The Reality of Shukr (Gratitude) and its Injunctions from the example of Dawud A S

The Reality of Shukr (Gratitude) from the example of Dawud A.S.

[Adapted From Maariful Qura of Mufti Shafi R.A.!

" Do #ood$ % family of Dawud$ i tha kful e&&. A d few from My &la'e& are tha kful." [Surah Sa(a$ )*+,)! Shukr (Ara(i- ) $ a Ara(i- term de oti # tha kful e&&$ #ratitude$ or a-k owled#me t (y huma &$ i& a hi#hly e&teemed 'irtue i .&lam.

The Qur/a pro'ide& arrati'e& of the prophet& of God a& i di'idual& of #ratitude. Their tha k&#i'i # i& exemplified (y their o(edie -e a d faithful e&& to God. A--ordi # to Al0Qurtu(i$ the reality of shukr (#ratitude) i& that o e admit& that thi& (le&&i # ha& (ee (e&towed (y &u-h a d &u-h #i'er a d the #oe& o to u&e it i a--orda -e with the &pirit of hi& plea&ure a d i o(edie -e to him.

Therefore$ using the blessing bestowed by someone counter to his pleasure is ungratefulness and a virtual denial of that blessing. Thi& tell& u& that the way #rateful e&& -a (e &how i word&$ it -a al&o (e expre&&ed (y a-t&. 1he expre&&ed (y a-t&$ it would mea the use of that blessing in accordance with the pleasure of the giver and in obedience to him . A(u /A(dur0Rahma A&0Sulami ha& &aid that Salah i& #ratitude$ fa&ti # i& #ratitude$ a d e'ery #ood deed i& #ratitude. A d Muhammad .( 2a/( al0Qura3i &ay& that #ratitude i& the ame of piety a d ri#hteou& -o du-t. (.( 2athir) . the -o text of the a(o'e 4uoted 'er&e$ the Qur/a &tate& that the #ra ti # of Sulayma (A.S) with &uper atural #ift& to a--ompli&h the e d& for whi-h God appoi ted him$ wa& &o that he would (e #rateful. Thi& i 5u -tio wa& -arried out &o faithfully (y Sayyidu a Dawud a d Sulayma (A.S) a d their familie& a d -hildre $ (oth i word a d deed$ that o time pa&&ed i their home& whe they did ot ha'e a mem(er of the family &ta di # ex-lu&i'ely de'oted

to wor&hip. . fa-t$ &pe-ifi- time wa& allotted to all family mem(er& for thi& purpo&e. A& a re&ult$ the prayer mat of Sayyidu a Dawud (A.S) would ot remai u o--upied at a y time. (.( 2athir) A--ordi # to 6adith i al07ukhari a d Mu&lim$ the 6oly 8rophet (SA1S) &aid that the dearest prayer to Allah is that of Dawud(A.S). 6e would &leep half of the i#ht$ &ta d i wor&hip for o e third of it$ a d the $ &leep duri # the la&t o e &ixth. And the dearest fasts to Allah are the fasts of Dawud (A.S)$ for he would fa&t o alter ate day&. (.( 2athir) .t ha& (ee reported from Fudayl that followi # the re'elatio of thi&

-omma d of #ratitude to Sayyid a Dawud (A.S)$ he &u(mitted (efore Allah Ta/ala+ /% my 9ord$ how -ould . &how my #ratitude to :ou fully a d &uffi-ie tly while my #ratitude too$ (e it oral or pra-ti-al$ i& othi # (ut a (le&&i # (e&towed (y :ou; % thi& too$ a &eparate #ratitude (e-ome& due./ Allah Ta/ala &aid$ 6im a& wa& 6i& due$ a d had made a -o fe&&io to that effe-t. (<ow$ % Dawud$ you did tha k Me ). The rea&o wa& that he had reali3ed hi& i a(ility to tha k

Tirmidhi a d A(u 7akr al0=a&&a& report from Sayyid a /Ata/ .( :a&ar (R.A) that whe thi& 'er&e+ (Do #ood$ % family of Dawud$ i tha kful e&&) wa& re'ealed$ the 6oly 8rophet(SA1S) -ame to the pulpit$ re-ited thi& 'er&e a d the &aid$ "There are three acts whoever accomplishes them would achieve the same excellence as was bestowed on the House of Dawud." The o(le Saha(ah a&ked+ ":a Ra&ulallah$ what are tho&e three a-t&;" 6e &aid$ " taying firm on !ustice in both the states of pleasure and displeasure" and ta#ing the path of moderation in both the states of prosperity and adversity" and fearing Allah both in private and in public." (Tirmidhi$ Qurtu(i$ Ahkam ul0Qur/a $ al0=a&&a&) . the la&t &e te -e of 'er&e ,)+ $ &oo after ha'i # #i'e the

-omma d for #ratitude with &pe-ial empha&i&$ the reality o #rou d wa& al&o poi ted to (y &ayi # that /A d few from My &la'e& are tha kful./ whi-h i& a admo itio for a (elie'er$ a d a e -oura#eme t to o(&er'e #ratitude.