Shedding Sin, Deep Breathing and Loving God - Part 2

Shukr. The connotations of shukr vary for each Muslim, but there is an intrinsic understanding of it amongst the Ummah - it is to thank Allah verbally, by saying 'Alhamdulilah' (praise be to Allah, in Arabic).



Should the act of Shukr be constrained to a physical and outward sense of gratitude?



I think Shukr should emanate from the heart first, before migrating to our other actions to produce a holistic effort of Shukr to Allah.



A dear and very inspiring Muslim sister taught me about the real essence of Shukr and spurred this post.



I feel that the rewards and guidance of her wisdom shouldn't be hoarded through individual practice, but should flow to engage the lives of all my Ummah friends.



The first opening to tasting Shukr in your life comes from reflecting on your creation and the signs of it.



To even open our minds and hearts to throwing ourselves back to analysing our creation and its lessons - we should open the Qur'an, to benefit from the words of The Creator, as He reminds us of our creation -

It is He, Who has created you (Adam) from dust, then from a nutfah [mixed semen drops of male and female sexual discharge (i.e. Adam's offspring)] then from a clot (a piece of coagulated blood), then brings you forth as an infant, then (makes you grow) to reach the age of full strength, and afterwards to be old (men and women)- though some among you die before,- and that you reach an appointed term in order that you may understand. 

- (سورة غافر, Ghafir, Chapter 40, Verse 67)

This verse tells us that our staged creation coalesces to a final plateau, but by which we should understand something. According to Tafsir Ibn Kathir, this understanding refers to remembering our resurrection.



It all connects, yes.



Firstly, our structured creation is something we should recall when struggling to find gratitude within ourselves, in the midst of the rijz (shaytan's impurity - including his evil insinuations and whisperings) veiling our souls with notions of self-sufficiency.



Produced as infants and not as adults with full strength - we are a developing process, each and all of us.



This verse, which tells us how there had been an original creation, humbles the believer who looks on and reflects on it.



In understanding our beginning, from the dust and mud that Allah molded into the first human (Adam peace and blessings be upon him) any expedient postulations on human mortality and our state of being will be quelled by its limits.



Thus, the true believer recognizes their bond-servant position, whereby they cannot move forward or backwards, in transgressing the boundaries of their timed development.



How does this link back to Shukr/Gratitude?



Well affirming but accepting what you are, and having awareness and confidence in your imperfections and finite endurance on earth - and just reflecting on the heavy reality that once you were not mentioned or acknowledged (before our birth), breeds a gratitudinous mentality.



For instance, in submitting to the fact that you are constricted by a controlled schedule of growth - in our biology, psychology and intellect, then you have inched more closer to practicing a grateful attitude.




Indeed, there are a few ways to derive Shukr from looking at our timely creation - we have the opportunity to enjoy our maturation, and to observe the narrative that appears as the bright lines drawn across and around our living.


From the above, we are in the midst of lessons every day that teach Shukr, whether we know, acknowledge or overlook them.



As I had mentioned our resurrection before, it is important to remember that these lessons should add to, and not act destructively to our position in Judgement Day.



How many of humanity have mistook the meaning of their existing - which is to worship the Lord, from which gratitude is a part of - to forward confused and meandering arguments about their purpose.



Sure, it's your life, you can ascribe to these philosophies, but if we go back to the logical bases of such thought then its perfectly fine to employ Shukr to come to terms with submitting to the reality of life.



Gratitude is amply rewarded by Allah, as it is a form of submission to Him.


Since the term 'Muslim' translates to one who submits, we are fulfilling our essential roles by thanking Allah and accepting that we are passive agents that are fed and clothed by His mercy.



On the day of the account of our worldly works, it is vital that we belong to the camp of the truthful fair-thinkers, and not of the arrogant, who had lived in deception about their metaphysical status...

for the sake of our eternal success.

- By Laila Ali Haid