Gratitude, a Path Through the Temporary Nature

Daniyah Asad

Though the overlap of things agreed upon by all Muslims grows smaller and smaller with every passing day, the temporary nature of this life is one that persists. A promise inked in eternity; the Quran reminds us: feeling of optimism and improved mood compared to participants who had spent the study writing about daily annoyances.

(24:42)

From the moment life as a Muslim begins with the Shahada, we know that it will come to an end; however, temporary does not necessarily imply quick. The world has a funny way of convincing us that forever is the reality we live in; grief feels arduous and long-lasting, while happiness feels fleeting, piercing through, and leaving just as fast as it came.

These perceptions of our situations play a significant role in our outlook on life. In part, they are built upon our approach to situations and the frequency with which we practice genuine gratitude in our day-to-day life.

Psychological studies, both secular and religious, sing the praises of gratitude in improving mental health. The benefits of gratitude are so pervasive, that many in the fields of psychology advocate for habitual gratitude to be integrated into everyday activities to enhance the overall quality of life and well-being.

Studies conducted by the University of Pennsylvania show that actively practicing gratitude leads to improvements in mental health, with a strong relationship between purposeful practice of gratitude and increased happiness scores in participants. Similarly, psychologists Dr. Robert A. Emmons and Dr. Michael E. McCullough found that when participants were asked to write about things that they were grateful for, they showed greater

Educator and public speaker Yasmin Mogahed expanded on this idea and its significance in our relationship with God. During a lecture she explained, “Every individual has something called a baseline happiness…and no matter what positive event comes to them…a person will then, you know, have that spike in their happiness. But what’s very interesting and they find is that it’s very temporary.” She continued to highlight that while events and external forces can cause temporary highs and lows in our overall happiness, our mood eventually gravitates back to its original levels. Permanent increase in happiness is a goal many are working towards, even spurring its own field of study in what is known as “positive psychology”- a progression from the humanistic psychology of Carl Rogers, Abraham Maslow and more.

Everyone’s baseline happiness is dependent on a few key factors with one of the primary ones being the practice of gratitude. For Muslims, this is ingrained into our way of life. Within Islam, the significance of gratitude cannot be understated - even “Kufr” itself translates to “ingratitude”. The Quran warns us against falling into this trap and becoming the antithesis of what every Muslim strives to be. It reminds us that, in essence, to be Muslim is to be grateful to God, regardless of the circumstance.

In good times, it means to not fall into the pitfalls of arrogance and remain humbleremembering that every blessing is only through the power of God. While in times of grief, particular emphasis is given to maintaining patience, warning against succumbing to hopelessness. While sadness itself is not an absence of faith, what we choose to do with that grief is what defines our relationship with God. True strength and contentment come through implementation of gratitude. Vice versa, ingratitude outputs despair. Succinctly put, if we can’t appreciate what we have - no matter what we attain, we won’t be satisfied.

Though not a light task by any means, the rewards of gratitude mentioned time and time again in the Quran help lessen the burden and encourage us to strive towards this path. Unlike the temporary nature of the troubles or allures in this world, thankfulness to God in those times carries its benefit to the Hereafter.

(14:7)

Within Islam, the significance of gratitude cannot be understated, even the “Kufr” itself translates to “ingratitude”. The Quran warns us against falling into this trap and becoming the antithesis of what every Muslim strives for, reminding us that, in essence, to be Muslim is to be grateful to God regardless of circumstance.

Within the verses of Surah Kahf is the story of the two gardens that further illustrate the significance of this idea. One man was blessed with gardens that blossomed with riches without any extra effort on his part. Overcome with arrogance, the man boasted of his accolades, heedless of the warnings of his companion who advised him against such displays of ingratitude. When the time of punishment came, he lay helpless as the treasures he claimed were eternally vanished like dust. The story concludes with the stern reminder:

(18:46)

Alongside these verses are also reminders of God’s Mercy. Through the most troubling times, God granted a path forward to the steadfast and righteous in the most beautiful way. One can scarcely imagine the sadness with which Hazrat Musa (ra)’s mother parted with her child, casting him adrift on the Nile. As mentioned in Surah Qasas:

“And the heart of Moses’ mother ached so much that she almost gave away his identity, had We not reassured her heart in order for her to have faith ‘in Allah’s promise’.”

(28:10)

With the grief, she was also given strength by God to persevere and go through with the command. And God not only acknowledged her sadness but gave her respite as the Surah continues:

“This is how We returned him to his mother so that her heart would be put at ease, and not grieve, and that she would know that Allah’s promise is ‘always’ true. But most people do not know.”

(28: 13)

Thus, the Quran and Ahadith offer both comfort and warning as it reminds us that the objects of the dunya, whether tribulations or prosperity, will not transcend this transitory domain. It reminds us to redirect our focus towards the deeds that will carry over to the next life. The repetitive motions of our fingers during dhikr; daily rumination over the blessings of God simply through recitation, prayer, and general deliberation are what will weigh heavy on the scale of good, when the world, with both its beauty and malice, crumbles around us in the end.