1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:10,939 Our mother ‘A’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her. 2 00:00:10,939 --> 00:00:16,140 “O ‘A’ishah, should I not be a grateful servant?” 3 00:00:16,140 --> 00:00:21,460 It is important in matters of upbringing and education 4 00:00:21,460 --> 00:00:26,059 to correct misconceptions that are widespread among people, 5 00:00:26,059 --> 00:00:28,460 or specifically held by the educator. 6 00:00:28,460 --> 00:00:33,060 Likewise, it is important to clarify the correct understanding of religious matters, 7 00:00:33,060 --> 00:00:37,460 which people might otherwise limit to only one of their meanings. 8 00:00:37,659 --> 00:00:39,659 Among these matters 9 00:00:39,659 --> 00:00:43,159 is showing gratitude to Allah for His blessings and favor. 10 00:00:43,159 --> 00:00:45,159 For it is common among people 11 00:00:45,159 --> 00:00:47,560 that gratitude is expressed only with the tongue. 12 00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:49,960 This is indeed a correct meaning, 13 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:54,960 but it is only one form of showing gratitude to Allah for His blessings and favor. 14 00:00:54,960 --> 00:00:59,159 There are other forms linked to the nature of the blessing itself. 15 00:00:59,159 --> 00:01:01,759 For instance, gratitude for the blessing of wealth 16 00:01:01,759 --> 00:01:04,159 may be expressed by spending in the way of Allah. 17 00:01:04,159 --> 00:01:06,959 Gratitude for the blessing of health 18 00:01:06,959 --> 00:01:09,760 may be expressed by using one’s body in the obedience of Allah. 19 00:01:09,760 --> 00:01:14,560 Thus, the matter is not limited to praising Allah with the tongue alone, 20 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:16,560 even though that is required. 21 00:01:16,560 --> 00:01:18,560 Allah, the Almighty and Exalted, 22 00:01:18,560 --> 00:01:21,760 has shown us that gratitude is expressed through action, 23 00:01:21,760 --> 00:01:25,359 just as it is expressed by praising Allah with the tongue. 24 00:01:25,359 --> 00:01:27,359 He, the Exalted, said: 25 00:01:27,359 --> 00:01:33,280 “Work, O family of Dawud, in gratitude.” 26 00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:38,540 “And few of My servants are grateful.” 27 00:01:38,540 --> 00:01:42,939 Ibn Kathir, may Allah have mercy on him, said in his Tafsir of this verse: 28 00:01:42,939 --> 00:01:46,739 “It contains evidence that gratitude is expressed through action, 29 00:01:46,739 --> 00:01:49,780 just as it is expressed through speech and intention.” 30 00:01:49,780 --> 00:01:52,180 And Al-Sa‘di, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 31 00:01:52,180 --> 00:01:56,579 “Gratitude is the heart’s acknowledgment of Allah’s favor, 32 00:01:56,579 --> 00:01:59,379 receiving it with a sense of need for Him, 33 00:01:59,379 --> 00:02:02,379 directing it toward the obedience of Allah, 34 00:02:02,379 --> 00:02:05,859 and guarding it against being spent in disobedience.” 35 00:02:05,859 --> 00:02:08,860 Among the teachings of the Prophet, peace be upon him, 36 00:02:08,860 --> 00:02:12,460 and his upbringing of ‘A’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, 37 00:02:12,460 --> 00:02:14,860 was that he clarified to her the meaning of gratitude to Allah 38 00:02:14,860 --> 00:02:18,289 for His blessings through both word and deed. 39 00:02:18,289 --> 00:02:21,490 ‘A’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said: 40 00:02:21,490 --> 00:02:24,490 The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, 41 00:02:24,490 --> 00:02:25,990 when he prayed, 42 00:02:25,990 --> 00:02:28,990 would stand until his feet became swollen. 43 00:02:28,990 --> 00:02:30,689 ‘A’ishah said, 44 00:02:30,689 --> 00:02:32,289 “O Messenger of Allah, 45 00:02:32,289 --> 00:02:33,990 do you do this, 46 00:02:33,990 --> 00:02:38,490 when your past and future sins have been forgiven?” 47 00:02:38,490 --> 00:02:39,789 He replied, 48 00:02:39,789 --> 00:02:41,490 “O ‘A’ishah, 49 00:02:41,490 --> 00:02:45,080 should I not be a grateful servant?” 