November 10, 2024

Surah Ibrahim – Ayah 7

اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ
اَعُوْذُبِااللّٰہِ مِنَ الشَّیْطٰنِ الرَّجِيْم
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

*_Today’s Thought for the day is from Surah Ibrahim Ayah 7_*

*وَاِذۡ تَاَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمۡ لَئِنۡ شَكَرۡتُمۡ لَاَزِيۡدَنَّـكُمۡ‌ وَلَئِنۡ كَفَرۡتُمۡ اِنَّ عَذَابِىۡ لَشَدِيۡدٌ‏.(7)*

*_And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed: If you give thanks, I will surely give you more, but if you are ungrateful, verily My punishment is indeed severe.(7)_*

اور جب تمہارے پروردگار نے (تم کو) آگاہ کیا کہ اگر شکر کرو گے تو میں تمہیں زیادہ دوں گا اور اگر ناشکری کرو گے تو (یاد رکھو کہ) میرا عذاب بھی سخت ہے.(7)

The Ayah describes the reward Allah Subhanahu wa taa’la attaches to gratitude and HIS punishment for ingratitude.‼️ Prophet Musa(AS) reminds his people to be grateful for the blessings of freedom they have received at the hands of Pharoah and show their gratitude by becoming obedient. The word *تَأَذَّنَ (ta’adhdhana)* means *making known or announcement (give news).* That is to convey the message earnestly. *So this is great announcement from Allah Azzawajal which is sure to happen.* _Notice that Allah Azzawajal does not specify or limit the capacity of what the increase will be. HE SWT does not say if we’re grateful, then HE SWT will increase us in imaan, or wealth, or health. Allah Azzawajal left it *unlimited,* and one of the reasons is perhaps because the potential of being a truly *grateful ‘abd is almost unlimited.* The greatest example of all is Rasulullah salla Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, who used to pray so much that his feet would become swollen. When asked as to why he prayed so much, he ﷺ said:_

_❛Shall I not be a thankful servant?❜ 【Sahih al-Bukhari 6471】_

Concluding the Ayah Allah Azzawajal says *_But if you are ungrateful, verily My punishment is indeed severe._* – there is warning here which should alert a person falling into acts of disobedience and ingratitude that the blessing bestowed upon him may be taken back or left to remain unutilised.

*_Act of the Day is_* to understand that Allah Azzawajal is never desperate for our gratitude, but it’s to remind ourselves that nothing in this world truly belongs to us. What we have and what come and go from our lives is all due to Allah SWT.‼️ *Gratefulness essentially implies three things:* _First that for everything he gets, man must consider it a favour from Allah and not from anybody else; secondly a feeling of indebtedness and gratitude must be generated in his heart; and thirdly he should adopt an attitude of loyalty, worship and obedience towards his real benefactor._ When the slave adopts the attitude of gratefulness towards his Master, then he becomes deserving of more rewards.

— *Denying Allah Azzawajal’s grace can take many forms.* _For example, omitting to thank Allah SWT for it or refusing to recognize that it is HIM who has bestowed it, and attributing it to one’s own knowledge, expertise, hard work, or intelligence, as if these are not part of the grace Allah SWT bestows on HIS servants._ *It may also take the form of misusing or abusing HIS blessings*, as when these are used to behave arrogantly when dealing with other people or to satisfy evil or corrupt desires. The severe punishment threatened here may include being deprived of Allah Azzawajal’s blessings, either by removing them literally, or by removing their effects on one’s feelings.

–To reflect that We all have blessings. *But the ability to recognize a blessing is in itself the biggest blessing.* How can water quench you, if you can’t drink? How can medicine cure you, if you never swallow? What is the benefit of a nutrient that’s never absorbed?
Learn to see, recognize, and absorb the blessings already surrounding you, and you will become the most blessed.

*_May Allah Subhanahu wa taa’la help us to remember HIM, to be grateful to HIM, and to be content with what HE has given us. We ask Al-Wahhab to put barakah in the blessings that we have, and grant us what is good for our Deen, dunya, and akhirah. Aa’meen Ya’Rabbul Aa’lameen._*

JazaK Allâhu khair!