq Al Ja’fary, from:

Abu Abdullah^-asws said: ‘It is written in the Torah: “Thank the one who favours upon you, and do favours upon the one who thanks you, for there would be no decline of the Bounties when it is thanked for, and there would not remain (from bounties) when it is denied. The gratefulness increases in the Bounties, and it is a safety from others (who envy/try to harm)’.[28]

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْمِنْقَرِيِّ عَنْ سُفْيَانَ بْنِ عُيَيْنَةَ عَنْ عَمَّارٍ الدُّهْنِيِّ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَلِيَّ بْنَ الْحُسَيْنِ ( عليه السلام ) يَقُولُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ كُلَّ قَلْبٍ حَزِينٍ وَ يُحِبُّ كُلَّ عَبْدٍ شَكُورٍ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى لِعَبْدٍ مِنْ عَبِيدِهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَ شَكَرْتَ فُلَاناً فَيَقُولُ بَلْ شَكَرْتُكَ يَا رَبِّ فَيَقُولُ لَمْ تَشْكُرْنِي إِذْ لَمْ تَشْكُرْهُ

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Al Qasim Bin Muhammad, from Al Minqary, from Sufyan Bin Uyayna, from Ammad Al Duhny who said,

‘I heard Ali^-asws Bin Al-Husayn^-asws saying: ‘Allah^-azwj Loves every grieving heart, and Loves every grateful servant. Allah^-azwj would be Saying to a servant from His^-azwj servant on the Day of Judgement: “Did you thank so and so?” He would say, ‘But, I thanked You^-azwj, O Lord^-azwj!” So He^-azwj would be Saying: “You did not thank Me^-azwj when you did not thank him”.

ثُمَّ قَالَ أَشْكَرُكُمْ لِلَّهِ أَشْكَرُكُمْ لِلنَّاسِ .

Then he^-asws said: ‘The most thankful to Allah^-azwj, is the one most thankful you to the people’.[29]

إذا أخذت من أحدكم قذاة فليقل أماط الله عنك ما تكره

You should thank those who solve your problems (by saying): “Allah^-azwj may move away from you whatever you detest.”[30]

Right of Thanking Allah^-azwj:

الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْوَشَّاءِ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ قَالَ خَرَجَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ وَ قَدْ ضَاعَتْ دَابَّتُهُ فَقَالَ لَئِنْ رَدَّهَا اللَّهُ عَلَيَّ لَأَشْكُرَنَّ اللَّهَ حَقَّ شُكْرِهِ

Al Husayn Bin Muhammad, from Moalla Bin Muhammad, from Al Washa, from Hammad Bin Usman who said,

‘Abu Abdullah^-asws went out from the Masjid and he^-asws had lost his^-asws (riding) animal. So he^-asws said: ‘If Allah^-azwj were to Return it to me^-asws, I^-asws will thank Allah^-azwj as it is a right of thanking Him^-azwj’.

قَالَ فَمَا لَبِثَ أَنْ أُتِيَ بِهَا فَقَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ قَائِلٌ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ أَ لَيْسَ قُلْتَ لَأَشْكُرَنَّ اللَّهَ حَقَّ شُكْرِهِ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) أَ لَمْ تَسْمَعْنِي قُلْتُ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ .

He (the narrator) said, ‘So, it wasn’t long before they came with it. So he^-asws said: ‘The Praise is for Allah^-azwj’. So a sayer said to him^-asws, ‘May I be sacrificed for you^-asws! Did you^-asws not say, ‘I^-asws will thank Allah^-azwj as it is a right of thanking Him^-azwj’?’ So Abu Abdullah^-asws said: ‘Did you not listen to me^-asws saying: ‘The Praise is for Allah^-azwj’?’[31]

عَلِيٌّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ صَاحِبِ السَّابِرِيِّ فِيمَا أَعْلَمُ أَوْ غَيْرِهِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ فِيمَا أَوْحَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَى مُوسَى ( عليه السلام ) يَا مُوسَى اشْكُرْنِي حَقَّ شُكْرِي فَقَالَ يَا رَبِّ وَ كَيْفَ أَشْكُرُكَ حَقَّ شُكْرِكَ وَ لَيْسَ مِنْ شُكْرٍ أَشْكُرُكَ بِهِ إِلَّا وَ أَنْتَ أَنْعَمْتَ بِهِ عَلَيَّ قَالَ يَا مُوسَى الْآنَ شَكَرْتَنِي حِينَ عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ ذَلِكَ مِنِّي .

Ali, from his father, from Ibn Abu Umeyr, from Abu Abdullah, Sahib Al Sayyari regarding what I know, or someone else, from;

Abu Abdullah^-asws having said regarding what Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic Revealed unto Musa^-as: “O Musa^-as! Thank Me^-azwj as is the right of thanking Me^-azwj”. So he^-as said: ‘O Lord^-azwj! And how can I^-as thank You^-azwj are Rightful to be thanked, and there is none from a thanks which I^-as thank You^-azwj with except that You^-azwj have Favoured with it upon me^-as?’ He^-azwj Said: “O Musa^-as! Now you^-as have thanked Me^-azwj where you^-as knew that, that is from Me^-azwj’.[32]

Qualities of the Best of the Believer:

عَنْهُ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ مِهْرَانَ عَنْ سَيْفِ بْنِ عَمِيرَةَ عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ عَمْرٍو النَّخَعِيِّ قَالَ وَ حَدَّثَنِي الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ سَيْفٍ عَنْ أَخِيهِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ عَمَّنْ ذَكَرَهُ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ سُئِلَ النَّبِيُّ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) عَنْ خِيَارِ الْعِبَادِ فَقَالَ الَّذِينَ إِذَا أَحْسَنُوا اسْتَبْشَرُوا وَ إِذَا أَسَاءُوا اسْتَغْفَرُوا وَ إِذَا أُعْطُوا شَكَرُوا وَ إِذَا ابْتُلُوا صَبَرُوا وَ إِذَا غَضِبُوا غَفَرُوا .

