Do we thank God enough?

If you count GOD’s blessings, you cannot possibly encompass them. GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful. (16:18)

God has given us many things in life that we should be thankful for. Therefore, we should be counting our blessings. But we don’t often reflect on what we have.  Instead we dwell on what we lack. We cannot have enough of anything, and always want more. We never get tired of asking for more. It is our human nature.

[41:49]  The human being never tires of imploring for good things. And when adversity befalls him, he turns despondent, desperate.

[14:34]  And He gives you all kinds of things that you implore Him for. If you count GOD’s blessings, you can never encompass them. Indeed, the human being is transgressing, unappreciative.

There is nothing wrong with asking God for good things, as long as we are appreciative of them when He gives us what we want, and submit to His will if He chooses not to give. Perhaps He will give them to us later. God knows what is best for us. Also we might be asking for something that may not be good for us (2:216).

Never forget to thank God

Often we realize and appreciate what we have after we lose it temporarily or after seeing someone who does not have it. For example, it is unfortunate that we don’t thank God enough for our health until we get sick. Then we constantly implore God to heal us. As soon as we feel better, we tend to forget God and may turn unappreciative again (16:53-54). It hardly ever occurs to us that our eyes, hands, feet, and everything we have, are blessings from God until we have problems. This reminds me of a story I heard some time ago:

A man reached 75 years of age and started having problems with his stomach. He could not eat. He went to the hospital and he was diagnosed with a disease in his stomach. The doctors informed him that he was in need of an operation to cure this disease. He agreed to have the operation done as the pain was unbearable. When the operation was completed, his doctor gave him the bill which covered all the costs. The old man

looked at the bill and started to cry. Upon seeing this, the doctor told him that if the cost was too high then they could make some other arrangements. The old man said “I am not crying because of the money but I am crying because God let me eat without any problems for 75 years and He never sent me a bill.”

All praise is due to God

Being thankful and appreciative is for our own good. If we choose to ignore the blessings God has given us, and do not recognize God’s hand in our lives, we are the ones who lose. God is in no need, Praiseworthy.

[14:7]  Your Lord has decreed: “the more you thank me, the more I give you.” But if you turn unappreciative, then My retribution is severe.

[31:12]  We have endowed Luqmaan with wisdom: “You shall be appreciative of GOD.” Whoever is appreciative is appreciative for his own good. As for those who turn unappreciative, GOD is in no need, Praiseworthy.

Cont’d on page 2