Hiql Ibn Ziyad As-Saksaki reported that Al-Awza'i preached to them saying: "O people! Seek strength in these bounties, which Allah has bestowed upon you. Use them to escape from the flaming Fire, for you are in a kind of home that will perish very soon. Everyone knows that the past centuries have witnessed many peoples who exceeded you in capacity of strength, power, and property, and in many other facilities. Though, they perished along with their facilities. Contemplate what happened to them, and the nature of the end of the disobedient among them. Never be like the ones who were deceived by false hope in a long lifetime. May Allah help us to follow and continue on the straight path leading to the Hereafter!"

"Uthman Ibn ' Affan (may Allah be pleased with him) was told that some people were committing some suspicious action. When he went to apprehend them, they spread out before he reached them. He then set a slave free as a gesture of showing gratitude to Allah because He did not humiliate a Muslim with his hands.

Asbagh Ibn Yazid reported that Noah (Peace be upon him) used to say after relieving himself: "Praise be to Allah Who has made me taste its pleasure, kept its benefit in my body, and warded off its harm" Ibn Yazid added that, that was why Allah called him a devotee, most grateful. Concerning the same invocation, "A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) used to say it (i.e. Noah's invocation) after relieving himself.

Someone asked Abu Hazim: "What is the gratitude of the eyes?" He said: "To proclaim whatever is good and cover whatever is evil that you may see with them." The man said: "And what is the gratitude of the ears?" He said: "To keep whatever is good and forget about whatever is evil that you may hear with them" The man said: "And what is the gratitude of the hands?" Abu Hazim said: "Not to take with them what they are not entitled to, and not to prevent Allah's rights which are to be fulfilled by them." The man, further, asked: "And what is the gratitude of the genitals?" He said: "Allah says (in speaking of the attributes of believers): "And who guard their modesty, except with those joined to them in the marriage bond, or (the captives) whom their right hands possess, for (in their case) they are free from blame, but those whose desires exceed those limits are transgressors." (Surah Al-Mu’minun: 5-7) "Then the man said: "And what is the gratitude of the feet?" Abu Hazim said: "You may use them to do good work done by a deceased man whose righteousness and piety you knew well."

No doubt, the gratitude shown only by the tongue is not sufficient. 'Abdullah Ibn Al-Mubarak narrated that the Negus sent to Ja’far and his companions (at the time of the migration to give them glad tidings that Allah had favored His Messenger and believers with victory over disbelievers). When Ja’far and his companions came to the king they found him sitting on the ground and wearing humble clothes. Noticing their astonishment, he told them that some of the teachings delivered by Jesus (Peace be upon him) was that servants of Allah must show humility to Allah when he shows them His favors."[1] mad)

The Prophet (Peace be upon him) used to fall down in prostrate adoration showing gratitude to Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He), when he received something pleasant. [2] Following the Prophet's footsteps, Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) fell down in prostration showing gratitude to Allah for the murder of Musaylimah.

Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) also did so on a similar occasion.

One may ask: "Why is the new favor given such a characteristic of gratitude showing (i.e. prostration) despite the fact that the permanent one may be greater?"

In reply, some people of knowledge said that this may be for four reasons:

First, the new favor may remind man about the permanent one.

Second, it requires a new ritual of worship. The easiest form of this is prostration, and it is more liked by Allah.

Third, the new favor has more effect on the souls, and the hearts are more attached to it. This is why man receives congratulations when given it and consolations when losing it.

Fourth, the humility and submission shown to Allah through prostration prevents man from the bad consequences of joy that is not liked by Allah, or ingratitude. One of them always follows the showing of favor. Receiving of the favor shown with that kind of joy which Allah does not like or with discontent and ingratitude may enrage Allah the Almighty. In addition, we may remember in passing the example of the king Negus' mentioned above.

Among the favors of Allah that the servant may not realize is, that when he closes his door Allah may send him someone who asks him for something to eat aiming at reminding him of His favors on him.

Salam Ibn Abi Mutee' said: "When I entered a man's house to visit him in his illness, I found him moaning and sighing. I said to him: "Remember those who are lying on the streets, and those who have no lodge, nor do they have anyone to care for them" Ibn Abi Mutee' said: "When I entered to see him later, I heard him saying to himself: "Remember those who are lying on the streets, and those who have no lodge, nor do they have anyone to care for them."

'Abdullah Ibn Abi Nuh said: "Once someone asked me: "How often did you act in a way that Allah dislikes but He treated you in a way that you liked?'' I said:

"This is too much to count." He asked me again: "Have you ever asked Him to remove sorrow from you and He let you down?" I said: "Never, by Allah. On the contrary, He always treated me fairly and helped me." Then the man asked: "Have you ever asked Him for something and He did not give it to you?' I said: "No, He always gives me from what I ask Him for." Thereupon the man said: "If someone did you some of these favors, what would you do for him in reward?" I said:

"His deeds would then be too high to appreciate by mere rewarding." He said: "Then your Lord is more worthy of constant and frequent showing of gratitude, for He is the One Who did you favors in the past and the One who is bestowing bounties on you right now. By Allah, showing gratitude to Allah is easier than rewarding His servants. He (Glory be to Him) is pleased by mere praising, as a mark of gratitude."