From him, from Ismail Bin Mihran, from Sayf Bin Ameyra, from Suleyman Bin Amro Al Nakhaie who said, ‘And Al Husayn Bin Sayf narrated to me from his brother Ali, from Suleyman, from the one who mentioned it,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Ja’far^-asws having said: ‘The Prophet^-saww was asked about the best of the servants, so he^-saww said: ‘Those who, when they do good deed, are joyful, and when they commit sins, seek Forgiveness, and when they are Given (something), they are thankful, and when they are afflicted, they are patient, and when they are angry, they forgive’.[33]

A Believer is the Thankful One:

عَنْهُ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ بُكَيْرٍ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ عَنْ حُمْرَانَ بْنِ أَعْيَنَ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) عَنْ قَوْلِهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِنَّا هَدَيْناهُ السَّبِيلَ إِمَّا شاكِراً وَ إِمَّا كَفُوراً قَالَ إِمَّا آخِذٌ فَهُوَ شَاكِرٌ وَ إِمَّا تَارِكٌ فَهُوَ كَافِرٌ .

From him, from Abdullah Bin Bukeyr, from Zurara, from Humran Bin Ayn who said,

‘I asked Abu Abdullah^-asws about the Words of the Mighty and Majestic [76:3] Surely, We have shown him the way: he may be thankful or unthankful. He^-asws said: ‘Either he adopts (the Wilayah) so he is a thankful one, or he neglects (the Wilayah) so he is an Unbeliever (Kafir)’.^[34]

وَ عَنْهُ ع قَالَ: إِنِّي لا أحب [لَأُحِبُ‏] أَنْ لَا تُجَدَّدَ لِي نِعْمَةٌ إِلَّا حَمِدْتُ اللَّهَ عَلَيْهَا مِائَةَ مَرَّةٍ.

Imam Sadiq^-asws said: “I like to thank Allah^-azwj one hundred (100) times whenever a new blessing is granted to me^-asws.”[35]

وَ مَنْ يَتَّبِعِ السُّمْعَةَ يُسَمِّعِ اللَّهُ بِهِ الْكَذِبَةَ وَ مَنْ يَتَوَلَّ الدُّنْيَا يَعْجِزْ عَنْهَا وَ مَنْ يَعْرِفِ الْبَلَاءَ يَصْبِرْ عَلَيْهِ وَ مَنْ لَا يَعْرِفْهُ يَنْكُلْ وَ الرَّيْبُ كُفْرٌ وَ مَنْ يَسْتَكْبِرْ يَضَعْهُ اللَّهُ وَ مَنْ يُطِعِ الشَّيْطَانَ يَعْصِ اللَّهَ وَ مَنْ يَعْصِ اللَّهَ يُعَذِّبْهُ اللَّهُ وَ مَنْ يَشْكُرْ يَزِيدُهُ اللَّهُ وَ مَنْ يَصْبِرْ عَلَى الرَّزِيَّةِ يُعِنْهُ اللَّهُ وَ مَنْ يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَحَسْبُهُ اللَّهُ

(Rasool-Allah^-saww said:) The one who seeks fame (show-off), Allah^-azwj makes him to be named as a liar, and the one who loves the world will be frustrated from it. And the one who recognises the affliction would be patient against it, and the one who does not recognise it will be tortured (during it). And the doubt is disbelief, and the one who is arrogant, Allah^-azwj Puts him in his place. And the one who obeys Satan^-la disobeys Allah^-azwj, and the one who disobeys Allah^-azwj is Punished by Allah^-azwj. The one who is thankful, Allah^-azwj Increases for him, the one who is patient upon a loss is Helped by Allah^-azwj. The one who places reliance upon Allah^-azwj, Allah^-azwj suffices for him.[36]

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنِ الْعَزْرَمِيِّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ مَنِ اشْتَكَى لَيْلَةً فَقَبِلَهَا بِقَبُولِهَا وَ أَدَّى إِلَى اللَّهِ شُكْرَهَا كَانَتْ كَعِبَادَةِ سِتِّينَ سَنَةً قَالَ أَبِي فَقُلْتُ لَهُ مَا قَبُولُهَا قَالَ يَصْبِرُ عَلَيْهَا وَ لَا يُخْبِرُ بِمَا كَانَ فِيهَا فَإِذَا أَصْبَحَ حَمِدَ اللَّهَ عَلَى مَا كَانَ

Imam Abu Abdullah^-asws said:  Whoever suffers from illness during a night and bears it with patience and thanks Allah^-azwj in the morning, is rewarded 60 years’ of acts of worship.  I asked what is the criterion of acceptance?  Imam^-asws replied:  To remain patient during his sufferings at night and not to narrate to others what he experienced and thank Allah^-azwj upon getting up in the morning.[37]

أكثروا ذكر الله جل و عز على الطعام و لا تلفظوا فيه فإنه نعمة من نعم الله و رزق من رزقه يجب عليكم شكره و حمده

Mention Allah^-azwj very much during eating food.  Do not talk while eating, as it is one of Allah^-azwj’s Graces and Sustenance for which you should thank and praise Him^-azwj.[38]

أحسنوا صحبة النعم قبل فواتها فإنها تزول و تشهد على صاحبها بما عمل فيها

Thankfully acknowledge bounties (of Allah^-azwj) before they vanish and testify against you (for your lack of consideration in the Hereafter).[39]

An Intellectual will be Thankful:

يَا هِشَامُ إِنَّ الْعَاقِلَ الَّذِي لَا يَشْغَلُ الْحَلَالُ شُكْرَهُ وَ لَا يَغْلِبُ الْحَرَامُ صَبْرَهُ

(Imam Musa e Kazim^-asws advised his companion) O Hisham! The intellectual is the one whom the Permissible do not pre-occupy him from thanking Him^-azwj, nor do the Prohibitions overcome his patience….. (an extract).[40]

عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ أَبِي حَمَّادٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ الْعَالِمَ ( عليه السلام ) عَنِ الْعَطْسَةِ وَ مَا الْعِلَّةُ فِي الْحَمْدِ لِلَّهِ عَلَيْهَا فَقَالَ إِنَّ لِلَّهِ نِعَماً عَلَى عَبْدِهِ فِي صِحَّةِ بَدَنِهِ وَ سَلَامَةِ جَوَارِحِهِ وَ إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ يَنْسَى ذِكْرَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَلَى ذَلِكَ وَ إِذَا نَسِيَ أَمَرَ اللَّهُ الرِّيحَ فَتَجَاوَزَ فِي بَدَنِهِ ثُمَّ يُخْرِجُهَا مِنْ أَنْفِهِ فَيَحْمَدُ اللَّهَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ فَيَكُونُ حَمْدُهُ عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ شُكْراً لِمَا نَسِيَ .

