3 Tips to increase Gratitude (Shukr)
On the path to achieving your dreams, it is important to savor the journey, the present.
Remember, working towards your dreams is a dream come true itself.
As we journey with our dreams toward the aakirah, let us look at some tips that fill our vessels with gratitude (shukr)
1. Maintain a gratitude journal
This is a foolproof way of increasing your gratitude towards Allah.
You can list out the things that you are grateful for in a day, either in a physical or digital journal.
I like to use the Evernote app for my journaling.
There is some research that shows that Gratitude journaling actually changes the brain chemistry
2. Tadabbur (deep reflection) on our blessings
Allah says in the Qur'an "And He has granted you all that you asked Him for. If you tried to count Allah’s blessings, you would never be able to number them. Indeed humankind is truly unfair, ˹totally˺ ungrateful.1" 14:34
Deep tadabbur on the blessings Allah granted us, especially in our health, body, safety will make us view our lives with a much more grateful heart bi'ithnillah.
3.Internalize the duas of gratitude and make them.
From a simple alhamdulillah to dua in the morning and evening adhkar, dua that captures gratitude to Allah have been reported in the sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
[اللَّهُمَّ مَا أَصْبَحَ(أََمْسَ) بِي مِنْ نِعْمَةٍ أَوْ بِأَحَدٍ مِنْ خَلْقِكَ فَمِنْكَ وَحْدَكَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ، فَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ وَلَكَ الشُّكْرُ]. وإذا أمسى قال: اللَّهم ما أمسى بي...
Allaahumma maa 'asbaha ('amsaa) bee min ni'matin 'aw bi'ahadin min khalqika faminka wahdaka laa shareeka laka, falakal-hamdu wa lakash-shukru.
[O Allah, whatever blessing has been received by me in the morning (evening) or anyone of Your creation is from You alone, You have no partner. All praise is for you and thanks is to You]. Recite in the bracket in the evening. Whoever recites this in the morning, has completed his obligation to thank Allah for that day; and whoever says it in the evening, has completed his obligation for that night.
Abu Dawud 4/318, Ibn As-Sunni (Hadith no. 41), Ibn Hibban (Hadith no. 2361)
(Said in the morning adhkar)
الْحَمْدُ للّهِ الَّذِي أَطْعَمَنَا وَسَقَانَا، وَكَفَانَا، وَآوَانَا، فَكَمْ مِمَّنْ لَا كَافِيَ لَهُ وَلَا مُؤْويَ
Alhamdu lillaahil-lathee 'at'amanaa wa saqaanaa, wa kafaanaa, wa 'aawaanaa, fakam mimman laa kaafiya lahu wa laa mu'wiya.
Praise is to Allah Who has provided us with food and with drink, sufficed us and gave us an abode for how many are there with no provision and no home.
Muslim 4/2085.
(Said before sleeping)
Which tip would you like to implement?
