Moving from a culture of entitlement to that of gratitude
How does one become truly grateful?
Science shows that practicing gratitude has many positive outcomes. It improves your physical and mental health, increases your happiness and contentment and deconstructs your negative NAFS (self) that deals with negative emotions like jealousy, greed, envy and hatred (because all of these negative emotions are linked to “ingratitude”). Grateful people aren’t focused on “what is missing” and competing with others, but they are more focused on “what is there” and being content with what they have.
Research and studies in positive psychology have shown that grateful people experience a greater sense of well-being. In one of the studies conducted by The University of California, the participants had to record five things they were grateful daily. They had to sit, think and spend five minutes daily writing things they were grateful for. By the end of the study, they had altered the way in which they see and interact with events in life, leading to better mental health and greater joy. Their happiness increased by 25%. Not only that, their physical health improved too – people were much healthier than before.
As a Muslim, we practise gratitude not because we want to be happier and healthier, but because we have been ordered to do so. In Islam, being grateful means worshipping Allah (SWT). Allah commands Muslims to be grateful in the Qur’an and warns against being ungrateful:
(Quran 25:62)
“And it is He Who made the Night and the Day to follow each other: for such as have the will to celebrate His praises or to show their gratitude”
(Quran 16:53)
“And whatever of blessings and good things you have, it is from Allah.”
(Qur’an 31:31)
“It is He Who created for you (the faculties of) hearing, sight, feeling and understanding; little thanks it is ye give!”
While most non-Muslims who practice gratitude don’t know whom to be grateful to and where to direct their positive spiritual energy, we as Muslims know that we get to show our ultimate gratitude to our Creator, Allah (SWT).
So, let’s go back to the question of how we become grateful. It is true we say ALHAMDULILLAH, which means ALL PRAISE IS FOR ALLAH S.W.T. What being grateful as a Muslim truly means is to acknowledge the fact that ALL PRAISE IS FOR ALLAH (SWT) AT ALL TIMES. All praise is due to Allah, in sickness and in health, in happiness and in sorrow, in fear and in safety. You have to seek and recognize a blessing, to sincerely believe it and to repeat ‘Alhamdulillah’ with the tongue continuously each and every day. Let me ask you another question, how many times a day do you say ‘Alhamdulillah’? Ten, twenty or a hundred? From now on, make it a habit to say Alhamdulillah throughout the day frequently.
Now, here is the next little exercise.
- You all know the opening chapter of the Qur’an, right?
- How does it start? With _.
- And how many times a day do we recite surah Al Fatiha? _
SubhanAllah, we have to truly live a life of Alhamdulillah as a Muslim. That is what Allah wants from us because by being grateful we acknowledge ultimately Allah is in control of our affairs and we are content with His pre-ordained destiny.
As you can see, Gratitude is a way of worshiping Allah and it can change your life. It can pull you out of the pool of negativity and give you a renewable sense of happiness. And the simplest way to practice gratitude and make it a part of your character is by turning it into a daily habit. That’s the reason I wrote the book, GRATITUDE IS MY ATTITUDE, ALHAMDULILLAH, The 30-Day Gratitude Journal for Muslim children. It is aimed at older children but can equally be enjoyed by adults too, InshaAllah. We know this because we have tested the product on a group of children and mums already, Alhamdulillah.
This gratitude journal is your personal tool to seek happiness and contentment from within, to draw closer to Allah s.w.t and to invite positivity into your life daily. You can use it to focus your attention to what you have in your life instead of focusing on what is missing. The content is full of useful reminders, daily prompts, light exercises and fun activities. You can use it as a diary, to pause and reflect for a few minutes daily and truly be thankful to Allah s.w.t for all that you have.
I have worked with an amazing team of women for whom I am eternally grateful. And we have poured our heart and hard work into this book which is available to purchase via RYS website now. And the great news is you get a chance to attend ALHAMDULILLAH MINDSET webinar for free.
Buy your copy with coupon code RYS20 to get 20%off inshaAllah. Alhamdulillah, we have upgraded the shop so your digital product is instant download, no need to keep waiting for a download link from us. You will get receive it instantly on the spot and no need to place your physical address so easy and smooth checkout. So sisters, no excuses, get your copy NOW and start your Gratitude Journal TODAY.
Share the khayr by spreading the message with all mum friends who have pre-teens and teens- the children will love using this journal as much as we loved making it.