Ali bin Muhammad, from Salih Bin Abu Hammad who said,

‘I asked the knowledgeable one^-asws about the sneezing and what is the reason in (saying), ‘The Praise is for Allah^-azwj’, upon it. So he^-asws said: ‘For Allah^-azwj has Favoured upon His^-azwj servant regarding the health in his body and safety of his body parts, and the servant tends to forget the Mention of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic upon that; and when he does forget, Allah^-azwj Commands the wind, so it goes through his body, then exits from his nose, so he Praises Allah^-azwj upon that, and that praise of his during that would happen to be a thankfulness to what he had forgotten’.[41]

The Meanings of Displaying the Bounties:

عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ رَفَعَهُ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ إِذَا أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَى عَبْدِهِ بِنِعْمَةٍ فَظَهَرَتْ عَلَيْهِ سُمِّيَ حَبِيبَ اللَّهِ مُحَدِّثاً بِنِعْمَةِ اللَّهِ وَ إِذَا أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَى عَبْدٍ بِنِعْمَةٍ فَلَمْ تَظْهَرْ عَلَيْهِ سُمِّيَ بَغِيضَ اللَّهِ مُكَذِّباً بِنِعْمَةِ اللَّهِ .

Ali Bin Muhammad raising it,

Abu Abdullah^-asws has said: ‘When Allah^-azwj Favours upon His^-azwj servant with a Bounty, and he displays it (with gratitude), he is named as a Beloved of Allah^-azwj narrating with a Bounty of Allah^-azwj; and when Allah^-azwj Favours upon a servant with a Bounty, so he does not display/spend it (with thanks), he is named as the one being angry with Allah^-azwj – a denier in a Bounty of Allah^-azwj’.[42]

The above Hadith is better explained by the following Hadith of Amir ul-Momineen^-asws:

وَ قَالَ ع لِرَجُلٍ تَجَاوَزَ الْحَدَّ فِي التَّقَشُّفِ يَا هَذَا أَ مَا سَمِعْتَ قَوْلَ اللَّهِ- وَ أَمَّا بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ‏ فَحَدِّثْ‏ فَوَ اللَّهِ لَابْتِذَالُكَ نِعَمَ اللَّهِ بِالْفَعَالِ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْهِ مِنِ ابْتِذَالِكَهَا بِالْمَقَالِ.

As he (Amir ul-Momineen^-asws) noticed a man who exceeded the limits of asceticism (austerity/self-denial), Imam Ali^-asws said to him:

O you, have you not heard Allah^-azwj’s saying: “And proclaim/announce the bounties of your Lord?”[43]

By Allah^-azwj, I^-asws swear, to thank Allah^-azwj’s favours by means of deeds is certainly better than thanking them by means of words. [44]

Offering Gratitude upon Wearing New Clothes

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنِ الْعَلَاءِ بْنِ رَزِينٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ( عليه السلام ) عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَلْبَسُ الثَّوْبَ الْجَدِيدَ قَالَ يَقُولُ اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْهُ ثَوْبَ يُمْنٍ وَ تُقًى وَ بَرَكَةٍ اللَّهُمَّ ارْزُقْنِي فِيهِ حُسْنَ عِبَادَتِكَ وَ عَمَلًا بِطَاعَتِكَ وَ أَدَاءَ شُكْرِ نِعْمَتِكَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي كَسَانِي مَا أُوَارِي بِهِ عَوْرَتِي وَ أَتَجَمَّلُ بِهِ فِي النَّاسِ .

Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Ibn Mahboub, from Al A’ala Bin Razeyn, from Muhammad Bin Muslim who said,

‘I asked Abu Ja’far^-asws about the man who wore the new clothes. He^-asws said: ‘He should be saying, ‘O Allah^-azwj! Make it to be a Bountiful cloth and of piety and of Blessings. O Allah^-azwj! Grant me in it the goodness of worshipping You^-azwj, and working in obedience to You^-asws, and being thankful for You^-azwj Bounties. The Praise is for Allah^-azwj Whom Clothed me what I cover my nakedness with and beautify with among the people’.[45]

The Four Signs of Thankful Believers:

)فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص( وَ أَمَّا عَلَامَةُ الشَّاكِرِ فَأَرْبَعَةٌ الشُّكْرُ فِي النَّعْمَاءِ وَ الصَّبْرُ فِي الْبَلَاءِ وَ الْقُنُوعُ بِقَسْمِ اللَّهِ وَ لَا يَحْمَدُ وَ لَا يُعَظِّمُ إِلَّا اللَّهَ

(Rasool-Allah^-saww said in a long Hadith): The signs of the thankful (believers) are four:

(1) They are showing gratitude for the graces,

(2) Steadfastness against misfortunes,

(3) Satisfaction with acts (Mashiya) of Allah^-azwj, and

(4) Glorifying and praising no one but Allah^-azwj. (An extract)[46]

Forgiveness Through Praising Allah^-azwj:

. عن النبيّ صلي الله عليه و اله و سلم قال: إنّ الرجل من أمتي يخرج إلى السوق فيبتاع القميص بنصف دينارٍ أو بثلث دينارٍ فيحمد الله إذا لبس، فما يبلغ ركبته حتّى يغفر له.

Rasool-Allah^-saww said: “A man from among my nation goes to the bazaar, and buys a shirt-like dress for a half or a third of a Dinar, and praises Allah^-azwj whenever he wears it. His sins are forgiven before this dress reaches down to his knees.”[47]

Allah^-azwj Is Grateful And Loves Those Who Are Thankful:

. عنه صلي الله عليه و اله و سلم قال: إنّ المؤمن لَيشبع من الطعام والشراب فيحمد الله فيعطيه الله من الأجر ما يعطي الصائم، إنّ الله شاكرٌ يحبّ أن يُحمد.

Rasool-Allah^-saww said: “Whenever a believer gets full, stops eating and drinking and praises Allah^-azwj, Allah^-azwj Grants him the reward of one who fasts. Allah^-azwj is Grateful and Loves to be praised.”[48]

عن أبي عبد الله صلي الله عليه و اله و سلم قال: إنّ الرجل منكم لَيشرب شربةً من الماء فيوجب الله له بها الجنّة، ثمّ قال: يأخذ الإناء فيضعه على فيه فيسمّي، ثمّ يشرب فينحّيه وهو يشتهيه فيحمد الله ثمّ يعود فيشرب، ثمّ ينحّيه فيحمد الله، ثمّ يعود ويشرب، ثمّ ينحّيه فيحمد الله ثمَّ يعود ويشرب، ثمَّ ينحيّه فيحمد الله، فيوجب الله له بها الجنة.