50 00:02:45,080 --> 00:02:48,280 ‘A’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, had thought 51 00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:51,180 that the Prophet’s knowledge 52 00:02:51,180 --> 00:02:53,080 that Allah had forgiven him 53 00:02:53,080 --> 00:02:56,479 his past and future sins 54 00:02:56,479 --> 00:02:58,780 would lead him to moderate his worship 55 00:02:58,780 --> 00:03:01,280 and not burden himself. 56 00:03:01,280 --> 00:03:04,479 So the Prophet, peace be upon him, corrected her understanding 57 00:03:04,479 --> 00:03:06,080 of this concept, 58 00:03:06,080 --> 00:03:08,580 showing that knowledge of this forgiveness 59 00:03:08,580 --> 00:03:11,300 necessitates an increase in gratitude. 60 00:03:11,300 --> 00:03:14,099 Ibn Battal, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 61 00:03:14,099 --> 00:03:15,900 “In this is a point of fiqh: 62 00:03:15,900 --> 00:03:19,900 that the righteous person is required to have the same level of piety and fear 63 00:03:19,900 --> 00:03:22,500 as is required of the repentant sinner. 64 00:03:22,500 --> 00:03:25,099 The righteous person should not feel secure because of his righteousness, 65 00:03:25,099 --> 00:03:28,699 nor should the sinner despair or lose hope because of his sin. 66 00:03:28,699 --> 00:03:31,539 Rather, everyone should be both fearful and hopeful.” 67 00:03:31,539 --> 00:03:34,340 In this is a profound lesson for us. 68 00:03:34,340 --> 00:03:37,840 For if the Prophet, peace be upon him, 69 00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:40,539 despite his knowledge of Allah’s forgiveness for his sins, 70 00:03:40,539 --> 00:03:43,340 both past and future, 71 00:03:43,340 --> 00:03:46,639 would exert such effort in worship, 72 00:03:46,639 --> 00:03:48,439 then what of those who do not know 73 00:03:48,439 --> 00:03:52,090 whether they deserve the Fire or have been saved from it? 74 00:03:52,090 --> 00:03:55,789 Among the things that help one to show practical gratitude for Allah’s blessings 75 00:03:55,789 --> 00:03:58,189 is to keep in mind the magnitude of these blessings 76 00:03:58,189 --> 00:04:01,150 that Allah has bestowed upon him. 77 00:04:01,150 --> 00:04:03,949 Ibn Battal, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 78 00:04:03,949 --> 00:04:06,449 “Whoever has received great blessings from Allah 79 00:04:06,449 --> 00:04:10,740 is obligated to receive them with great gratitude.” 80 00:04:10,740 --> 00:04:13,840 And in the Prophet’s reply, peace be upon him, 81 00:04:13,840 --> 00:04:15,939 to ‘A’ishah, saying: 82 00:04:15,939 --> 00:04:17,540 “O ‘A’ishah, 83 00:04:17,540 --> 00:04:20,639 should I not be a grateful servant?” 84 00:04:20,639 --> 00:04:23,639 is a teaching for her that gratitude is expressed through deeds, 85 00:04:23,639 --> 00:04:25,939 just as it is expressed through words. 86 00:04:25,939 --> 00:04:28,540 He named the worship he performed 87 00:04:28,540 --> 00:04:30,500 as gratitude to Allah. 88 00:04:30,500 --> 00:04:33,100 Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 89 00:04:33,100 --> 00:04:35,300 “He called these deeds gratitude, 90 00:04:35,300 --> 00:04:37,899 and informed us that his gratitude was his performing them 91 00:04:37,899 --> 00:04:40,399 and his consistency in them.” 92 00:04:40,399 --> 00:04:42,199 The reality of gratitude 93 00:04:42,199 --> 00:04:44,000 is praising the Bestower, 94 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:47,129 loving Him, and acting in obedience to Him. 95 00:04:47,129 --> 00:04:49,629 The Muslims who have reached Ramadan 96 00:04:49,629 --> 00:04:51,029 this year 97 00:04:51,029 --> 00:04:52,930 are in a state of great blessing 98 00:04:52,930 --> 00:04:54,829 that requires gratitude. 99 00:04:54,930 --> 00:04:57,230 Among the ways to show gratitude for this blessing 100 00:04:57,230 --> 00:05:00,930 is to maintain the night prayers until the month ends, 101 00:05:00,930 --> 00:05:04,129 to increase one’s efforts during the last ten nights, 102 00:05:04,129 --> 00:05:07,660 and to perform many types of righteous deeds. 103 00:05:07,660 --> 00:05:11,870 O Allah, make us among the grateful. 104 00:05:11,870 --> 00:05:15,470 We shall continue in a future meeting, if Allah wills. 105 00:05:15,470 --> 00:05:21,269 And praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds. 106 00:05:21,269 --> 00:05:24,870 Our mother ‘A’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her.