Being able to Praise and Thank Allaah تعالى is the ultimate blessing

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Thanking Allaah for a blessing that He تعالى has given to us is in itself a blessing that many are deprived of:

﴿وَقَلِيلٌ مِّنْ عِبَادِيَ الشَّكُورُ﴾

{But (only) few of My slaves are grateful.} [Surah Saba (34): 13]

  

﴿وَهُوَ الَّذِي أَنشَأَ لَكُمُ السَّمْعَ وَالْأَبْصَارَ وَالْأَفْئِدَةَ ۚ قَلِيلًا مَّا تَشْكُرُونَ﴾

{It is He, Who has created for you (the sense of) hearing (ears), sight (eyes), and hearts (understanding). Little are you grateful.} [Surah al-Mu’minoon (23): 78]

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Anas bin Maalik said that the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

مَا أَنْعَمَ اللهُ عَلَى عَبْدٍ نِعْمَةً فَقَالَ: الْحَمْدُ للهِ، إِلَّا كَانَ الَّذِي أَعْطَى أَفْضَلَ مِمَّا أَخَذَ

“No servant is blessed by Allaah and he says: `Al-Hamdu Lillaah’, except that what he gives (the praise) is better than what he received (the blessing).” [Sunan Ibn Maajah (3805) and graded as “Hasan” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

Note: The Hadeeth does not mean that the action of the slave is better than the action of Allaah. Rather, the ability to thank Allaah for His blessings and favors is in itself a blessing from Allaah. Some blessings are greater than others. Being able to thank and praise Allaah is a religious blessing which is better than the worldly blessings like health, wealth, status, children and the other blessings which He تعالى bestows. The health will deteriorate, the wealth will diminish, the status will not always remain, and children will pass away, but the praise of Allaah will endure.

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Hishaam bin Yahya bin Yahya reported that his father who reported from his grandfather that one of the workers of `Umar Ibn `Abdul `Azeez رحمه الله wrote to him mentioning in his letter: O Ameer al-Mu’mineen! I am in a land in which the blessings are in abundance, to this extent that I fear that its people will not be able to Thank (Allaah the way He should be thanked). So `Umar wrote back to him saying: “I used to think that you were (one of those who were) well versed in (the Book of) Allaah. Verily! Allaah تعالى does not bestows His blessing upon His servant and he praises Allaah (by saying الحمد لله) except that his (ability to) praise Allaah تعالى is better than the blessing which he received. If you did not know about this (then read) the Book of Allaah which He تعالى revealed.

Allaah تعالى said:

﴿وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا دَاوُودَ وَسُلَيْمَانَ عِلْمًا ۖ وَقَالَا الْحَمْدُ لِلَّـهِ الَّذِي فَضَّلَنَا عَلَىٰ كَثِيرٍ مِّنْ عِبَادِهِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ﴾

{And indeed We gave knowledge to Dawood and Sulaimaan, and they both said: “All the praises and thanks be to Allaah, Who has preferred us above many of His believing slaves!”} [Surah al-Naml (27): 15]

And which blessing is better than what was given to Dawood and Sulaimaan عليهما السلام?!

And Allaah تعالى said:

﴿وَسِيقَ الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا رَبَّهُمْ إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ زُمَرًا ۖ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا جَاءُوهَا﴾ إِلَى قَوْلِهِ: ﴿ وَقِيلَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ﴾

{And those who kept their duty to their Lord will be led to Paradise in groups, till, when they reach it…} till the saying of Allaah تعالى: {and it will be said. All the praises and thanks be to Allaah…} [Surah al-Zumar (39): 73 - 75]

And which blessing is better than entering the Jannah?!” [Al-Hilyah (5/293)]

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It is reported from Ka`b (ibn Maalik) رضي الله عنه that he said: “No servant is blessed by Allaah with a blessing in this world and he thanks Allaah for it and humbles himself with it for Allaah (i.e. makes use of it in Allaah’s obedience), except that Allaah تعالى will make him benefit from that blessing in this world and through it will raise his status in the Jannah. And no servant is blessed with a blessing in this world and he does not thank Allaah for it nor humbles himself (i.e. disobeys Allaah with it) except that Allaah will deprive him from benefiting from that blessing in this world and will open for him (the door) of the Hellfire. If He تعالى wishes, He will punish him or He will overlook his (misdeeds).” [al-Hilyah (6/43)]

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Ahmad bin Abi al-Hawaaree: on the authority of Abu `Abdullaah al-Raazee that Sufyaan bin `Uyainah رحمه الله said to him: “O Abu `Abdullaah! One of the ways a person thanks Allaah, for His blessings, is by Praising Him for it and using it (the blessings) in His obedience. It is not from thanking Allaah that a person uses these blessings in Allaah’s disobedience.” [Tahdheeb Al-Kamaal by Al-Mizzee (11/192)]

اللهم لك الحمد حتى ترضى، ولك الحمد إذا رضيت، ولك الحمد بعد الرضى،

ولك الحمد على كل حال