Imam Sadiq^-asws said: “One of the men among you will drink some water, and Allah^-azwj will Reward him with Heaven for this act.” He^-asws added: “He brings the cup of water next to his lips, and calls Allah^-azwj‘s name. Then he drinks some water and takes the cup away while he is still thirsty. Then he praises Allah^-azwj and takes another sip, and he repeats this again. Allah^-azwj will Reward him with Heaven for this act.”[49]

Never Cease Thanking Allah^-azwj:

. عن الباقر عليه السلام قال: لا ينقطع الشكر من العباد.

Imam Baqir^-asws said: “The thanksgiving of God’s servants is non-stop.”[50]

. عن معمّر بن خلاد: قال الرضا عليه السلام: اتّقوا الله وعليكم بالتواضع والشكر والحمد، إنّه كان في بني إسرائيل رجلٌ فأتاه في منامه مَن قال له: إنّ لك نصف عمرك سعةً فاختر أيّ النصفين شئتَ؟ فقال: إنّ لي شريكا، فلمّا أصبح الرجل قال لزوجته: قد أتاني في هذه الليلة رجلٌ فأخبرني أنّ نصف عمري لي سعةً فاختر أيّ النصفين شئتَ، فقالت له زوجته: اختر النصف الأوّل، فقال: لكِ ذاك، فأقبلت عليه الدنيا، فكان كلّما كانت نعمةً قالت زوجته: جارك فلانٌ محتاجٌ فصِله، وتقول: قرابتك فلانٌ فتعطيه. وكانوا كذلك كلّما جاءتهم نعمةٌ أعطوا وتصدّقوا وشكروا، فلّما كان ليلةً من الليالي أتاه رجلٌ فقال: يا هذا، إنّ النصف قد انقضى فما رأيك؟ قال لي شريكٌ، فلّما أصبح الصبح قال لزوجته: أتاني الرجل فأعلمني أنّ النصف قد انقضى، فقالت له زوجته: قد أنعم الله علينا فشكرنا والله أولى بالوفاء، قال: فإنّ لك تمام عمرك.

Mu’amir ibn Khal’lad narrated that Imam Reza^-asws said: “Fear Allah^-azwj, and be humble; grateful and give thanks to Him^-azwj. There was a man among the Israelite tribe who had a dream one night. In his dream a man told him that he would only live half of his life in comfort, and asked him which half he preferred. He told the man that he had a partner. When he woke up the next morning, he told his wife about his dream. She told him to choose the first half, and he accepted. Then they got wealthy receiving constant blessings. His wife kept informing him about needy neighbours and relatives, and he would help them. They continued donating whatever they received, and giving thanks to God. One night the man had another dream and saw the same man. He told him that half of his life was now over, and asked his opinion. Again, he told the man that he had a partner. When he woke up the next morning, he told everything he saw in his dream to his wife. She said: “Allah^-azwj Gave us blessings, and we gave thanks, and Allah^-azwj is most faithful.”

Then that man appeared in his dream again and said: “Now you will live in comfort all your life.”[51]

Thanking Allah^-azwj Under All Situations:

. وعنه عليه السلام قال: كان رسول الله صلي الله عليه و اله و سلمإذا ورد عليه أمرٌ يسرّه قال: الحمد لله على هذه النعمة، وإذا ورد أمرٌ يَغتمّ به قال: الحمد لله على كلّ حال.

Imam Sadiq^-asws said: “Whenever something pleasing came up for Rasool-Allah^-saww, he^-saww said: “Thanks Allah^-azwj for this blessing.” And whenever something saddening happened, he^-saww said: “الحمد لله على كلّ حال’’ Praise be to Allah^-azwj in all situations.[52]”“

عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: الشكر للنِعَم اجتناب المحارم، وتمام الشكر قول العبد:.

Imam Sadiq^-asws said: “Thanking for blessings (basically) is abstaining from the forbidden. Ultimate expression of gratitude is saying:

الحمد لله ربّ العالمين

“Praise be to God, the Lord of the two worlds.”[53]

قال الحسين بن عليّ: مَن طلب رضا الله بسخط الناس كفاه الله أمور الناس، ومَن طلب رضا الناس بسخط الله وكله الله إلى الناس.

Imam Hussain^-asws said: “Allah^-azwj will Make you needless of the people if you prefer Allah^-azwj‘s Pleasure over the people’s dissatisfaction. And Allah^-azwj will Leave you alone if you prefer the people’s pleasure over Allah^-azwj‘s dissatisfaction.[54]”

قال أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام: إذا وصلتْ إليكم أطراف النعم فلا تنفروا أقصاها بقلّة الشكر.

Amir Al-Momineen^-asws said: “Whenever you start to get some blessings, do not lose the rest of the blessings by not offering enough thanks.”[55]

Do not Associate with the Rich:

قال الباقر عليه السلام: لا تجالس الأغنياء فإنّ العبد يجالسهم وهو يرى أنّ لله عليه نعمةٌ، فما يقوم حتّى يرى أنّه ليس لله عليه نعمةٌ.

Imam Baqir^-asws said: “Do not associate with the rich – (but if you have to then) before doing so you (must) recognize the blessings that Allah^-azwj has given to you. But if you associate with the rich (without such recognising), you will no longer recognise the blessings that Allah^-azwj has Given you.”[56]

Amir ul-Momineen^-asws Specifies Major Bounties of Allah^-azwj:

قب، المناقب لابن شهرآشوب جَابِرٌ وَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ‏ أَنَّ أُبَيَّ بْنَ كَعْبٍ قَرَأَ عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ ص‏ وَ أَسْبَغَ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعَمَهُ ظاهِرَةً وَ باطِنَةً فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص لِقَوْمٍ عِنْدَهُ وَ فِيهِمْ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَ عُبَيْدَةُ وَ عُمَرُ وَ عُثْمَانُ وَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ قُولُوا الْآنَ مَا أَوَّلُ نِعَمِهِ أَعَزَّكُمُ اللَّهُ بِهَا وَ بَلَاكُمْ بِهَا فَخَاضُوا مِنَ الْمَعَاشِ وَ الرِّيَاشِ وَ الذُّرِّيَّةِ وَ الْأَزْوَاجِ

(The book) ‘Al Manaqib’ of Ibn Shehr Ashub – Jabir and Ibn Abbas,

‘Ubay Bin Ka’ab recited in the presence of the Prophet^-saww: and Bestowed upon you His Bounties, apparent and hidden? [31:20]. The Prophet^-saww said to a group in his^-asws presence, and among them were Abu Bakr, and Ubeyda, and Umar, and Usman, and Abdul Rahman: ‘Say now! What is the first Bounty Allah^-azwj has Endeared you all with and Tried you with it?’ They argued from, the livelihood, and the luxurious life, and the offspring, and the wives.

