Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Ask A (Born Again) Muslim

Home
Muslim
Gratitude to the Gracious God-In Good Times and Bad Times

Gratitude to the Gracious God-In Good Times and Bad Times

Last updated on: April 23, 2018 at 2:53 pm by Ejaz Naqvi, MD

Gratitude to the Gracious God-In Good Times and Bad Times 2018-04-23T14:53:14-07:00 Ejaz Naqvi, MD

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

As I near my 60th birthday this year, I am starting to have some health issues. It does put a damper on your energy and ambitions in life. But rather than getting grumpy, it makes me appreciate, and recognize how incredibly blessed I have been for things that I took for granted, and gives me opportunity to show my gratitude to God Almighty – the giver of everything.

First of all, let me say at the outset, none of these are “serious” health issues, InshaAllah (God willing). But for almost 60 years, I did not have to watch my diet. Didn’t have to worry about sweets or salt or Cholesterol. Didn’t have to go to ER- until recently. Didn’t have to see doctors regularly. But recently as the blood sugar and BP started to get in the borderline high range, I needed to watch what I had to eat, making me realize how incredibly blessed I have been.

Then came a couple of minor health scares, including this one currently.

I found myself asking these questions: Did I thank God when I was able to eat at my pleasure without restrictions? Did I thank God when my xyz function/body part was working flawlessly? So why am i complaining when this has hit a road bump?

We take our body functions for granted, don’t we- until we lose that function temporarily or permanently.

Do we not take for granted our sight and hearing?

Do we not take for granted the ability to digest food?

Do we not take for granted the ability to get all the toxins and the unnecessary ingredients removed by the liver, kidneys and other organs? Even our bowel movement and urination is a blessing. Just ask those who have lost this function.

Do we not take for granted the ability to sleep, and wake up refreshed?

This is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of health-related blessings. This does not take into account all the complex processes to maintain body function internally- the hormones, body fluids, the “homeostasis” system of checks and balances and the body’s impeccable state of equilibrium. Maintaining the acid-base balance, body fluid balance, electrolyte balance, the hormonal balance, the immune function to fight the offenders- the list goes on and on.

And then there are so many other reasons we can be thankful to God Almighty. Having the faith in God in itself is a blessing. The family, the job, a thinking mind, a caring heart, peace of mind, the environment- the rain, the sun, the ocean, the pets, to name a few.

The Qur’an and the Bible put a lot of emphasis on showing gratitude to the Creator. Gratitude is also a big part of spirituality. Gratitude is often taught as a healthy psychological behavior.

The benefits for practicing gratitude

There are numerous studies showing the positive impact of gratitude on physical and emotional health. Greater Good Science Center (GGSC) at UC Berkeley is a leading institute for the study and propagation for science and practice of happiness and well-being.

Why practice gratitude?

Robert Emmons, perhaps the world’s leading scientific expert on gratitude, argues that gratitude has two key components, which he describes in a Greater Good essay, “Why Gratitude is Good”.

First,” he writes, “it’s an affirmation of goodness. We affirm that there are good things in the world, gifts and benefits we’ve received.”

In the second part of gratitude, he explains, “we recognize that the sources of this goodness are outside of ourselves. … We acknowledge that other people—or even higher powers, if you’re of a spiritual mindset—gave us many gifts, big and small, to help us achieve the goodness in our lives.” [1]

According to the Greater Good Magazine, practicing gratitude has many physical, emotional and social benefits, such as:[2]

