Thankfulness and the Merit of the Thankful
His eminence Sheikh Salehibn Abdullah IbnHumaid –may Allah protect him– delivered last
Friday’s Khutbah titled “Thankfulness and the Merit of the Thankful” in which he talked about
the merits of thankfulness and said that it belongs to the heart, and therefore every Muslim has to
thank Allah forbetter and for worse. He mentioned the ways of thanking Allah and the
manifestations thereof and cited some examples of thankful prophets and messengers, may
Allah’s Salat and Blessing be upon them all.
Part one
Praise be to Allah! Praise be to Allah, the Protector, the One Worthy of all Praise, Owner of the
Throne, the Glorious,Doer of whatsoever He wills. Exalted be His Name! I thank Him; He
promised the thankful more of His bounties, and I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of
worship except Allah with no associate –a testimony of faithfulness and tawhid (oneness of
Allah). I bear witness that our Master and Prophet Muhammad, the Servant and Messenger of
Allah, is the best of prophets and most honourable servant of Allah. May Allah send His
bounteous Salat,(Grace, Honour, Mercy) Peace and Blessing upon him, his
honourableimmaculate family, pious and righteous Companions who were blessed with sound
judgment and a guided way of life, the tabi’in(the contemporaries of the Companions after the
death of the Prophet) and those who followed them inrighteousness until the Day of wa’id
(Account/Judgement Day).
Nowthen, I urge you –people– and myself to observe fear of Allah. Observe fear of Allah –
may Allah have mercy upon you! It is piety that you should count on. You should follow the
Page 2 of 15
Translated by Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn SaudIslamicUniversity.
example of your righteous predecessors, the early leaders. Take the initiative to obtain Allah’s
forgiveness and satisfaction; answer the one who calls to the way of Allah (), to His reward
and to His Paradise.
We thank You, Lord, for blessing us with Islam; we thank You for offering us the Qur’ān; we
thank You for offering us family, wealth and health, O Lord! You have kept our enemy at bay;
You have granted us sustenance and security; You have unified usafter fragmentation, granted us
sound health and answered our prayers.
For all this, we owe You infinite thanks as You have bestowed on us infinite graces. Praise be to
You for every grace You have bestowed on us now or then, in public or in private, collectively or
individually, to the living or the dead amongst us, and to those present or absent!
We extend our infinite praise to You until You are satisfied. Praise be to You if You are
satisfied.Praise be to You,and to Youreternal praiseworthy Face!Praise be to Allah, Lord of the
Worlds!
O Muslims!
There is a great personal trait and a graceful act of worship that Allah () has commanded and
warned against ignoring. He praised those who observe it and made it an attribute of the elite of
His creatures. He made it the purpose of creation and commandment, and promised those who
observe it great rewards.He made it areasonfor obtaining more of His graces, a guard of His
blessings and a protector of His bounties.
People of thankfulness are the beneficiaries of His marvels.He has granted them one of His own
names. They are the chosen few of His servants. Suffice it to achieve such grace,honour, and
sublimity. It is –servants of Allah– the rank of thankfulness and the merit of the thankful.
Allah () says, …and be grateful to Allâh, if it is indeed He Whom you
worship.[Al-Baqarah: 172]. None but the thankful may truly worship Allah.
Page 3 of 15
Translated by Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn SaudIslamicUniversity.
He () also says,…and be grateful to Me (for My countless Favors on you) and
never be ungrateful to Me.[Al-Baqarah: 152]
Again, He () says,And (remember) when your Lord proclaimed: "If you give
thanks (by accepting Faith and worshipping none but Allâh), I will give you
more (of My Blessings); but if you are thankless (i.e. disbelievers), verily My
punishment is indeed severe."[Ibrahim: 7]
Allah ()also says,But few of My slaves are grateful.[Saba’: 13]
Servants of Allah!
Thankfulness is an established principle in the worshippers’ behaviour and a deeply-rooted rule
in the souls of the righteous. Not only does it show in their behaviour, but it also fills their hearts
and keeps their tongues preoccupied.
Allah described Nūh1, His first prophet ()asVerily, he was a grateful slave.[Al-Isra’:
3]
Similarly, describing Ibrahim2, khaleelAllah (Allah’s intimate friend) and the owner of the
Hanifi(true) religion, Allah () says,(He was) thankful for His (Allâh’s) Favours. He
(Allâh) chose him (as an intimate friend) and guided him to a Straight Path
(Islâmic Monotheism - neither Judaism nor Christianity.[An-Naḥl: 121]
Thanking Allah()for the graces He has bestowed on him and for making the animals respond
to his command, Suleiman3()said,My Lord! Grant me the power and ability that
I may be grateful for Your Favors which You have bestowed on me and on
1 He is known in the English Bible as ‘Noah’.
2 He is known in the English Bible as ‘Abraham’.
3 He is known in the English Bible as ‘Solomon’.
Page 4 of 15
Translated by Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn SaudIslamicUniversity.
my parents, and that I may do righteous good deeds that will please You,
and admit me by Your Mercy among Your righteous slaves.[An-Naml: 19]
Suleimanalso said,This is by the Grace of my Lord - to test me whether I am
grateful or ungrateful! And whoever is grateful, truly, his gratitude is for
(the good of) his ownself; and whoever is ungrateful, (he is ungrateful only
for the loss of his ownself). Certainly my Lord is Rich (Free of all needs),
Bountiful.[An-Naml: 40]
The messengers of Allah –may Allah’s peace and blessing be upon them– were keen on
reminding their peoples of this great worship. Hud (),for example, told his people,And
remember that He made you successors after the people of Nûh (Noah) and
increased you amply in stature. So remember the graces (bestowed upon
you) from Allâh so that you may be successful.[Al-A’raf: 69]
Sāleh (), informing his people of the graces Allah had bestowed on them, said,And
remember when He made you successors after ‘Âd (people) and gave you
habitations in the land, you build for yourselves palaces in plains, and carve
out homes in the mountains. So remember the graces (bestowed upon you)
from Allâh, and do not go about making mischief on the earth.[Al-A’raf: 74]
Although Allah() has forgiven him all his sins, Our Prophet Muhammad () used to observe
worship by night until his feet bled. He used to say, “Won’t I be a thankful servant?”
Brothers and sisters in Islam!
Thankfulness is the way Allah’s servants acknowledge the favours of their Lord and His graces
in this world and the hereafter whether in their selves, family, property, business or
alltheirmatters.
Page 5 of 15
Translated by Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn SaudIslamicUniversity.
Thankfulness is evidence that the servant is pleased with his Lord. It constitutes the heart’s life
and vivacity, preserving extant graces and searching for the missing ones.
Thankfulness is evidence of purity of the soul, sincerity of intention, and soundness of reason.
Nay! Allah () created mankind for no other purpose than to thank Him. Allah Almighty
says,And Allâh has brought you out from the wombs of your mothers while
you know nothing. And He gave you hearing, sight, and hearts that you
might give thanks (to Allâh).[An-Naḥl: 78]
Thankfulness is the first commandment Allah () enjoined mankind; He says,And We have
enjoined on man (to be dutiful and good) to his parents. His mother bore
him in weakness and hardship upon weakness and hardship, and his
weaning is in two years - give thanks to Me and to your parents. Unto Me
is the final destination.[Luqman: 14]
Allah () told mankind that His satisfaction is couched in the act of thanking Him. He
says,And if you are grateful (by being believers), He is pleased therewith for
you[Al-Zumar: 7]
Moreover, Allah () has made thankfulness one of the reasons for deliverance from Allah’s
torture. Allah () says,Why should Allâh punish you if you have thanked (Him)
and have believed in Him. And Allâh is Ever All-Appreciative (of good), All-
Knowing.[Al-Nisa’: 147]
Page 6 of 15
Translated by Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn SaudIslamicUniversity.
Allah () has even bestowed exclusive favours on the thankful. He says,Thus We have
tried some of them with others, that they might say: "Is it these (poor
believers) whom Allâh has favored from amongst us?" Does not Allâh know
best those who are grateful?[Al-An’am: 53]
Brothers and sisters in Islam!