فَلَمَّا أَمْسَكُوا قَالَ يَا أَبَا الْحَسَنِ قُلْ فَقَالَ ع إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَلَقَنِي وَ لَمْ أَكُ شَيْئاً مَذْكُوراً وَ أَنْ أَحْسَنَ بِي فَجَعَلَنِي حَيّاً لَا مَوَاتاً وَ أَنْ أَنْشَأَنِي فَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ فِي أَحْسَنِ صُورَةٍ وَ أَعْدَلِ تَرْكِيبٍ

When they withheld, he^-saww said: ‘O Abu Al-Hassan^-asws! Speak’. He^-asws said: ‘Allah^-azwj Created me^-asws and I^-asws did not happen to be a thing worthy of mention, and Improved me^-asws, and He^-azwj Made me^-asws to be alive, not dead, and He^-azwj Caused me^-asws to grow. So, for Him^-azwj is the Praise regarding the excellent image, and regulated the combination.

وَ أَنْ جَعَلَنِي مُتَفَكِّراً وَاعِياً لَا أَبْلَهَ سَاهِياً وَ أَنْ جَعَلَ لِي شَوَاعِرَ أُدْرِكُ بِهَا مَا ابْتَغَيْتُ وَ جَعَلَ فِيَّ سِرَاجاً مُنِيراً وَ أَنْ هَدَانِي لِدِينِهِ وَ لَنْ يُضِلَّنِي عَنْ سَبِيلِهِ وَ أَنْ جَعَلَ لِي مَرَدّاً فِي حَيَاةٍ لَا انْقِطَاعَ لَهَا

And He^-azwj Made me^-asws to think, retain, I^-asws do not forget. And He^-azwj Made senses for me^-asws I^-asws can realise with these for as long as I^-asws seek. And He^-azwj Made a radiant lamp inside me^-asws and Guided me^-asws to His^-azwj religion and will never Stray me^-asws from His^-azwj Way. And He^-azwj Made a return to be for me^-asws in a life there is no termination for it.

وَ أَنْ جَعَلَنِي مَلَكاً مَالِكاً لَا مَمْلُوكاً وَ أَنْ سَخَّرَ لِي سَمَاءَهُ وَ أَرْضَهُ وَ مَا فِيهِمَا وَ مَا بَيْنَهُمَا مِنْ خَلْقِهِ وَ أَنْ جَعَلَنَا ذُكْرَاناً قُوَّاماً عَلَى حَلَائِلِنَا لَا إِنَاثاً وَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يَقُولُ فِي كُلِّ كَلِمَةٍ صَدَقْتَ

And He^-azwj Made me^-asws a king, an owner, not owned. And He^-azwj Subdued His^-azwj sky and His^-azwj earth and whatever is in them, and whatever is between them of His^-azwj creatures. And He^-azwj Made us males standing upon our strength, not females’. And Rasool-Allah^-saww was saying: ‘True!’ during each phrase.

ثُمَّ قَالَ فَمَا بَعْدَ هَذَا فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ ع‏ وَ إِنْ تَعُدُّوا نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ لا تُحْصُوها فَتَبَسَّمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص وَ قَالَ لِيَهْنِئْكَ الْحِكْمَةُ لِيَهْنِئْكَ الْعِلْمُ يَا أَبَا الْحَسَنِ أَنْتَ وَارِثُ عِلْمِي وَ الْمُبِينُ لِأُمَّتِي مَا اخْتَلَفَتْ فِيهِ مِنْ بَعْدِي الْخَبَرَ.

Then he^-saww said: ‘So what is after this?’ Ali^-asws said: ‘And if you were to count the Favours of Allah, you would not be (able to) count these. [16:18]’. Rasool-Allah^-saww smiled and said: ‘Congratulations to you^-asws for the wisdom! Congratulations to you^-asws for the knowledge, O Abu Al-Hassan^-asws! You^-asws are the inheritor of my^-saww knowledge, and the clarifier for my^-saww community of whatever it differs in from after me^-saww’ – the Hadeeth’’.[57]

Be a Good Keeper of Bounties:

عَنْهُ ع قَالَ: أَحْسِنُوا جِوَارَ نِعَمِ اللَّهِ وَ احْذَرُوا أَنْ تَنْتَقِلَ عَنْكُمْ إِلَى غَيْرِكُمْ أَمَا إِنَّهَا لَمْ تَنْتَقِلْ عَنْ أَحَدٍ قَطُّ وَ كَادَتْ أَنْ تَرْجِعَ إِلَيْهِ.

Imam Sadiq^-asws said: “Be a good neighbour for Allah^-azwj‘s Blessings, and try not to let blessings leave you and go to someone else (by being ungrateful). Beware that once Blessings are gone, they are hard to return.”[58]

عَنْ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع قَالَ: شُكْرُ كُلِّ نِعْمَةٍ الْوَرَعُ عَنْ مَحَارِمِ اللَّهِ.

Ameer-ul-Momineen^-asws said: “Being grateful for Allah^-azwj‘s Blessings is not committing divinely forbidden acts.”[59]

دَخَلَ بَعْضُ أَصْحَابِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فِي مَرَضِهِ الَّذِي تُوُفِّيَ فِيهِ إِلَيْهِ وَ قَدْ ذَبُلَ فَلَمْ يَبْقَ إِلَّا رَأْسُهُ فَبَكَى فَقَالَ لِأَيِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ تَبْكِي فَقَالَ لَا أَبْكِي وَ أَنَا أَرَاكَ عَلَى هَذِهِ الْحَالِ قَالَ لَا تَفْعَلْ فَإِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنَ تَعَرَّضَ كُلَّ خَيْرٍ إِنْ قُطِعَ أَعْضَاؤُهُ كَانَ خَيْراً لَهُ وَ إِنْ مَلَكَ مَا بَيْنَ الشَّرْقِ وَ الْغَرْبِ كَانَ خَيْراً لَهُ.

One of the companions of Imam Sadiq^-asws went to see him^-asws. The Imam^-asws was seriously ill and near death. He saw that the Imam^-asws was very weak, and he cried. Imam Sadiq^-asws asked why he cried. He said: “Should I not cry seeing you^-asws this way?” The Imam^-asws said: “Do not cry. Believers are always receiving what is good for them. Be it they lose a part of their body, or they become the owner of whatever lies between the East and the West, it is good for them.”[60]

APPENDIX : The hidden signs of the Believer

لا يغره ثناء من جهله ولا يدع إحصاء عمله، مستبطأ لنفسه في العمل، يعمل الأعمال الصالحة. وهو رجل يمسي وهمه الشكر ويصبح وشغله الذكر. يبيت حذرا ويصبح فرحا، حذرا لما حذر وفرحا لما أصاب من الفضل والرحمة.