Gratitude brings us happiness: Through research by Robert Emmons, happiness expert Sonja Lyubomirsky, and many other scientists, practicing gratitude has proven to be one of the most reliable methods for increasing happinessand life satisfaction; it also boosts feelings of optimism, joy, pleasure, enthusiasm, and other positive emotions.
On the flip side, gratitude also reduces anxiety and depressionand could be a helpful part of therapy. Research suggests it may help reduce depression among people with chronic disease.
Gratitude is good for our bodies: Studies by Emmons and his colleague Michael McCullough suggest gratitude strengthens the immune system, lowers blood pressure, reduces symptoms of illness, and makes us less bothered by aches and pains. It also encourages us to exercise more and take better care of our health.
Grateful people sleep better: They get more hours of sleep each night, spend less time awake before falling asleep, and feel more refreshed upon awakening. If you want to sleep more soundly, count blessings, not sheep.
Gratitude makes us more resilient: It has been found to help people recover from traumatic events, including Vietnam War veterans with PTSD, victims of natural disasters, and people living under violent, political conflict.
Gratitude strengthens relationships: It makes us feel closer and more committedto friends and romantic partners. When partners feel and express gratitude for each other, they each become more satisfied with their relationship. Gratitude may also encourage a more equitable division of labor between partners.
Gratitude promotes forgiveness—even between ex-spousesafter a divorce.
Gratitude makes us “pay it forward”: Grateful people are more helpful, altruistic, and compassionate—in other words, more prosocial.
Gratitude is good for kids: Children as young as six or seven are more generouswhen they’re feeling grateful, and grateful adolescents tend to be more resilient. When 10-19 year olds practice gratitude, they report greater life satisfaction and more positive emotion, and they feel more connected to their community.
Gratitude is good for schools: Studies suggest it makes students feel better about their school; it also makes teachers feel more satisfied and accomplished, and less emotionally exhausted, possibly reducing teacher burnout.

Qur’an on Gratitude

Showing gratitude and thankfulness is an oft-repeated theme in the Qur’an. There are many layers of the state of gratitude, starting with simply appreciating all the bounties in our hearts and reflecting it in our good deeds.

Practicing gratitude is for our own benefit:

The wise man, Luqman was told that the practice of gratitude is for our own benefit.

We endowed Luqman with wisdom: ‘Be thankful to God: whoever gives thanks benefits his own soul, and as for those who are thankless––God is self-sufficient, worthy of all praise’ (31:12).

Chapter 55 (Surah Rehman, or the Most Gracious), is one of the most inspiring, most oft-recited chapters of the Qur’an. It reminds us of the numerous bounties and then repeatedly asks us the same question (31 times in the chapter): “Which of the favors (bounties) of your Lord will you deny?”

God’s bounties are too many to compute:

Is, then, He who creates comparable to any [being] that cannot create? Will you not, then, bethink yourselves? For, should you try to count God’s blessings, you could never compute them! Behold, God is indeed much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace; 16:17-18

It is He Who brought you forth from the wombs of your mothers when you knew nothing; and He gave you hearing and sight and intelligence and affection: that you may give thanks (to Allah) 16:78.

God does not discriminate when giving away bounties.

He shows and gives mercy to all, even those who continue to be ungrateful and rebellious towards Him.

Indeed God is the possessor of bounty for all people but most people do not give thanks. 2:243

Abraham, the father of monotheism, summarized his gratitude beautifully, ending with a prayer.

Who created me, and He [it is who] guides me. And it is He who feeds me and gives me drink; and when I am ill, it is He who cures me; and who will cause me to die and then bring me to life; and who, I hope, will forgive me my faults on the Day of Judgment. My Lord: Grant me wisdom, and join me with the good. And ordain for me a goodly mention among posterity. 26:78-84.

Bible on Gratitude

Praising God and showing gratitude to the Almighty goes hand and hand in the Bible. (Giving thanks to the Lord or a higher power, is preached and practiced regularly in many other religions besides Islam, Christianity and Judaism.)

Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. Psalms 100:4-5

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James 1:17

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Psalms. 103:1-5

Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!” 2 Corinthians 9:15

Let me end by stating some of the benefits that are similar to Robert Emmon reasoning, from a spiritual perspective.

Showing gratitude gets our eyes off ourselves, and helps us to focus back on God and others around us.

It reminds us we’re not in control, and that’s OK. It keeps us humble and does not let our egos get in the way. It reminds us that God is in control. We need Him, He does not need us.

It is a constant reminder how lucky we are to have all the bounties- the ones we are conscious of and the ones that we are not even aware of.

So thank you, God for everything you have blessed me with- ones I am aware of, and the ones that I don’t even know about.I know I won’t be able to thank God enough for His blessings, even if I stayed in prostration 24/7.