Thankfulnesshas three pillars:
1- Acknowledging Allah’s blessings implicitly with love for the Benefactor,
2- Speaking of blessings openly with praise to Allah,
3- Employing blessings in obedience to Allah, in seeking His pleasure and eschewing
sinful acts.
There are three primary blessings:
4- The first and foremostblessing of Islam without which no other blessing may be
obtained,
5- The blessing of health without which life may not move on,
6- The blessing of satisfaction without which good living may not be attained.
Al-Hassan Al-Basri –May Allah have mercy on his soul– said, “The evil-free benevolence is
sound health coupled with thankfulness; how many a thankful is in distress, and how many a
blessed person is unthankful! If you were to ask Allah for something, ask Him the disposition for
thankfulness along with sound health.”
O you fasting and praying people! Thanking Allah ()is mandatory in all cases: in health and in
sickness, in youth and in old age, for richer, for poorer, in leisure and in pre-occupation, forbetter
and forworse, in wakefulness and in slumber, in travel and sojourn, in solitude and in company,
while standing, sitting or reclining.
Page 7 of 15
Translated by Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn SaudIslamicUniversity.
Abu Al-Dardā’ said, “He who believes that food and drink are the only blessings Allah ()
has bestowed on him is lacking in knowledge” because Allah’s blessings are endless and his
graces are perpetual. Allah says,And He gave you of all that you asked for, and if
you count the Blessings of Allâh, never will you be able to count them.
Verily, man is indeed an extreme wrong-doer, a disbeliever (an extreme
ingrate who denies Allâh’s Blessings by disbelief, and by worshipping others
besides Allâh, and by disobeying Allâh and His Prophet Muhammad.[Ibrahim:
34]
He () also says,See you not (O men) that Allâh has subjected for you
whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth, and has
completed and perfected His Graces upon you, (both) apparent (i.e. Islâmic
Monotheism, and the lawful pleasures of this world, including health, good
looks, etc.) and hidden.[Luqman: 20]
Be informed –May Allah grant you success– that thankfulness hascountless means and
infinitedomains. Thank your Lord for the graces He has bestowed on you and for what He has
concealed of your blemishes.
A man asked AbuTamima, “How are you doing?” He answered, “I am cherishing two graces I
do not know which is better for me.” “Sins concealed by Allah () so nobody can taunt me with
them, and a love that Allah has implanted in the hearts of people that my actions do not merit,”
he continued.
Thanking Allah can be fulfilled by offering prayers. The Prophet () used to offer night prayers
until his feet bled and he used to say, “Won’t I be a thankful servant?”
Page 8 of 15
Translated by Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn SaudIslamicUniversity.
Alternatively, thankfulness can be expressed by fasting. Musa4() fasted the Day of ‘Ashurā’
(the 10th day of Muharram, the first lunar month) to thank Allah for saving him and his people
from Pharaoh and so did our Prophet Muhammad (). The Prophet () ordered Muslims to
observe fasting on the Day of ‘Ashurā’and told the Jews, “We are more entitled tofollow Musa
in this than you are.”
Thankfulness might take the form of a prostration in gratitude to Allahwhich a believer
performs upon receiving something good or a blessing from his Lord and Master (Allah).Our
Prophet Muhammad () prostrated himself when (archangel) Jibreel5 () told him that Allah
says: "Whoever makes one Salat on you, Allah will make ten (Salats) on him".
Abu Bakr () also prostrated himself when he heard that Musailimah, the Liar6 was killed.
Ali () also prostrated himself when he heard that Ibn Al-Thadiyah, akharijite7, was
killed.KaabIbn Malik (who stayed behind and did not join the Tabukmilitary expedition with the
Prophet) also prostrated himself when Allah accepted his repentance.
AbdulRahmanAssulami says: "Prayer is thankfulness, fast is thankfulness, and everything good
done for the sake of Allah () is thankfulness, and the best kind of thankfulness is praising
Allah."
Counting the blessings (of Allah) as well as speaking about them are forms of thankfulness,
and whoever pays people compliments is thankful. Contentment is also thankfulness; therefore,
be content and you will be the most thankful of people.When someone does you a favour, he
enslaves you. However, when you reward him, you free yourself; and whoever falls short of
rewarding people, then let himpay them compliments and thank them, for whoever does not
thank for that which is little will not thank for that which is much.
4 He is known in the English Bible as ‘Moses’.
5 This archangel is known in the English Bible as ‘Gabriel’.
6 He was called ‘liar’ because he claimed prophesy and lead apostasy after the death of the Prophet ().
7 In brief, kharijites were those who rejected the leadership of the fourth guided Caliph, Ali IbnAbiTalib ().
Page 9 of 15
Translated by Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn SaudIslamicUniversity.
Another form of thankfulness is the continuous praise of Allah, and whoever offers, in the
morning and in the evening, (the following supplication): "O Allah! Whatever blessing bestowed
upon me or upon any of Your creatures is from You alone without partner, so for You is all
praise and unto You are all thanks",would have offered his day's thanks.
Nowthen, O Muslims, may Allah have mercy on you!It is indeed an act offavour, mercy, and
kindness from Allah () that He thanks his servants; He is the Forgiving, the Thankful. Allah
thanked and forgave the one who offered water to a (thirsty) dogletalonethe one who does good
to the Muslims, visits the needy, gives charity to the poor, and has mercy on the oppressed and
the wretched!
Allah also thanked and forgave the one who removed a thorny branch from the road, letalone
the one who does his best to facilitate the matters of people, dispel their grief, and ease their
hardships.
An aspect of the Kindness of Allah () is that He has made the act of thanking people as
anact of thanking Him:"whosoever does not thank people will not thank Allah". Another aspect
of His kindness is that He turnedHis servants’ acts of thanking totheir own advantage.
I seek refuge with Allah from the accursed Satan:And a sign for them is the dead
land. We give it life, and We bring forth from it grains, so that they eat
thereof (33). And We have made therein gardens of date-palms and grapes,
and We have caused springs of water to gush forth therein (34)So that they
may eat of the fruit thereof - and their hands made it not. Will they not,
then, give thanks? (35).Glory be to Him Who has created all the pairs of
that which the earth produces, as well as of their own (human) kind (male
and female), and of that which they know not.[Ya-Sin: 33-36]
Page 10 of 15
Translated by Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn SaudIslamicUniversity.
May Allah () benefit me and you with the great Qur’ān and with the guidance of Prophet
Mohammed ()! I say this and ask Allah’s forgiveness for you and me and for all the Muslims!
So ask for His forgiveness; He is the All-Forgiving, the All-Merciful!
Part Two
Praise be to Allah! He enumerated and knew everything. He brought to perfection and
mastered what He made. I praise Him () for the knowledge He has granted to His servants and
made it accessible to them. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah
alone with no associate, a witness of someone who knew the truth and adhered to it, and I bear
witness that our Master and Prophet Mohammad () is the Servant and Messenger of Allah (),
who declared the truth publically.May Allah send His Salat (Graces, Honours, and Mercy) and
Peace upon him, his family, his Companions, hisfollowers, his supporters (in Madinah)and all
those who championed his cause, respected him and were hospitable to him!
O Muslims!
Take good care of the blessings of Allah, for if they turn away from a household they will
hardly come back.
Another aspect of thanking Allah () and acknowledging His favours and blessings is to
thank Him for the blessingsHe has bestowed on the Two Holy Mosques and their visitors. These
blessings include: security and safety, affluence and opulence, good care and service, the
provision of whatfacilitatesall forms of worship such as prayer, Tawāf(circumambulation round
the Ka'ba), Sa’iy (the rite of going to and fro seven times between Safāand Marwā in
Makkahduring HajjandUmrah), and visiting. Another blessing for which Allah deserves to be
thanked is the sanctification of the House (of Allah, i.e. the Ka'ba) in preparation for those who
circumambulate it, those who stand up in prayer and those who bow and prostrate themselves (in
humility and obedience to Allah), whether they are dwellers ofMakkah or visitors from outside.
Page 11 of 15
Translated by Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn SaudIslamicUniversity.