Ibn Abi-Hawara said: "I said to Abu Mu’awiyah:

"What a great favor monotheism is! May Allah not deprive us of it!" He said: "The Bestower of favors always perfects them for His servants. Allah is Most Generous that He bestows perfect favors and bounties, and He accepts His servants' good deeds."

Ibn Abil-Hawara said: "A woman said to me: "I want to know Allah's favors on me and any negligence in showing the gratitude deserved for them as soon as I have received them." I said to her: "You want something that is beyond our minds!"

Ibn Abud-Duniya narrated that that David (Peace be upon him) said: "O my Lord! Tell me what is the lowest of Your favors upon me?" Allah revealed to Him saying: "O David! Breathe." When he did, Allah said: "This is My lowest favor upon you.”

Contemplating these facts and situations, we may understand the meaning of the Hadith in which the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:

"If Allah torments the residents of His heavens and the residents of His earth, He will torment them with no wrong imposed on them, and if He has mercy on them, His mercy will be better for them than their own deeds.”[3]

This is because the servant's deeds, however many, cannot be equal even to one of Allah's favors. Moreover, there is no human word that may express the praise and gratitude deserved for Allah.

Abul-Mulayh said that Moses (Peace be upon him) said: "O My Lord! What is the best way of showing gratitude?" Allah the Almighty said: To show Me gratitude in all events."

'Abdul-Aziz Ibn Abi Dawud said: "I saw an ulcer on the hand of Muhammad Ibn Wasi’ When he observed that I felt sorry for him he said: "Do you not know that Allah has bestowed a favor on me when He did not make it on my eye, tongue, or privates?" Then his ulcer became easy in my sight."

Mu'adh Ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) passed by a man and heard him saying: "O Allah! I ask You for the most perfect of favors." The Prophet said: "O Child of Adam! Do you know what the most perfect of favors is?" The man said: "O Messenger of Allah! I (only) invoked wishing for good." The Prophet said: "Verily the most perfect of favors is to escape from the Fire and enter Paradise." [4]

It may stand as evidence for the priority of gratitude over patience that Allah likes most to be asked for well-being. Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:

"Verily forgiveness and well-being are the best (favors) that people are ever given in this world, so ask Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) for both of them.” [5]

In Sahih Muslim, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) is reported to have visited an ill man, who had become so thin, that he was like a chick. (Seeing him like this,) the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said to the man:

"Did you invoke Allah with something or to give you something (in particular)?" The man said: "Yes, I said: "O Allah! Give me beforehand in this world the punishment that which You are going to give me in the Hereafter!" Thereupon the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:

"Glory be to Allah! You cannot bear it [or you cannot stand it]. Rather, you (should) say: "O Allah, our Lord! Give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and save us from the torment of the Fire!" Then the Prophet invoked Allah for the man and He cured him.” [6]

Shayban said: "Al-Hasan used to say, when he sat at a sitting: "Praise be to You for Islam, praise be to You for the Quran, and praise be to you for wives and property. You have expanded provision for us, given us manifest safety, recovered us in the fairest way, and given us from everything for which we have asked You. Praise be to You as much as You bestow favors on us. You have given us much good and warded off much evil. So praise be to Your most Majestic, Abiding and Eternal Face!"

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

"Whoever says in the morning, "O Allah! All the favors with which I and everyone of Your Creation have entered upon the morning are from You, only You, so praise and gratitude be to You", he (by then) will have shown the gratitude (deserved) for that day. And whoever says like this in the evening, he (by then) will have shown the gratitude (deserved) for his night. [7]"[8]

Wahb Ibn Munabbih said: "The best of favors are three: First: the favor of Islam, without which all favors could not be perfect. Second, the favor of well-being, without which life would not be easy. Third, the favor of independence, without which living would not be perfect."

Wahb passed by a wetted, blind, leprous, handicapped and undressed man and heard him saying:

"Praise be to Allah for His bounties." Thereupon a man accompanying Wahb said: "Which bounty has been saved for you to praise Allah for?" The man said:

"Look at the city and see how populous, it is. Should I not praise Allah because He knows only me from amongst its people!” [9]

It is also reported that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:

"Whenever Allah bestows some bounty upon a servant and he praises Him for it, he [10] (in fact) shows the gratitude (deserved) for it.” [11]

It is reported that 'Ali Ibn Abi Talib (May Allah be pleased with him) said: "Bukhtunsar asked for Daniel, then he ordered his servants to imprison him in a well. Bukhtunsar deprived two lions of food for a long time, then he released them in order to prey him. When he opened the well after five days he found Daniel performing Prayer and nothing had hurt him from the two lions that were lying in the corner of the well. Then he said to Daniel: "What did you do to have such protection?" He said: "I said: "Praise be to Allah Who never forgets whosoever remembers Him. Praise be to Allah Who always answers whosoever invokes Him. Praise be to Allah Who never lets down whosoever puts his trust in Him Praise be to Allah Who is our only trust when we have nothing to save ourselves from danger. Praise be to Allah Who is the only hope for us when we fear our bad deeds. Praise be to Allah Who wards off the harm we face. Praise be to Allah Who meets good works with good rewards. And praise be to Allah Who always procures salvation for whosoever holds patience."

(Continued)