INDEPENDENT LEARNERS

'O Allah increase me in knowledge,
amin.'


Sunday 10 February 2008

Give thanks to Allah

praise is to Allah


Assalamu alaykum,
how many times have you heard your kids complaining about the e.g. the food - ' i don't like what you cook today!' or about their toys - 'My toys are boring, can we buy new ones?!'
My kids are no different than other children. I always remind them that it is Allah who gives and it is Allah who takes.
They tought it was Tesco's until the age of about 3/4 years. Well it's NOT!!!!
We were watching Islam Channel and saw the children in Palestine, Gaza strip, suffering. Those poor kids were wondering around empty streets, hiding in the dark with no food and no light. My kids asked why.
Insh'Allah the question came on the right time as I was about to start a new 'sermon' about the importance of thanking Allah for what we have.
"Therefore remember Me, I will remember you, And be thankful to Me, and do not be ungrateful to Me." [Qur'an 2:152]
The problem we all face now days, including our kids, is that we have way too much and keep on thinking in our heads 'If only...' Astafirullah! ' If I had a new car I could...If I had a new toy...If I had more money...'
It is narrated by al-Mughira that the Prophet, sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam, used to stand in the salaah or performs salaah until both his feet or legs swelled. He was asked why (he offered such an unbearable salaah) he said, "Should I not be a thankful slave?" [Bukhari]
As the Prophet, sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam, advised us, the best way to stay thankful to Allah is to count His Favors in our lives everyday. For Allah says,
"And He gives you all that you ask for. But if you count the favors of Allah, never will you be able to number them. Verily, man is given up to injustice and ingratitude." [Qur'an 14:34]
This statement of Allah is so true, yet we put so little value on it, and do not take heed.
Thankfulness makes us closer to Allah, better servants, humble our hearts and purify us from the shaytans whispers.
So our Islamic Lesson today was about the importance of understating that It is Allah who gives and it is Allah who takes.

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