These blessings are manifest in unique services, unlimited spending, expansions and repairs
that meet the needs of the time and the increase in the numbers of those performing Hajj, Umrah,
or visiting, and a properexploitation of new inventions and technologies.
The importance and need of these works and projects, their eminence, size, as well as the
special arrangements made to accomplish them sometimes require making decisions for the
common good, and for the best interest of those visiting the Two Holy Mosques in particular.
The objective is to make things easier for them, ensure their safety, and offer them good services.
Among the decisions made is the need to reduce, arrange, and organize the number of
pilgrims and performers of Umrah, in addition to raising the consciousness of the people by
asking them to visit the Honoured Haram (the Holy Mosque in Makkah) less frequently, just for
a limited period of time until all the works are completed in the best possible way possible and in
order to ensure the safety of those visiting the Holy Mosque (in Makkah).
It is indeed hoped that everyone will show understanding and cooperation for the best interest
of all and towards accomplishing the project and optimizing security and safety.
May Allah bless the efforts and may He guide the steps of our leaders and reward them
profusely for their good care and great services (of the Two Holy Mosques)!May Allah maintain
our safety and security and protect us against every evil!
O servants of Allah! Another aspect of thankfulness is the blessing of being guided to obedience
and proper worship (of Allah) as well as the blessing of experiencing this honoured month and
performing the fast and night prayer. Indeed, there is no greater deprivation or rejection than
witnessing the month of Ramadan without being forgiven (of sins); for he who is deprived of the
bounties of this month is really deprived (of so much good).Therefore, do thank Allah sincerely
as you are approaching the last ten days of this month.
Follow the footsteps of your Prophet Mohammed (); for he was, like a blowing wind, so
generous in doing good, and he was most generous in these last ten days.He used to wake up his
Page 12 of 15
Translated by Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn SaudIslamicUniversity.
wives, tighten his gown (as a sign of his intention for a long act) and stay up all night
(worshipping Allah).
You should know that the Hereafter has got its markets where some people win while others
lose; obedience also has got its own seasons and times where some hardworking people
(worshippers) succeed while neglectful ones are let down.
Therefore, show Allah–may He have mercy on you– something of your own
beneficence.Bring yourselves into accountability, O servants of Allah! Make sure to include in
the records of your deeds piety and philanthropy, benevolence and charity, consolation and
relief, prayer and fasting, recitation (of the Qur’ān) and night prayer, and remembrance (of
Allah) and supplication.
These days of the month are the best during which the servant makes up for what he missed
and neglected (earlier in the year).There is (much) good in these last ten days as they include the
Night of Power which is better (in performing good deeds and worship) than a thousand months.
He who witnesses it will gain a great reward (from Allah).
Show Allah your hard work that would help strengthenyour faith, purifyyour souls, and bring
(you) closer to Allah (). So fear Allah,may He have mercy on you and may He accept from us
and you the fast and night prayer as well as the good deeds and worship.
Meet the benevolence of your Lord with reciprocal benevolence, and safeguardHis blessings
by obedience and acknowledgment, for the favour of Allah is great, His blessing extensive, and
His good all-inclusive; and every act of thankfulness, though little, is a price for every favourno
matter how big it might be; and he who does not appreciate little favours would not most likely
appreciate big ones!
This being said, I advise you to send your salatand peace on the Mercy and Blessing Allah
bestowed on you, your Prophet Muhammad (), the Messenger of Allah, as Your Lord
commanded you to do in His wise Book where He so truthfully and graciously said: Allâh
Page 13 of 15
Translated by Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn SaudIslamicUniversity.
sends His Salât (Graces, Honours, Blessings, Mercy) on the Prophet
(Muhammad صلى لله علیھ وسلم ), and also His angels (ask Allâh to bless and
forgive him). O you who believe! Send your Salât on (ask Allâh to bless) him
(Muhammad صلى لله علیھ وسلم ), and (you should) greet (salute) him with the
Islâmic way of greeting (salutation i.e. As-Salâmu ‘Alaikum. [Al Ahzab: 56]
O Allah! Send Your Salat(Graces, Honours, Mercy), Peace and Blessing on Your Servant and
Messenger, our Master and Prophet, Muhammad (), the beloved and the Chosen One, on his
virtuous and immaculate family and on his wives, the mothers of the believers! O Allah! We
seek Your satisfaction with the four Caliphs, Abu Bakr, Omar, Othman, and Ali, the Prophet’s
Companions, the tabi’in(contemporaries of the Companions of the Prophet –– his death) and
those who followed them in righteousness until the Day of Judgment! O Allah! We seek Your
Satisfaction with us as well, since You are Most Forgiving, Most Generous, and Most
Beneficent!
