Allah loves His creations. He blesses us with everything even though we are ungrateful beings. As Muslims, we should be thankful to him for each and everything. From walking on the ground to exhaling each breath. From good to bad. From what has gone to what we have.  For every experience for every breath. He’s the one who’s the provider of everything and we should say ‘Alhamdulillah’ for whatever he does for us. Allah says:

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٌ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْكَبِيرُ

“Verily, those who had faith and had done righteous deeds will have gardens beneath which rivers flow. That is a great achievement.” (Surah Al-Buruj 85:11)

“Have faith” and “keep the faith,” along with other adages, are phrases we use daily. Allah has blessed us with countless favours and bounties. His creations, we should be thankful to him at every step. If we remain ungrateful, we would lose our blessing and Allah will not be happy with us. Allah says:

وَمَنْ لَمْ يَحْكُم بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّه فَأُولَئِكَ هُمْ الْكَافِرُونَ

“Whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed, then those are the unbelievers.” (Surah Al-Maidah 5:44)

Allah has promised us in the Quran, that He will grant us more if we’re grateful to him for everything. In the Quran, Shukr/ being grateful to Allah SWT has been mentioned a few times. Allah has asked us to be grateful to Him at every step and He will shower His blessings more and more.

Here are some points to being thankful to Allah:

1. Allah tests us to purify us and wash away our sins
2. Allah’s knowledge compasses all things
3. Thanking Allah with physical faculties
4. Allah knows all that is in our hearts
5. Being grateful increases blessings
6. Thankful to Allah to attain tauheed
7. Thanking Allah for His blessings
8. Thanking Allah for sustenance
9. Thanking Allah for Everything
10. Thanking Allah for life
11. Shukr for countless favours
12. Allah is the most impartial Judge
13. Allah knows the result of our test
14. Being thankful during hard times
15. Allah is that He is the All-Knowing
16. Allah knows all that is in our hearts
17. Allah tests some people with poverty
18. Allah’s knowledge compasses all things
19. Allah knows the little things that do not matter to us
20. Allah knows the past and the future and the present

This is nothing but a clear sign that such a person does not have a clear understanding of the meaning and implications of the testimony of faith that he made.  Allah says:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِن تَتَّقُوا اللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّكُمْ فُرْقَانًا وَيُكَفِّرْ عَنكُمْ سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ

“O you who believe, if you fear Allah, He will grant you a criterion and will remove your sins and forgive you, for Allah is the possessor of great bounty.” (Surah Al-Anfal 8:29)

Islam’s Five Pillars are required for all Muslims. You must comply with them to practice Islam. To be a strong Muslim, do not waver from your observance of the pillars. Fulfil your daily obligations mindfully, and plan your occasional obligations with care.

Allah Almighty says in the Holy Quran:

• “And Allah loves the steadfast.” (Quran 3:146)
• “And Allah loves the doers of good.” (Quran 3:134)
•  “If you are grateful, I will give you more.” (Quran 14:7)
• “Indeed, Allah loves the righteous [who fear Him].” (Quran 9:04)
• “Indeed, Allah loves those who rely [upon Him] on.” (Quran 3:159)
• “Indeed Allah loves those who are constantly repentant.” (Quran 2:222)
• “He is the Lord of the East and the West; there is no god but He; so take Him for a guardian.” (Quran 73:9)
• “… without a doubt in the remembrance (Zikr) of Allah do hearts find tranquillity” (Quran 13:28)

Success is a major part of a person’s life. Everybody strives for it but only a few get to the point. Allah grants success to those who have faith in Him. He believes that He’s the only one who grants them success, wealth and well being. Allah loves those who remain grateful and whose tongues are moist with the remembrance of Allah.

The Five Pillars are:

• Testimony of Faith (Shahada). When you become a Muslim, you make a testimony of faith. Say aloud: “There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger.”
• Performance of the five daily prayers (Salah). Pray five times daily in the direction of the holy city of Mecca.
• Fasting during the month of Ramadan (Sawm). Ramadan is a holy month. Observe it by praying, fasting, and performing acts of charity.
• Almsgiving. Donate 2.5% of your savings to the poor (Zakat).
• Making a pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj). If you are able, you must travel to Mecca at least once in your lifetime.

أَمْ تُرِيدُونَ أَن تَسْأَلُوا رَسُولَكُمْ كَمَا سُئِلَ مُوسَىٰ مِن قَبْلُ وَمَن يَتَبَدَّلِ الْكُفْرَ بِالْإِيمَانِ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ سَوَاءَ السَّبِيلِ

“Or (do) you wish that you ask your Messenger as was asked Musa from before? And whoever exchanges [the] disbelief with [the] faith, so certainly he went astray (from) (the) evenness (of) the way.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:108)

Allah SWT listens to all our prayers either silent or loud. When we desperately call upon him He answers her and accepts our supplications. He’s the most merciful and regardless of our ungrateful attitude, He grants us our wishes and accepts our duas.  Allah says:

فَلَمْ يَكُ يَنفَعُهُمْ إِيمَانُهُمْ لَمَّا رَأَوْا بَأْسَنَا سُنَّتَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي قَدْ خَلَتْ فِي عِبَادِهِ وَخَسِرَ هُنَالِكَ الْكَافِرُونَ

“But did not benefit them their faith when they saw Our punishment. (Such is the) Way (of) Allah which (has) indeed preceded among His slaves. And are lost there the disbelievers.” (Surah Ghafir 40:85)

We should be thankful to Him only for accepting our duas by reciting Allahamdulillah and the duas. Alhamdulillah! For everything even the trials that makes me closer to You, oh Allah.

We should always make dhikr of Allah SWT to prove how grateful we are to Him for everything that He has given to us.

• Read the Qur’an as often as you can: Seek an understanding of Islam directly from the authentic source. You will strengthen your faith if you know the language your faith is based on.
• Donate time and money to the needy: While almsgiving is required of all Muslims, it is up to the individual to determine what they can give beyond the required 2.5% of their income.
• Stand up for yourself and other Muslims: Muslims are often portrayed negatively by various political groups to further their ends.
• Dress to express your faith and identify yourself as a Muslim: Most Muslims dress modestly, but the style of dress varies greatly by the school of thought and by region.
• The Door to Good: Keep on the Remembrance of Allah. Allah provides blessings to everyone.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَتَّخِذُوا آبَاءَكُمْ وَإِخْوَانَكُمْ أَوْلِيَاءَ إِنِ اسْتَحَبُّوا الْكُفْرَ عَلَى الْإِيمَانِ وَمَن يَتَوَلَّهُم مِّنكُمْ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ

“O you who believe! (Do) not take your fathers and your brothers (as) allies if they prefer [the] disbelief over [the] belief. And whoever takes them as allies among you, then those [they] (are) the wrongdoers.” (Surah At-Taubah 9:23)

Muslims face good times as well as hard times. But the key is to be patient and thankful during every difficulty. Hardships are a test from Allah SWT and are given to those who are loved by Allah. One should be patient and does Shukr for what he has so that Allah will give him more.  Allah says:

الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ

“Those who believed and find satisfaction their hearts in the remembrance (of) Allah. No doubt, in the remembrance of Allah find satisfaction the hearts.” (Surah Ar-Rad 13:28 )

The life that we all are living has been granted to us as a gift from Allah SWT. Many people lose their lives to some tragic incidents. We should always be thankful to Allah for every breath we take, for every step we take, for every minute we spend. This life is a blessing from Allah and we are bound to live it peacefully.