They (momineen) do not get tempted by the praises of the ignorant, and do not count their (good) deeds, not delaying themselves in performance of the deeds, they keep doing good deeds. And he is a man who ‘hums’ (chant) thankfulness in the evenings and in the mornings and busies himself with the Remembrance.

He (Momin) spends the night cautiously (in fear) and in the morning he is happy. He is fearful of what he should be fearful of, and happy with what he has been given from the virtues and the Mercy.

وإن استصعب عليه نفسه فيما تكره لم يعطها سؤلها فيما إليه بشره. ففرحه فيما يخلد ويطول، وقرة عينه فيما لا يزول. رغبته فيما يبقى وزهادته فيما يفنى. يمزج الحلم بالعلم والعلم بالعقل. تراه بعيدا كسله، دائما نشاطه، قريبا أمله، قليلا زلله، متوقعا أجله، خاشعا قلبه، قانعة نفسه، متغيبا جهله، سهلا أمره، حريزا لدينه، ميتة شهوته، مكظوما غيظه، صافيا خلقه، آمنا منه جاره، ضعيفا كبره، قانعا بالذي قدر له، متينا صبره، محكما أمره، كثيرا ذكره.

And if he finds difficulty upon himself which he does not like, he does not try to overcome it by surrendering to his ‘Nafs’ (ego). So he is happy with that which is eternal and long-lasting and delights his eyes in what will not pass away.

He (Momin) desires that which is to remain and refrains from that which is doomed for (destruction). He mixes the forbearance with the knowledge and the knowledge with the intellect. You will see him to be remote from laziness, working endlessly, close to his deeds, (considering them to be) little with Allah^-azwj, anticipating his death, humble in his heart, content with himself, his ignorance is absent, his matters are easy, safeguarding his Religion, his desires have been killed, controlling his temper, keeping clean (physically and spiritually), his neighbour is safe from him, his arrogance is suppressed, he is satisfied with whatever that has been Decreed for him, robust in his patience, decisive in his matters, and frequent in his Remembrance.

لا يحدث بما اؤتمن عليه الأصدقاء، ولا يكتم شهادة الأعداء، ولا يعمل شيئا من الحق رياء ولا يتركه حياء. الخير منه مأمول، والشر منه مأمون. يعفو عمن ظلمه ويعطي من حرمه ويصل من قطعه. لا يعزب حلمه ولا يعجل فيما يريبه، ويصفح عما تبين له. بعيد جهله، لين قوله، عائب منكره، قريب معروفه، صادق قوله، حسن فعله، مقبل خيره، مدبر شره. وهو في الزلازل وقور، وفي المكاره صبور، وفي الرخاء شكور.

He does not narrate what the friends have entrusted to him, and does not conceal the testimony of the enemies, and does not do anything from the truth to show off or to avoid embarrassment.

The good deed from him (Momin) is (always) expected, and people are safe from him as the evil from him is never emanating. He excuses the one who is unjust to him, and he gives sanctuary to the one who comes to him, and maintains relations with the one who cuts it off from him. His forbearance does not separate from him and he does not rush into that which is doubtful for him, and tolerates what is clear to him.

And his ignorance is remote from him, his talk is soft, he dislikes finding faults, he is near to good deeds, truthful in his speech, beautiful in his deeds, goes forward with his good deeds and leaves his evil deeds behind. And he is firm in shaky situations, and in hardship he is patient, and in the prosperity he is thankful. (An extract).[61]

 Addendum:

الأمالي للصدوق ابْنُ إِدْرِيسَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ الْعَلَوِيِّ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ عَنْ أَبِي هَاشِمٍ الْجَعْفَرِيِّ قَالَ: أَصَابَتْنِي ضِيقَةٌ شَدِيدَةٌ فَصِرْتُ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ ع فَأَذِنَ لِي فَلَمَّا جَلَسْتُ قَالَ يَا أَبَا هَاشِمٍ أَيُّ نِعَمِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَلَيْكَ تُرِيدُ أَنْ تُؤَدِّيَ شُكْرَهَا

(The book) ‘Al Amaali’ of Al Sadouq – Ibn Idrees, from his father, from Muhammad Bin Ahmad Al Alawy, from Ahmad Bin Al Qasim, from Abu Hashim Al Ja’fari who said,

‘Severe (financial) constraints afflicted me, so I came to Abu Al-Hassan Ali^-asws Bin Muhammad^-asws. He^-asws permitted for me. When I was seated, he^-asws said: ‘O Abu Hashim! Which Favour of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic is there upon you, that you want to fulfil its thanks?’

قَالَ أَبُو هَاشِمٍ فَوَجَمْتُ فَلَمْ أَدْرِ مَا أَقُولُ لَهُ فَابْتَدَأَ ع فَقَالَ رَزَقَكَ الْإِيمَانَ فَحَرَّمَ بَدَنَكَ عَلَى النَّارِ وَ رَزَقَكَ الْعَافِيَةَ فَأَعَانَتْكَ عَلَى الطَّاعَةِ وَ رَزَقَكَ الْقُنُوعَ فَصَانَكَ عَنِ التَّبَذُّلِ

Abu Hashim said, ‘I imagined, but I did not know what I should be saying to him^-asws. He^-asws initiated. He^-asws said: ‘He^-azwj Graced you the Eman, so He^-azwj Prohibited your body upon the Fire, and He^-azwj Graced you the good health, so He^-azwj Assisted you upon the (acts of) obedience, and He^-azwj Graced you the contentment, so He^-azwj Fortified you from the extravagance.

يَا أَبَا هَاشِمٍ إِنَّمَا ابْتَدَأْتُكَ بِهَذَا لِأَنِّي ظَنَنْتُ أَنَّكَ تُرِيدُ أَنْ تَشْكُوَ لِي مَنْ فَعَلَ بِكَ هَذَا وَ قَدْ أَمَرْتُ لَكَ بِمِائَةِ دِينَارٍ فَخُذْهَا.