O Allah! Grant glory to Islam and Muslims! O Allah! Grant glory to Islam and Muslims! O
Allah! Grant glory to Islam and Muslims, and fail polytheism and polytheists! O Allah! Let
down tyrants and infidels and all other enemies of Islam!
O Allah! Grant us security in our homelands, and set right our Imams and leaders! O Allah!
Entrust our government to those who fear You and seek Your satisfaction! O Lord of the
Worlds!
O Allah! Grant our Imam and Leader a success of Your own! Honour him with Your
obedience and make Your word the uppermost through him! Make him an asset to Islam and
Muslims! Grant him sound health and wellness! Guide him, his deputy, his brothers and his aides
to do what You love and what pleases You, and lead them to righteousness and piety!
Page 14 of 15
Translated by Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn SaudIslamicUniversity.
O Allah! Help Muslim leaders to abide by Your Book and to follow the Sunnah of Your
Prophet, Mohammad ()! Make them a blessing on Your faithful, and unite them on the grounds
of righteousness and truth, O Lord of the Worlds!
O Allah! Make for this Ummah a matter (an affair) of rationality (guidance) whereby the
pious are honoured and the sinful are guided, and where virtue is promoted and vice is
prevented! Verily, You are the Omniscient!
O Allah, the Protector of believers, the Supporter of the defenseless, the Reliever of those in
need, the Ultimate Hope, the Refuge of the weak! Grant relief to our oppressed brothers
everywhere: in Palestine, Syria, Arakan, and everywhere!Bring an end to their suffering! Grant
them speedy relief and draw them closer at heart! O Allah! Grant them an aid, a fighting power
and a triumph of your own! O Allah! We beseech You to grant them great victory, relief, mercy
and perseverance!
O Allah! Defeat the tyrants and oppressors and those who sympathize and side with them! O
Allah! Disperse their gathering, scatter their crowds, and tear them apart! O Allah! Make their
plotting to their own detriment!
O Allah! Destroy the usurpers and occupiers among the Jews for You are certainly able to do
so! O Allah! Inflict Your wrath which is so inevitably destined to strike the people who are
Mujrimûn (criminals, polytheists or sinners)! O Allah! We pray You to drive them off to their
own detriment and seek refuge in You from their evils!
O Allah! Set right the conditions of Muslims, O Allah! Set right the conditions of
Muslims!Stop their bloodshed, give leadership to the best among them, unite their word on the
Truth, the right guidance, and the Sunnah! Grant them victory over Your enemy and theirs!
O Allah! Whoever intends to do any evil against us, our religion, our homeland, our Ummah,
our security, or our unity, O Allah! Get him busy with himself, let his plotting return against him,
and make his destruction in his planning, O You the Lord of the Worlds!
Page 15 of 15
Translated by Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn SaudIslamicUniversity.
O Allah! Guide us to the path of repentance to You and reliance on You and open up for us the
doors of acceptance and gratification! O Allah! We implore You to accept our fasting, night
prayer, obedience, and supplication! We implore You to make righteous our deeds, expiate from
us our wrongdoings, lead us to redemption, forgive our sins and bestow on us Your mercy, You,
the Most Merciful!
Our Lord! We have wronged ourselves. If You forgive us not, and bestow
not upon us Your Mercy, we shall certainly be of the losers. [Al-A'raf: 23] …
Our Lord! Give us in this world that which is good and in the Hereafter that
which is good, and save us from the torment of the Fire! [Al-Baqarah: 201]
Glorified be Your Lord, the Lord of Honour and Power! You are free from what they attribute
unto You! May peace be upon all the messengers! And all praise be to Allah, the Lord of the
Worlds!
