Which has Priority - Patience or Gratitude? (3/7)

When Iblees (The name for Satan.) realized the value of gratitude, and that it is most valuable and supreme, he made his major goal to prevent people from holding it. The Qur’an tells us his saying in this regard:

“Then will I assault them from before them and behind them, from their right and their left: nor will thou find, in most of them, gratitude (for Thy mercies).” (Surah Al-A’raf: 17)

In fact, the grateful are few, as Allah describes them in the Quran,

“But few of My servants are grateful.” (Surah Saba: 13)

Umar Ibnul-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that he heard a man saying: "O Allah! Make me one of the few! "Then "Umar said to him:

"What is this?" The man said: '"O Commander of Believers! Allah says,

“But only a few believed with him (i.e. the Prophet Noah, (Peace be upon him)).” (Surah Hud: 40),

and says,

“But few of My servants are grateful.” (Surah Saba: 13),

and says,

“Not so do those who believe and work deeds of righteousness, and how few they are!” (Surah Sad: 24)

Thereupon 'Umar said: "You have pointed out the truth."

As the Quran states, Allah (Glory be to Him) praises the first Messenger He sent to the people of the earth for his gratitude; He says:

“O ye that are sprung from those whom we carried (in the Ark) with Noah! Verily he was a devotee most grateful.” (Surah Al-Isra: 3)

This specific mentioning of Noah and addressing the servants as being his progeny may indicate that Allah means in this context to command His servants to follow Noah's example, as he is their second father, since Allah extended the creation of people after the Ark, only from the progeny of Noah Allah says:

“And made his progeny to endure (on this earth).” (Surah As-Saffat: 77)

Thus, He commands the progeny to follow the steps of their father and be grateful servants. Allah (Glory be to Him) also tells us that His true worshippers have to be grateful, otherwise they are not equal to the honor of His worship:

“And be grateful to Allah, if it is Him ye worship.” (Surah Al-Baqarah: 172)

He also commanded His servant Moses (i.e. The Prophet Moses, (Peace be upon him) to be grateful for the prophethood, message, and His direct communication with him through speaking. Allah the Almighty says:

“O Moses! I have chosen thee above (other) men, by the messages I (have given thee) and the words I (have spoken to thee); take then (the revelation) which I give thee, and be of those who give thanks.” (Surah Al-A’raf: 144)

The first thing that Allah enjoins upon man is to show gratitude to Him and to his parents. He says:

“And We have enjoined on man (to be good) to his parents: In travail upon travail did his mother bear him. And in years twain was his weaning: (hear the command), "Show gratitude to Me and to thy parents: to Me is (thy final) Goal.” (Surah Luqman: 14)

Allah moreover tells us that His satisfaction resides in showing gratitude to Him. He says:

“If you are grateful, He is pleased with you.” (Surah Az-Zumar: 7)

Allah (Glory be to Him) praises in the Qur’an the gratitude of His Close Friend, Abraham. He says:

“Abraham was indeed a model, devoutly obedient to Allah (and) true in faith, and he joined not gods with Allah He showed his gratitude for the favours of Allah, Who chose him, and guided him to a straight Way.” (Surah An-Nahl: 120-121)

Thus, Allah states that Abraham was a model to follow, and that he was obedient to Allah and true in faith, which means that he submitted to Allah the Almighty. Then Allah seals these attributes with gratitude, making it the goal of His Close Friend.

Allah in extension tells us that gratitude is the goal of creation He says:

“It is He Who brought you forth from the wombs of your mothers when ye knew nothing; and He gave you hearing and sight and intelligence and affections: that ye may give thanks (to Allah).” (Surah An-Nahl: 78)

He also says:

“Allah had helped you at Badr, when ye were helpless: then fear Allah: thus may ye show your gratitude.” (Surah Al-‘Imran: 123)

The manifest meaning of the Verse may indicate that the Words, "thus may ye show your gratitude." represent the reason why He had helped them or why He  commanded them to fear Him, or for both reasons, as gratitude is mainly the goal of creation and the command. As the Qur'an states, gratitude is the goal of the command and of sending messengers. Allah says:

“A similar (favour have ye already received) in that We have sent among you a Messenger of your own, rehearsing to you Our signs, and purifying you, and instructing you in Scripture and Wisdom, and in new knowledge. Then do ye remember Me; I will remember you. Be grateful to Me, and reject not Faith.” (Surah Al-Baqarah: 151-152)

The proponents of gratitude went on to say that gratitude is to be sought in its own right; yet patience is to be sought for other purposes. Praising patience originally relies on its connection to gratitude; thus it only serves it.

It is reported that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) performed Prayer (constantly) until his feet split so much so that someone said to him: "Are you doing this, while Allah has forgiven you the faults of the past and those to follow?' He said:

"Should I not be a grateful servant?”[1]

On the authority of Al Mughirah Ibn Shu’bah. In another authentic Hadith, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) is reported to have said to Mu'adh:

"By Allah, I do love you, so do not forget to say after the end of every Prayer: "O Allah! Help me to remember You, be grateful to You, and worship You in the best way!"[2]

Ibn 'Abbas reported that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:

"There are four (gifts or bounties) which if they are given to someone, he is (consequently) given the good of the world and the Hereafter. (They are): a grateful heart, a mentioning tongue [3] a body which perseveres patiently (in the face of) tribulations and a wife who does not betray him neither in herself or in his property."[4]

'A'ishah also reported that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:

"Whenever a servant is given a favor from Allah and he (faithfully) knows that it is from Allah, Allah certainly writes [5] that he will show gratitude for it. And whenever Allah knows that some servant regrets a sin, He certainly forgives him before he asks for forgiveness. Verily, when a man buys a garment for Diners and wears it and praises Allah, Allah forgives his sins before the garment comes to his knees."[6]

The Prophet (Peace be upon him) is also reported to have said:

"Verily Allah is pleased with the servant who praises Him when he eats and praises Him when he drinks."[7]

What a great reward is Allah's pleasure, which is the greatest reward for praise; Allah the Almighty says:

“But the greatest bliss is the Good pleasure of Allah.” (Surah At-Tawbah: 72)

(Continued)