by Ustazah Nurfarahin Binte Mohamed Amin1 for Muslim.SG
No matter who we are and what we are doing, practising gratitude will undoubtedly add value and meaning to our lives. Gratitude can enrich us and broaden our perspectives. Here are six ways we can incorporate gratitude into our daily routine.
1. Seek Allah’s s.w.t. Assistance to Grant Us Gratitude
Making supplications is part of our life as Muslims. The Prophet s.a.w. once advised one of his companions, Sayyidina Muaz Bin Jabal r.a. to utter the following supplication after every solat (prayer):
اللَّهُمَّ أَعِنِّي عَلَى ذِكْرِكَ وَشُكْرِكَ وَحُسْنِ عِبَادَتِكَ
Allahumma a’inni ‘ala zikrika wa syukrika wa husni ‘ibadatik
“O Allah, help me to remember You and thank You and help me to the best manner of worshipping You.”
(Sunan An-Nasa’i)
This particular supplication reaffirms our utter reliance on Allah and our belief that Allah is the one who can strengthen our resolve to worship Him and to thank Him. As human beings, we so often forget. Only with Allah’s aid and mercy are we able to remember, thank, and worship Him in the best manner that we can.
2. Start Your Day with Gratitude
In Islamic tradition, beginning each day with gratitude sets a positive tone for our lives. Consider incorporating morning supplications into your daily routine. The Prophet s.a.w. would recite the following dua upon waking up from his sleep.
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَحْيَانَا بَعْدَ مَا أَمَاتَنَا وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ
Alhamdulillahi-lazi ahyana ba’da ma amatana wa ilaihin-nushur
Praise be to Allah who gave us life after having taken it from us and unto Him is the resurrection.
(Sahih Al-Bukhari)
This simple act of reciting the above dua reminds us of the blessing of life itself and helps cultivate a positive and grateful mindset from the moment we wake up to guide us throughout the day.
3. Express Gratitude to Others
Narrated by Abu Hurayrah r.a, Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. said,
من لم يشكرِ النَّاسَ لم يشكرِ اللَّهَ
“He who does not thank people, does not thank Allah”
(Sunan At-Tirmizi)
Expressing gratitude to others not only strengthens our relationships but also reflects our gratitude to Allah s.w.t.
Make it a habit to sincerely thank people for their kindness, no matter how small. This could be as simple as thanking the cashier at the grocery store or expressing appreciation to a colleague or family member for their support.
4. Perform Extra Acts of Worship
Voluntary acts of worship (Nafl) can be a beautiful expression of gratitude. Consider offering extra prayers beyond the obligatory ones, such as Solat Tahajjud and Solat Istikhara, or giving additional charity.
These acts serve as a tangible way to show appreciation for the blessings in our lives. Expressing gratitude to Allah s.w.t. is materialised by performing praiseworthy actions and abstaining from His prohibitions. Remember, these don’t have to be grand gestures; even a small act done consistently can have a significant impact.
5. Practise Contentment
One of the downsides of getting daily exposure to social media and being constantly “connected” to the internet has led some to focus too much on what others have going on in their lives. As a result, we may be compelled to feel dissatisfied and insecure when we compare their blessings and achievements with our ‘ordinary’ lives. In fact, this is not just a modern problem. It is simply human nature: we begin to feel discontent when we focus only on what we lack, overlooking the blessings we already possess.
Contentment (Qana’ah) or acceptance (Redha) is closely linked to gratitude in Islam. Redha is to find pleasure in Allah’s decree upon us. Thus, try to find satisfaction in what you have rather than constantly yearning for more. When you catch yourself making comparisons, pause and reflect on your own blessings instead. Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. teaches us in a hadith:
وارْضَ بما قسم اللهُ لكَ تَكُن من أَغْنَى الناسِ
“Be content with what Allah has given you, and you will be the richest of people”
(Sunan At-Tirmizi)
6. Keep A Gratitude Journal
Author and co-founder of “Calm”, Michael Acton Smith, recommends keeping a journal to practise mindfulness and a life of peace and calm. One of the key questions that he suggests including in the journal is: “What Are You Grateful For?”
Although Allah’s s.w.t blessings upon us are incalculable, we can start to be more aware of these beautiful godsends, and pen them down. It can be a simple catch-up text from a good friend or the smile of a stranger when you make way for them, or it can be a bigger event such as a delicious celebratory meal with loved ones, or a promotion at work.
Either way, when we make the extra effort to recall those small moments and write them down, it can help us become more appreciative of the wonderful things we have going on for us.
Mel Noakes, author of “The Little Book of Self Care”, suggests some ways we can take up gratitude journaling:
- Keeping a gratitude jar, and emptying it at the beginning or end of the year to look back at all the wonderful things you are grateful for;
- Capturing at least one thing you are grateful for every day and writing it down;
- Being as specific as possible when writing down what you are grateful for.
- Ustazah Nurfarahin Binte Mohamed Amin is a graduate of International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), majoring in Arabic Language and Literature, with a minor in English Literature. She has written articles on various topics and platforms for assorted institutions and companies. She is currently Co-Founder and Translation Executive at Natiq, as well as a self-employed home-based religious teacher.
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