And I would end by what Muslims say when expressing their gratitude to God- Alhamdulillah.(Praise be to God).

[1] https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/gratitude/definition#what-is

[2] https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/gratitude/definition#why-practice

benefits of gratitude

Gratitude

Greater Good magazine

Greater Good Science Center

psychology of gratitude

Thank God

Thanksgiving

why practice gratitude

Previous Post

April 17, 2018

Was Abraham a Muslim, a Jew or a Christian? A Source Of Unity Or Division?

Next Post

April 25, 2018 Islamic Extremism- Real or Manufactured?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category #IStandWithIlhan #ISupportRashidaTlaib #JusticeForZainab #MeToo #shithole Countries #Shitholecountries 1001 Inventions 2017 in review 2019 2nd amendment 4th of July 58 Palestinians 99 names of God Afghanistan Afterlife Al Ma'idah Allah Alms America and Islam American mosque American Muslim American Muslims Animals in paradise Annunciation anti-Semitism Aquatic origin Arafat Arkansas Arrogance Ashura Ashura and Karbala atheism atheism and islam Atheism and Muslim atheist Attacks on places of worship Austin Serial Bomber ave a dream Avicenna Benjamin Corey Beyond rituals Bible Bible and science Biden inauguration Big Bang Black Lives Matter Brett Kavanaugh Burcin Mutlu-Pakdil Burma Caliph Donald Trump Cell phones and mobile devices Chanukah Charity Charlottesville Chastity Child murder Child rape Christchurch mosque attacks Christchurch Mosques shootings Christian Christian Fundamentalism Christian Muslim Dialogue Christian Muslim interfaith Christian Taliban Christian-Muslim Dialogue Christians Christine Blaise Ford Christmas Christmas and Gaza Church Church of Ebgland Civil liberty CNN Explosive Device Coexist Conor Lamb Corona virus Covenant of Muhammad Covid-19 Virus Creation Creation in 6 days Creation in Quran and Bible Creation vs evolution Creationism Cross channel Patheos dialogue Crucifisxion Daily Prayer Services Day of Arafah Dayton shooting Dear Mother Devin Kelley Diamond Rule Domestic terrorism Domestic Violence Domestic Violence in Muslim communities Easter Edhi Eid Eid Al Adha Eid Al Fitr Eid Mubarak El Paso shooting Elohim End of Life care Environment Protection Ethnic Cleansing Evolution Evolution theory Explosive Devices in Mail Fact-Checking Faith and civil liberties Faith and justice Faith and religion Faith and suffering Fake news Fasting and ramadan Fasting in Torah and Gospel Fasting on Ashura Fear Inc fear mongers Fear of God Flat Earth Flat Earther Flu Flu prevention Flu tips Flu vaccine Followers of christ forgiveness forms of interfaith dialogue Freedom of expression Freedom of religion Friday at Kaaba Friday prayer Friday prayer at Kaaba Friday prayer during Hajj Gaza General Wesley Clark Genocide George Floyd Glad Tidings God God Fearing God of Abraham God's Mercy Golden Rule Good Friday Gospel Gospels Gratitude Gun control laws gun safety Gun violence Hagia sophia Hajj Hajj 2020 Hajj 2020 Day of Arafah Hajj 2022 Hajj in review Halal Hanukkah Happy Father's day Happy New Hijri Year Happy New Year Hate crime hate speech Hijab Hijabi scientist Holy Land Holy week Hot takes Humility I have a dream I have a dream in the Quran Ihram ilad un Nabi Ilhan Omar Imam Ali Imam hussain In God we trust In God's image infidels Intelligent design Inter religious relations Interfaith Interfaith Dialogue Interfaith Iftar Intra Faith Dialogue Intra-Faith dialogue Islam and Jesus Islam and racism Islam in America Islam Judaism and Christianity Islam One Religion Islam- way of Abraham Islam-Facts Islam-one religion Islamberg Islamic Comamndments Islamic golden age Islamic jesus Islamic Mannerism Islamophobia ISNA Israel's capital Jerusalem Jeruslam Jesus Jesus and end of times Jesus and Gaza Jesus Christ Jewish-Muslim dialogue Jewish-Muslim Relations Jews Jews Christians and Muslims Jihad Joe Biden Joseph son of Jacob Just Muslim Justin Trudeau Kaaba Karbala Kashmir Kavanaugh confirmation Killings of Palestinians Kind and Loving God Kind God and sufferings Kobe Bryant Kosher Labor Day Las vegas shooting Las vegas terror Last Sermon of Prophet Muhammad Last Supper Law of Moses Leaving religion Lent Life lessons Linda Sarsour lllegal immigrants Loving God Make America Great aagain Malala Mannerism lessons Marijuana Mark anthony Conditt Martin Luther King Martin Luther King Day Mary Maryam Masjid Nabawi Mass shooting Mawlid Mawlid un nabi Mecca Medical Marijuana Medina Medina AlQiblatayn mosque Medina Baqih meditation Merciful God Merry Christmas Mike Pompeo mindfulness Miracles of the Qur'an Mitzvah MLK Day Mosque Most Forgiving God mother of Jesus Mother's day Mount Sinai Monastery Muhammad Muharram Muharram and Karbala Muslim Muslim Americans Muslim Christian Dialogue Muslim contribution to Science Muslim gatekeeprs Muslim Jesus Muslim Nobel prize winners Muslim Review Year 2022 Muslim scientists Muslim Unity Muslim Women in Congress Muslim-Atheist dialogue Muslim-Christian relations Muslims-Facts Muzdalifah My Hajj My Jihad Myanmar Myths about Islam Myths about Muslims Nativity Nativity of Jesus New Year New Year resolution New Year Wishes Nobel prize Nones Northern California fires not flu Nuns Occupied Kashmir OJ Simpson One nation under God Onjil Original Sin osque of prphet Muhammad Palestine Parkland school shooting Pew Research center Pilgramage Pilgrims Pillars of Islam Pious Pittsburgh Synagogue shooting Plastic Platinum Rule Police racism Pope Francis meeting with Ayatollah Sistani Pot Prayers Prophet Muhammad Prophets of Islam Protestant Proud American Pulpit Purpose of creation Quba mosque Qur'an Quran Quran and Jesus Quran and Science Quran commandments Quran is easy to understand racism Racism and Diversity Ramadan Ramadan Fasting Ramadan Kareem Rashida Tlaib Rashida Tlaib Cursing Rebuttal to Hemant Mehta Religion and science Religion is the solution Religion vs science Religiosity Religious scientists Removing life support Republicans and Christianity Retirement Riazul Jennah Rick Saccone Righteousness Rohingya Roman Catholic Round Earth Roy Moore defeat Safa and Marwa Salah Salat Saudi exported extremism Saudi Oil filed attack Science and Faith Science and religion scientist and atheism Secretary of state Senate hearing Sermon on the Mount Sexual abuse Sexual harassment Sharia Sharia Law Shia Shia Sunni Unity Social Justice and Islam Sri Lanka Terror Attacks on Easter St. Catherine Monastery Stand with Kashmir Straight Path Submission to God Sunni Sunni-Shia unity Supplications supremacists Supreme court judge Supreme court nomination synagogues and churches Talbiya Taliban Ten Commandments Terror plot against Islamberg Terrorism Texas church shooting Thank God Thankfulness Thanksgiving Thanksgiving celebration Thanksgiving Day the mother of Jesus Torah Tree of Life Tree of Life Synagogue True Christians Trump Trump and misogyny Trump's decision for recognition of Jerusalem Trump's threat to Sanctuary cities Trusting God Tzedekah Uhad Umrah UN resolution Uncategorized Unchristian Republican behavior UnChurched United Ummah UnMosqued US Embassy in Jerusalem US war with seven countries Uyghurs Vatican on Eid Violence in Gaza Wahhabisim War on Christmas wellness What Would Jesus Do? What would Muhammad do? white supermacist White supremacists White Supremacy Why were we created Women's march WWJD Yemen Zakat Zamzam well

Select a Month April 2024 March 2024 December 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 December 2022 August 2022 July 2022 May 2022 April 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 November 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz