" How often we (including myself) really take the time to reflect on the blessings (ni’mah) that Allah (SWT) has bestowed upon us? Living in a metropolitan cities like Singapore can sometimes desensitize us, and we become oblivious to the countless blessings and favors of Allah in our lives. Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW) gave us a formula for achieving contentment.
Don’t always look at the rich people who are above you. Don’t look at how much money, how many houses, cars, etc. they have, (although in reality they have their own challenges!). Don’t compare yourself with those above you in wealth and dunya. Rather look at the people who have less than you. Think about the more than 840 million people around the world who continue to struggle with hunger every day!
Now take a moment to reflect on the meal(s) that you had today. Did you say “Alhamdulillah!” and wholeheartedly thank your Lord who gave you food to eat today? Did you follow up your verbal utterance of “Alhamdulillah” with actions that are pleasing to your Lord? Indeed one of our Shuyukh reminded us once while lecturing on the topic of shukr that, “being thankful to Allah means to use the blessings that Allah gave you in a manner which is pleasing to Him.” If Allah gave you wealth, then spend some of it in the cause of Allah. Support the deen, needy people, and build masajids, schools, hospitals, etc. If Allah gave you health, then worship him while you are healthy and have full strength in your body. Pray your salah/namaz regularly, read the Qur’an, fast voluntarily, and wake up for tahajjud (the night vigil prayer). There is a beautiful saying that I once read,“The graves are full of people who thought that they would practice Islam when they became old. Old age is not promised to anyone.”
So take a moment to reflect on what I’m reminding us of my dear brothers and sisters.
No matter what your age is, think about how you’ve spent your life so far. Was it in obedience to Allah? In doing good deeds and fulfilling your duties/obligations towards your Lord? Or did you spend it in sin and disobedience?
Ask yourself about your wealth - how did you acquire it/how are you acquiring it? Was it from that which is Halal or from that which is Haram? So many Muslims nowadays earn their income from Haram means – from working in banks and dealing with interest/riba to cheating in business. And at the end of the day, they buy “Halal meat”: with that income. How ironic! Dear brothers/sisters, know that the haram money that you earn and use it towards to buy halal food or clothes becomes haram on you to consume/wear!
Ask yourself how am I really spending my wealth? Did you give zakat? Did you fulfill the rights of others - your family, the needy, and the orphans? Or did you squander it all on yourself in enjoyment of this temporal worldly life?
Ask yourself about your knowledge – did you acquire religious knowledge? Did you learn your fard-ul-ayn? -- That which is a personal obligation on you, such as, knowing your Lord and his messenger (your Aqeedah), your Fiqh – from taharah (purification) to (mu’amalaat) business transactions, and your Qur’an recitation – to properly recite it with the rules of Tajweed.
Ask yourself – what kind of knowledge am I acquiring? How am I acquiring it? How much of it am I acting upon?
Did you acquire knowledge to please Allah or to show off? Or did you spend your life seeking only knowledge of this dunya while neglecting your akhirat? Turn to your lord repentance and thankfulness before it’s too late, and you become a number in the grave! "
- Quote Taken from Tumbler
Be thankful!
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