The Nature and Aspects of Gratitude
The most beautiful response to the countless blessings bestowed upon His servants by Allah is gratitude. Gratitude is a characteristic of the people of Paradise and the opening of the heart to witnessing (Divine reality).37, 38 Perfect gratitude consists of three aspects: the gratitude of the tongue, the gratitude of the limbs, and the gratitude of the heart. The gratitude of the tongue is acknowledging the blessing according to the command, “Mention the grace of your Lord when you remember Him.” (Duha, 11). The gratitude of the limbs is using the body in obedience to Allah. As for the gratitude of the heart, it is believing with absolute certainty that everything one possesses comes from the Absolute Creator, in accordance with the verse, “Whatever blessings you have, they all come from Allah.” (Nahl, 53).
The Danger of Ingratitude and Trials
Not appreciating a blessing and considering it to be one’s own leads to the loss of that blessing or its transformation into a chain of trials. Satan has confessed that the greatest weakness is ingratitude, stating that he will mislead people from truth in every way, saying, “You will not find most of them grateful.” (A’raf, 17). Most people act heedlessly, attributing blessings to themselves or to created beings as intermediaries; this leads to the darkening of the heart and opens the door to a hidden form of idolatry.
Seeing the Giver of Blessings, Not the Blessing Itself
The gratitude of true gnostics is directed not towards the blessing itself but towards the Sublime Essence of the One who bestows it. A knowledgeable servant knows that the blessings he holds are not the result of his own efforts or intellect, but merely a grace from Allah. He expresses acceptance, recognizing the divine wisdom underlying it, when a blessing is withheld, just as he expresses gratitude when a blessing is given.45, 46 For Allah’s withholding is itself a hidden act of kindness, protecting His servant from worldly trials.