O Abu Hashim! But rather, I^-asws initiated you with this because I^-asws thought that you wanted to complain to me of the One^-azwj who has Done this with you, and I^-asws have ordered for one hundred Dinars to be for you, so take it!’’[62]

عيون أخبار الرضا عليه السلام الْبَيْهَقِيُّ عَنِ الصَّوْلِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي ذَكْوَانَ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ الْعَبَّاسِ قَالَ: كَانَ الرِّضَا ع يُنْشِدُ كَثِيراً إِذَا كُنْتَ فِي خَيْرٍ فَلَا تَغْتَرِرْ بِهِ وَ لَكِنْ قُلِ اللَّهُمَّ سَلِّمْ وَ تَمِّمْ‏.

(The book) ‘Uyoun Akhbar Al-Reza^–ra’, may the greetings be upon him^-asws, – Al Bayhaqi, from Al Sowly, from Abu Zakwan, from Ibrahim Bin Al Abbas who said,

‘Al-Reza^-asws used to frequently prose (poems): ‘When you are in good (state), so do not be deceived by it, but say, ‘O Allah^-azwj! Safety and completeness’’.^[63]

الأمالي للشيخ الطوسي جَمَاعَةٌ عَنْ أَبِي الْمُفَضَّلِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ يُونُسَ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ جَابِرٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحِيمِ الْكَرْخِيِّ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ حَسَّانَ عَنْ هَمَّامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‏ مَنْ لَمْ يَعْلَمْ فَضْلَ نِعَمِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَلَيْهِ إِلَّا فِي مَطْعَمِهِ وَ مَشْرَبِهِ فَقَدْ قَصُرَ عِلْمُهُ وَ دَنَا عَذَابُهُ‏.

(The book) ‘Al Amaali’ of the sheykh Al Tusi – a group, from Abu Al Mufazzal, from Ali Bin Ismail Bin Yunus, from Ibrahim Bin Jabir, from Abdul Raheem Al Karkhy, from Hisham Bin Hassan, from Hammam Bin Urwah, from his father, from Ayesha who said,

‘One who does not know merit of a bounty of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic upon him except in his food and his drink, so his knowledge is deficient, and his Punishment has drawn near’’.^[64]

معاني الأخبار أَبِي عَنِ الْعَطَّارِ عَنِ الْأَشْعَرِيِّ عَنِ السَّيَّارِيِّ عَنِ ابْنِ بَقَّاحٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ السَّلَامِ رَفَعَهُ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ: كُفْرٌ بِالنِّعَمِ أَنْ يَقُولَ الرَّجُلُ أَكَلْتُ كَذَا وَ كَذَا فَضَرَّنِي‏.

(The book) ‘Ma’any Al Akhbar’ – My father, from Al Attar, from Al Ashari, from Al Sayyari, from Ibn Baqqah, from Abdul Salat, raising it to,

‘Abu Abdullah^-asws said: ‘Kufr of the bounty is that the man says, ‘I ate such and such and it harmed me’’.^[65]

مصباح الشريعة قَالَ الصَّادِقُ ع‏ فِي كُلِّ نَفَسٍ مِنْ أَنْفَاسِكَ شُكْرٌ لَازِمٌ لَكَ بَلْ أَلْفٌ وَ أَكْثَرُ وَ أَدْنَى الشُّكْرِ رُؤْيَةُ النِّعْمَةِ مِنَ اللَّهِ مِنْ غَيْرِ عِلَّةٍ يَتَعَلَّقُ الْقَلْبُ بِهَا دُونَ اللَّهِ وَ الرِّضَا بِمَا أَعْطَاهُ وَ أَنْ لَا تَعْصِيَهُ بِنِعْمَتِهِ وَ تُخَالِفَهُ بِشَيْ‏ءٍ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ وَ نَهْيِهِ بِسَبَبِ نِعْمَتِهِ

(The book) ‘Misbah Al Sharia’ –

‘Al-Sadiq^-asws said: ‘Regarding every breath of your breathing it necessitates you to thank (for it), but a thousand (times) and more, and the least thanks of seeing the bounty from Allah^-azwj from without there being a reason is to attach the heart with it, besides Allah^-azwj, and the satisfaction with what He^-azwj has Given, and that you should not disobey Him^-azwj with His^-azwj (Given) bounty, and opposing Him^-azwj with something from His^-azwj Command and His^-azwj Prohibition by a cause of His^-azwj bounty.

وَ كُنْ لِلَّهِ عَبْداً شَاكِراً عَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ تَجِدِ اللَّهَ رَبّاً كَرِيماً عَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ وَ لَوْ كَانَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ عِبَادَةٌ تَعَبَّدَ بِهَا عِبَادَهُ الْمُخْلَصِينَ أَفْضَلَ مِنَ الشُّكْرِ عَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ لَأَطْلَقَ لَفْظَهُ فِيهِمْ مِنْ جَمِيعِ الْخَلْقِ بِهَا

And be a thankful servant to Allah^-azwj upon every situation, you will find Allah^-azwj as a Benevolent Lord^-azwj upon every situation, and had there been in the Presence of Allah^-azwj any worship His^-azwj sincere servants could worship with, superior to the thanking upon every situation, He^-azwj would have Linked His^-azwj Wording regarding them with it, from entirety of the people.

فَلَمَّا لَمْ يَكُنْ أَفْضَلَ مِنْهَا خَصَّهَا مِنْ بَيْنِ الْعِبَادَاتِ وَ خَصَّ أَرْبَابَهَا فَقَالَ‏ وَ قَلِيلٌ مِنْ عِبادِيَ الشَّكُورُ

When there did not happen to be anything superior to it, He^-azwj Specified it from between the (other acts of) worship and Specified its performers. He^-azwj Said: ‘and a few from My servants are grateful [34:13].

وَ تَمَامُ الشُّكْرِ اعْتِرَافُ لِسَانِ السِّرِّ خَاضِعاً لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى بِالْعَجْزِ عَنْ بُلُوغِ أَدْنَى شُكْرِهِ لِأَنَّ التَّوْفِيقَ لِلشُّكْرِ نِعْمَةٌ حَادِثَةٌ يَجِبُ الشُّكْرُ عَلَيْهَا وَ هِيَ أَعْظَمُ قَدْراً وَ أَعَزُّ وُجُوداً مِنَ النِّعْمَةِ الَّتِي مِنْ أَجْلِهَا وُفِّقْتَ لَهُ

And the complete thanks is acknowledging secretly by the long humbling to Allah^-azwj the Exalted with the frustration from reaching the least of thanking Him^-azwj, because the inclination for the thanking is an occurring bounty obligating the thanks upon it, and it is of mighty worth and the dearest feeling of the bounty which, from its reason, he had been Harmonised to it.

