How to thank Allah as should

Allah (Glory be to Him) says: "Then on that Day you shall be asked about the delights (you indulged in, in this world)!" [Surat At-Takathur: 8].

He also says: "So remember the graces (bestowed upon you) from Allâh so that you may be successful." [Surat Al A`raf: 69]. So, the success of a person lies in mentioning the favors of Allah given to him.

For example, you are breathing about 15000 liter of Oxygen per day. So, suppose that Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) will reckon you for each liter of oxygen -without which you shall die- with the same price of one liter of soda, in this case you are indebted to Allah with 40.000 pounds every day.

So, would you become miser to say everyday: "Subhana Allahi wabihamdih [Glory be to Allah and praise be to Him]" one hundred times while your are feeling this great favor?!

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever says: 'Subhan Allah wa bihamdihi,' one hundred times a day, will be forgiven all his sins even if they were as much as the foam of the sea." [Reported by Al Bukhari and Muslim].

• The matter is not limited by showing gratitude only with the tongue and the heart, but you have to use these blessings and favors in Allah's Obedience and do not use them for disobeying Him as Allah (Glory be to Him) said: "Work you, O family of Dâwûd (David), with thanks!" [Surat Saba': 13].

He also said: "So, fear Allâh much that you may be grateful." [Surat Al `Imran: 123]. So, if you achieve the fear of Allah by using your organs in His Obedience not in disobeying Him, you have showed gratitude to Allah for His Favors along with your confession of negligence in thanking Him.

• Know that the greatest sin which a person commits regarding the right of Allah is to despise the favors of Allah given to him. We note this ingratitude when a person sees someone better than him such as a person who is riding an expensive car while he is riding a bicycle, then he says to himself: "Those people are enjoying the world and I wish I were in their shoes." These words incur the wrath of Allah on him but if a person recalls in that moment that some people are walking on one foot, some are sitting on a wheelchair, and some are using sticks to walk then he should say: "Praise be to Allah, I am in a great favor" in order to be satisfied with Allah's Destiny.

• Therefore the Prophet (peace be upon him) teaches us how to be satisfied with Allah's Favors by saying: "Look at those who are lower than you in favors and do not look at those who are better than you lest you may belittle the favors of Allah given to you." [Al Albany graded it as authentic in Sahih Al Jami` No. 1507].

• For example, I have seen someone whose leg was broken and was wishing to turn from side to side while sleeping but he could not, so if you are in good health, now say: Praise be to Allah.

• Some people are wishing to go to bathroom on foot and to purify himself with his own hands so as not to harm the one who purifies him, so if you are healthy, now say: Praise be to Allah.

• There are some people who are afflicted with liver ascites and the doctor prevented him to take cheese or honey. One day, he wept when he smelled the food and felt that he is deprived, so if you are healthy, now say: Praise be to Allah.

• There are some people who sleep on the sidewalk out of cold without finding something to use in heating, so say: Praise be to Allah for the favor of housing.

• My advice to you, dear brother, while you are feeling these favors is to say: "Subhana Allahi wabihamdih, Subhana Allah Al `Azhim [Glory be to Allah, Praise be to Allah, Glory be to Allah, the great]." Say also: "Subhana Allah wal Hamdulillah wala Ilaha Illa Allah wallahu Akbar [Glory be to Allah, praise be to Allah, no god but Allah, and Allah is the greatest]."

You should know that Allah (Glory be to Him) loves these words as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "There are two expressions which are very easy for the tongue to say, but they are very heavy in the balance and are very dear to the Beneficent (Allah), and they are, 'Subhan Allah Al `Azhim and 'Subhan Allah wa bihamdihi.'" [Reported by Muslim 5714].

So, you have to say them frequently while you are intending to draw nearer to Allah with the things He loves most, then He shall be satisfied with you, please your heart in the world, and make you happy in the Hereafter with Paradise, so do not prevent yourself from goodness.