فَيَلْزَمُكَ عَلَى كُلِّ شُكْرٍ شُكْرٌ أَعْظَمُ مِنْهُ إِلَى مَا لَا نِهَايَةَ لَهُ مُسْتَغْرِقاً فِي نِعْمَتِهِ قَاصِراً عَاجِزاً عَنْ دَرْكِ غَايَةِ شُكْرِهِ وَ أَنَّى يَلْحَقُ الْعَبْدُ شُكْرَ نِعْمَةِ اللَّهِ وَ مَتَى يَلْحَقُ صَنِيعُهُ بِصَنِيعِهِ وَ الْعَبْدُ ضَعِيفٌ لَا قُوَّةَ لَهُ أَبَداً إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ

Thus, it necessitates you upon every thanking, to thank mightier than it up to there is no end for it, having been immersed in His^-azwj bounties, deficient, unable from reaching the peak of thanking Him^-azwj, and how the servant can catch up to thank for the bounties of Allah^-azwj? And when can his dealing catch up with His^-azwj Dealing, and the servant is weak, there being no strength for it, ever, except by Allah^-azwj?

وَ اللَّهُ غَنِيٌّ عَنْ طَاعَةِ الْعَبْدِ قَوِيٌّ عَلَى مَزِيدِ النِّعَمِ عَلَى الْأَبَدِ فَكُنْ لِلَّهِ عَبْداً شَاكِراً عَلَى هَذَا الْأَصْلِ تُرَى الْعَجَبَ‏.

And Allah^-azwj is needless from the obedience of the servant, Strong upon Increasing the bounties upon the servant. So be a thankful servant to Allah^-azwj upon this principle, you will see the wonders’’.^[66]

الدُّرَّةُ الْبَاهِرَةُ، قَالَ الْجَوَادُ ع‏ نِعْمَةٌ لَا تُشْكَرُ كَسَيِّئَةٍ لَا تُغْفَرُ.

(The book) ‘Al Durr Al Baahira’ –

‘Al-Jawad^-asws said: ‘A bounty not thanked for is like an evil deed not Forgiven for’’.^[67]

  [1] Shakir (Thankful one)

[2] Tafseer e Imam Hassan Askari, H. 343

[3] Tafseer e Imam Hassan Askari, H. 348

[4] Tafseer e Imam Hassan Askari, H. 349

[5] UYUN AKHBAR AL-REZA, vol. 2, Chapter 26, H. 13

[6] An extract from a length Hadith, see Appendix I.

[7] مشكاة الأنوار في غرر الأخبار، النص، ص: 27, H. 92.

[8] مشكاة الأنوار في غرر الأخبار، النص، ص: 27, H. 96

[9] مشكاة الأنوار في غرر الأخبار، النص، ص: 27, H. 97

[10] Mishkat ul Anwar, H. 95

[11] Bihar Al Anwaar – V 49, The book of History – Ali Al Reza^asws, Ch 14 H 17

[12] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Belief and Disbelief CH 33 H 6

[13] مشكاة الأنوار في غرر الأخبار، النص، ص: 29, H. 108

[14] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Belief and Disbelief CH 48 H 8

[15] Mishkat ul Anwar, H. 94

[16] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Belief and Disbelief CH 48 H 20

[17] مشكاة الأنوار في غرر الأخبار، النص، ص: 28, H. 102

[18] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Supplication CH 52 H 2

[19] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Supplication CH 27 H 5

[20] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Supplication CH 60 H 28

[21] Kamil al-Ziyarah, Ch. 11, h, 2

[22] زاد المعاد – مفتاح الجنان، ص: 204

[23] مشكاة الأنوار في غرر الأخبار، النص، ص: 29, H. 104

[24] UYUN AKHBAR AL-REZA, vol. 2, Chapter 28, H. 27

[25] UYUN AKHBAR AL-REZA, vol. 2, Chapter 28, H. 23

[26] Mishkat ul Anwar, H. 105

[27] Mishkat ul Anwar, H. 106

[28] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Belief and Disbelief CH 48 H 3

[29] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Belief and Disbelief CH 48 H 30

[30] الخصال ج : 2 ص : 611

[31] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Belief and Disbelief CH 48 H 18

[32] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Belief and Disbelief CH 48 H 27

[33] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Belief and Disbelief CH 99 H 31

[34] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Belief and Disbelief CH 165 H 4

[35] مشكاة الأنوار في غرر الأخبار، النص، ص: 31, H. 118

[36] Al Kafi – V 8,  H 14488

[37] Al-Kafi, Tatm Sawab-ul-Marz, h. 5 (Urdu, vol.1. Faro, pp. 272)

[38] الخصال ج : 2 ص : 611

[39] الخصال ج : 2 ص : 611

[40] Al Kafi V 1 – The Book Of Intellect and Ignorance CH 1 H 12

[41] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Social Relationships CH 15 H 6

[42] Al Kafi – V 6 – The Book of Outfits and the Beautification and the Magnanimity Ch 1 H 2

[43] وَأَمَّا بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ فَحَدِّثْ {11}

And as for the Favour of your Lord, so do announce (it) [93:11]

[44] تحف العقول، النص، ص: 222

[45] Al Kafi – V 6 – The Book of Outfits and the Beautification and the Magnanimity Ch 13 H 1

[46] تحف العقول، النص، ص: 20

[47] Mishkat ul Anwar, H. 98

[48] Mishkat ul Anwar, H. 99

[49] Mishkat ul Anwar, H. 100

[50] Mishkat ul Anwar, H. 109

[51] Mishkat ul Anwar, H. 113

[52] Mishkat ul Anwar, H. 121

[53] Mishkat ul Anwar, H. 122

[54] Mishkat ul Anwar, H. 129

[55] Mishkat ul Anwar, H. 131

[56] Mishkat ul Anwar, H. 132

[57] Bihar Al Anwaar – V 40, The book of History – Amir Al Momineen^asws, Ch 93 H 56 a

[58] مشكاة الأنوار في غرر الأخبار، النص، ص: 30, H. 111

[59] مشكاة الأنوار في غرر الأخبار، النص، ص: 35, H. 147.

[60] مشكاة الأنوار في غرر الأخبار، النص، ص: 35, H. 146

[61] The Book Of Sulaym Bin Qays Al Hilali, H. 43

[62] Bihar Al Anwaar – V 50, The book of History – Ali Bin Muhammad^asws, Ch 3 H 7

[63] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 67 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 61 H 52

[64] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 67 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 61 H 64

[65] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 67 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 61 H 70

[66] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 67 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 61 H 77

[67] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 67 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 61 H 84